11/6/2023 0 Comments General conference 2019 umcWe remain a denomination that is open to people of all ages, nations and races. Please treat each other as God’s chosen ones, valuable and loved.Īfter the General Conference, our mission remains the same: to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Please be sensitive to your fellow church members who may be upset or hurting, no matter what their convictions. Some of you are satisfied with the decision of the General Conference some of you are hurt and discouraged and in pain. Your lives have been changed by the good news of Jesus Christ, and you seek for others to know and be transformed by the life and love of Christ. Your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness are also a great gift to God and to the Church. To our more conservative or traditional members, their family and friends. I am sorry for the pain you feel in the General Conference decision. You are of sacred worth and you have given time, talent, gifts, service and witness in service to Christ and the Church. Each of you is God’s child, God’s chosen one, loved by God. I want to say, I am sorry for the pain and harm you have experienced in being the subject of this General Conference session. To our LGBTQ members, their family and friends. General Conference action did not fix this challenge, and disagreement does not go away with the vote of General Conference. The denomination remains divided on the subject of human sexuality and on the inclusion and participation of the LGBTQ Community in the life of the Church. What I have learned is that faithful Christians can read the same Bible on a number of matters and interpret sacred passages differently. In the West Virginia Conference and our Global United Methodist Church, I know everyone is not of one mind on the complicated issues of human sexuality. Please see the district meeting schedule posted on the Conference website. I will be traveling through the districts in March to unpack the impact of General Conference action. That summary can be found on our website:. I have put together a summary of the General Conference actions that I hope you will read and share. We must do better!Īs you probably know now, the General Conference passed the Traditional Plan. We can do better in treating and respecting each other as people, God’s people, God’s choice – holy, beloved, and valuable. The peace of Christ did not control our hearts as revealed in what came out of our mouths and how it came out of our mouths. We forgot to be tolerant with each other. I believe Jesus wept! I wept! When we stepped into the legislative session as a church we forgot to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We forgot that we are called in whatever we do, word or deed, to do it all in the name of Jesus. It seems that we forgot that each of us is God’s choice, holy and loved. Often people spoke in unholy and callous tones. There were moments of grace, but very few. There was very little of God’s Grace in how followers of Christ treated one another when they were at the microphone. Oh, not about the decision that was made, but for how we treated one another during discussion and debate. At last week’s General Conference, I believe Jesus wept. I share this life passage of Scripture with you once again to remind us of how we are called to treat one another. Colossians 3: 12 – 17 (Common English Bible)ĭear members and friends of the West Virginia Conference, Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him. Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Teach and warn each other with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. The word of Christ must live in you richly. The peace of Christ must control your hearts – a peace into which you were called in one body. And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other. Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. “Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Planning and Preparedness: Best Practices for Local ChurchesĪ Pastoral Letter from Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball.2023 Local Church Breakdown of Ministry Support.Policies and Guidelines related to Ministry.Tyrand Cooperative Ministries – Mill Creek.Heart+Hand Outreach Ministries – South Charleston.Ebenezer Community Outreach Center – Huntington.Burlington United Methodist Family Services.COSROW (Commission on the Status and Role of Women).Commission on Native American Ministries.Membership Record Keeping for the Local Church.
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