General Conference 2020 Legislation
[ALERT: This page is part of the global legislative process that The United Methodist Church uses to democratically organize itself. It's a little geeky, so if you're not in the fandom, it might not be for you.]
As part of a broad working group, Curtis Brown has submitted a collection of legislation for delegates to consider at the 2020 General Conference session of The United Methodist Church. These pieces are meant to be helpful tools for the delegates. These might not be the most preferred options, but if the General Conference is not able to build a coalition of support to one of the more comprehensive plans coming before the General Conference, then these might be alternatives to inaction. The petitions will be available in all the conference languages with the publication of the Advanced Daily Christian Advocate in February. You can read them as submitted here:
As part of a broad working group, Curtis Brown has submitted a collection of legislation for delegates to consider at the 2020 General Conference session of The United Methodist Church. These pieces are meant to be helpful tools for the delegates. These might not be the most preferred options, but if the General Conference is not able to build a coalition of support to one of the more comprehensive plans coming before the General Conference, then these might be alternatives to inaction. The petitions will be available in all the conference languages with the publication of the Advanced Daily Christian Advocate in February. You can read them as submitted here:
Empowering Jurisdictional Conferences to Create Missionary Conferences
Suggested Title: Empowering Jurisdictional Conferences to Create Missionary Conferences
Discipline Paragraph: ¶ 587
General Church Budget Implications: None
Global Implications: None
Rationale:
This would give to jurisdiction conferences the power to create missionary conferences for contextual adaptations in their regions but would not encumber the General Board of Global Ministries with the requirement to provide funding for those missionary conferences.
Petition:
Amend ¶587, effective as of at the close of the General Conference 2020 as follows:
Only the General Conference or a jurisdictional conference can create a missionary conference or change a missionary conference to a provisional annual conference or an annual conference. For a missionary conference created by General Conference a petition to the General Conference for change in status from a missionary conference shall set forth details of the history and status of the conference and shall be accompanied by a report and recommendation of the General Board of Global Ministries. The General Board of Global Ministries shall not be required to provide administrative guidance and financial assistance to a missionary conference created by a jurisdictional conference, but instead that missionary conference shall be directly amenable to the jurisdictional conference which created it. That jurisdictional conference shall provide provision for the administration guidance and financial assistance ascribed to the General Board of Global Ministries in ¶586 and ¶587.
Discipline Paragraph: ¶ 587
General Church Budget Implications: None
Global Implications: None
Rationale:
This would give to jurisdiction conferences the power to create missionary conferences for contextual adaptations in their regions but would not encumber the General Board of Global Ministries with the requirement to provide funding for those missionary conferences.
Petition:
Amend ¶587, effective as of at the close of the General Conference 2020 as follows:
Only the General Conference or a jurisdictional conference can create a missionary conference or change a missionary conference to a provisional annual conference or an annual conference. For a missionary conference created by General Conference a petition to the General Conference for change in status from a missionary conference shall set forth details of the history and status of the conference and shall be accompanied by a report and recommendation of the General Board of Global Ministries. The General Board of Global Ministries shall not be required to provide administrative guidance and financial assistance to a missionary conference created by a jurisdictional conference, but instead that missionary conference shall be directly amenable to the jurisdictional conference which created it. That jurisdictional conference shall provide provision for the administration guidance and financial assistance ascribed to the General Board of Global Ministries in ¶586 and ¶587.
Empowering Jurisdictional Conferences for Contextual Adaptation
Suggested Title: Empowering Jurisdictional Conferences for Contextual Adaptation
Discipline Paragraph: ¶525
General Church Budget Implications: None
Global Implications: None
Rational:
This would grant to jurisdictional conferences the identical contextual adaptation powers granted to central conferences in ¶543. This would allow the General Conference to focus on global church matters and the central and jurisdictional conferences to focus on regional matters.
Petition:
Amend ¶525, effective as of at the close of the General Conference 2020 as follows:
525. Powers and Duties of Jurisdictional Conference—The jurisdictional conference shall have powers and duties as described in the Constitution. It shall also have such other powers and duties as may be conferred by the General Conference. It shall act in all respects in harmony with the policy of The United Methodist Church with respect to elimination of discrimination based upon race.
1. A jurisdictional conference shall have power to make such changes and adaptations of the Book of Discipline as the special conditions and the mission of the church in the area require, especially concerning the organization and administration of the work on local church, district, and annual conference levels, provided that no action shall be taken that is contrary to the Constitution and the General Rules of The United Methodist Church, and provided that the spirit of connectional relationship is kept between the local and the general church. Subject to this restriction, a jurisdictional conference may delegate to an annual conference within its boundaries the power to make one or the other of the changes and adaptations referred to in this paragraph, upon the request of such annual conference.
