General Conference 2019

Tomorrow is the beginning of a specially called General Conference for The United Methodist Church.  The General Conference is the only gathering of United Methodists that has the authority to make changes to the Book of Discipline, the document that governs the denomination.  Usually General Conference happens every four years, but at the 2016 General Conference, the delegates asked the Council of Bishops for help in how to move forward on the question of full inclusion of LGBTQ individuals in the denomination.  Now, in Saint Louis, Missouri from February 23-26, the same delegates that were at the 2016 General Conference will gather again to consider the report from the Council of Bishops’ Commission on a Way Forward that studied different beliefs about human sexuality and ways the denomination can structure itself in the future.
 
There’s a lot of detail to the different plans the delegates will be considering, and, as in every General Conference, there are sure to be many amendments put forward before a final vote is taken.  While there are three main plans right now, no one knows how many iterations will be proposed before sessions end on the 26th.  The ins and out of the process will be long and complicated.  Emotions are likely to be strong as delegates discuss deeply held beliefs on human sexuality that conflict with each other.
 
What this all comes down to, is The United Methodist Church is facing one of its most important discussions on how it plans to be the church.  Will we become inclusive, recognizing that God’s love is for all people, that the spiritual gifts of all God’s children should be honored, and their life events should be honored?  We will continue to place greater restrictions on the participation of one group of people, excluding them from serving as ordained leaders, barring them from consecrating their loving relationships in our church buildings?
 
I don’t know how things will turn out.  I don’t know if The United Methodist Church will be recognizable as the church I care deeply about, a church that strives to continue conversations between conservative and progressive while working together for justice.  I don’t know if my LGBTQ friends will continue to be harmed by the denomination I call home.  I don’t know if I will be able to continue to call this denomination my home.
 
I do know this – God loves all people.  God stands with all people searching for justice. Whatever happens at General Conference, there are many Christians who will continue to show their love for God by loving who God loves: everyone.