Ready to Get to Work!

On Wednesday morning, we were greeted at our tables with our Daily Christian Advocate. (You can find your online copy here, under General Conference Business.) This is a book, printed on newsprint, that is published each day with news of what important things were determined the previous day. Since there are 13 committees and each delegate can only sit on one committee, it is critical that the Daily Christian Advocate keep us all up to date on what is going on in each committee. That way, if you have concerns about the way certain legislation is being treated, you can create a strategy to work around a committee’s decision. (i.e. The new rules state that, if a petition is defeated in committee, you can resurrect it on the floor if you have 20 voting delegates who are willing to request it.)

Which brings us back to - The Rules. Sadly, Wednesday's DCA did not contain a full copy of The Rules, because they had not been adopted. So we returned to the Convention Center Wednesday with high hopes that we could move on this item quickly.

First, I am glad to say, we opened with worship. Bishop Peter Weaver preached. He quoted from the 1st Episcopal Address that was ever given in Conference, when Bishop McKendree admonished Methodists to “Do everything as in the immediate presence of God.” It’s worth taking some time to read that line again. Good thoughts. We also read Wesley’s Covenant Prayer, along with an updated version for our General Conference, which was pretty cool.

We also had a flash mob descend upon us for World Malaria Day. Kind of creepy, but also cool. 

Then, we had two more presentations. The first was the Laity Address, delivered by Betty Spiwe Katiyo of Zimbabwe. She reminded us that the ministry of the laity is a “front line” ministry because laity have access to areas the clergy do not. “Somewhere along the way,” she said, “laity became consumers of religion. And this is not the way it should be.” She then gave a challenge: if each lay person in the UMC brought just one person to Christ each year, the world would be transformed!

Finally, we had the Young People’s Address. The theme was “Charged, Rooted and United.” One of the speakers was a young woman from the Philippines who had to attend via video, since her visa to travel to the U.S. was denied. Both speakers were inspiring, as were the young people on the videos who shared how their faith kept them charged, rooted and united. My favorite quote from the address was, “How would you respond if God asked you, 'Have you done what I asked you to do for my people?'" Another highlight was a young woman who works with children. She said, “I tell them stories from the Bible because if you just say, ‘God loves you,’ they can’t always understand that.’” Young people are less likely to throw out words and phrases with a blanket expectation that they will mean something simply because they have been proclaimed. Finding purpose and meaning in what we do and say is important, and I am grateful for this reminder.

John Wesley is in the house!

After three positive, uplifting addresses, we had to get back to the business of The Rules. Truly, a veil should be drawn over the proceedings, which threatened to postpone indefinitely any proper start to our Conference! All hope for a quick resolution of our problem died when the first amendment was proposed. Remember the 24 hour rule? Well, how are we supposed to begin Conference if we can’t adopt the rules because we have to wait 24 hours to vote on them? What a mess! 

Finally, thankfully, Don Underwood from North Texas stood up and proposed that we suspend the rule that said we couldn't suspend the rules so we could suspend the rules and get on with the vote. Brilliant! The Rules then passed handily (yes, the original Rules that we began with the night before. Sigh.)


Ready to move on to committees!

Rules!

 On our first night together, the evening’s agenda ended with the Adoption of the Rules of the Conference. These rules govern how we conduct our proceedings. They include definitions of who can and cannot vote, who can and cannot sit “in the bar” (with the delegates on the floor of Conference), don’t let your cell phone ring, don’t record anything for copyright purposes, etc. They are, in a word, tedious - there’s just no way around that.

 Since General Conference last met, a committee has worked to go through the rules with a fine- tooth comb and amend/delete/add anything that they believed would be an improvement for this GC. Attention was given to items that could cut down the amount of time delegates spend considering legislation. Financial considerations were also at the forefront. Delegates received the proposed Rules a couple of months ago. Doubtless, many have also gone over the changes with a fine-tooth comb. So...the Rules were presented in a very civil manner, and we walked through them, with the intent that they would be approved in small chunks until we got to the end. Sadly, this did not happen.

