UMC General Conference: April 22 - May 3, 2024
Daily Notes from General Conference by Albert Hidalgo
May 1 (9th Day): The Ban is Over!!!!!!! Consent Calendar A05 passes, 93.14% to 6.86%! That means the harmful language excluding LGBTQIA+ people from serving as ordained ministers has been removed from The Book of Discipline Paragraph 304.3.
April 30 (8th day): Hello Beloved BUMC! We did some historic things as well as discussed some topics hearing many points of view (think - slow as molasses!). That said, sometime the work happening here is just remarkable- we are in the road to a more loving inclusive church that makes me feel proud to be a Christian and UMC! We opened with worship. Rev. Dr. Jerry Pillay, ninth General Secretary of the World Council of Churches gave this morning’s sermon. “We dare not be silent. Christians need to stand up for justice, and we need to stand together in unity is our strength. We are better and stronger together. Together we can shout." During the lunch recess, UMC seminarians and students led a peaceful protest in solidarity with Palestine and people of Gaza. As we went into afternoon plenary, Bishop David Bard (who I love and follow on FB) reminded us of the audaciousness of the work being done. “We are working to build God's beloved community … breaks down dividing walls of nation, race, class, gender, sexual orientation, language and opinion. …. This is the work of the Spirit.” Legislatively we continued to make huge leaps forward today as the General Conference voted to adopt several pieces of petitions and resolutions through consent calendars this morning with OVERWHELMING support:
• Revised Social Principles - creations and economic
• Removal of harmful language - removed harmful language banning UMC funds from going to LGTBQIA+ causes and replaces it with making sure that UMC fund don’t go towards causes that reject LGTBQIA – taking effect immediately; striking language banning DCOMS/BOMS that prevented moving forward with candidates for ordination; striking language prohibiting Bishops from consecrating “self avowed and practicing homosexuals; removing penalties and punishment for performing same gender weddings!!!!!; moratorium all on judicial proceedings concerning human sexuality.
• Racial Justice (against Christian persecution in India. The UMC is the first denomination to call this out)
• Establish a Conference Caretakers of God's Creation Coordinator in Each Annual Conference
• Full communion with The Episcopal Church
Other notable items included the installation of Bishop Tracy Malone as Chair of the Council of Bishops. She is the first African American woman to do so. We extended our legislative time until 6:45pm to ensure we discussed all budget items. When we discuss that on Friday I am sure there will be A LOT of discussion! Wednesday has some other key items coming. I continue to be very optimistic that our church is getting beyond the dark time and becoming an inclusive and loving church for ALL!
April 29 (7th day): Hello Beloved BUMC! What a long day it was especially the afternoon.
Note I have copied/pasted some other people’s summaries. Welcomed to worship with a a very uplifting and lively song by Choir of Congo. Bishop Oliveto (Mountain Sky Area) then preached a rousing message “being a practicing self avowed “methonerd””. She challenged us with these words, "We can’t be the church if we choose to overlook some members of the Body of Christ… If we define who we are by who we are leaving out, it begs the question, have we ever let Christ in!” We then had a moving consecration of Deaconesses and Home Missioners which included 2 from Indiana - Alicia Mitchell and Lisa Miller Maidi. This is a calling for lay people on par with the clergy role. Since my back has been hurting I went to an exhibit booth that had massage chairs for part of lunch! Amazing and healing. We then passed a lot of legislation on the consent calendar this morning.
Here are the Highlights:
• Allow the Local Pastor Course of Study to be taken entirely online.
• Allowing deacons to preside at church conferences.
• Require Board of Ordained Ministry to use the updated Medical Form from GBHEM (protecting private medical data).
• Regionalization petition #6 of 8. (https://default.salsalabs.org/T099a2eb7-5b64-41a1-a5e9-76dc0249a458/3aca46b3-0edf-410c-9e14-6637c52a7fc5)
• Native American Comprehensive Plan. (https://default.salsalabs.org/T02450de0-fc9b-44b3-ac0c-724a6a36c40d/3aca46b3-0edf-410c-9e14-6637c52a7fc5)
• Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. (https://default.salsalabs.org/Ta7c26733-cf55-403f-8b9d-4a633ee772e9/3aca46b3-0edf-410c-9e14-6637c52a7fc5)
• National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministries. (https://default.salsalabs.org/Tebf3690c-5152-42d3-9ccc-d44b143a06da/3aca46b3-0edf-410c-9e14-6637c52a7fc5)
• The Church and Deaf Ministries Steering Committee.
