United Methodist delegates from Alabama converged in Charlotte on Tuesday for the start of the United Methodist General Conference, the denomination’s worldwide policy-making meeting that continues through May 3.
Delegates say the big issues are best summed up as the three R’s: Removal of harmful language regarding homosexuality; regionalization allowing more self-governing in different parts of the world; and revising the Social Principles.
“Those are the three big ones, and they’re big,” said the Rev. Kelly Clem, a retired minister for the North Alabama Conference and one of 862 voting delegates.
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More than half of United Methodist churches have departed in Alabama, and a quarter nationwide in a denominational split. Most assume that the General Conference will have less conservative resistance to issues such as changing the denomination’s bans on same-sex marriage and ordaining openly gay clergy.
Clem says she believes this denominational meeting will be smoother than past ones she has attended, since those who didn’t want to be in the denomination any longer have mostly left.
“I feel very hopeful about General Conference this time,” Clem said. “I think there’s a lot of unity and hopefulness about our moving forward as the United Methodist Church, as a denomination. The temperature has been significantly lowered.”
Lisa Keys-Mathews, lay leader of the North Alabama Conference and a reserve delegate at the General Conference, said she believes there are enough conservative activists left in the denomination to strongly resist all the progressive proposals.
“There are some super negative voices coming out that are still part of the United Methodist Church,” Keys-Mathews said. “I find that sad, and hurtful.”
On the issue of removing language such as calling homosexuality “incompatible with Christian teaching,” there is still contention, she said.
“There are loud voices on both ends,” Keys-Mathews said. “There are people intent on causing chaos at General Conference. That disturbs me. That saddens me.”
The Rev. Brian Erickson, senior pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church of Homewood and a reserve clergy delegate, thinks there’s an opportunity for change.
“I think the proposal to remove the language around homosexuality is the most fair and balanced and frankly moderate approach going forward because it leaves the most space for our differences,” he said.
The General Conference began with an opening service Tuesday afternoon and closeas on May 3. The first week is full of committee meetings, with 17 legislative committees sorting through more than 1,000 proposals.
One of the proposals came from the North Alabama Conference, sponsored by Erickson. It recommends that the denomination remove language against homosexuality.
“The effort is to let go of some words that are offensive and put people in a box,” Clem said. “I feel like it’s better for us to remove language that separates people or that confines people to a category.”
Reduced budget
Clem serves on the committee on financial administration, which will handle budget-cutting measures in the wake of the large exodus from the denomination. The proposed $353 million budget is a 42 percent reduction.
“There will be a reduction of the budget for the general church, but also it will come down in a smaller percentage that will be asked of the members when it comes down to the local church,” Clem said.
“Overall, a big reduction, but also a little more sensitivity to the local church’s fragility after Covid, after losing members,” Clem said. “There will not be as much asked of each member to give to the General apportionments. That’s a good thing too.”
This is the first General Conference since 2019, a special called meeting to discuss human sexuality. The 2020 meeting was postponed by Covid-19. The United Methodists traditionally meet every four years to do business.
“There’s always been controversy and especially on the homosexuality issue,” Clem said.
“Within the body, there will be harmony because these are people who have made intentional choices to stay United Methodist for reasons of really believing in who we are, our mission, our purpose, and wanting to be a part of it. There’s a lot of energy toward Let’s come together, let’s be together, let’s move forward.”
The North Alabama Conference has four clergy delegates, four lay delegates, and four reserve delegates. The Alabama-West Florida Conference has the same.
“We’re here because we want to be here; we’re not going to keep fighting,” Clem said.
“The ones who wanted to leave, who felt so strongly, especially about human sexuality issues, they’ve gone. We’re going to move forward. There’s just a real rallying of those who want to help the church move forward with its mission and stop getting bogged down in some of these controversial matters and just move forward. There will be dissent. I just think there will be a much more positive vibe.”
See also: United Methodists urge repeal of ban on same-sex marriage, openly gay clergy