This Is What Happened

General Conference, our global family reunion that speaks officially for The United Methodist Church, just concluded last night. This was a specially called session of 864 delegates (half lay, half clergy) from all over the world to discuss and act on the report of the Commission on a Way Forward over the issue of human sexuality.

Two of the plans presented had the most support: the Traditional Plan as well as the One Church Plan, which was endorsed by the Council of Bishops. The One Church Plan would have given each local congregation and pastor the authority to make their own choices regarding same-sex weddings based on their cultural context.

In an emotional, contested, rancorous, yet majority decision, the General Conference chose the Traditional Plan. The vote was 438 to 384 (this doesn’t equal 864 as some of the international delegates did not make it to St. Louis because they didn’t get visas).

The chosen Traditional Plan basically keeps the current language in our Book of Discipline. All persons are welcomed to participate fully in the life of the local church. We continue to affirm the sacred worth of all persons. We also continue to hold that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian scripture and teaching. Therefore, marriage is defined as between a man and a woman. Clergy are unable to officiate same-gender unions, and United Methodist congregations are unable to host such ceremonies. The Traditional Plan also broadens the definition of “self-avowed practicing homosexual” and provides greater accountability by putting penalties in place for disobedience to the Discipline.

The Traditional Plan has some problems, though. The Judicial Council, the church’s supreme court, already ruled that about half of it is unconstitutional. Some of it was amended, but now with the final vote completed, in April or even November, the Judicial Council will review the constitutionality of this approved legislation. 

So we don’t actually know yet what will happen yet. It will take some time to clarify which parts will become part of our church covenant and which parts will not. Enacted legislation is not official church law until January 1, 2020.

Like our country, our denomination is divided and polarized. In America a majority of delegates favored the One Church Plan, but we are a global church with members also from Africa, Asia, and Europe. We have diverse cultural contexts, and we have to figure out how we live together in such a global community. 

So what does this mean for Salem? Practically speaking, we don’t have to do anything. No vote is required of our congregation. We’re the same church we’ve been. We continue to welcome and love all people.

Emotionally speaking, however, for some in our church, this General Conference decision means continued pain, injustice, and discrimination for LGBT persons.

Like most United Methodist congregations, Salem is a diverse body composed of progressives, traditionalists, and centrists. Regardless, I am confident that as a congregation we love and care for all LGBT persons. My hope is that in this moment we take a deep breath and not overreact. We don’t yet fully know what will happen. As we continue to love and welcome all people, let us also be careful with one another, treating each other with the same honor and respect we would treat Jesus. 

For we are Jesus to one another. We have an opportunity to practice that with the wider church, too, as Salem hosts a post General Conference debriefing session with our Bishop Laurie Haller on Sunday, March 10 from 3-5 PM.

Finally, do you know what the most frequent command in the Bible is? Bishop and theologian, N.T. Wright, asks, “What instruction, what order, is given again and again, by God, by angels, by Jesus, by prophets and apostles?” It’s “Don’t be afraid.”^⁠

Fear not. We are in God’s hands. Don’t be afraid.