General Conference News

United Methodist News Service

Proposal Comparison

UM News

In the News:

• Bishops ask for postponement of General Conference due to Coronavirus Pandemic
• Conference acts on Protocol, Christmas Covenant

• Looking at financial impact of GC2020 plans

More Information about the Protocol 

Rev. Tom Berlin offers a video explanation of the Protocol.

“You may be trying to figure out how to explain or understand the Protocol legislation for General Conference without reading 64 pages of legislation with words like “indemnification.” This video will help. I explain why we are still talking about this, offer a mid-level explanation of the legislation and share why it matters.”

The Virginia Conference Delegation

Motion

A letter to Virginia Conference Laity from the Virginia Conference Lay Delegates to the 2020 General Conference (2/27/20)

2020 Laity Letter

As we all are in preparation for General Conference 2020, the Bi-District Staff is in the process of preparing events and resources for Clergy and Laity in the Arlington and Alexandria Districts.

Preparing for General Conference

• Clergy Meeting lunch sessions will offer opportunities to think practically about our own spirituality in order to help mitigate some of the anxiety surrounding all that is to come.
• At Bi-District Training Day (January 18, 2020) Martha Stokes will give a morning session on “What’s Ahead in 2020” as well as a lunch time Q&A session.
• We will hold a Two Perspectives: A Conversation with Tom Berlin and Keith Boyette event on March 11, 2020. The Revs. Tom Berlin and Keith Boyette will offer remarks and will participate in a Q&A. REGISTER
• We will be entering into a season of prayer in for the 40 days prior to General Conference.
• We hope to have delegates speak to clergy and laity after GC2020 in another “What Just Happened” event sometime in June.
• For Delegates to Annual Conference: At our Annual Conference Orientation this year we will spend the first hour orienting new delegates and then plan to offer a “What Delegates Need to Know” presentation in the second hour based upon the happenings of General Conference.

We continue to update this GC2020 webpage with information as we receive it.

VAUMC’s General Conference News and Information

Information from the Virginia Conference:

• District Listening Sessions about Protocol of Grace and Reconciliation Through Separation
• Update on the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation (1/17)
• Bishop Lewis’ Reflection On ‘The Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation: Breathe, Read and Pray (1/13)
• More Information

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Jan. 13 Protocol livestream

Video archive: UM News interviews protocol developers (January 13 recording)

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United Methodist Traditionalists, Centrists, Progressives & Bishops sign agreement aimed at separation (from the Council of Bishops, January 2)

News of Separation Plan (UM News Service Article, January 3)

• PROTOCOL OF RECONCILIATION & GRACE THROUGH
  SEPARATION
• Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation FAQ

Bishop Weaver held an Eastertide District Days event on May 10 at Fairfax UMC.

Eastertide Documents

• What are apportionments?
• Bishop Weaver Letter following Judicial Council
• Bishop Weaver’s Letter regarding Eastertide Events

Bishop Weaver Responds to the Judicial Council Ruling

• A Letter from Bishop Weaver 4/29
• A PowerPoint from the Virginia Conference Delegation and Cabinet regarding this ruling can be found on the VAUMC website here: https://www.vaumc.org/GC2019

Additional Resources in response to the Judicial Council Ruling

• UM News Service Article
• Bishops Respond to Judicial Council Ruling

 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church takes place February 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. The purpose will be to receive and act on a report from the Commission on a Way Forward, authorized to examine paragraphs in The Book of Discipline concerning human sexuality and to explore options to strengthen church unity.

• 2019 Special Session of the General Conference  (UMC resources and information)
• General Conference Livestream  (Watch General Conference Live!)
• VAUMC General Conference Resources
• Proposed plans before General Conference
• A Letter to Laity  from Bishop Lewis (12/11)
• A Letter to Clergy from Bishop Lewis (12/3)
• POV Conversation Resources from the Florida Conference

From St. Louis–Resources from General Conference 2019

Daily Advocates from St. Loius | General Conference 2019: Daily Christian Advocate

Legislation Tracking | 2019 Legislation Tracking

VAUMC Social Media Accounts |  Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

GC2019 delegates hear Way Forward report on Sunday 

Letter from the Board of Laity

Virginia Conference Laity beyond the Special General Conference 2019  (A letter from the Board of Laity).

