A decision to have each of the five U.S. jurisdictions of The United Methodist Church separately bear the cost

of episcopal leadership was deemed "unconstitutional" in a May 3 ruling by the denomination's top court, which reverses General Conference approval given on the consent calendar.

The United Methodist Judicial Council also found action that authorizes the General Council on Finance and Administration to negotiate apportionments with designated missionary conferences and the annual (regional) conferences of the central conferences outside the United States to be in violation of the church's constitution.

Judicial Council Decision No. 1208 referred to action taken by consent May 1 during the 2012 General Conference on the apportionment formula. Apportionments are the portion of the financial gifts collected by local congregations that support general church ministries.

Report 8 from the church's finance agency was amended in committee action to remove the Episcopal Fund — the fund that supports the U.S. bishops — from the general church funds apportioned to all annual conferences.

Members of the council were acting on a request from the United Methodist Council of Bishops for a declaratory decision on the "constitutionality, meaning, application or effect" of the legislation, Calendar Item 479.

One of the duties of the nine-member Judicial Council is to determine the constitutionality or legality of acts of the General Conference.

During a May 3 oral hearing in the Judicial Council meeting room at the Marriott Waterside, several bishops spoke in response to the Council of Bishops' request, along with Bonnie Marden, who spoke on behalf of the interjurisdictional committee on episcopacy.

As the principal spokesperson for the bishops, Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. (California-Nevada Annual Conference), said that body believes the adopted legislation "directly impacts the role of bishops as general superintendents," which is their primary identification.

He argued that a bishop becomes a general superintendent of the church before assignment to residential responsibilities. The council has general oversight for the entire church and authority over all matters connectional, Brown pointed out, including defining the powers, privileges and duties of the episcopacy, adopting a plan for support and providing for retirement or discontinuance because of "unacceptability."

Alabama-West Florida Area Bishop Paul Leeland said the Book of Discipline, the denomination's lawbook, does not give jurisdictions authority to negotiate or administer episcopal salaries. "If the paymaster were the jurisdictional conference, then it would create a regionalism that would undermine the historical life of the episcopacy," he declared.

Mardon said the interjurisdictional committee on episcopacy believed the amended formula to be a transition from a connectional system "to a direct bill concept" that "feels contrary to our polity."

But Don House, representing the financial administration legislative committee, disputed the "direct bill" description, saying the amended formula is "trying to create an incentive among the jurisdictions to be aware of the amount of money they pull out of the episcopal fund."

The incentive would be a reduction in the number of bishops by each region to control costs. In recent years, he pointed out, annual conferences have used the same strategy by reducing the number of district superintendents as a way to ease budget pressures.

House said he believes the authority to determine how the church makes apportionments "belongs to GCFA." Allocating responsibility for the Episcopal Fund to the jurisdictions does not change how the episcopacy functions or how funds are spent, House added. "All it does is address the way the funds are collected."

In its decision, the Judicial Council said that while General Conference "provides the legislative process for action on the Episcopal Fund," it cannot delegate authority to another body, delegate any legislative powers to subordinate bodies or take action "contrary to the Constitution."

Court members agreed with the Council of Bishops that jurisdictions have no constitutional authority "to bear responsibility for funds that are collected otherwise."

Nor does General Conference or subordinate bodies, such as the General Council on Finance and Administration, have constitutional authority "to engage in negotiating the apportionments of church funds," the ruling said.

In this case, that refers to negotiations with the Rio Grande Annual Conference and the Alaska, Red Bird and Oklahoma Indian missionary conferences, along with the annual conferences of the central conferences.

The constitution specifies "a unified superintendency and episcopacy," the council pointed out. "The proposal in Calendar Item 479 creates a funding mechanism which is dependent upon raising funds from jurisdictions and that invades and undermines the 'unified' nature of the episcopacy."

While the church's finance agency has the authority to recommend apportionment formulas, "the constitutional authority and legislative responsibility for these matters remain with the General Conference, which cannot delegate or assign them elsewhere," the Judicial Council ruling stated.

GC 2012: Vote Ends Guaranteed Appointments

Many delegates were surprised and even shocked by how quickly a far-reaching proposal that takes away the security of guaranteed appointments for ordained elders breezed by The United Methodist 2012 General Conference.

The item was approved as part of a large numbers of proposals in the assembly's April 30 consent calendar. The consent calendar is a tool used by General Conference to expedite legislation wherein recommendations from legislative committees with no more than 10 votes are grouped and passed together.

Under this new legislation, bishops and cabinets will be allowed to give elders less than full-time appointment. The legislation also would permit bishops and their cabinets, with the approval of their boards of ordained ministry and annual (regional) conference's executive session, to put elders on unpaid transitional leave for up to 24 months. Clergy on transitional leave would be able to participate in their conference health program through their own contributions.