 Early on in the proceedings, people began to raise objections and offer amendments to the Rules. There was a lot of concern about defining who could come into the bar and putting closely-written restrictions on when and why the Presiding Bishop could call for an unscheduled recess. I believe this concern (which was mentioned multiple times at various points of the evening) comes from fear that a demonstration such as the one that occurred in 2008 GC would happen again. In 2008 in Fort Worth, a large number of people (delegates and non-delegates, clergy and lay) came onto the floor of Conference wearing black stoles to protest the church’s stance on homosexuality. Tonight, much energy was put into amending the Rules so that demonstrations like this explicitly could not happen again. The problem with amendments to the Rules is that they are supposed to be given to the committee for consideration and then not acted upon for 24 hours.

 Early on, it was agreed that the committee (bless them!) would stay up late to deal with the amendments so we could then approve them in the morning. This is necessary because we need the Rules in place before we can get on with our administrative work. Another problem with amendments is that you are not allowed to speak to them - they just go back to the committee. Now, this is good and bad. It is definitely good in that you can’t make an amendment and then give a lengthy speech for your amendment and then take 2 speeches for and 2 against before closing the matter and sending it to committee (an extremely time-consuming process, particularly considering the number of amendments proposed). But it’s bad in that you obviously have a rationale for making your amendment, but you can’t give your fabulous rationale to the committee. So, basically, the people who made the rule are asked to revise the rule without being given any new information on why the revision should occur.

 Based on my experience so far, I think the good far outweighs the bad on this one. So, we took these amendments and gave them to the committee; then we proceeded with the next section, which, inevitably drew more amendments. At one point, a motion was made that we suspend the rule that says we can’t speak to the amendment. But this did not pass. There was, however, considerable discussion on the rules related to suspending the Rules. This went on for some (long, very long) time. Finally, a motion was made that we invoke a rule that said we could just get on and be done with the Rules. (The rule in question said that we had to finish our work by 9:30. It was nearly 10:00 when the rule was invoked.) Sadly, it was ruled that, since we had not yet approved the rule that would allow us to be done with the Rules, we had to keep forging on.

 Finally, it was somehow agreed that we would send all amendments to the committee to hash it out. I did, most certainly, pray for the Rules Committee members as I walked out of the Conference Center and made the trek back to my hotel. I must admit that my enthusiasm for General Conference was a bit bruised in the proceedings. Not only was this process tedious and such an incredible “downer” after the joy of opening worship, but it was clear, even to me - a first-time delegate - that these amendments are proposed to further particular agendas. Take the issue of who can enter the bar, for example. This Rule is truly quite straightforward. It does not appear to need further illumination. And yet, it was the subject of much concern. In place of a simple sentence, a paragraph was proposed (in multiple places). I just cannot support making more restrictive rules that don’t really do anything to make the original rule more effective. It seems like those proposing the rule were just trying to send a clear signal to any would-be protesters that such things will not be tolerated at this GC. And this point is being made at the expense of a lot of people’s time.

 As I see it, the bar is, per the rules, reserved only for delegates and pages and this rule should be respected. But, honestly, how much harm is done by a peaceful demonstration (wherever it occurs) versus the amount of harm done in adding lines and lines of legislation to ensure (quite impractically) that such a thing could never occur? I don’t know for sure, but I imagine we spent more time haranguing this issue in plenary session than was spent on the demonstration that prompted such concern. To follow a hope-filled worship with a spate of attempts to tighten up legislation in ways that seem rooted in suspicion and fear of losing control - well, it wasn’t the best way to end the day, and I’m afraid it doesn’t bode well for the tone of future legislative discussions. Still, all in all, it is great to be here. And it is a privilege that I deeply appreciate.

 I am thankful for the clergy of the CTC who elected me to this position. To stand among so many brothers and sisters of the UMC on the floor of Conference for opening worship tonight was exciting and hopeful and humbling. Rules will be rules - it's still great to be Methodist!

We Gather Together

 First off, let me just say that Opening Worship at General Conference is an amazing experience! We are blessed in the UMC to have the talents of Marcia McFee and others who do a fabulous job of designing worship that is energizing and inspiring.

 Worship opened with “Lord I Lift Your Name on High,” which seemed a rather bold choice to me. On the one hand, it’s a high-energy song that is familiar to many. On the other hand, it feels dated (like mid-1990s youth group dated). But then, such thoughts reveal a temptation to marginalize the worship music of the late 20th century while embracing the music of the 18th century and the 21st century. Having attended my joint briefing on intersectionality, I decided to simply enjoy the song and the energy it did bring to the room.