What Just Happened?

Video from the March 13 What Just Happened Laity session can be found here.

VAUMC Resources (Including the power point presentation/notes, General Conference FAQs, a Legislation Summary and more are available on the VAUMC General Conference Resources page.

State of the Church Archive

Bishop Lewis’ State of the Church Address

Additional resources referenced in the State of the Church (including the PowerPoint, notes, FAQs, and legislation information) can be found on the VAUMC General Conference webpage. 

Bishop Peter D. Weaver will serve as interim bishop of Virginia Conference

A Letter from Bishop Lewis (February 27, 2019)

From Bishop Lewis

A Prayer for Sunday, February 24

The denominational Praying Our Way Forward Team has prepared the following prayer to be used as part of the worship liturgy and opening of the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference in St. Louis this weekend.
The Council of Bishops requested this prayer be distributed to all churches in the Connection thus Bishop Lewis, DS Jeff Mickle, and DS Cathy Abbott offer it to all Alexandria and Arlington Clergy. Churches are invited to use it during their worship services on Sunday, February 24

Sunday, February 24, 2019 – Congregational Prayer for United Methodist Church

Gracious and loving God, who leads, teaches and guides,
You who offer compassion, grace and mercy, be with us now.
We passionately seek Your presence during challenging times and circumstances and we trust
that you are moving in and around our lives.
We, as one part of your Body, the Church, go into the days and weeks ahead seeking to discern
Your deep desire for us as The United Methodist Church.
Give us courage as we continue to live and respond to Your invitation to be Your hands, feet and voice.
We ask for a fresh wind of Your Spirit and guidance for each of us as individuals, for the faithful
congregations, and for this global community of United Methodists.
We ask for Your wisdom and presence for those among us who have been called to serve as
delegates as the Special Session of General Conference gathers today.
Grant them clarity and a discerning spirit as they seek to listen for You in their midst.
Reveal to them Your deep desire for our future as a church.
Give them and us the faith to lay aside our personal wants and needs so that we can be truly
present to You, sit with You in reverence and awe, and listen deeply for the still small voice that
woos us, comforts us, and invites us to that place where we can live fully and wholly into the
Kingdom life that You desire for us.
We lay all this before You as the deep desire of our hearts and minds in the name of Jesus, the Christ. Amen

Download Prayer in PDF

Download Prayer in Word

From our Delegation

What are some ways to prepare for as well as respond to what occurs at General Conference 2019?  That was the question the Virginia delegation asked The Right Rev. Ian Markham, dean and president of Virginia Theological Seminary, during our recent prayer retreat.  One of the reasons we invited him to speak was the desire to learn from the experience of The Episcopal Church during their walk down a similar path and what he had observed both before and afterwards.

The six-minute video of his interview is available on the conference Vimeo site at https://vimeo.com/314259503 and a transcript is attached with this email. Our prayer is you will find Dean Markham’s words helpful as you guide your congregation through the coming weeks.

The Commission on a Way Forward was proposed by the Council of Bishops and approved by the 2016 General Conference to do a complete examination and possible revision of every paragraph of the Book of Discipline concerning human sexuality and explore options that help to maintain and strengthen the unity of the church.

• Way Forward report released in all four official languages of General Conference
• VAUMC.org Way Forward Resources

Bishop’s Charge Conference Message 2018 from Virginia Conference of the UMC on Vimeo.

• Way Forward report released in all four official languages of General Conference
• General Conference History Infographic
• 2019 Special Session of the General Conference
• VA Delegation List 
• Slides from Martha Stokes’ General Conference Briefing
• A resource prepared by Martha Stokes (Lay Delegate and VA Delegation Leader to General Conference) with summaries for the 3 plans.

