General Conference made more changes to The United Methodist Church’s policies related to LGBTQ people.
Due to the disaffiliation of over 25% of U.S. UM congregations, the number of conservative/traditionalist delegates is dramatically reduced. In addition, more than 20% of the delegates from Africa, who typically represent a more conservative/traditionalist viewpoint, could not obtain visas to attend the conference. Their invitation letters to obtain visas came so late, which impacted their ability to obtain visas and led to the absence of around 75 African delegates.
The reduction of traditionalist voices and votes became apparent in committee votes, as well as votes by the plenary session. What, in the past, would normally be 55/45 percent conservative majority margins have become 66/34 liberal outcomes. As a result, the progressive agenda is moving forward at the conference unrestricted.
Some of the items passed during the April 30 morning plenary eliminate parts of the Traditional Plan passed by a vote of 438-384 at the 2019 Special General Conference. The Traditional Plan aimed at strengthening the denomination’s longtime restrictions on same-sex marriage and “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy.
General Conference delegates will have the chance to vote later this week on more petitions that would do away with the denomination’s longtime bans, as well as the 52-year-old stance that “the practice of homosexuality … is incompatible with Christian teaching.”
You can read the entire recap at this link.
Thank you for your prayers during this time of upheaval in our denomination.
Pastor Victor
No comments:
Post a Comment