GC2020 Survey 1
United Methodist Insight's straw poll taken March 11-13 found that nearly 60 percent of the 650 respondents are willing to have General Conference 2020 postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, if GC2020 goes ahead, some two-thirds of respondents are willing to attend.
GC2020 Survey Chart 2
Respondents had a variety of opinions on how a postponement will affect The United Methodist Church in its division over the acceptance of LGBTQ* persons. Some excerpts from their responses:
"It will adversely affect the progress that has been made to move toward "agreeing to disagree" and the planned separation."
"Disaster"
“It will need to be rescheduled for a different time after this crisis has passed.”
"It will delay and string out the possibility of a new denomination."
“I am concerned that our international delegates will not be able to travel here with the presidents frequent use of travel bans... and that any legislation passed without their presence will have adverse effects and reinforce perceptions of white sumpremacy/US supremacy... rather than genuine global community”
"We'll run out of a budget and prolong the denominational disputes, potentially losing the chance to negotiate based on mediation like the protocol. It would be disastrous. I'd love to see an electronic option, as disastrous as that sounds, for anyone who cannot attend, feels unsafe, or for whom the borders are still closed. It's a logistical nightmare, but we need GC to happen this year."
"More beneficial than damaging in the light of division intended by WCA folk. Let them go without the $25 million."
"It depends upon how long it is postponed. If it is held in 2020 or early 2021, it will continue the on-going frustrations! If the delay is more than a year, it will needlessly continue an untenable situation. By the way, I hope the Commission on the general Conference makes a decision at least a month before GC convenes to give people a chance to change plans."
"We've been arguing for 30 years. As frustrating as it is, we will survive for six more months of postponement."
"This action would show that at the very least, the UMC can come together on just one position - to lead by example. To gather for the General Conference in the midst of a pandemic is to participate in the spread of the novel corona virus and consequently to cause the death of one or more people. The legal definition is "proximate cause" if anyone needs to reason from a legal perspective rather than a Christian one! For the world to see the UMC to go ahead and have the conference we might as well disband the denomination and let each of the factions do whatever they want. What unchurched person would want to be a part of a denomination displaying blatant disrespect for the health of the attendees and every person each attendee comes in contact with during the conference and for at least 14 days after the end of the conference? That would be the reason I would leave the denomination, not for another "Methodist" type denomination, but for one totally unrelated to the UMC. There is no "Wesley" doctrine that would support a decision to meet during a world pandemic."
"I think it will provide a little more time for feasible separation plans to be considered and for bugs to be ironed out before a vote is taken. I think things can remain as they are until such time as COVID-19 is under some kind of control. Amen."
"The church is falling apart anyway. The date of the GC won't affect the final outcome. Be diligent and protect people. Also, there's not way we will logistically be able to coordinate delegates from around the globe at this short notice with an untold amount of disruptions and cases yet to come."
"I believe it will create anarchy and a mass exodus of churches. I think the gracious 'moratorium' will go out the window. The trust clause will be tightly challenged by those who say, 'this part of the BOD has not been enforced so neither should this part be enforced.'”
"I think it will be fine and might give us opportunities to work things out in a better manner. Although we have had plenty of time anyway."
The survey included a request for the respondent's local church or annual conference solely to get a geographic spread. Most respondents identified themselves with a U.S. annual conference, but there also were responses from Southwest Philippines, South Africa, South Congo and Zambia, Zimbabwe East, Western Congo, Liberia, and North Katanga. Two respondents who identified themselves as retired bishops also answered the survey.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.