Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
GC Plenary 2016
Delegates consider legislation during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. In 2020, the faces at General Conference may change, but the numbers will likely be the same.
I spoke with a member of the Commission on General Conference following their meeting with the executive committee of the Council of Bishops and leaders of A Way Forward.
The commission has not yet finalized plans for the 2019 special session, but they agree there should be no opportunity to change the rules established by the 2016 assembly.
Veteran General Conference delegates know that if that were not the case, the entire 3-day session would be devoted to changing the rules.
The groups want to provide time for non-legislative sessions where delegates can meet with people from other annual conference and perhaps soften their opinions.
“We haven’t softened opinions in 45 years. I doubt that even a full day of conversations will do that,” I suggested. He agreed, but he is certain the commission will allow for such discussion.
Whether the Council of Bishops brings the “One Church Model” or the “Multi-Branch One Church Model” (or both) to the St. Louis sessions, delegates are certain to propose substitute motions.
The first substitute will call for a “traditional model” with teeth.
Since Robert’s Rule of Order allow for discussions and amendments to substitute motions, a great deal of time will be devoted to the substitute motion regardless of the carefully prepared legislation allowing for differences of opinion.
Most of the delegates attending the 2019 session are the same as those who attended the 2016 session. They have not been engaged in in-depth study related to the background of biblical “clobber passages.”
Their opinions will not be changed in an afternoon of non-legislative discussions. The best that can come from this time is delegates will think that those who hold contrary opinions are still nice people.
Previous General Conference sessions have even voted down a statement declaring United Methodists have differing opinions on issues related to human sexuality.
With an increase in the number of African delegates who have grown up in a culture that regards all same-gender relations as sinful, I have every reason to believe the substitute motion will prevail.
I hope I am wrong.
The Rev. J. Richard Peck, a retired clergy member of the New York Annual Conference, has attended 12 General Conferences and previously served as editor of the Daily Christian Advocate, the official journal.