 Bishop Larry Goodpaster gave a rousing opening sermon. (If you’re not able to watch the service live, I encourage you to check out the archived videos on the gc2012.umc.org website.) He talked about the call of Christ to some fishermen who were mending their nets. Methodists have gathered to mend our nets. Will we hear the call of Christ in the midst of all our discussion of legislation? The service included singing, dancing, pageantry and Holy Communion.

 One of the coolest things we are able to do together as a body is say the Lord’s Prayer together, each in our own language. I know I wasn’t the only one with chills as we heard the one voice of our body, made up of so many different voices. You just can’t get this anywhere else.

 Opening worship was followed by sensitivity training. Now, this turned out to have some amusing moments, so it would be easy to be flippant about the presentation. But sometimes the things that make us giggle are things that are truly hurtful to other people. Basically, we were asked to remain aware of our diversity (GC is 37% women and 41% of delegates are from Central Conferences outside the U.S.); show kindness & respect (including: “Don’t ask if you can touch my hair”; and don’t let our biases become barriers. Good things to remember as we move forward.

Whew!

The GC Prayer Room is gorgeous!

I knew we would be busy at General Conference, but I have to say that I underestimated just how busy we would be. Since I arrived in Tampa, there has been very little "down time," but I am trying to keep up the Tweets so I can share what's going on.

Yesterday began with some "unofficial" Conference business - for me, this included a Joint Briefing for delegates and a Briefing for Women Delegates. The Joint Briefing focused on the theme: "Intersectionality at work." Intersectionality is a new word for me (perhaps for you, too!) The emphasis was on hearing the voices of the people who are in the margins. My favorite quote was, "Don't forget that the people who are at the margins themselves are agents of change." One of the presentations at the briefing was made by a young man who is 15 years old. He was extremely articulate, intelligent, and inspiring. Harriet Olsen, the head of the Women's Division for the UMC, pointed out that there will be 10 more General Conferences before he hits the age of our average delegate. Something to think about. I for one am thrilled at the energy and vibrancy that young people bring to General Conference. I am glad their voices are encouraged and hope to hear from them a lot over the coming days.

We were encouraged, as we prepare to move into our legislative committee meetings, to consider whose voice is missing during the proceedings: women? people of color? those who do not have English as a first language? those who do not come from "a place of privilege"? One thing I have learned is that there are trained monitors in each of the legislative committee sessions who will literally record the kind and quantity of voices that are heard. I believe we will actually get a report at each break about the tally of how diverse our conversation was. I choose to call this: intentionality about intersectionality. ( There! I used "intersectionality" in a sentence!)

At GC 2012, 41% of delegates are from Central Conferences (outside the U.S.)

The Women's Briefing followed. The women delegates broke into legislative committees to discuss strategy regarding voting on leadership for the committee. Committee leaders can have great influence in setting the agenda for what legislation is discussed and how much time is given to pieces of legislation. (I should mention that there were three briefings following the general briefing: one for those under 30, one for women, and one for racial and ethnic minority delegates - presumably these other groups were having similar conversations). Our group discussed who we might nominate as chair, vice-chair and secretary of the committee. We also discussed who would chair sub-committees (I understand there will be three of these in our committee). Repeatedly emphasized was the fact that these elections go very quickly. If you're not prepared to put forth a nominee, the vote will be taken and your interest group will be left in the dust. Interesting.

I wish I had time to write more, but it is time to move on. I have no hope of every getting a proper explanation of Plan B in this blog, so will encourage you, if you are interested, to go to www.umcplanb.org to learn more about an alternative proposal for restructuring. This will not be a main feature of my legislative committee, but there will surely be much to say about this next week when we go to plenary.

Whew! We're off and running!

Tampa!

It's good to finally be in Tampa! Flight was good, and there is a lot of excitement in the air. I know I promised a rundown of Plan B (which I think is really Plan G or H by now); however, WiFi issues have me typing this out with one finger. So I'll encourage you to check out #gc2012 on Twitter (my account is minimar7) for all the GC action.

Call to Action

What is the Call to Action? This phrase has been getting a lot of play for the past year or so in our local churches, and we'll surely be hearing it a lot at General Conference. Below is a condensed overview, taken from The Call to Action Study Guide prepared by the Council of Bishops of the UMC.

