The Current Week in Review
March 5, 2021
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Another GC delay brings relief, chagrin
General Conference delegates expressed mixed emotions after a second postponement pushed the denomination’s top lawmaking assembly to next year.
While many delegates see the second postponement as the only just course of action, at least some expressed frustration that so many big decisions remain up in the air.
On pause for now are plans to split The United Methodist Church, as well as any potential end to official church restrictions related to LGBTQ individuals.
“I am not happy about this postponement because we have so much work to do, and many people want to see an end to the ongoing debate about a split in the UMC,” said the Rev. Anne-Marie Detjen, a veteran delegate and pastor in Hamburg, Germany. “But I see the need as the coronavirus pandemic is still impacting worldwide travel.”
The extended delay adds to anxieties that church members already feel around General Conference, said the Rev. George K. Weagba, another veteran delegate. Still, he urged United Methodists to consider what God might want them to learn in this moment.
“I think the Lord wants us to learn to be more patient as we look forward to the future of the church,” said Weagba, vice president at United Methodist University of Liberia and an author of a book on conflict resolution. “This patience has to do with bearing with one another, enduring unpleasant situations and even unpleasant people for the sake of Christ.”
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Planned denomination gets name
Traditionalists committed to leaving The United Methodist Church have chosen “Global Methodist Church” as the name for the denomination they plan to launch.
The group also unveiled on March 1 a logo and website. The work toward a new denomination is guided by a transitional leadership council, which includes some retired United Methodist bishops.
“The primary mission of the Global Methodist Church will be to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly and witness boldly,” said the Rev. Keith Boyette, chair of the transitional leadership council.
But the official start and legal organization of the Global Methodist Church may well be more than a year and a half away.
The protocol would let traditionalist churches and even annual conferences vote to leave and form another denomination, with $25 million to start.
However, the protocol requires approval by General Conference, The United Methodist Church’s global lawmaking assembly.
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Discipleship exec dies of cancer
The Rev. Junius B. Dotson, the top executive of Discipleship Ministries, died late Feb. 24, less than a month after announcing his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 55.
His unexpected death brought together United Methodists of varied theological views in an outpouring of grief and love for a leader whose ministry touched lives across the denomination.
“He had an indelible way of pulling leaders to their full potential,” said longtime friend Toska Medlock Lee, who has known him since they were undergraduates at the University of Texas at Arlington. Lee organized prayers for Dotson during his illness. United Methodists around the world signed up to pray.
“His other legacy is his ability to see a hopeful future for our denomination.”
Dotson held multiple denominational leadership roles in addition to helming Discipleship Ministries since July 2016.
He also was one of 16 church leaders who negotiated the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, the widely endorsed proposal that seeks to resolve the longtime United Methodist debate over homosexuality through a denominational split. As part of the negotiations, Dotson represented multiple centrist advocacy groups that seek greater freedom in church policies related to same-sex weddings and gay ordination.
The protocol needs the approval of General Conference to go forward, but the legislative assembly is now postponed until 2022.
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Click the above graphic to watch the funeral service |
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This week's Coronavirus Update
There are no changes within the Illinois Great Rivers Conference for the fourth consecutive week. Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are in Phase 4 with no mitigations.
- Churches may gather indoors for any purpose in groups of 50 and less
- Churches with larger rooms may gather indoor groups of up to 25% of the room capacity, but may not exceed 100 people in total
- Churches may gather out-of-doors in groups of any size with proper distancing and masks
- Children and youth ministry programs may occur
- Social distancing, face masks, and other precautions should be taken for all activities
- Churches should not practice group singing
- Church buildings may be open all kinds of groups and meetings of appropriate size, and all church staff and volunteers can regularly use the building
- Facemasks and social distancing are required
Congregational singing and serving of meals and snacks are still not advised until Phase 5. These two activities have been seen as the source of virus spread when churches are at the center of an outbreak.
Because the metrics are very fluid, the regions could move between Wednesday announcements. When this occurs, the church is asked to use prudent judgment and decide based upon the congregation's comfort level.
Vaccinations for clergy
As COVID-19 vaccinations are becoming more widely available, some counties are including clergy in Phase 1A vaccine distribution plans. The Illinois Department of Public Health plan specifically mentions clergy in health care settings, but given the role that many clergy play in providing pastoral and palliative care within various health care settings throughout the state, some counties are including in Phase 1A vaccination distribution all clergy, including pastors of local congregations, who might provide this care even if they are not paid or permanent chaplaincy staff.
Check with your county health department to see which categories of clergy are eligible for priority vaccinations in your community. Of course, clergy who are eligible because of their age, health care occupation, first responder work, or complicating medical conditions should also contact their county health department. Clergy who are not primarily serving in health care settings should consider their eligibility and the availability of vaccinations in order to ethically prioritize those who are most in need or at risk from COVID-19 at this time.
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Conference Prayer Team seeking devotions
Laity and Clergy:
Thank you in advance.
The IGRC Prayer Team
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UMCOR Sunday (formerly the One Great Hour of Sharing) can be observed any Sunday, although the official observance is the Fourth Sunday of Lent (March 14 in 2021).
Resources to assist your congregation's promotion of this Special Sunday offering is now available.
A pastor's and leader's kit can be ordered as well as resources for the congregation in English, Spanish and Korean.
Click the button below to order what you need free of charge.
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Native American Ministries Sunday
April 18
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Native American Ministries Sunday can be observed on any Sunday, although the official observance is the second Sunday after Easter (April 18 in 2021).
This offering helps to develop and strengthen Native American ministries in the Annual Conferences, Native American rural, urban, reservation ministries and communities relating to the General Board of Global Ministries. It also provides scholarships for Native Americans attending United Methodist schools of theology. This fund is distributed by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministries and The General Board of Global Ministries.
Resources to assist your congregation's promotion of this Special Sunday offering is now available.
A pastor's and leader's kit can be ordered as well as resources for the congregation in English, Spanish and Korean.
Click the button below to order what you need free of charge.
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United Methodist Center Contact Information |
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USPS (U.S. Postal Service)
P.O. Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794-9207
Office Phone: 217-529-2040
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UPS and FedEx deliveries only use the street address:
United Methodist Center
5900 S. 2nd Street
Springfield, IL 62711
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