• Asian-American Language Ministry Plan .(https://default.salsalabs.org/Te2dce0c6-25ad-4e57-b32f-5ec4231fc4e3/3aca46b3-0edf-410c-9e14-6637c52a7fc5)
• Apology for Illegal Overthrow of Hawaiian Kingdom. (https://default.salsalabs.org/T7b414d77-8bed-4b59-9a56-b65a7291e0c6/3aca46b3-0edf-410c-9e14-6637c52a7fc5)
After we adopted Saturday’s Consent Calendar, we spent 2+ hours discussing the number of bishops in Africa, vis a vis the budget. It was painful to have delegates from different parts in Africa arguing that their situation needed a bishop more than another. This was all referred back to the standing committee on Central Conferences and the financial administration for a new recommendation - Africa is the fastest growing UMC area. We then heard reports from United Women in Faith (they were awesome and uplifting and I want to join!!!) , Africa University, Higher Education and Ministry, Abundant Health Initiative, Wespath (denominational pension & benefits plan), and the United Methodist Men (a real sleeper - they need to do better!). You may have heard of the shooting of 3 US Marshalls and another police officer in Charlotte. It was only about 10 minutes from the conference center. We are fine, albeit shaken. One officers who died was a member of a local UMC church. Our work to reduce gun violence continues. Wrapped up the evening with a dinner hosted by Indiana Conference Bishop and First Lady Trimble. We have a lot of work ahead of us. At the pace we are currently taking we would need to be here for a least another week!! Yikes.
April 28 (6th day): Hello beloved BUMC - sabbath day! Slept in today. Attended 11am service at First UMC hearing 3 Bishops and a beautiful story by Bishop Cedric Bridgeforth (out gay black man) of his calling. Later the 3 bishops shared their reflections on GC. Bishop Karen Oliveto (first lesbian bishop) expressed such joy in our future church after last week. She shared that in her 42 years as ordained, she didn’t once wake up thinking this is the day she would be fired from UMC! Can you imagine such pain? Lunch was a celebration of music and dance and barbecue! In the evening Reconciling Ministries Network sponsored a fun and lively gathering at an Irish bar!
April 30 (8th day): Hello Beloved BUMC! We did some historic things as well as discussed some topics hearing many points of view (think - slow as molasses!). That said, sometime the work happening here is just remarkable- we are in the road to a more loving inclusive church that makes me feel proud to be a Christian and UMC! We opened with worship. Rev. Dr. Jerry Pillay, ninth General Secretary of the World Council of Churches gave this morning’s sermon. “We dare not be silent. Christians need to stand up for justice, and we need to stand together in unity is our strength. We are better and stronger together. Together we can shout." During the lunch recess, UMC seminarians and students led a peaceful protest in solidarity with Palestine and people of Gaza. As we went into afternoon plenary, Bishop David Bard (who I love and follow on FB) reminded us of the audaciousness of the work being done. “We are working to build God's beloved community … breaks down dividing walls of nation, race, class, gender, sexual orientation, language and opinion. …. This is the work of the Spirit.” Legislatively we continued to make huge leaps forward today as the General Conference voted to adopt several pieces of petitions and resolutions through consent calendars this morning with OVERWHELMING support:
• Revised Social Principles - creations and economic
• Removal of harmful language - removed harmful language banning UMC funds from going to LGTBQIA+ causes and replaces it with making sure that UMC fund don’t go towards causes that reject LGTBQIA – taking effect immediately; striking language banning DCOMS/BOMS that prevented moving forward with candidates for ordination; striking language prohibiting Bishops from consecrating “self avowed and practicing homosexuals; removing penalties and punishment for performing same gender weddings!!!!!; moratorium all on judicial proceedings concerning human sexuality.
• Racial Justice (against Christian persecution in India. The UMC is the first denomination to call this out)
• Establish a Conference Caretakers of God's Creation Coordinator in Each Annual Conference
• Full communion with The Episcopal Church
Other notable items included the installation of Bishop Tracy Malone as Chair of the Council of Bishops. She is the first African American woman to do so. We extended our legislative time until 6:45pm to ensure we discussed all budget items. When we discuss that on Friday I am sure there will be A LOT of discussion! Wednesday has some other key items coming. I continue to be very optimistic that our church is getting beyond the dark time and becoming an inclusive and loving church for ALL!
April 29 (7th day): Hello Beloved BUMC! What a long day it was especially the afternoon.
Note I have copied/pasted some other people’s summaries. Welcomed to worship with a a very uplifting and lively song by Choir of Congo. Bishop Oliveto (Mountain Sky Area) then preached a rousing message “being a practicing self avowed “methonerd””. She challenged us with these words, "We can’t be the church if we choose to overlook some members of the Body of Christ… If we define who we are by who we are leaving out, it begs the question, have we ever let Christ in!” We then had a moving consecration of Deaconesses and Home Missioners which included 2 from Indiana - Alicia Mitchell and Lisa Miller Maidi. This is a calling for lay people on par with the clergy role. Since my back has been hurting I went to an exhibit booth that had massage chairs for part of lunch! Amazing and healing. We then passed a lot of legislation on the consent calendar this morning.