Under the legislation, each annual conference is asked to name a task force to develop a list of criteria to guide the cabinets and bishops as they make missional appointments.

The cabinets shall report to the executive committees of Board of Ordained Ministry the number of clergy without fulltime appointments and their age, gender, and ethnicity. Cabinets will also be asked to report their learnings as appointment-making is conducted in a new way.

Earlier the assembly voted down a proposal that would have allowed elders and deacons to be eligible for ordination as soon as they complete their educational requirements after serving a minimum of two years as a provisional elder or deacon.

"We have clergy who have proved ineffective and the ways of dealing with them are cumbersome," said the Rev. David Dodge, a member of the study commission. "Removing the security of employment allows bishops to deploy clergy more appropriately to do missional ministry," Dodge said.

GC 2012: Delegates Cannot Agree That They Disagree on Sexuality Issue

After more than an hour of passionate debate and clear disagreement, two items stating Christians have

different opinions about homosexuality were not approved by the 2012 General Conference, leaving the original language in the Book of Discipline intact.

The Book of Discipline, Paragraph 161F states: "The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching."

The Rev. Adam Hamilton, pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kan., and the Rev. Mike Slaughter, pastor of Ginghamsburg Church, Tipp City, Ohio, proposed a substitution to 161F that sought to clarify that United Methodists disagree on whether homosexual practice is contrary to the will of God and urged unity over division and respect for co-existence. Their substitution replaced the last paragraph of a petition submitted by the Global Convocation of Young People after its 2010 conference.

Hamilton reminded delegates to the 2012 United Methodist General Conference that John Wesley once said, "Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may."

As discussion on the petition began, many who support including lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people quietly stood outside the bar of the plenary floor praying, holding hands and signs. Throughout the days leading up to the legislation, members of coalitions seeking equality and inclusion for all had been protesting and praying for change. After the vote to keep the original wording in the Book of Discipline, they moved to the altar singing, "Let us Break Bread Together."

"Many feel we need to take a strong stand against homosexuality," said the Rev. James Howell, of the Western North Carolina Annual (regional) Conference "What matters is God's will. We have said for a long time we do not condone homosexuality, but they are here, they are in our delegations, they are serving our churches. They keep coming back … there is a kind of miracle in that."

The Rev. Maxie Dunham of the Kentucky Annual (regional) Conference spoke against the substitution saying, "It leaves out good teaching." There is no reason at all to state we disagree, because we disagree about almost everything, he said.

Slaughter said agreeing to disagree was necessary because there are people within his church and others that do disagree. "At Ginghamsburg, we have Christ-centered, Bible-believing Christians who are against this and for this and somehow it is working when we agree to disagree. … It's making one heaven of a difference in Dayton, Ohio, and in places as far as Darfur, Sudan."

Ralph Williams, a lay delegate from the Baltimore-Washington Annual (regional) Conference said some of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Christians attending this conference "have been told they should be stoned, that this is what the Bible prescribes for our sin." He said those conversations took place during holy conferencing sessions.

When asked the intention behind the substitution, Hamilton replied it would not change the church's stance on same-sex marriage or ordination of gay clergy.

The discussion around the petition also included debate about whether homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.

Kashal M. Kabung, South-West Katanga Annual Conference, said he did not believe homosexuality was created by God. "I stand to say the grace of God is for all people but the grace of God does not allow us to sin," he said.

Jen Ihlo, a Baltimore-Washington Annual (regional) Conference lay delegate, worked on the committee and subcommittee on human sexuality and said there was lengthy debate about where the church is on homosexuality. She said we heard our Central Conference brothers and sisters ask us, "Where was the compromise?

"This petition represents that compromise; it states our positions are vastly different. I am a lesbian and a child of God. I strongly urge the body to adopt this compromise so gay youth will recognize the church loves them and the pain will stop."

"We disagree, and we do need tolerance, but for some, tolerance means all beliefs are equal, and that is not true," said the Rev. Jim Cowart, delegate from South Georgia Annual (regional) Conference. "We love you just like you are, and we love you enough to tell you what scriptures say."

At the end of the discussion, supporters of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people crowded around the altar, singing. The session ended early because of the demonstration, which is continuing.

Some observers carried out a silent, prayerful witness Thursday morning (May 3) at 2012 General Conference, prior to the vote on human sexuality legislation. Watch video here.

The Rev. John Oda (left) of the northern California-northern Nevada region of The United Methodist Church explains the May 3 protest of a vote on human sexuality, at 2012 General Conference (the denomination's legislative body, which meets every four years). Watch video here.

As Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. of California-Nevada was closing the Wednesday (May 2) afternoon plenary with prayer, a demonstration in support of full inclusion nearly drowned out his words. Watch video here.

