Delegates Don't Fear Challenges to Resolutions Adopted at Jurisdictional Conferences

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United Methodist delegates whose grassroots work resulted in historic adoption of three resolutions at last fall's jurisdictional conferences say they're proud of the work they did, and they don't fear challenges that have been mounted to the "aspirational" documents.

Delegates from the North Central, South Central and Southeastern Jurisdictions issued a statement Feb. 9 affirming their work while the denomination waits for its "high court," the Judicial Council, to rule on the constitutionality of the resolutions. Challenges were mounted at the jurisdictional conferences primarily against the "queer delegates" plea for LGBTQ inclusion in the church.

Opposing delegates used a common tactic to challenge the "aspirational" resolutions by requesting a ruling of law from the bishop presiding when the resolutions were voted upon. By United Methodist rules, a bishop's "ruling of law" – his or her interpretation of the Book of Discipline as it applies to a matter before the body – automatically goes to the Judicial Council for review and acceptance or denial.

The Judicial Council's Fall 2022 Docket, the latest schedule published on its website after a Jan. 31 update, showed none of the jurisdictional challenges list for consideration this spring.

While the exact wording of the resolutions varied among the jurisdictions, all three covered the same topics:

  • Leading with Integrity, a plea for those leaving the UMC to give up any leaderships posts immediately;
  • Global Regionalization, a statement of support for creation semi-autonomous regions of the UMC especially in the United States, to give central conferences more control over their contextualized governance and to reduce the US-centric nature of the General Confere;
  • “Queer Delegates’ Call to Center Justice and Empowerment for LGBTQIA+ People In The UMC," urging United Methodists to support full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons in the UMC's life and ministry

Jesi Lipp, a delegate from the Great Plains Annual Conference, told Insight that the delegates find the resolutions' adoptions in all five U.S. jurisdictions to be an expression of the UMC's future, no matter what the Judicial Council rulings may be.

"I'm not surprised there was a move to ask for a ruling of law, said Lipp, who attended the South Central Jurisdiction Conference. "At the time I was focused on the joy of electing three inclusive bishops on one ballot.

In the case of the South Central Jurisdiction, Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey was presiding then delegate Dixie Brewster asked for a ruling of law on the queer delegatees' resolution.

"Sometime toward the end of December we were sent the ruling in an email from Bishop Harvey," Lipps said. "Her ruling was that the last paragraph (of the queer delegates' resolution) was out of order because it asked people to act contrary to the Book of Discipline.

"In my memory that challenge wasn't the important part of the conference. What matters is how many people backed the resolution; that's what gives me hope for the UMC's future."

Here is the text of the delegates' statement.

Delegates Proud of Important Resolutions, Express Gratitude

It is widely understood that resolutions adopted at Jurisdictional Conference are aspirational and non-binding. They neither create nor authorize polity. We use words such as “implore” and “urge,” with intentionality. They express a depth of passion, but they do not - in fact cannot, in any way, mandate a particular course of action.  

Yet, aspirational resolutions do serve an important purpose. They offer a statement of shared values and give voice to a desire for change. Most often, they express an eagerness to work toward a new and more Christ-like way of being in mission, ministry, and/or covenant community with each other. They matter.

We are General and Jurisdictional Conference delegates who, because of our care for one another during a global pandemic, have been unable to serve in our delegate roles until last Fall. Allow us to share part of that experience.

In November of 2022, as all 5 United Methodist jurisdictions gathered for Jurisdictional Conferences, an important thing was in place; a new level of collaboration. In the prior months, a representative group of centrist and progressive delegate leaders from across the U.S. had been meeting. It probably looked a little different in each jurisdiction, but we invited the Holy Spirit to guide our steps and then scheduled opportunities to get to know each other. We shared stories, confessed hurt and fear, and named goals. And, across all 5 jurisdictions, we wrote and endorsed 3 resolutions that would be on the agenda at every event. We arrived at our respective conferences simultaneously sad about the unfolding splintering, nervous about the unknowns, and excited about what a future UMC might look like. We were prepared to contribute to the process (which requires some courage, y’all), and we were committed to supporting each other. The goal was to adopt hope-filled legislation and elect strong episcopal leaders who shared our values. Again, while it looked a little different in each setting, the collective legislative outcomes were, indeed, full of hope. 

In all 5 jurisdictions we adopted a resolution that values leading with integrity. In all 5 jurisdictions we adopted a resolution that values global regionalization. And in all 5 jurisdictions we adopted a resolution that supports centering justice and empowerment for LGBTQIA+ people.

It’s important to note that, in the Southeastern Jurisdiction, a delegate challenged all three resolutions before they had even been brought before the voting body. It was a struggle to have them heard at all.

We’d like to lift up the resolution entitled, “Queer Delegates’ Call to Center Justice and Empowerment for LGBTQIA+ People In The UMC.” It was written by 46 delegates who identify as queer, and cheered on by countless non-delegate United Methodists throughout our pews and pulpits. Its adoption across all of the United States was meaningful, to say the very least.

To then have its passage challenged in 3 of our 5 jurisdictions (NCJ, SCJ, and SEJ) was unfortunate but, to be perfectly honest, we had to later remind ourselves that it had been challenged at all. The goodness and righteousness in that moment of adoption was so deeply seared into our hearts and memories that the request for a Bishop's Rule of Law had fallen away. We had forgotten. To be clear, we appreciate that our United Methodist polity provides a path to challenge what might be harmful or against the rules. But, in this case, nothing can diminish that moment or silence its message. No matter the Judicial Council ruling, our delegates, across all 5 jurisdictions, have spoken. In historic fashion, we have enthusiastically named a value of a future UMC that is more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Thanks be to God.

It was a moment of prophetic witness we will continue to draw from as we make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. 

Sincerely,

Delegate submitters from jurisdictions in which resolutions were challenged. 

Jesi Lipp, South Central Jurisdiction

Adam Philley, South Central Jurisdiction

Shandon Klein, South Central Jurisdiction

Caleb Parker, Southeastern Jurisdiction

Antony Larry, Southeastern Jurisdiction

Rye Standifer, Southeastern Jurisdiction

Derrick Scott III, Southeastern Jurisdiction

Helen Ryde, Southeastern Jurisdiction

Matt Dailey, Southeastern Jurisdiction

Rushing Kimball, Southeastern Jurisdiction

Jessica Barber Scott, Southeastern Jurisdiction

Walker Brault, North Central Jurisdiction

Rev. Gregory Gross, North Central Jurisdiction

Rev. Britt Cox, North Central Jurisdiction

Alberto Hidalgo, North Central Jurisdiction

Bill Brownson, North Central Jurisdiction

Bobbi Ruddock, North Central Jurisdiction

Martha Stokes, Southeastern Jurisdiction

Jim Allen, Southeastern Jurisdiction

A veteran religion journalist for 35 years, Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, an online journal she founded n 2011 to be a channel for under-served and marginalized voices in The United Methodist Church. Please email the editor for permission to reproduce this content elsewhere.