2. A jurisdictional conference shall have power to make changes and adaptations in procedure pertaining to the annual, district, and charge conferences within its territory and to add to the business of the annual conference supplementary questions considered desirable or necessary to meet its own needs.
3. A jurisdictional conference shall have authority to adopt rules of procedure governing the investigation and trial of its clergy, including bishops, and lay members of the Church and to provide the necessary means and methods of implementing the said rules; provided, however, that the ordained ministers shall not be deprived of the right of trial by a clergy committee, and lay members of the Church of the right of trial by a duly constituted committee of lay members; and provided also, that the rights of appeal shall be adequately safeguarded.
4. A jurisdictional conference shall have authority to edit and publish a jurisdictional conference Discipline, which shall contain in addition to the Constitution of the Church such sections from the general Discipline of The United Methodist Church as may be pertinent to the entire Church and also such revised, adapted, or new sections as shall have been enacted by the jurisdictional conference concerned under the powers given by the General Conference.
Discipline Paragraph: ¶525
General Church Budget Implications: None
Global Implications: None
Rational:
This would grant to jurisdictional conferences the identical contextual adaptation powers granted to central conferences in ¶543. This would allow the General Conference to focus on global church matters and the central and jurisdictional conferences to focus on regional matters.
Petition:
Amend ¶525, effective as of at the close of the General Conference 2020 as follows:
525. Powers and Duties of Jurisdictional Conference—The jurisdictional conference shall have powers and duties as described in the Constitution. It shall also have such other powers and duties as may be conferred by the General Conference. It shall act in all respects in harmony with the policy of The United Methodist Church with respect to elimination of discrimination based upon race.
1. A jurisdictional conference shall have power to make such changes and adaptations of the Book of Discipline as the special conditions and the mission of the church in the area require, especially concerning the organization and administration of the work on local church, district, and annual conference levels, provided that no action shall be taken that is contrary to the Constitution and the General Rules of The United Methodist Church, and provided that the spirit of connectional relationship is kept between the local and the general church. Subject to this restriction, a jurisdictional conference may delegate to an annual conference within its boundaries the power to make one or the other of the changes and adaptations referred to in this paragraph, upon the request of such annual conference.
2. A jurisdictional conference shall have power to make changes and adaptations in procedure pertaining to the annual, district, and charge conferences within its territory and to add to the business of the annual conference supplementary questions considered desirable or necessary to meet its own needs.
3. A jurisdictional conference shall have authority to adopt rules of procedure governing the investigation and trial of its clergy, including bishops, and lay members of the Church and to provide the necessary means and methods of implementing the said rules; provided, however, that the ordained ministers shall not be deprived of the right of trial by a clergy committee, and lay members of the Church of the right of trial by a duly constituted committee of lay members; and provided also, that the rights of appeal shall be adequately safeguarded.
4. A jurisdictional conference shall have authority to edit and publish a jurisdictional conference Discipline, which shall contain in addition to the Constitution of the Church such sections from the general Discipline of The United Methodist Church as may be pertinent to the entire Church and also such revised, adapted, or new sections as shall have been enacted by the jurisdictional conference concerned under the powers given by the General Conference.
Create Missionary Conference in the North Central Jurisdiction
Suggested Title: Create Missionary Conference in the North Central Jurisdiction
General Church Budget Implications: None
Global Implications: None
Rationale:
In order to create a new, adaptive, innovative expression of United Methodism in the North Central Jurisdiction, a new missionary conference would allow for the creation of contextually appropriate polity within the North Central Jurisdiction.
Petition:
In accordance with ¶587 Book of Discipline 2016, the 2020 General Conference shall create a new missionary conference whose boundaries would be the borders of the North Central Jurisdiction. The General Board of Global Ministries may provide administrative guidance but shall not be required to provide financial assistance to this new missionary conference.
General Church Budget Implications: None
Global Implications: None
Rationale:
In order to create a new, adaptive, innovative expression of United Methodism in the North Central Jurisdiction, a new missionary conference would allow for the creation of contextually appropriate polity within the North Central Jurisdiction.
Petition:
In accordance with ¶587 Book of Discipline 2016, the 2020 General Conference shall create a new missionary conference whose boundaries would be the borders of the North Central Jurisdiction. The General Board of Global Ministries may provide administrative guidance but shall not be required to provide financial assistance to this new missionary conference.
Create Missionary Conference in the United States of America
Suggested Title: Create Missionary Conference in the United States of America
General Church Budget Implications: None
Global Implications: None
Rationale:
In order to create a new, adaptive, innovative expression of United Methodism in the United States, a new missionary conference would allow for the creation of contextually appropriate polity within the United States.