GC 2012: Delegates Reject Divestment from Companies

TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS)—Delegates to The United Methodist Church's top lawmaking assembly approved petitions dealing with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, but they did not approve a measure to divest from specific companies.

Delegates instead approved a report calling on the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits to explore "serious peace-making strategies in Israel and Palestine, including positive economic and financial investment in Palestine."

The Israeli-Palestinian issue dominated the May 2 afternoon plenary at General Conference. Nearly 990 delegates from around the world are gathered through May 4 for the assembly, held every four years.

The petition originally called for divestment from Motorola Solutions, Hewlett-Packard and Caterpillar, which provide products that are used by the Israeli military in the occupation of Palestinian lands. The Finance and Administration Committee instead substituted language urging "positive, rather than punitive options," according to Jessica Vargo, East Ohio delegate and committee chairperson.

The petition also asked United Methodist general agencies and boards to ask companies to adopt United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and to consider economic sanctions with companies that refuse.

Vargo noted this petition did not mean that divestment from companies would not be considered. Rather, the petition placed the decision to divest into the hands of the Board of Pension and Health Benefits, as has been historically done, not General Conference.

A minority report urging divestment and calling on United Methodist boards, agencies, annual conferences and local churches to take into consideration a company's involvement in Israeli occupation when making investment decisions was rejected.

Those opposed to the committee's recommendation said it did not go far enough in helping end the struggles of the Palestinian people and that past efforts encouraging companies to change their behavior had not worked.

Robert Lee, 19, a student at Appalachia State University, Boone, N.C., and a delegate from the Western North Carolina Annual (regional) Conference, said he was moved by stories about those who were injured or killed when Palestinian homes were bulldozed to make way for settlement building.

"If we're trying to show this a conference of change, it's time to put our money where our mouth is," he said, advocating for divestment.

Sarah Ann Swenson, a delegate from Minnesota, said the lack of concrete action on the issue is one reason "people between the ages of 18 and 21 are missing" from The United Methodist Church. They see the church as "small-minded and hypocritical."

"This petition is devoid of any possible way to put our dollars to good work," she said. "If we can't take action, let's at least stop hiding behind pretty rhetoric."

Those opposed to the minority report said targeting specific companies blames the companies for making the products, rather than citing the people who use the products, and it might set a precedent for divestment from other companies related to a myriad of social issues.

Delegates also approved a petition calling for opposition to Israeli settlements on Palestinian land through nonviolent responses, but the petition did not specify what those responses would be.

A rejected minority report did note specific actions: encouraging Palestinians and Israelis to engage in direct negotiations toward a two-state solution "and an end to the Israel occupation and settlement building," calling on the U.S. government to renew negotiations, and committing to study and make concrete recommendations for action by the church that do not include boycott of any party.

"I am encouraged; this was an educational session," said Tracy Smith Malone, chair of Church and Society Committee A. "I think we opened the eyes of delegates, and now they will have conversations in their local churches and annual conferences about aligning investments with our values. I think our Christian friends in Palestine will hear we stood in solidarity with them. We could not have even had this conversation four years ago."

*Parham is a freelance writer, editor and communications consultant based in Apopka, Fla., and serving as part of the United Methodist News Service team at General Conference 2012.

GC 2012: 'Plan UMC' Referred to the Judicial Council

Plan UMC, the plan for restructuring of the United Methodist Church, was referred to the Judicial Council for review by a vote of 505 to 344 in regards to the constitutionality of the restructuring plan.

One of the critiques offered of the new plan is that it seems similar to the old General Council on Ministries structure that was discontinued with the creation of the current Connectional Table. The original legislation that created the General Council of Ministries was ruled unconstitutional by the Judicial Council, who stated that the constitution did not make provision for a single body to assume the authority reserved for the General Conference in guiding the work of the church.

GC2012: Set-Aside Bishop Proposal Fails

The General Conference on April 30 decided not to approve a petition that would have created a new full-time role for the president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops.

Calendar item 219, Petition 20314, received a simple majority of 55.12 percent of the vote in favor, but it fell short of the two-thirds total required to pass because it dealt with a paragraph of the denomination's constitution.

The petition stated that the council "may elect from its active membership a full-time president" who also would "be relieved from residential responsibilities" while in that office.

Both the outgoing council president, Bishop Larry Goodpaster of Western North Carolina, and the Superintendency Legislative Committee chairperson, the Rev. Ellen Alston from Louisiana, appealed for passage of the proposal, which was first made to the 1968 General Conference. Several delegates rose to express their fear that a full-time council president would have too much power or that the position would be thought of as "the face of The United Methodist Church," whether that was the intention or not.

