|
Dear BUMC Family and Friends,
Greetings from the General Conference of The UMC in Charlotte, NC. God is doing new things for our beloved United Methodist Church. We spent a large portion of our first week by meeting in various Legislative committees (14 of them with 50-60 delegates in each committee). I was assigned to the Local Church Legislative Committee, and my fellow delegates elected me to serve as the vice chair of this important committee. As you all know, I am very passionate about local church concerns.
I had attended a General Conference as an observer and support staff in 2004, but this was my first time attending it as a clergy delegate from GNJ (along with three other clergy delegates and four lay delegates). Several more “experienced” delegate colleagues/friends shared with me that unlike previous General Conferences, this year’s General Conference’s overall atmosphere has been “more relaxing, less tensive, cordial, and collaborative.” While disaffiliation has been hard on all of our annual conferences and districts, those of us who were present at this General Conference came together with a greater sense of hope and commitment to create a better future for our beloved UMC.
We have voted to pass some very important recommendations and proposals as a way of re-forming our UMC in this “season of new beginnings.” The General Conference delegates voted to “regionalize” our UMC’s structure around the globe. This means the U.S. UMC will organize a new regional structure based on its unique cultural, ministry and missional contexts. Our UM siblings in Africa and the Philippines will do the same. Now, annual conferences (like our GNJAC) will work to ratify this decision.
The Legislative Committees have completed their work as of Saturday night and passed a large volume of petitions, including the ones having to do with the removal of the language harmful to LBGTQ+ siblings, the revision of our Social Principles, and many more.
Today, Sunday, was a day of rest for all the delegates. We attended worship services either in-person or on-line. My husband, Rev. Brandon, and I attended two on-line worship services and heard two most inspiring messages. We are grateful to have this sabbath day in the Lord.
Tomorrow morning begins the second week of General Conference. A whole lot more work is waiting for us to do in the name of our risen and living Lord. Thank you for keeping me and all the delegates in your prayers. I will keep you posted.
Have a blessed week and see you in church.
With Joy and Hope,
Rev. Jennifer
| 