Additional Plans/Gen. Conf. related links

• Petitions put forth by the Wesleyan Covenant Association – including the Plan of Dissolution: https://wesleyancovenant.org/petitions/
• The Simple Plan – Put forth by the Love Your Neighbor coalition and endorsed by the Reconciling Ministries Network https://rmnetwork.org/reconciling-ministries-network-the-simple-plan/
• Uniting Methodist – Good chart of the One Church Plan:  https://unitingmethodists.com/
• www.MainstreamUMC.com

Praying Our Way Forward

We are in Phase 3 of the Denominational Praying Our Way Forward movement. Learn more.

Partnering with Clergy & Laity on A Way Forward

The Bi-District has offered many events this year to help clergy and laity  prepare for A Way Forward.

Coming Soon:

What Just Happened? March 13, 2019 | Herndon UMC

General Conference Delegates Tom Berlin (clergy) and Martha Stokes (laity) will provide us with an update on the process and decisions that were reached during the 2019 Special Called General Conference.

From UMC.org

The United Methodist Church has created a page on their website, umc.org, with additional information and resources regarding A Way Forward.

United Methodist Bishops Recommend a Way Forward

Bishop Lewis Responds:

Additional updates from the United Methodist Church:

 JUNE 26, 2018

Commission on a Way Forward offers more video resources for 2019 General Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – In its continued efforts to inform The United Methodist Church on its processes and work, the Commission on a Way Forward is releasing four more videos this week that document the experiences, hopes, dreams, concerns, approach, and learnings of the 32-member Commission.

The videos released today are:

• Commission on A Way Forward Moderators Overview:  Bishops Sandra Steiner Ball, David Yemba and Ken Carter share an overview of their role as moderators for the Commission and how service was one of their primary focus.  (Length 5:35).
  You Tube https://youtu.be/5tOGnPrLqKg
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umcforward/videos/2114673678815014/
• Jasmine Smothers, Julie Hager Love and Tom Berlin are all Commission members who are also clergy serving in the SEJ. In this interview they reflect on their experience and their hopes for the future of the United Methodist Church.   (Length 5:46).
  YouTube:  https://youtu.be/85KP5qxfCpA
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umcforward/videos/2114649482150767/
• Dave Nuckols (laity, Minnesota) and Helen Cunanan (clergy, Philippines) – have a conversation about the Commission on A Way Forward sharing their experiences from very different places in the world.  (Length 7:50).
  YouTube: https://youtu.be/pJCPnFqQgUU 
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umcforward/videos/2114658032149912/
• Bishops Gregory Palmer and Robert Schnase, who are members of the Commission, talk about how the work of the Commission points to the larger mission of The United Methodist Church. (Length 5:35).
  YouTube https://youtu.be/52EVb7wuva8
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umcforward/videos/2114658685483180/

Last week, the Commission release four videos.  Click here for the list of videos released last week.

• Feb. 28 Update: Bishops see progress in unity effort, focus on 2 plans; Commission on a Way Forward clarifies values as it presents two sketches to bishops
• Jan. 30 Update: Commission moderators emphasize mission as key to way forward
• Jan. 22 Update: Commission on a Way Forward prepares updated report to bishops
• Nov 9 Press Release from the Comission & the Council of Bishops:  http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/bishops-uphold-values-of-mission-unity-space-contextuality-in-interim-repor
• Here is the direct link to the booklet: http://s3.amazonaws.com/Website_Properties/council-of-bishops/COWF_Handbook_2017_REVISED.pdf
• UMC Bishops call for respectful conversations in time of uncertainty
• Bishops uphold values of mission, unity, space, contextuality in interim report on Way Forward work
• Commission on a Way Forward drafts interim report to the bishops
• Commission on a Way Forward issues status report
  • Report: A Way Forward … Thus Far (PDF)
  • Report: A Way Forward … Thus Far (video via youtube)
  • Vine and Branches video featuring Rev. Tom Berlin (Facebook Video)
• Bishops set date for special 2019 General Conference
• A letter from the Council of Bishops, April 24, 2017
• Consecration of Gay Bishop Against Church Law
• President of the Council of Bishops: Statement regarding Judicial Council decision 1341
• Judicial Council Decision

