Work
The
best-known aspect of General Conference is the legislation. General Conference is the body that determines
direction and speaks officially for our denomination. 864 delegates elected by
their annual conferences (including Burt Yin and Rev. Jeffrey Kuan) will
consider 1044 petitions. Half the delegates are clergy and half are laity.
Bishops lead the sessions, but have neither voice nor vote.
Amendments to
The
Book of Discipline that guides the work of local churches, pastors,
annual conferences, general agencies, and bishops, are adopted. Delegates also
vote on resolutions that give the official positions of The United Methodist
Church on social issues which are published in our Book of Resolutions.
The General
Conference covers a wide array of issues that affect all levels of our church.
A small percentage of them receive a great deal of attention. Others will pass
or fail without much fanfare, but will have lasting impacts in the life of our
local churches.
At the 2016
General Conference legislation will be presented and debated on human
sexuality, the budget of the general church for 2017-2020, a more global church
structure, the ordination process for our pastors, formation of a hymnal
revision committee, and more.
Whether
widely publicized or not, General Conference legislation directs our work
globally, regionally, and locally in our congregations.
The General
Conference sessions are the only time The UMC gathers from across the globe in
a single location. In that sense, it is something akin to a family
reunion—albeit a ridiculously large one. When we come together every four
years, we take the opportunity to worship, remember, and celebrate.
Worship
When the
United Methodist family gathers, we come from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North
America. We come together as one in our faith in Jesus Christ and our love for
The UMC. There are, however, a variety of languages and cultures represented.
The worship of General Conference celebrates our unity and diversity.
Eleven
worship gatherings and nine opportunities to receive the Sacrament of Holy
Communion are offered during the 11 days.
The worship
reminds us that we are part of something much larger than our local
congregation. We are a connectional church, united to do wonderful work across
the globe. We will share on billboards, trains, and elsewhere around Portland
that united in faith, millions serve God and our neighbors.
Celebration
On Wednesday,
May 18, at 9:48 a.m. (PDT), The UMC will celebrate one of those ministries by
which we have helped millions. Imagine
No Malaria has greatly contributed to a coordinated international effort to
eradicate this preventable disease. Through the efforts of this amazing
ministry, more than 1 million mosquito bed nets have been distributed and more
than 250,000 people have been diagnosed and treated. That is reason to
celebrate.
The 2016
gathering will also take time to celebrate important
milestones that have had tremendous impact in our congregations. This
General Conference marks the 60th anniversary of the ordination of female pastors. The 1956 General Conference of The
Methodist Church granted full clergy rights to women. The gathered church will
also begin celebrations of the 30th anniversary of Disciple Bible Study in
2017, and the 150th anniversary of United
Methodist Women in 2019. Both of these ministries have been instrumental in
the spiritual growth of so many members of United Methodist congregations.
Remembrance
General
Conference is also an important time to remember our history. At General
Conference 2016 United Methodists will pause to remember Francis Asbury. Asbury was the first bishop in our Methodist
heritage. Born in England, he came to America to form and lead this new church.
Under Asbury’s leadership Methodism grew. This year is the 200th anniversary of
his death on March 31, 1816.
While we
celebrate Asbury, we also remember painful parts of our history, of which we
are called to repent. At General Conference 2012, The UMC participated in an Act of Repentance toward Healing
Relationships with Indigenous People. General Conference 2016 will receive
a report of one of those specific acts known as the Sand Creek Massacre.
In 1864, a
regiment of the US Cavalry, led by Methodist preacher Colonel John Chivington,
killed nearly 200 people living in a Peace Camp at Sand Creek in the Colorado
territory. Together we condemn these events, pray for forgiveness, and seek to
repair relationships with the families of the victims.
Therefore,
go…
The activity
of General Conference can seem far removed from our home congregations, but
that could not be farther from the truth. The work, worship, celebrations, and
remembrances at General Conference are the activity of all the people of The
UMC.
“The mission
of the Church is to make disciples of
Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches provide
the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs.” General
Conference meets every four years to facilitate this work happening in each of
our churches.
To follow along with General Conference, log on to GC2016.UMC.org…and remember to pray for Burt, Jane, Pastor Jeffrey, and all those who gather.