Day Three: May 12, 2016
Plenary Session: Rule 44 Does Not Pass
On Thursday morning delegates returned to the discussion on the alternative legislative discernment process known as Rule 44. After much discussion, delegates voted against Rule 44 with a vote of 355 for (43%) and 477 against (57%). The Rule has been before the body since they began ordering their work on Tuesday, May 10, when the 2016 General Conference delegates adopted all other rules recommended by the commission that plans The United Methodist Church’s legislative gathering.
Pat Luna, AWF Lay Delegate from Point Washington UMC in the Marianna-Panama City District, spoke about Rule 44 from the floor saying, "I want us to be ready, but we are not [organizational structure]. If we have any chance of Rule 44 working, we are going to have to dot every i and cross every t and quite frankly we don’t know where the i’s and t’s are yet. We have a long way to go with the integrity and trust we need."
Rule 44 was put forth by the commission as an alternative Discernment Process that might provide a template for dealing with contentious issues in the life of the church. Because amendments were made on Wednesday, Rule 44 was sent back to the Rules Committee. Rule 44 came back to the body this morning with no amendments recommended. Read the UMNS story here. Picture above is Pat Luna, AWF lay delegate. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.
Alsted Calls for Humble Submission
(UMNS) - Bishop Christian Alsted challenged those attending General Conference 2016 to offer themselves humbly and in full to Jesus’ authority, as did a Roman centurion described in the New Testament. Alsted, of the Nordic and Baltic Episcopal Area, said he joins other United Methodists in wanting growth and renewed vitality for the denomination. “But in the midst of all my purposefulness and busyness, I may just overlook what became painfully obvious to a pagan centurion,” said Alsted. Full story here.
Bishop Carter to Undergo Surgery in Portland
(UMNS) - Bishop Kenneth Carter was set to undergo surgery for a severed tendon on the afternoon of May 12 at Portland's Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. The Florida Conference episcopal leader fell in the plenary hall of General Conference here Tuesday, May 10, injuring his left knee badly enough that he required a wheelchair. The accident occurred about 4 p.m., just before the official organization of the General Conference, the top legislative body of The United Methodist Church. Carter stumbled on steps leading to the raised area where bishops sit during plenary sessions. More here.
AWF Delegate Prayer & Profile
"God of us all, as General Conference continues today we remember Your saving purpose: to overcome brokenness and bring all things in heaven and on earth into a unity in Christ. For that purpose, You have made us alive together in Christ. Send Your Holy Spirit upon us to direct the energy of this conference toward the fulfillment of Your purpose. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ who by the power at work in us is able to accomplish far more than we ask or imagine. Amen."
-Dr. Lawson Bryan
Lawson is senior minister at Montgomery FUMC and was also on the 2012 General Conference Delegation. This year, he heads the clergy delegation and was elected last night to lead one of the three sub committees for the Financial Administration legislative committee. He is also the Alabama-West Florida Episcopal Nominee. Click here to read more about him.
Tomorrow's Highlights
Streaming Schedule (Reminder: All times are Pacific Standard, UTC-7)
- 8:00 AM: Worship (10:00 CDT)
- 8:45 AM: Plenary Session (10:45 CDT)
General Conference 2016: Live Stream Archives
On-demand and downloadable versions of the daily General Conference plenary sessions, worship, and addresses are now available. View here
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Digital Lounge: Stay clued in by visiting the digital lounge to watch interviews with notables and newsmakers, as well as folks who are out of the spotlight but critical to the event’s success.
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GC Website: Find everything in one place at the General Conference website for an easy, user-friendly experience.
Miss One?
If you were unable to catch the action of General Conference, click on the daily archive below for Alabama-West Florida Conference daily updates.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
