Rev. Paul Perez, co-chair of the Michigan Conference delegation to General Conference, reviews and reflects upon the many changes 2024 brought to The United Methodist Church.

REV. PAUL PEREZ
Lead Minister, Detroit: Central UMC

The New Year is traditionally a moment to pause at the turning of the calendar and reflect, reviewing the year that was and resolving to face the year to come.

2024 was a momentous, historic year for The United Methodist Church. Over two long weeks in Charlotte, North Carolina, the long-awaited General Conference, postponed since 2020, reset our denomination’s structure, social teaching, policies, and finances. Click to learn more.

• • General Conference restructured the UMC regionally to balance worldwide unity and regional self-determination. Click to learn more.
  • General Conference revised the Social Principles to be more succinct, theologically grounded, and globally relevant. Click to learn more.
  • General Conference removed policies and procedures that discriminated against LGBTQIA+ people and their allies. Click to learn more.
  • General Conference reduced the 2025-2028 denominational budget by about 40%. Click to learn more.

2024 also marked the end of disaffiliation. The General Conference did not pass petitions to renew disaffiliation, and the Judicial Council recently struck down any annual conference “separation plans” that sought to replicate the disaffiliation process. Click to learn more.

United Methodists around the world responded generously and compassionately to communities impacted by natural disasters in 2024 and remain engaged in recovery efforts to rebuild for months and years ahead. A true testament to the strength of our connection to “do good’ and embody the love of God and neighbor.

Reacting to the Resets of 2024

The General Conference resets were historic. Methodism has pursued restructuring akin to global regionalization since 1928. For over half a century, United Methodism has wrestled with fully including queer and transgender people in church life and ministry. Persistent advocates for decolonization and LGBTQIA+ inclusion — those who organized, strategized, preached, sang, prayed, and even faced arrest over the past century — saw their work culminate in the votes in Charlotte.

These major resets bring mixed emotions.

Lament for decades of harm. For those who fought but did not see this day. For queer and transgender friends forced out, those who left for well-being, and those who stayed in fear. These votes cannot erase harm inflicted by colonial, homophobic, and transphobic policies.

Celebration for renewed commitment to a church embracing unity, regional diversity, and contextualization. For resetting polity and removing harmful language.

I will repeat the words I offered during the General Conference delegation report at the 2024 Michigan Annual Conference.

“To my queer and transgender kin: You were always and already compatible with Christian teaching. No vote can ever take this away or grant this gracious reality, this divine gift. You are unique and unrepeatable miracles of God. You are God’s beloved. God has called you for such a time as this. Thank you for witnessing to the wideness of God’s love, the queerness of God’s grace.”

Looking Forward to 2025 — Resolve and Refounding

What lies ahead in the next year for The United Methodist Church? Here are my hopes.

We resolve to ratify regionalization amendments. The General Conference passed constitutional amendments that require ratification by members of all the annual conferences and central conferences around the world. Eligible clergy and lay members of our Michigan Conference will have an opportunity to vote on the amendments at this year’s Annual Conference. More educational materials will be shared with you soon. I encourage all our members to review and approve these amendments.

We resolve to wrestle with denominational budget cuts and resulting realistic and reimagined roles for bishops. The financial reset immediately reduced the number of active bishops in the United States. In our North Central Jurisdiction, we went from nine to six active bishops. This reduction resulted in Bishop David Bard being assigned to Michigan and sharing an assignment to the Illinois Great Rivers Conference with Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai of Iowa. Click to read more. It also led to the creation of two episcopal areas — the Wisconsin-Northern Illinois Episcopal Area and The Ohio Episcopal Area, served by Bishop Dan Schwerin and Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, respectively. Our bishops are stretched thin by unsustainable assignments, responsibilities, and expectations. We need to rethink the episcopacy in the United States.

But most importantly, I really hope we resolve to undertake a refounding of United Methodism.

I have written about refounding in the past (click to read). I still believe we are in a refounding moment. Refounding is not about repeating the past. I believe it is a response to God’s invitation to rediscover and reclaim our Methodism inheritance (learn more) in order to recommit and respond to God’s seeking, saving, healing, and liberating love in our lives, our communities, and the world.

I believe the resets offer the possibility of leaning into this refounding moment.

Refounding is, for me, the most important because it is not work that can be done solely by conferences, committees, or commissions. It cannot be legislated.

The refounding moment is a gift from God. It is, therefore, a collaboration between God and every one of us. Each and every United Methodist can undertake refounding in our local church and/or ministry setting right now. We don’t have to wait for a vote or permission. It is our sacred commission and work to do.

How might each of us resolve to refound our corner of United Methodism in 2025?

Editorial note: As we enter 2025, MIconnect asked Rev. Paul Perez, co-chair of the Michigan Conference delegation that served at this year’s General Conference and North Central Jurisdictional Conference, to summarize the changes 2024 brought to The United Methodist Church. Paul was recently named to the design team for the Council of Bishops’ Leadership Gathering, scheduled for spring 2026.

Enjoy what you are reading? Click here to subscribe to our MiConnect e-newsletter and receive articles like this one in your inbox each Wednesday.

Last Updated on December 20, 2024