Opening Day

I'm trying to decide how to spend the day exactly. I've much reading to do to catch up on some of the proposed legislation and then I have to decide which legislative committee to attend.

 

Church and Society #2 will be dealing with issues related to the social community and the Social Principles which has many key issues coming before it: (Petition Numbers: Issues)

    #80034-C2P161.C    Amending the definition of marriage to be "between two adult persons" replacing "between a man and a woman."

    #80959-C2-P161.A    Amending the definition of family removing "men and women" and "mothers and fathers" replacing with "loving parents," "same gender parents" and "two parents".

    #80028-C2-P161.G    a redefinition of our stance on human sexuality, specifically homosexuality.

    #80449-C2-P161.G    A replacement section on Human Sexuality

    (There are many more petitions that are similar and these will be either combined into one or more specific possible actions)

 

    P161.J – on Abortion    There are many more petitions dealing with our stance on abortion, some to restrict if further, others to open wider the door. Our traditional stance has been to oppose abortion (a true pro-life position), with the possibility of legal abortion but only where the mother's life is at risk or where an unacceptable pregnancy could bring devastating damage to life. (I'm not exactly sure how that has been interpreted.)

 

Another main issue is whether to remain a member of the organization Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

 

There are many other issues and (non-binding) resolutions that are proposed, but the bulk of the conversation will be from the above I believe.

 

Discipleship will be dealing with the report of the GBOD, the study of ministry (and ordination services), the creation of a new UM Hymnal and others.

 

Faith and Order will be about the ordering of the church, hearing the report of the Study of Ministry and propose changes to our mission statement from the Council of Bishops (#80272-FO-P121) to include the phrase, "to make disciples for Jesus Christ" for the transformation of the world. There will also be issues on candidates for ministry, personal and sexual conduct of ordained persons.

 

General Administration will deal with the Council of Bishops Report and the Connectional Table, also the Global Nature of the Church report that affects how the UM Church will be organized in the coming years, changing from a US centered ministry with world wide mission (Central Conferences) to a world-wide Church made up of Central Conferences (which the US would become a Central Conference). It's a big deal and an interesting look at the change of the church. The Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table bring this proposed change, which has the most far reaching effects for the whole church.

 

Okay, so that's a lot to take in before I ever leave my hotel room on opening day, but that's the nature of General Conference.

Pray for us! We are praying for you and the whole Church!

Peace ><>
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