In December, 2011, the Council of Bishops of the UMC issued a statement: "For the sake of a new world, we see a new church...A church that is clear about its mission and confident about its future; a church that is always reaching out, inviting, alive, agile, and resilient...Today, we call you to action, to join...in the adventure of becoming a New Church."

Specifically, the Council of Bishops are calling United Methodists to:

• Grow Vital Congregations
• Demonstrate Courageous Turnaround Leadership
• Take Risks
• Unite as One
• Set Visionary Goals

To do this, there is a call "to redirect the flow of attention, energy, and resources to an intense concentration" so that we may "increase in the number of vital congregations effective in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” 

If we as a denomination are going to continue pursuing our mission to make disciples for the transformation of the world, it appears that we must first heed a call for transformative change: at General Conference, within the Council of Bishops, within the ministry of our General Agencies, within our Annual Conferences, within our Clergy Leaders, and within our Laity.

So, what does this look like?

Here's what the Call to Action proposes:

General Conference:

Here are some changes that are recommended to occur at General Conference this year:

• More freedom for Annual Conferences - less uniformity dictated by General Conference
• Revise guaranteed appointments - give Bishops and Cabinets the flexibility to make missional appointments that aid the growth of vital congregations and allow for grace-filled ways for ineffective pastors to transition to other employment
• Create one board - Since the merger that created the UMC over 40 years ago, we have created a governance structure that includes 13 different agencies. With the communication freedom of our current era, more of our mission is being done through congregations and annual conferences. Our current structure is cumbersome and does not take advantage of the networking abilities that are now available. Call to Action recommends the establishment of one board that integrates the leadership, mission, congregational development, justice and financial administration aspects of the UMC. In this proposed legislation, four agencies (who do not currently receive apportionment dollars or who receive less than 20 percent from apportionments) would continue as individual agencies: the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits, the United Methodist Publishing House, the General Commission on United Methodist Men, and the Women's Division. More info on these proposed changes can be found here.
• Create an Executive Secretary position to head the new Center for Connectional Mission and Ministry
• Revise role of Council of Bishop's President - Create a "set-aside" President of the Council to help reform the Council to focus on growing vital congregations.
• Funds for Growth - Permit the mid-quadrennium reallocation of money from the General Church World Service and General Administration funds.

Clergy Leaders

• Lead congregations to be more vital by implementing the 16 drivers of vitality and carrying out the four areas of focus: 1) end deaths by malaria, 2) eliminate poverty, 3) start new faith communities, and 4) recruit younger clergy
• Develop and embrace metrics and goals to measure effectiveness, including the following areas:
• Disciples make new disciples: professions of faith
• Disciples worship - worship attendance
• Disciples grow and mature in their faith - number of small groups
• Disciple engage in mission - number of members engaged in mission
• Disciples give generously to mission - amount of money given to mission
• Grow leadership skills
• Pray for and work with laity, superintendent and bishop
• Encourage and mentor turnaround leaders to serve within the congregation and community

Laity

• Regularly practice and lead others to practice the means of grace
• Serve within your congregation so it becomes more vital
• Grow your leadership skills
• Embrace and develop metrics and goals
• Pray for and work with pastor(s), superintendent and bishop to grow unity within the congregation, conference and denomination
• Engage in listening and conversation with non-religious and nominally religious people in the commmunity

So...there's Call to Action in a nutshell. But this isn't the only restructuring plan on the table. Tomorrow, we'll hear about "Plan B."

So Much to Learn

This is my first time as a delegate to General Conference, and there has been much to learn. In addition to familiarizing myself with the legislation that is being proposed, I have been working to get up to speed on the workings of General Conference.

As the delegates enter our final weeks of preparation, I invite you to catch up on the issues and procedures of General Conference. Click here for the GC2012 resource page. Here, you can participate in a "General Conference 101" webinar, read up on proposed changes to the structure of the UMC, and learn how to catch streaming video of some of the GC highlights.

And, if you have a mobile device, I encourage you to download the GC2012 app and join in with Methodists around the world in daily prayer and devotion as we prepare for this significant conference. You can also join the Twitter feed here. There are a lot of technology options, which means this General Conference will engage a significant number of people who are not able to attend. With the stakes so high in the proposed changes to the structure of the UMC, I am glad so many will be able to plug into the events as they take place.