Goodpaster repeated several points that he and other bishops have stressed throughout the process. "This position is to guide and focus the Council of Bishops and to give more time and energy to that."

In response to a question from a Liberian delegate as to whether there was anything wrong with the church's current system, Goodpaster said there was really no change in church polity. "This office would be a person who would guide the mission of the church," he said. "As we live into being a global church, we need to be totally focused and aligned."

A motion to have the full General Conference elect the bishop without residential assignment was defeated, as it had been in the legislative committee.

Delegates also defeated a substitute motion to create a study commission to bring back a report on the proposal in 2016. "It's been thought about for decades," Goodpaster countered. The proposal to create a position of bishop without residential responsibilities was first offered in 1968 but has never advanced out of General Conference.

After the vote Goodpaster pointed out that the council has already taken steps to reform its internal structure and leadership.

"The Council of Bishops will continue to devote ourselves to the mission of the church as servants of Christ Jesus," Goodpaster told United Methodist News Service. "The General Conference has decided and we move on with hope and confidence that the mission will be advanced. We will continue to focus our energy on the adaptive challenge and lead our episcopal areas and the whole church toward increasing the number of vital congregations around the globe.

"We know that the demands placed upon the president of the council will continue to expand," he continued. "We will all find ways to support and encourage the person elected in every way possible as all of us who have served as president of the council have experienced."

GC 2012: Council of Bishops Leadership Change

The new Council of Bishops leadership team was presented at the 2012 United Methodist General Conference in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday, May 1.

Bishop Rosemarie Wenner of Germany is the new president on the Council of Bishops succeeding Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster. Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., episcopal leader of the San Francisco Area of The United Methodist Church and resident bishop in the California-Nevada Annual Conference, has taken Wenner's place as president-designate, and Bishop Mary Ann Swenson bishop in the California-Pacific Annual Conference is the new secretary.

Wenner began her term on the third day of the 2012 General Conference and will hold office for two years. Bishop Brown will succeed her in 2014.

GC2012: Four Elected to Judicial Council

Two Africans were the top vote-getters for open seats on the United Methodist Judicial Council, the denomination’s top court.

The United Methodist General Conference conducted elections April 30 for two clergy and two lay positions on the nine-member council. Members are elected for eight-year terms and five of the current council members are still serving those terms.

Elected to fill the two open clergy positions were the Rev. J. Kabamba Kiboko of the Southern Congo Annual (regional) Conference in Africa, who was nominated from the floor, and the Rev. Dennis L. Blackwell of the Greater New Jersey Conference, who had just completed a term on the Judicial Council and was re-nominated by the Council of Bishops.

The first woman ordained in the Southern Congo Conference, Kiboko recently was elected president of the denomination's African Clergywomen. She holds advanced degrees from Iliff and Perkins theological seminaries, currently serves as an associate pastor and has been a translator at General Conference since 1992.

Blackwell has been pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Woodlynne, N.J., for 25 years and is enrolled in the Ph.D. program at Alvernia University. He also has a master's degree from Asbury Seminary and served on Judicial Council from 2004 to 2012.

Elected to fill the council's two open lay positions were N. Oswald Tweh Sr., of the Liberian Conference in Africa, nominated by the Council of Bishops, and Beth Capen, New York Conference, who was re-nominated by the Council of Bishops after finishing her term on Judicial Council.

Tweh holds law degrees from the University of Liberia and Harvard University. He has served as assistant professor at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia and was president of the Liberian National Bar Association from 2006-2008.

Capen, who served numerous times as a New York Conference delegate to General Conference, was first elected to Judicial Council in 2004. A lawyer in private practice, she also has served on general church agencies and commissions and is active at the conference, district and local church levels.

The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, who has served as the Judicial Council president from 2008-12, was not re-elected but is among the clergy alternates.

The Rev. Timothy K. Bruster, Central Texas Conference, was elected the first clergy alternate. Other clergy alternate members elected, in order, were the Rev. John E. Harnish, Detroit; Henry-Crowe, South Carolina; the Rev. Øyvind Helliesen, Norway; the Rev. Jane A. Tews, Desert Southwest; and the Rev. Laura B. Easto, Baltimore-Washington.

Elected as the first lay alternative was Sandra W. Lutz, East Ohio Conference. Other lay alternate members elected, in order, were Kurt Glassco, Oklahoma; Randall Miller, California-Nevada; Deanell Reece Tacha, Kansas East; W. Warren Plowden Jr., South Georgia; and Reynaldo de Villa Abdon, Philippines Cavite.

The Judicial Council is required to review each decision on a point of law made by a bishop during an annual conference session. Other cases come from lower church courts or from an official body of the church requesting a declaratory decision as to the legality of a particular action. There usually are several requests during General Conference for declaratory decisions.