From Bishop Lewis

April 29, 2017

Dear Virginia Annual Conference,

I write this letter to inform you that last night, the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church ruled that the consecration of Bishop Karen Oliveto, who leads the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Conference, must be reviewed in order to determine if it is in violation of church law. The ruling does not remove Bishop Oliveto from the Episcopal office but provides for further administrative or judicial process by the jurisdictional or central conference or the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops.

We must remember that only the General Conference speaks for the denomination. The Council of Bishops exercises oversight and supports the church’s mission. The particular role of the Judicial Council is to determine the constitutionality and legality of actions taken by individuals or constituted entities of the church. The Judicial Council’s actions are always specific to particular circumstances and this decision will not change The 2016 Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church.

As the Resident Bishop of the Virginia Conference, I want to acknowledge the hard work of the Judicial Council, understanding that its decision has come after prayerful deliberation and with intense interest from many concerned parties, all of whom have hopes for our denomination. Unfortunately, in this decision there are no “winners.” I acknowledge there will be great pain and disappointment on either side of this outcome.

I know many of you are wondering – how does this decision affect the Commission On the Way Forward? In short, the work of the Commission will continue.

The Commission On the Way Forward was proposed by the Council of Bishops and approved by the 2016 General Conference to do a complete examination and to propose possible revisions of every paragraph of The Book of Discipline concerning human sexuality. The Commission was also charged to explore options to maintain and strengthen the unity of the church.

My prayer remains that we trust that God is leading our denomination to that unity and that we continue as an annual conference to keep the mission of The United Methodist Church before our congregations. Today, as yesterday, we are called “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

In closing, I ask that you join me in continuing to pray for Bishop Karen Oliveto and her family, the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Annual Conference, the Western Jurisdiction, the Judicial Council, the Commission On the Way Forward and The United Methodist Church.

If you would like to read the ruling in its entirety, click here.

Peace and Blessings,
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis

Read More from Bishop Lewis

• Bishop Lewis’ Letter from March 29, 2017

VAUMC Train the Trainer Session and Resources

The Rev. Tom Berlin, a member of the Commission on a Way Forward, was the presenter for a livestream training event on Jan. 24. This presentation was related to the work of the Commission on a Way Forward and the 2019 General Conference. The livestream includes: how to have conversations on difficult topics in the local church, resources to discuss LGBTQ inclusion in the local church, and a review of the work of the Commission on a Way Forward and what will happen between now and the called 2019 session of General Conference.

The link to watch or download is: https://vimeo.com/252932845

The link to the devotional by George Acevedo is here: https://vimeo.com/252191940

Resources for Discernment

At the Clergy Meeting on April 19, Rev. Tom Berlin, an Arlington District Pastor and a member of the Commission on a Way Forward, offered some insight on the process and progress of the Commission and offered these as resources that have been helpful to him and may be so to others.

Books:

• The Anatomy of Peace, Arbinger Institute
• Leadership and Self-Deception, Arbinger Institute
• Book List

Articles:

• “Be Strong and of Good Courage”: A Call to Quiet Courage in an Anxious Time by Gil Rendle (2016)
• “Wonder, Love and Praise” Document and related materials

Resources:

• Way Forward Handbook
• Dialoguing With Dignity Curriculum
• Dialoguing with Dignity Session Three Powerpoint

Week of Prayer

As Bishop Lewis notes in her letter above, the Virginia Conference prayed during April 2-8. You can learn more about how the Arlington and Alexandria Districts prayed for the Way Forward on our Week of Prayer page: novaumc.org/week-of-prayer 

Resources from Tom Berlin

Rev. Tom Berlin, an Arlington District pastor and member of the Commission on the Way Forward, offers these resources for you.

• Talking About LGBTQ Inclusion in the UMC