A New Day Has Dawned

NOTE: I am blogging more frequently during the 2024 General Conference, as I did in 2019. These are only my reflections, and in no way are they comprehensive. To keep up with happenings of the UMC General Conference, I invite you to stay connected HERE.

Unity! That is the primary theme that has been spoken throughout the gathering of the delayed 2020 General Conference held in 2024. Last week, all work was completed in the legislative committees, and this week, the General Conference has been convened in plenary sessions (with all members of the General Conference voting on all matters).

It is often hard to follow with the strict use of Roberts Rules of Order, Consent Calendars, and stand alone Calendar Items, but what is happening is that the United Methodist Church is slowly, vote by vote, reclaiming our aspirational identity as the the church with “Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors” (a previous slogan of the UMC).

We have taken the first big step toward regionalization. We have revised our Social Principles to take out the language that previously stated that homosexuality was incompatible with Christian teaching. We have taken strides to be the denomination that draws the circle wide. We are a denomination that is becoming the inclusive church we long to be.

In today’s Consent Calendars, we removed bans on the ordination of gay clergy or the consecration of gay bishops. We removed bans that would prohibit funding to causes that supported LGBTQ+ rights, and we categorically have restored to full fellowship those who had previously been marginalized by our church law.

Also buried in the legislation known as a Consent Calendar was legislation titled Petition 20717-HS-¶419.12-G. This altered language in our Book of Discipline around superintendency stating the following:

Add new subparagraphs after ¶ 419.12:
13. The superintendent shall not penalize any clergy for performing, or refraining from performing, a same-sex marriage service.
14. The superintendent shall neither require any local church to hold or prohibit a local church from holding a same-sex marriage service on property owned by a local church.

This part is big. Some may not be aware that, from the time marriage between same-gendered couples was made legal, our clergy have been prohibited from performing (or even blessing) those marriages. Additionally, our churches were forbidden from having those same marriages in their buildings. To do so would bring ecclesial charges, which for the clergy could have led to suspension or loss of credentials.

The time has come, my friends, when we are truly becoming an inclusive denomination. Gone are the days that I have to tell anyone that I cannot officiate their wedding because of who they love. Gone are the days when these same beautiful people would be turned away from having their weddings in a church. Gone are the days when we have to be discreet about outing our colleagues who had come out to us as gay. Gone are the days when we HARM OR MARGINALIZE ANYONE FOR BEING WHO THEY ARE OR LOVING WHO THEY LOVE!

Today is a new day in the United Methodist Church, and God has richly blessed us with a renewed sense of unity, revitalization, and a profound love that will change the world.

A New Day Has Dawned!