GC 2012: Pan-Methodists Celebrate Together

After several hundred years of separation, members of six Pan-Methodist denominations have committed to ministry together.

The United Methodist Church is the last of the denominations to adopt the full communion agreement, which was celebrated May 1 during the 2012 General Conference.

The affirmation establishes a new relationship among the African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, African Union Methodist Protestant, Christian Methodist Episcopal, Union American Methodist Episcopal and United Methodist denominations.

Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader, ecumenical officer for the United Methodist Council of Bishops, noted that acknowledging past difficulties is part of the process. "We believe this is a significant moment in all of our histories," she said during a news conference preceding the celebration.

For the CME church, an outgrowth of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, this moment is one of lasting significance, said Bishop Thomas Hoyt Jr., who has a long history of involvement with United Methodists through the Pan-Methodist Commission and ecumenical organizations.

"I believe the best for Methodism is yet before us," added AME Bishop John White. "This full communion gives us an opportunity to make our witness around the world."

The Rev. W. Robert Johnson III, top executive of the AMEZ church, which split from John Street United Methodist Church in 1796 "for reasons of injustice," welcomed the chance to heal the relationship. "It is a long way from John Street Methodist Church in New York City to Tampa, Fla.," he said.

There is a temptation to look at the new relationship of the United Methodist Church and smaller black Methodist denominations as a situation of the big fish swallowing the smaller fish, said United Methodist Bishop Alfred Norris, but that is not so. "In this case," he explained, "the big fish and the little fish will be swimming together."

Norris, who has led the Pan-Methodist Commission for the past two years, pointed out that his esteemed colleagues — Hoyt, White and Johnson — "are as much a part of the Methodist family as I am."

The denominations, which already cooperate on issues such as children and poverty, will now have an opportunity to pursue a broader mission agenda together. "I think this will breathe new life into the commission itself," added the Rev. Stephen Sidorak, Jr., top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.

Hoyt suggested the need for a "sacrament of the coffee cup" to build individual friendships and commit to finding ways to break down barriers and promote justice together.

Issues of race and class are not just sociological but theological, he said, because dealing with such issues "teaches us to get along together."

GC 2012: Pacific Islanders Welcome New Ministry Plan

"Our kalia ('canoe') has arrived and been welcomed," said the Rev. Sione Veikoso, hailing the passage by the United Methodist General Conference of a comprehensive plan for Pacific Islander ministry in the United

States.

"Our canoe has been wandering around and now has a port," stated the chair of the denomination's Pacific Islander National Caucus of United Methodists, a California pastor. The plan, four years in development, sets up a structure comparable to United Methodist ministry plans for other racial/ethnic communities.

Many immigrant Pacific Islanders arrive in the United States as Methodists but do not always find quick entry into the US church culture. The plan addresses this issue, and also how to incorporate the spiritual energy of Oceanic people into the church.

There are now some 70 United Methodist congregations composed primarily of Pacific Islanders in the United States. Members come primarily from Tongan, Samoan, and Fijian backgrounds, but there are also US-based populations from Guam, the Mariana Islands, Micronesia, Hawaii, and Palau—a total of roughly 1.1 million people.

The Rev. Eddie Kelemeni, chair of the committee that prepared the plan, said it is essential for "the church to help Pacific Islanders to adjust to the new culture."

Monalisa Tuitahi, an attorney who helped to draft the plan, added that Pacific Islanders have significant "gifts and graces to share with the whole church. Faith runs deeply in our people; being a disciple of Jesus Christ is very important. We are now recognized in a tangible way and can help to enrich and strengthen the church and its mission."

Some of those gifts and graces are outlined in a report accompanying the petition to establish the new ministry plan. "Pacific Islanders live out their faith consistent with a theology of abundance," the report says, "and this is an asset for the United Methodist connection as it struggles to meet overwhelming needs with scarce resources."

The report further says that a "system of mutuality that undergirds the Pacific Island culture and life plays an important role in ensuring that everyone participates in the world of building the ministry."

The plan was developed over a four-year period by a committee staffed by the General Board of Global Ministries, which will also administer the work of the new entity.

The denomination's general budget for the next four years includes $544,000 to fund the Comprehensive Plan for Pacific Island Ministries.

GC 2012: General Conference Approves United Methodist Women Autonomy

By a vote of 889 to 20, General Conference made United Methodist Women an autonomous organization within the United Methodist Church May 1 during its quadrennial meeting Tampa, Fla. The historic vote separates the national policymaking body of women organized for mission within the denomination from the church's mission agency for the first time in more than 70 years.

"This is great result for United Methodist Women and for the church and positions us for the next 143 years of mission," said Harriett Jane Olson, chief executive of the national United Methodist Women organization.

