May 2, 2024
AWF in the News
A Letter from Bishop Graves Regarding the Removal of Restrictive Language
Today was a historic day in the life of the United Methodist Church. The delegates of General Conference voted on many items; one being the removal of the ban on LGBTQ restrictive language. The vote on the consent calendar was 692-51, with approval at 93%. While it might seem unusual for such a significant topic to be voted through on a consent calendar, it represents a spirit of love and unity. This General Conference has placed a considerable amount of trust in the legislative committees, which met last week. There has been very little debate about most petitions because the committees were thorough with their work. Let me offer some insight on today’s news. With the removal of restrictive language, several areas of the Book of Discipline will be revised. The removal of the harmful language places the Book of Discipline back to “neutral.” This means we now revert to a pre-1972 version of the discipline with the words “incompatible with Christian teaching” being removed. Let me emphasize that most mainline denominations do not have this incompatibility stance in their disciplines, including the recent denomination, the Global Methodist Church. More here.
Connectional News
New clergy retirement plan approved
(UMNS) - A new retirement plan for United Methodist clergy in the U.S. has won approval overwhelmingly at General Conference. The plan is called Compass, and was conceived and championed by Wespath, the denomination’s pension and benefits agency. Wespath retirement plans going back generations have offered U.S. clergy a monthly pension benefit for life, but Compass is a defined contribution plan, more like a 401(k) offered by most corporate employers. Wespath leaders said the denomination’s steady numerical decline over many years required a new, sustainable approach to supporting retired clergy. During May 1 floor debate, there was an effort to refer the plan back to Wespath for adjustments. More here.
Formula for calculating number of bishops eliminated
(UMNS) - Jurisdictions across the United States will have more say about the number of bishops they need, thanks to new legislation that passed during General Conference. By May 1 of the gathering, the body had rejected one but passed four of the five petitions recommended by the Jurisdictional Study Committee, eliminating the formula for calculating bishops while guaranteeing at least five bishops per jurisdiction. More here.
Bishop Malone becomes first Black female President of COB
(UMNS) - Before nearly 800 delegates and hundreds of observers, Bishop Tracy S. Malone, resident bishop of the East Ohio Conference, on Tuesday afternoon took the mantle as the new president of the Council of Bishops (COB) of The United Methodist Church. In so doing, she became the first Black woman in the history of the global denomination to ascend to the pinnacle of episcopacy leadership. Bishop Malone accepted the gavel from outgoing President Bishop Thomas Bickerton to a standing ovation at the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, which is taking place at the Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C. More here.
Bishop encourages delegates to inspire next 7 generations
Bishop David Wilson, the denomination’s first Native American bishop, encouraged General Conference delegates to consider the people who inspired their faith in the past while considering how decisions today can inspire United Methodists far into the future. During the morning worship May 1, Wilson, who leads the Great Plains Conference, drew upon Indigenous cultures and his background working at General Conferences of the past. An ensemble from the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, where Wilson served before his historic episcopal election in November 2022, sang and highlighted a segment of the church often overlooked despite its long history with Methodism. More here.
Elections held for all 9 Judicial Council spots
In a break from previous sessions, General Conference held elections May 1 for all nine spots on the Judicial Council, The United Methodist Church’s top court. General Conference normally holds staggered elections for the church court’s lay and clergy membership, who serve eight-year terms. The goal is to periodically rotate among whether the majority of members are lay or clergy. But the pandemic has thrown off that schedule and required a reset. Half of those approved were elected to eight-year terms, while the rest were elected to four-year terms, parameters set by General Conference on April 30. More here.
Praying for our Delegation and Bishop
As a way to help the delegation, the conference has asked clergy and laity from around the conference to sign up for a date to pray for our delegation and bishop. Thank you for filling up the calendar; additional slots have been added. Click here to sign up.
Resources
Guide to General Conference
An important resource for delegates, church members, and journalists, this guide contains information about the conference schedule, the legislative process, and background. View guide here.
Agenda
This agenda outlines the daily schedule of the 2024 General Conference in Charlotte, NC. View updated agenda here. View abbreviated agenda here.
Advance Edition of the Daily Christian Advocate
The ADCA contains all legislation submitted for consideration by the delegates at the upcoming General Conference. View ADCA here.
Agenda Highlights
The General Conference meets for 10 days. The agenda runs from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm or later with the exception of Sabbath on Sunday, April 28. The days include legislative committee meetings, reports, addresses, plenary sessions, celebrations, and worship. (Find the updated agenda here.).
Agenda highlights include, times below are Eastern.:
- Closing Worship - Friday, May 3, 6 pm
Today's Schedule
*8:00 - 9:00 A.M. - Worship
- Commissioning of Missionaries
*9:00 - 10:00 A.M. - Plenary Session
- Monitoring Report
- Mission Bicentennial
- Administrative Committee Reports
- Consent Calendars
- Calendar Items & Conference Business
*10:20 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. - Plenary Session
- Calendar Items & Conference Business
*1:30 - 3:40 P.M. - Plenary Session
- Recognition of New Judicial Council Members and those members completing their service
- Calendar Items & Conference Business
*4:00 - 6:30 P.M. - Plenary Session
- Calendar Items & Conference Business
- Evening Devotion
*event is live streamed; all times are Eastern