Petition:
In accordance with ¶587 Book of Discipline 2016, the 2020 General Conference shall create a new missionary conference whose boundaries would be the national borders of the United States of America and other territories assigned to the jurisdictional conferences. The General Board of Global Ministries may provide administrative guidance but shall not be required to provide financial assistance to this new missionary conference.
General Church Budget Implications: None
Global Implications: None
Rationale:
In order to create a new, adaptive, innovative expression of United Methodism in the United States, a new missionary conference would allow for the creation of contextually appropriate polity within the United States.
Petition:
In accordance with ¶587 Book of Discipline 2016, the 2020 General Conference shall create a new missionary conference whose boundaries would be the national borders of the United States of America and other territories assigned to the jurisdictional conferences. The General Board of Global Ministries may provide administrative guidance but shall not be required to provide financial assistance to this new missionary conference.
Calling a Constituting Conference
Suggested Title: Calling a Constituting Conference
Discipline ¶61
General Church Budget Implications: None
Global Implications: Yes
Rationale:
This petition would add a process for the United Methodist Church to adopt a new constitution as a whole instead of through individual amendments.
Petition:
Amend The Constitution of The United Methodist Church by adding a new division following ¶61 as follows:
Division Six – Constituting Conference
Article I.—A Constituting Conference may be called by a two-thirds majority of the General Conference present and voting. The purpose of the Constituting Conference shall be to draft and propose a new Constitution of The United Methodist Church. Upon ratification, this new Constitution shall supersede all previous petitions, resolutions, or General Conference actions, including all sections of The Book of Discipline.
Article II.--The Constituting Conference, possessing the authority and exercising all the powers of the General Conference, shall be organized in such manner as the General Conference will prescribe, to meet at such time and in such place as may be stated in the call. Such a Constituting Conference shall be composed of the delegates to the preceding General Conference or their lawful successors, except that when a particular annual conference or missionary conference shall prefer to have a new election it may do so.
Article III.--A two-thirds majority of the Constitutional Conference present and voting may propose a new Constitution of The United Methodist Church. The Constitution shall be ratified by a two-thirds majority vote of two-thirds of the annual and missionary conferences. The vote, after being completed, shall be canvassed by the Council of Bishops, and the Constitution shall become effective upon their announcement of its having received the required majority.
Article IV.--In the event that the Constituting Conference adopts a new Constitution, the Constituting Conference may immediately adopt enabling legislation which shall be contingent on ratification and contemporaneously with the new Constitution, unless said legislation provides for a later effective date. In the same manner, a central, jurisdictional, provisional, missionary, or annual conference may approve legislation in anticipation of such a change in the Constitution that would likewise become effective upon ratification, unless said legislation provides for a later effective date.
Discipline ¶61
General Church Budget Implications: None
Global Implications: Yes
Rationale:
This petition would add a process for the United Methodist Church to adopt a new constitution as a whole instead of through individual amendments.
Petition:
Amend The Constitution of The United Methodist Church by adding a new division following ¶61 as follows:
Division Six – Constituting Conference
Article I.—A Constituting Conference may be called by a two-thirds majority of the General Conference present and voting. The purpose of the Constituting Conference shall be to draft and propose a new Constitution of The United Methodist Church. Upon ratification, this new Constitution shall supersede all previous petitions, resolutions, or General Conference actions, including all sections of The Book of Discipline.
Article II.--The Constituting Conference, possessing the authority and exercising all the powers of the General Conference, shall be organized in such manner as the General Conference will prescribe, to meet at such time and in such place as may be stated in the call. Such a Constituting Conference shall be composed of the delegates to the preceding General Conference or their lawful successors, except that when a particular annual conference or missionary conference shall prefer to have a new election it may do so.
Article III.--A two-thirds majority of the Constitutional Conference present and voting may propose a new Constitution of The United Methodist Church. The Constitution shall be ratified by a two-thirds majority vote of two-thirds of the annual and missionary conferences. The vote, after being completed, shall be canvassed by the Council of Bishops, and the Constitution shall become effective upon their announcement of its having received the required majority.
Article IV.--In the event that the Constituting Conference adopts a new Constitution, the Constituting Conference may immediately adopt enabling legislation which shall be contingent on ratification and contemporaneously with the new Constitution, unless said legislation provides for a later effective date. In the same manner, a central, jurisdictional, provisional, missionary, or annual conference may approve legislation in anticipation of such a change in the Constitution that would likewise become effective upon ratification, unless said legislation provides for a later effective date.