General Conference also approved a series of recommendations from United Methodist Women that will structurally strengthen ties between local United Methodist Women members, their national structure and the ministries they support around the world. The actions will provide more flexibility to local, district, conference and jurisdictional United Methodist Women as they organized for mission in their respective communities.

In a separate vote, oversight of the denomination's deaconess and home missioner programs was placed with the new national United Methodist Women organization.

"This restores the break that was made in 1964 and the relationship the office of deaconess has had with women organized for mission since it was created in 1888," said Barbara Campbell, a deaconess and retired staff of the former Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries.

"This is good for everyone," said Elsie Olsen, spiritual growth mission coordinator for Florida Conference United Methodist Women. "The timing is right. The General Board of Global Ministries agrees. Everyone supports it!"

"This is what we wanted!" said Ms. Toney, president of her conference's Northeast District United Methodist Women. "I'm excited about the opportunity this gives us to be more in service to our sisters and brothers around the world. This gives us the autonomy to put our faith, hope and love in to action!"

The national United Methodist Women organization will be governed by a 25-member board of directors with 20 elected by United Methodist Women members through jurisdictional channels and five through a nominations process to ensure diversity of age, race, language, physical ability and working status. The board will be responsible for managing the organization's program policies, finances — including investments, budget, property, financial policies — and its chief executive staff person.

A 70- to 80-member Program Advisory Group will advise the board on matters related to program. Each annual conference will have representation in United Methodist Women's national organization, thereby strengthening the connections between local women and their national policymaking body.

GC 2012: May 1 Wrap - Guaranteed Appointments Ended

A proposal to end guaranteed appointments was approved on a consent calendar. An effort to reconsider the previously approved legislation was defeated by a margin of 564 to 373.

Under the legislation, each annual conference is asked to name a task force to develop a list of criteria to guide the cabinets and bishops as they make missional appointments.

The cabinets shall report to the executive committees of Board of Ordained Ministry the number of clergy without full-time appointments and their age, gender and ethnicity. Cabinets will also be asked to report their learnings as appointment-making is conducted in this new manner.

Delegates celebrated an April 30 decision to enter into full communion with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Union Methodist Protestant Church and the Union American Methodist Episcopal Church.

"We have a shameful history of blatant racism that led to the breakup of American Methodism into multiple denominations beginning in the late 18th century," said the Rev. Stephen J. Sidorak Jr., staff executive of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.

Noting the existence of the Pan-Methodist Commission, Sidorak said, "There is some solace in the fact that there has been demonstrable dedication within The United Methodist Church to preserve a special relationship with the historic African-American Methodist churches."

Delegates opposed, 407 to 383, a longer preamble proposed for the Social Principles by a legislative committee. They agreed with a minority report that affirms "our unity in Jesus Christ while acknowledging differences in applying our faith in different cultural contexts as we live out the gospel."

Voting 532 to 414, delegates in a May 1 plenary session added a clause, "We stand united in declaring our faith that God's grace is available to all –– that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus."

Some delegates argued against the added sentence saying that belief and action can separate us from the love of God in Jesus. Others suggested that there is a difference between God's love for all and human response to that love.

General Conference voted 889-20 to make United Methodist Women an autonomous agency. That action is mirrored in every structure presently under consideration by the conference.

Up to the present time, United Methodist Women has been a division of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Before 1968, the organization, known as the Women's Society of Christian Service, was also related to the Methodist Board of Missions.

"This is a great result for United Methodist Women and for the church and positions us for the next 143 years of mission," said Harriett Jane Olson, chief executive of the national United Methodist Women organization.

General Conference also approved a series of recommendations to strengthen ties between local United Methodist Women members, their national structure and the ministries they support. The actions will provide more flexibility to local, district, conference and jurisdictional United Methodist Women as they organize for mission in their respective communities.

In a separate vote, oversight of the denomination's deaconess and home missioner programs was placed with the new national United Methodist Women organization.

Noting the presence of more than 1 million Tongans, Samoans, Fijians and native Hawaiians living in the United States, delegates approved a sixth national plan for Pacific Islanders.

The sixth national plan will provide resources for 80 U.S. churches, congregations and fellowships ministering to Pacific Islanders.

"There will be a special focus on health in addition to the three other areas of focus," said Nam Jin (NJ) Jun, executive secretary of Asian American and Pacific Island ministries at the Board of Global Ministries. "For the past 25 years, Pacific Islanders have been trying to have a national ministry plan."

Delegates revised the Social Principles statement on abortion to say, "We mourn and are committed to the diminishment of high abortion rates."

Churches are encouraged to provide "age-appropriate sexuality education, advocacy in regard to contraception, and support of initiatives that enhance the quality of life for all women and girls around the globe."

Churches are also encouraged to support "crisis pregnancy centers and pregnancy resource centers that compassionately help women explore all options related to unplanned pregnancy."

