2016 Discipline Barry
A copy of the 2016 edition of the United Methodist Book of Discipline rests on a table during an oral hearing before the Judicial Council on May 22, 2018. (Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS)
Special to United Methodist Insight
The Judicial Council needs to take a step back from its present modus operandum for interpreting the Book of Discipline, particularly as its members make rulings regarding General Conference for 2024 and beyond. Here are some basic principles of interpretation which they need to adopt:
- Annual conferences, congregations, and church members do not exist to follow the rules of the BOD! The Book of Discipline is a tool to help the church achieve its mission. Following the BOD is not that mission! Therefore, General Conference does not take place to allow a certain elected group of delegates to meet and make decisions.
- The makeup and number of delegates to General Conference should reflect the present realities of the makeup of the UMC. Since that has changed significantly since delegates to GC 2020 were elected: Conferences should have elected a new slate of delegates this year for the General Conference being held in 2024. Conferences may have reaffirmed their previous election results, but a vote should have taken place.
The United Methodist Church does not hold meetings every four years because it must have a General Conference every four years! General Conference is held to allow the necessary decisions to be made for mission and ministry. Thus there is no need to call the General Conference which is meeting in 2024 “General Conference 2020.” There was no General Conference in 2020. Let’s be honest about that and move on.
The coming assembly should be General Conference 2024. That’s called reality orientation. It is ludicrous to require a second General Conference in 2026 to be called General Conference 2024! Once again, conferences, churches, and members of the UMC do not exist to meet every four years in a General Conference! General Conferences should meet the needs of those conferences, churches, and members of the UMC.
The frequency or number of General Conferences shouldn't be the concern of the Judicial Council or of the Book of Discipline. The concern should be instead: “How can we conduct the business of the United Methodist Church in a way that ensures that the proper number and makeup of the delegates and how we meet allows for the continued mission of the church to: “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!”
The Rev. Linda A. Richard is a retired clergy member of the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference.