3 weeks ago
Thousands of United Methodists are gathering successful Charlotte, North Carolina, for their large denominational meeting, known arsenic General Conference.
It’s a much-anticipated gathering. Typically it is held each 4 years, but religion leaders delayed nan 2020 gathering until now owed to nan COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, nan 11-day gathering runs from April 23 to May 3. Among those assembling are hundreds of voting delegates — nan United Methodists from crossed nan globe who were elected to correspond their location religion assemblage — though arsenic galore arsenic one-quarter of world delegates are not confirmed arsenic capable to attend. The delegates, half clergy and half laic Methodists, are nan determination makers astatine General Conference.
ONE FIFTH OF UNITED METHODISTS SCHISM OVER LGBT MARRIAGE, ORDINATION
WHAT HAPPENS AT GENERAL CONFERENCE?
General Conference — nan only entity that tin speak for nan full denomination — is simply a business gathering wherever delegates group policy, walk budgets and reside different church-wide matters. It’s nan only assemblage that tin amend nan United Methodist Book of Discipline, which includes religion law. It besides includes Social Principles, which are non-binding declarations connected societal and ethical issues. There’s believe and fellowship, too.
IS THERE SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT THIS YEAR’S MEETING?
Yes. This will beryllium nan first General Conference since much than 7,600 mostly blimpish congregations near nan United Methodist Church betwixt 2019 and 2023 because nan denomination fundamentally stopped enforcing its bans connected same-sex matrimony and having "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" serving arsenic clergy and bishops.
The Rev. Tracy Cox of First United Methodist Church and members of her congregation believe for Tracy Merrick, who will be nan United Methodist General Conference arsenic a delegate representing Western Pennsylvania, arsenic good arsenic Anais Hussian and Joshua Popson who will besides beryllium successful attendance, connected April 14, 2024, successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
WILL THE GENERAL CONFERENCE LIFT THOSE LGBTQ-RELATED BANS THIS YEAR?
It’s possible. The delegates successful Charlotte are expected to ballot connected whether to destruct them. Similar efforts person grounded successful years past, but pinch nan predetermination of much progressive delegates and nan departure of galore conservatives, supporters of removing nan bans are optimistic.
WHAT OTHER KEY ISSUES ARE UP FOR CONSIDERATION?
Disaffiliations: The rules that allowed U.S. congregations to time off betwixt 2019 and 2023. It allowed them to time off pinch their properties, held successful spot for nan denomination, nether friendlier-than-normal ineligible terms. Some want akin conditions for world churches and for U.S. churches that missed nan 2023 deadline.
Regionalization: A connection to restructure nan denomination into location conferences astir nan world, alternatively than having chopped names for U.S. and different jurisdictions. It would specify nan domiciled of regions much precisely and put American congregations into their ain location body. Under this proposal, each regions would beryllium capable to accommodate religion policies to their section contexts, including those connected matrimony and ordination.
Budgets: Because of each nan disaffiliations, nan convention will ballot connected a much-reduced fund connection for nan coming years.
HOW IS THE CONFERENCE STARTING OFF?
New York Area Bishop Thomas Bickerton, president of nan denomination’s Council of Bishops, addressed nan caller schism head-on successful feisty remarks during Tuesday's opening worship, which included euphony and Communion.
Bickerton said of his caller sojourn to a Texas convention that had mislaid much than half its congregations and said those remaining were committed to rebuilding nan church. He said those astatine nan General Conference should beryllium doing nan aforesaid – not continuing nan controversy.
"Are you committed to nan revitalization of nan United Methodist Church?" Bickerton said to applause. "Are you present to activity for a civilization marked by compassion, courage, and companionship? … If you can’t work together to that, what are you doing present anyway? Maybe, conscionable maybe, you’re successful nan incorrect place."
He alluded to disapproval of nan denomination during nan disaffiliation debates and said it was holding connected to its halfway beliefs.
"Don’t you show america that we don’t judge successful Scripture," he said. "Don’t you show america that we don’t judge successful nan doctrine of nan church. And Lord person mercy, don’t show america that we don’t judge successful nan resurrection of Jesus Christ. … We person sewage to rebuild nan religion and we’ve sewage to do it together."
WHERE ARE THE DELEGATES COMING FROM?
Though thousands of Methodists pinch beryllium attending nan conference, location are only 862 charismatic voting delegates, from nan pursuing regions of nan church:
- 55.9% from nan U.S.
- 32% from Africa
- 6% from nan Philippines
- 4.6% from Europe
- 1.5% from concordant (affiliated) churches
WILL THEY ALL BE THERE?
No. As of past week, only astir three-quarters of world delegates were confirmed arsenic capable to attend, nan Commission connected nan General Conference reported Thursday. The different 4th includes 27 delegates incapable to get visas aliases passports, others who couldn’t be for various reasons, and 62 delegates still unconfirmed. African groups person powerfully criticized denominational officials, faulting them for delays successful providing basal paperwork and accusation and raising questions astir whether African conferences will judge voting results from nan conference.
However, denominational officials defended their activity Tuesday, telling nan General Conference that visa requirements are stricter than successful nan past, that immoderate location conferences hadn’t followed correct procedures successful sending reserve delegates — and that immoderate would-be delegates received invitations sent by "an unauthorized personification aliases people." Delegates now must deterioration image badges amid heightened scrutiny that their credentials are authentic. The convention overwhelmingly approved a solution "to make each effort to perceive to and cautiously see voices from regions that are underrepresented."
HOW ARE CONGREGATIONS PREPARING?
That varies widely, but those agelong progressive successful nan activity to repeal LGBTQ bans are focused powerfully connected nan conference. First United Methodist Church successful Pittsburgh, for example, held a commissioning work connected April 14 for 3 members attending nan convention successful varying capacities. "It will beryllium profoundly meaningful for maine personally to ballot for those changes," said personnel Tracy Merrick, who will beryllium a delegate.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
WHAT ARE UNITED METHODISTS, ANYWAY?
They’re portion of a larger worldwide family of Methodists and different groups successful nan contented of 18th period British Protestant revivalist John Wesley, who emphasized evangelism, beatified surviving and societal service. They clasp galore beliefs successful communal with different Christians, pinch immoderate chopped doctrines. United Methodists traditionally ranged from wide to conservative. They were until precocious nan 3rd largest and astir wide U.S. denomination. Methodist missionaries planted churches worldwide, which grew dramatically, particularly successful Africa. Some became independent, but churches connected 4 continents stay portion of nan United Methodist Church.
HOW MANY UNITED METHODISTS ARE THERE?
5.4 cardinal successful nan United States arsenic of 2022, but that will diminution importantly owed to 2023 disaffiliations.
4.6 cardinal successful Africa, Asia and Europe. That’s little than earlier estimates but reflects much caller denominational reports.
