‘Delegation in the District’ meetings underway
February 18, 2020
HOPKINSVILLE, Kentucky – More than 400 people attended the first of nine “Delegation in the District” meetings on Sunday, Feb. 16, at St. John (Hopkinsville) in the Pennyrile District. Revs. Tami Coleman and Matt Seel led the informational session and were supported by other members of the delegation.
Seel opened the session with prayer, then he and Coleman covered information about proposals that have been submitted for consideration at General Conference 2020. They passed out a chart that outlined the various proposals and noted that the authors of all of the proposals, with the exception of the “New Expressions Worldwide” (UMForward), have now put their support behind the “Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace through Separation.”
They went in-depth outlining the specifics of the Protocol:
They explained the exception that will allow the Protocol to be considered at this year’s General Conference. The Book of Discipline allows annual conferences to submit legislation later if they meet between 230 and 45 days before General Conference. The Philippines Annual Conference met that criteria; its regular Annual Conference session met Feb. 12-14 and endorsed and forwarded the Protocol to General Conference.
They also shared some history around what the Book of Discipline says about human sexuality and how that issue impacts clergy rights.
Members of the delegation will visit every district and have these discussions. One hour prior to the start of each meeting members of the delegation will meet with young clergy (those 35 years old or younger).
Here is a list of upcoming events, please try to attend one that is close to you.
DELEGATION PRAYER TEAM
You are invited to join the delegation every evening at 9 pm (ET)/8 pm (ET) as they join together in prayer for the General Conference and as they represent United Methodists in Kentucky. They invite everyone who can to join them from wherever you are. Thank you for your participation.
Seel opened the session with prayer, then he and Coleman covered information about proposals that have been submitted for consideration at General Conference 2020. They passed out a chart that outlined the various proposals and noted that the authors of all of the proposals, with the exception of the “New Expressions Worldwide” (UMForward), have now put their support behind the “Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace through Separation.”
They went in-depth outlining the specifics of the Protocol:
- It does call for a split in the denomination.
- Nothing is decided yet. Nothing is final until General Conference votes on whether or not to pass the proposal.
- Churches and annual conferences can choose to vote on whether asked to leave the post-separation UMC and join a new traditionalist denomination.
- There may be more than one denomination to break off.
- They shared the timetable of when votes can take place if the Protocol passes .
- They shared how the figure of $25 million for the new traditionalist denomination came to be.
They explained the exception that will allow the Protocol to be considered at this year’s General Conference. The Book of Discipline allows annual conferences to submit legislation later if they meet between 230 and 45 days before General Conference. The Philippines Annual Conference met that criteria; its regular Annual Conference session met Feb. 12-14 and endorsed and forwarded the Protocol to General Conference.
They also shared some history around what the Book of Discipline says about human sexuality and how that issue impacts clergy rights.
Members of the delegation will visit every district and have these discussions. One hour prior to the start of each meeting members of the delegation will meet with young clergy (those 35 years old or younger).
Here is a list of upcoming events, please try to attend one that is close to you.
DELEGATION PRAYER TEAM
You are invited to join the delegation every evening at 9 pm (ET)/8 pm (ET) as they join together in prayer for the General Conference and as they represent United Methodists in Kentucky. They invite everyone who can to join them from wherever you are. Thank you for your participation.