General Conference highlights

The 2008 United Methodist General Conference, the denomination’s highest policy-making body, conducted its business around a communion table made from trees destroyed by Hurricane Katrina at the historic Gulfside Retreat Center in Mississippi. Under the theme “A Future with Hope,” nearly 1,000 delegates from around the world discussed budget items, restructuring the church and wrangled over wording in many of the 1,564 petitions submitted for their consideration.

General Conference approved a $642 million budget for the next four years, approved a hymnal revision committee, reduced the number of U.S. bishops while raising their retirement age, and mostly considered what being a global church entails.

The following observations address some notable occurrences:

For the transformation of the world

The mission statement of The United Methodist Church was expanded by adding the phrase "for the transformation of the world" after “make disciples of Jesus Christ.” This represents a significant shift from a focus on becoming a disciple for one's own benefit to becoming a disciple to join in a movement of greater purpose: to change the world.

Companion litany for the Social Creed

In celebration of the centennial of the 1908 Social Creed, General Conference was introduced to a new proposed Social Creed by the General Board of Church & Society that was read responsively by the body. The conference decided to change the name of the reading, preserving the name of “Social Creed” for the current version adopted in 1972 and found in The Book of Discipline at the end of the “Social Principles.”

The new “Companion Litany for the Social Creed” will be placed in The Book of Discipline following the current Social Creed. General Conference affirmed that both statements should be used regularly in services of worship.

Don’t forget to bear witness

The United Methodist membership vows were changed to add “witness” to the member’s pledge to support the church with “prayers, presence, gifts and service.” Witness has to do with faithfully living and proclaiming the gospel in the church and the world, even in the face of opposition.

The demonstration opposing the General Conference’s decision to continue to describe the practice of homosexuality as “incompatible with Christian teaching” was called a time of “faithful witness.” Participants saw this as a public witnessing to their Christian faith.

Other demonstrations against war, torture and harsh treatment of immigrants can properly be understood as demonstrations of public witness if they are grounded in the teachings of our Christian faith.

A faithful witness

Bishop Beverly J. Shamana (California-Nevada Conference), president of the General Board of Church & Society, lays a strip of black cloth on the altar on May 1 at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Shamana was protesting during a “faithful witness” on the conference floor the assembly’s April 30 vote to retain the denomination’s stance that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching.” UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey

The “faithful witness” demonstrating support of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer persons (GLBTQ) proved inspiring during General Conference. Many persons who felt hurt by the decision of General Conference to maintain the current language condemning homosexual practice felt support in being able to publicly demonstrate and speak to their pain on the conference floor.

Many delegates, bishops, agency staff and guests showed support by standing while demonstrators draped the center table with black during this witness. Many then joined the demonstrators in adding tokens of black to the table themselves.

In some delegations only one or two persons chose to stand. This was in and of itself a courageous and defining moment. No doubt there was tremendous pressure to not take a public stand on this controversial issue.

Opposing homophobia

General Conference did pass a strong resolution on “Opposition to Homophobia and Heterosexism.” The vote was 544 for to 365 against. The resolution mandates the General Board of Church & Society to “develop resources and materials aimed at educating members of local churches about the reality, issues, and effects of homophobia and heterosexism and the need for Christian witness against these facets of marginalization.” Homophobia was defined as “fear or contempt for lesbians and gay men.” Heterosexism was defined as “discrimination or prejudice against lesbians or gay men by heterosexual people.”

Resolutions

All efforts to limit the number of words allowed in each resolution in the Book of Resolutions were defeated. Some proposals would have limited resolutions to only 200 words.

The right of any United Methodist to send a petition or resolution to be considered by General Conference was affirmed. Some proposals would have required individuals to have petitions screened and approved by a local church or other United Methodist-related organization.

Divestment

General Conference voted 763-38 to defeat a resolution by the Institute for Religion and Democracy titled “Oppose Divestment from Israel.” All divestment petitions related to Palestine failed. One calling for divestment from companies abetting the Sudanese genocide in Darfur was passed.

Immigration

Concern about the immigration situation proved to be an important topic of the conference. A rally for humane treatment of immigrants was conducted on Monday outside the convention center during the lunch break. Several bishops and other church leaders took part.

The rally concluded with a challenge by Bill Mefford, General Board of Church & Society director of Civil and Human Rights, to take out their cell phones and call their U.S. representatives right then to voice opposition against a harsh bill being considered in the House of Representatives. A follow-up press conference was held Tuesday.

General Conference overwhelmingly supported a resolution entitled “Welcoming the Migrant to the U.S. and Global Migration and the Quest for Justice.”

Cell phones for votes

The conservative Renewal and Reform Coalition distributed 150 cell phones to Central Conference delegates, mostly those from Africa. The phones included a letter with a list of eight names the coalition endorsed for the denomination’s Judicial Council. All eight lost to persons nominated by the Council of Bishops. Two sitting Judicial Council members were removed by the election.

Women presidents

Two women were recognized for their leadership in church and community. The conference heard an address by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, a United Methodist who is an active member of First United Methodist Church in Monrovia. She is also the first woman freely elected in any African nation. The Judicial Council now has its first woman president. The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, chaplain at Emory University and an elder in the South Carolina Conference, was elected as the council’s new president.

Birthday candles for Religion & Race

The General Commission on Religion & Race celebrated 40 years of existence with an exceptional walk-through display of race relations spanning the decades.

Remembering nations in need

General Conference voiced support for the people of Tibet, Taiwan and Sudan. It also condemned the ongoing human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

By a 416-384 vote General Conference approved the General Board of Church & Society and the Women’s Division continued membership in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

General Conference added a statement to the Social Principles urging ministries to reduce “unintended pregnancies” and to assist support centers that help women “find feasible alternatives to abortion.”

Death penalty

General Conference approved a resolution calling on the Texas legislature to end the death penalty in that state. Texas has put more than 400 persons to death since 1982.

Editor’s note: For more information, see "General Conference acts on wide range of issues,” United Methodist News Service.