Heading into the second week of General Conference, Michigan Conference delegates are experiencing a positive mood, respectful dialogue, and a curiosity for what the future holds.

JAMES DEATON
Content Editor

As we turn to week two of the 2024 General Conference, the Holy Spirit is moving The United Methodist Church forward, and our Michigan Conference delegates are sensing it.

This week, delegates are turning their sole attention to voting on business items that have passed through legislative committees. Legislation committees are where legislation is debated, sorted, and refined in small committees of delegates before heading for a full vote on the plenary floor. The work of the 14 legislative committees concluded on Saturday evening.

Rev. Megan Walther, clergy delegate from Clarkston UMC, participated in the Church and Society 2 legislative committee, which approved “The Social Community” section of the Revised Social Principles. This section of the Social Principles speaks to subjects like human sexuality, marriage, divorce, care of the dying, abortion, and racism.

Megan noted that she had a good, healthy conversation in her committee despite the possible contentiousness of the topics discussed. She said, “I was surprised that it was not as contentious as it has been in the past. It was very respectful. Overall, it felt like there was a new spirit in the room. And we passed our portion of the Revised Social Principles with a 75% margin, and I felt really positive about that.” This section will be voted on later this week during a plenary vote.

Rev. Brad Bartelmay, clergy reserve delegate, also agreed about the change in tone and spirit in this General Conference, compared to the last time The United Methodist Church met at the special 2019 General Conference in St. Louis. Both Brad and Megan mentioned how contentious that meeting was.

Brad observed the discussions he heard in the Financial Administration Legislative Committee and noted how there were respectful, collegial discussions when there were differences of opinion about various budgetary matters.

Both Megan and Brad alluded to a growing enthusiasm among delegates and attendees regarding the movement The United Methodist Church is taking to lay the groundwork needed for a better future that is aligned with our mission as a global church. Last week’s passing of several key pieces of regionalization legislation is one step in the right direction. More regionalization petitions will be presented to delegates later this week.

“Regionalization,” Brad explained, “is the most important piece of legislation because it will allow us to have room for the church in the United States to pursue our context and the church in Africa to pursue its context while still seeing the things that unite and bind us together. Good things are going to flow from that moment, particularly as we start thinking about the nature and structure of The United Methodist Church and what needs to change.”

Although parts of regionalization have passed, there’s still a lot more work ahead. These amendments to the UMC’s constitution will need at least a two-thirds vote of annual conference lay and clergy voters to be ratified. This vote will happen at the 2025 Michigan Annual Conference, and more details about the specifics of the amendment will be communicated in the coming months.

The positive happenings Brad and Megan are experiencing at General Conference are hopeful signs of how The United Methodist Church can think more creatively moving forward. Both of them have been part of healthy conversations this week that give space to ask honest questions about a church in the midst of profound, structural change.

“It’s a new age, and there’s new energy, and people are asking how we are going to do the new thing we need to do,” said Brad. “I’ve heard people say, ‘Do we really need districts, do we really need jurisdictions?’” Megan wonders, “Why are the state lines automatically the episcopal boundaries? Maybe we can think more creatively moving forward. It does feel like the Holy Spirit is at work, and exciting things are on the way.”

These questions related to finer details of the UMC’s structure are not being answered this year. They will come in due time during subsequent General Conferences. But these Holy Spirit nudges and curiosities are helping to move the church forward as United Methodists stay in dialogue with one another — with all its worldwide members — and live into God’s new vision.

Last Updated on May 2, 2024