*Peck is a retired clergy member of New York Annual Conference attending his 12th General Conference, including four times as editor of the DCA and three times as a member of the UMNS news staff.

GC 2012: May 2 Wrap - Delegates Approve New Structure

After several false starts to create a new structure, the May 2 session of the 2012 General Conference approved a modest realignment of the 13 general agencies that serve the 13 million-member United Methodist Church.

The Rev. Scott Campbell, a pastor in Cambridge, Mass., called for a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council on whether any part of the structure plan is unconstitutional. The request was granted, 505-344, well in excess of the required 20 percent of the delegates.

Costs of the new structure will be evaluated by the General Council on Finance and Administration and the Connectional Table for a final vote during the May 4 closing session.

The plan retains GCFA and four general program boards — Higher Education, Global Ministries, Church and Society and Discipleship.

The general commissions on the Status and Role of Women and Religion and Race will be combined as a Committee on Inclusiveness no later than June 30, 2013. An effort to continue the two commissions failed, 459 to 453.

That committee and the four program boards will report to a 45-member General Council on Strategy and Oversight. The top executives of those agencies will be nominated by the boards and elected by the council. If there is a conflict between guidance of a top executive of the council and the governing body of the agency, the agency executive should follow the directions of his or her board of directors.

The Commission on Archives and History will be changed to a committee of the finance agency before June 30, 2013. The general director will be an associate general secretary of the council.

As established in an early plenary session, United Methodist Women will become an independent agency to join United Methodist Men, the Board of Pension and Health Benefits, the United Methodist Publishing House and United Methodist Communications as agencies that will report to General Conference. Executives of those agencies will be nonvoting members of the General Council on Strategy and Oversight.

The Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns will become an office of the Council of Bishops by June, 30, 2013.

The plan, dubbed the Plan UMC, evolved from conversations between members of the legislative committee of the Connectional Table and delegates who submitted "Plan B" at the General Administration Legislation Committee during the first week of the conference.

While the names of the 18 people drafting Plan UMC were listed in the Daily Christian Advocate, several delegates wanted to know about their conference, age and ethnicity before voting on a motion to refer. That information was not available at the time of voting.

The Rev. Tracy Malone, a delegate from Northern Illinois, argued in favor of referral. "There has been little time for delegates to consider the plan, and it was not published in other languages." She also said there was not broad representation of youth, women and members of central conferences on the writing team.

"The time is now," argued Evan Drexler, a delegate from Susquehanna Conference, speaking against referral. "The world is waiting to see what we are going to do to save The United Methodist Church."

The motion to refer the proposal to the Connectional Table for further study was defeated, 395 to 555. The structure was approved 567 to 384.

The denomination's Constitution carries a paragraph stating that no "organizational unit of the Church shall be structured so as to exclude any member or any constituent body of the Church because of race, gender, color, national origin, status or economic condition."

The Commission on the Status and Role of Women asked the conference to begin steps to amend the Constitution to add "gender" to the list, and the assembly added the word "age" to the list of characteristics that cannot used to prohibit membership or attendance.

By a squeaker vote, 443-439, delegates agreed to refer the proposal to the Commission on the Status and Role of Women for further study.

Don House, a delegate from Texas argued against a minority report that called for United Methodist agencies to divest investments in Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions and Hewlett Packard until those companies end their involvement in the Israeli occupation.

He likened the effort to blame the cited companies to an effort to blame a company that manufactured a car for a car wreck caused by a drunk driver.

After defeating the minority report, the assembly reaffirmed a resolution opposing Israeli settlements in Palestinian land and added a clause affirming "the church's commitment to non-violent response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and (acknowledging) the need to hear the voices of all those – Muslims, Christian, and Jewish –– harmed by the conflict...."

*Peck is a retired clergy member of New York Annual Conference attending his 12th General Conference, including four times as editor of the DCA and three times as a member of the UMNS news staff.

Cal-Nev Is One of 12 Annual Conferences to Lead Imagine No Malaria

Tampa, Fla.: Imagine No Malaria announced today the commitment of 12 United Methodist annual conferences to support the denomination's effort to end preventable malaria deaths in Africa. The annual conferences are part of the "Vanguard Wave" of the ministry's effort to raise at least $75 million.

The Vanguard Phase of Imagine No Malaria features a balanced approach to engagement, with an emphasis on advocacy activities, major gift cultivation and local church participation. The following annual conferences have made the commitment to support Imagine No Malaria by planning activities and raising funds during 2012-13:

"I salute the leaders of these Imagine No Malaria Vanguard annual conferences for their commitment to improving global health," said Bishop Thomas Bickerton, who chairs the United Methodist Global Health Initiative. "It's a very exciting time to be a United Methodist in the fight against malaria – progress is being made, funds are being raised and lives are being saved."

