What's ahead for the UMC?
There are significant questions the global United Methodist Church (UMC) is currently pondering about the future of the UMC; a future that is likely to lead to new expressions of Methodism over the next couple of years. You may be wondering what conversations and actions are happening around the United Methodist connection in response to decisions made at GC2019. We have created this page where updates will be posted about the status and effects of the GC decisions, and discussions about the future of the UMC.
Judicial Council
RMN Statement on Judicial Council Ruling
Statement on Judicial Council Decision No. 1378
Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) thanks the Judicial Council for its work of deliberating the constitutionality of the Traditionalist Plan and the exit plan passed by delegates to the special session of General Conference 2019 (GC2019). In Decision 1378, the Judicial Council found the exit plan to be constitutional and found seven of the Traditionalist Plan’s 17...
more
A response from Adam Hamilton about the Judicial Council ruling.
Read the facebook post below.
more
Court OKs part of Traditional Plan, exit plan
The United Methodist Church’s top court has found that while some provisions of the newly adopted Traditional Plan remain unconstitutional, the rest of the plan is valid as church law.
more
Judicial Council to meet April 23 – 26
The Judicial Council of the UMC is scheduled to meet April 23 – 26, to review and make declaratory decisions on the constitutionality of the Traditional Plan and Petition 90066, which outlines how a church might disaffiliate from the UMC over issues related to human sexuality.
moreThe Future of the UMC
WCA Conferences Withhold Global Apportionments
We already know that the churches in the United States currently fund 99.4% of the $134 million annual budget for the global church, with only 56% (and declining) of the votes at General Conference to decide how it is spent. But the official 2018 report by the General Council for Finance and Administration (GCFA) tells us some troubling things we did not know.
...
more
76% of US Annual Conferences Reject Traditional Plan
Dear Friends,
The US Annual Conferences are complete and the backlash against the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) and the Traditional Plan is unbelievable, even breathtaking. Fresh off General Conference 2019, with their signature legislation passed, the WCA organized in every annual conference to demonstrate they represent the US church. Fortunately, they published their preferred list of candidates so we can see how they did....
more
Update from Mainstream UMC - 6/19
Dear Friends,
Voting is complete in the conservative South Central Jurisdiction. Within the SCJ, the conservative State of Texas has 5 conservative annual conferences that combine for 44 delegates to General Conference. The Lone Star State has just issued a massive wakeup call to the WCA. Thanks to the Wesleyan Covenant Association for freely publishing their slate of preferred candidates in most conferences, so we can see how they...
more
COR Leadership Institute
Rev. Adam Hamilton (Senior Pastor of Church of the Resurrection) has convened a group of lay and clergy leaders from across the United States to discuss potential new expressions of Methodism. Here is a link to the latest press release from UMC Next Conversations.It is rumored that Church of the...
more
Mainstream UMC
Mainstream UMC is a group that advocated for the One Church Plan. They continue to advocate for a more gracious Methodist church in its wake. You can read about how their mission has shifted based on the outcome of GC-2019 here.
moreLocal Conversations
Living Into Beloved Community
At the 2019 Rio Texas Annual Conference, Bishop Karen Oliveto will speak about “Living Into Beloved Community" at the Peace & Justice luncheon on Thursday, June 6, at noon.
moreConfession, Commitment, and Calling
There is also a Statement of Confession, Commitment, and Calling: A Rio Texas Laity Response to General Conference 2019 that is collecting signatures.
moreClergy Pledge of Unity
A Clergy Pledge of Unity has been drafted and circulated for Rio Texas Conference pastors to sign to express support for conference leadership to lead in the spirit of the One Church Plan.
more