Here are the Highlights:
• Allow the Local Pastor Course of Study to be taken entirely online.
• Allowing deacons to preside at church conferences.
• Require Board of Ordained Ministry to use the updated Medical Form from GBHEM (protecting private medical data).
• Regionalization petition #6 of 8. (https://default.salsalabs.org/T099a2eb7-5b64-41a1-a5e9-76dc0249a458/3aca46b3-0edf-410c-9e14-6637c52a7fc5)
• Native American Comprehensive Plan. (https://default.salsalabs.org/T02450de0-fc9b-44b3-ac0c-724a6a36c40d/3aca46b3-0edf-410c-9e14-6637c52a7fc5)
• Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. (https://default.salsalabs.org/Ta7c26733-cf55-403f-8b9d-4a633ee772e9/3aca46b3-0edf-410c-9e14-6637c52a7fc5)
• National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministries. (https://default.salsalabs.org/Tebf3690c-5152-42d3-9ccc-d44b143a06da/3aca46b3-0edf-410c-9e14-6637c52a7fc5)
• The Church and Deaf Ministries Steering Committee.
• Asian-American Language Ministry Plan .(https://default.salsalabs.org/Te2dce0c6-25ad-4e57-b32f-5ec4231fc4e3/3aca46b3-0edf-410c-9e14-6637c52a7fc5)
• Apology for Illegal Overthrow of Hawaiian Kingdom. (https://default.salsalabs.org/T7b414d77-8bed-4b59-9a56-b65a7291e0c6/3aca46b3-0edf-410c-9e14-6637c52a7fc5)
After we adopted Saturday’s Consent Calendar, we spent 2+ hours discussing the number of bishops in Africa, vis a vis the budget. It was painful to have delegates from different parts in Africa arguing that their situation needed a bishop more than another. This was all referred back to the standing committee on Central Conferences and the financial administration for a new recommendation - Africa is the fastest growing UMC area. We then heard reports from United Women in Faith (they were awesome and uplifting and I want to join!!!) , Africa University, Higher Education and Ministry, Abundant Health Initiative, Wespath (denominational pension & benefits plan), and the United Methodist Men (a real sleeper - they need to do better!). You may have heard of the shooting of 3 US Marshalls and another police officer in Charlotte. It was only about 10 minutes from the conference center. We are fine, albeit shaken. One officers who died was a member of a local UMC church. Our work to reduce gun violence continues. Wrapped up the evening with a dinner hosted by Indiana Conference Bishop and First Lady Trimble. We have a lot of work ahead of us. At the pace we are currently taking we would need to be here for a least another week!! Yikes.
April 28 (6th day): Hello beloved BUMC - sabbath day! Slept in today. Attended 11am service at First UMC hearing 3 Bishops and a beautiful story by Bishop Cedric Bridgeforth (out gay black man) of his calling. Later the 3 bishops shared their reflections on GC. Bishop Karen Oliveto (first lesbian bishop) expressed such joy in our future church after last week. She shared that in her 42 years as ordained, she didn’t once wake up thinking this is the day she would be fired from UMC! Can you imagine such pain? Lunch was a celebration of music and dance and barbecue! In the evening Reconciling Ministries Network sponsored a fun and lively gathering at an Irish bar!
CLICK HERE: For Week 1 (April 22-27) Notes from General Conference by Albert Hidalgo
Top Legislative Priorities
for the United Methodist General Conference
1.) Global Regionalization.
2.) Passage of the Revised Social Principles.
3.) Removal of harmful language and policies toward LGBTQ persons in the Book of Discipline.
2.) Passage of the Revised Social Principles.
3.) Removal of harmful language and policies toward LGBTQ persons in the Book of Discipline.
Guide to General Conference
VIDEO: UM Bishops Discuss Worldwide Regionalization
Pray for our Indiana Delegates to General Conference
Clergy Delegates (8): Russ Abel, Aleze Fulbright ,Lisa Schubert Nowling, Greg Pimlott, Rob Fuquay, Adriane Rockhill, Duane Carlisle, & Larry Whitehead.
Lay Delegates (8): Christopher Hancock, Kenneth Einselen, Albert Hidalgo, Alisa Isaacs-Bailey, Kim Arnott, Nathan Lundy, Shannon Priddy, & Carolyn Johnson.
Lay Delegates (8): Christopher Hancock, Kenneth Einselen, Albert Hidalgo, Alisa Isaacs-Bailey, Kim Arnott, Nathan Lundy, Shannon Priddy, & Carolyn Johnson.
Albert Hidalgo's April 7th
Pre-GC Presentation
11:11 Prayer Vigil for General Conference