To date, more than $20 million has been raised to support the fight against malaria. These funds are at work in Africa, providing more than 846,000 bed nets, establishing 12 health boards to ensure greater accountability of donor funds and training more than 5,000 local health workers since April 2010. The church's mission has drawn widespread praise, most notably from philanthropist Melinda Gates during the World Malaria Forum sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in October 2011, Rear Admiral Timothy Ziemer, head of the President's Malaria Initiative and the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health.

Help fight this preventable disease - join the California-Nevada Annual Conference in supporting Imagine No Malaria through the Conference Offering this year (a special offering taken by congregations and delivered at Annual Conference Session through the church's representatives to ACS), and by attending the special Bishop's Event at ACS – United Methodist Night at Raley Field on Thursday evening, June 21 – in which every ticket purchased by a United Methodist includes a donation to Imagine No Malaria.

Imagine No Malaria is an extraordinary ministry of The United Methodist Church, putting faith into action to end preventable deaths from malaria in Africa. The first expression of the United Methodist Church’s Global Health Initiative, Imagine No Malaria is an integrated, effort that has become a model for collaboration among annual conferences, local churches, and multiple general boards and agencies of the Church. For more information, visit www.ImagineNoMalaria.org.

Matthew Smith Receives Beatitudes Society Fellowship

The Rev. Matthew Smith, pastor of Sacramento, The Table, has been awarded a $10,000 Beatitudes

Fellowship from The Beatitudes Society.

The yearlong Fellowship equips a select group of new entrepreneurial faith leaders with the resources and relationships that empower them to create new models for church and the pursuit of social justice.

"We are delighted that Matthew is one of our game-changing new leaders'" said The Rev. Anne Howard, Executive Director of The Beatitudes Society. "We are working toward the day when we will see a thriving nationwide web of courageous, authentic, innovative faith leaders and their communities who are engaged in the public square on behalf of inclusion, compassion, and the common good, and Matthew will be a vital part of that network."

Also Brave Preacher Award applications are still open for the 2012 award honoring prophetic preaching. Deadline to apply is June 1. This year's theme is violence. Sermons will be considered with attention to the preacher's context, content, craft and connection to scripture, least of not which is the seventh beatitude "blessed are the peacemakers, for they will called the children of God." (Matt.5:9) Click here for more details.

Preliminary Schedule for ACS Posted on Website

The Annual Conference Session preliminary schedule for the 164th Session of the California-Nevada Annual Conference has been posted to the Conference website.

Click on "Annual Conference Session," the second item under "Quick Links" in the upper right side of the Home Page at www.cnumc.org, to access the 2012 Annual Conference Session page. The link to the preliminary schedule is located immediately below the third paragraph.

The Bridges and El Camino Real Districts are hosting Pre-ACS Legislative workshops. All lay members to Annual Conference Session, lay leaders, lay speakers, and members are encouraged to attend.

The Bridges District workshop is scheduled on Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Wayside United Methodist Church, 2309 Columbus Parkway, Vallejo, CA 94591. The Revs. Renae Extrum-Fernandez, district superintendent and Gaye Benson, pastor of El Sobrante UMC will lead the discussion.

Download flyer. or for more information, contact Mahsa Farahani in the district office at mahsaf@calnevumc.org or 916.374.1503.

The El Camino Real District workshop is scheduled June 9, 9:15 – 11:45 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 2950 Washington Avenue, Fremont, CA, 94539. The Rev. Kristie Olah, district superintendent and others will lead the discussion.

To register, click on the Registrations tab on the Home Page of the Conference website at cnumc.org or paste http://cnumc.org/register into your web browser.

Pages Needed for Annual Conference Session

Pages are responsible for distributing all official written materials, including ballots, and for counting votes. They're the runners, messengers, and gatherers of information that keep everything running smoothly.

'Freed-Up Financial Living' Workshop at Hanford UMC

Plan to attend the "Freed-Up Financial Living" workshop, Tuesday evenings, May 8 to June 12, 6:30 -8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 505 N. Redington St., Hanford, CA, 93230.

This six-session workshop is for anyone, at any stage of life, who wants to learn more about enjoying God's financial blessings with peace and confidence.

You will not need to share any of your personal financial details and make-up sessions are available if you are unable to attend every Tuesday.

Board of Pensions Sponsors Clergy Retirement Planning Event

The California-Nevada Annual Conference Board of Pensions is sponsoring a retirement planning event at the San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, May 22-23.

An individual retirement projection will be prepared for each clergy attendee and time will be made available for a one-on-one review with one of the General Board specialists.

News:

GC 2012: Judicial Council Ruling Invalidates Change in Episcopal Fund Apportionment