A group of more than 270 U.S. delegates has publicly endorsed three legislative proposals as General Conference approaches and hope remains for a more productive gathering that 2019. They are championing what they call “the three R’s”: regionalization, the Revised Social Principles and the removal of exclusionary language against LGBTQ people. 

If you are in or around UMC leadership circles, you may have heard the word “regionalization” more frequently in recent months. In this series, Ask The UMC explores the ways that regionalization already exists for central conferences and the opportunities it gives them, as well as the implications of enabling regionalization in the United States.

First adopted by the 1972 General Conference, the Social Principles serve as The United Methodist Church’s official summary of stated convictions on social issues of the day. Delegates to General Conference will consider a significant revision of the Social Principles. The new version is available to review on the General Board of Church and Society website.

US delegates to General Conference have identified three priorities for when they meet in Charlotte, North Carolina. Removing the exclusionary policies against LGBTQ people added in 1972 is one of those priorities. An analysis of the history of this struggle published by UMNews in 2016 (and updated in 2022) provides a helpful overview.

Delegates to General Conference will be presented with a proposed budget of about $346.7 million to fund denomination-wide ministries for the next four years, representing a nearly 43% reduction from the previous  budget. In Part 1 of a series looking at what’s new at General Conference, the Rev. Taylor W. Burton Edwards analyzes the situation. 

Legislation coming before The United Methodist Church’s top policymaking body deals with matters as varied as the denomination’s international structure, social teachings, ecumenical relations and budget. An online orientation gave a preview of some of the major proposals coming before General Conference delegates.

During the past year, there have been many questions about church disaffiliation. While the disaffiliation legislation adopted by the 2019 General Conference has expired, eight additional proposals to permit disaffiliation have been submitted to the upcoming General Conference. Ask The UMC analyzes each of them. 

As The United Methodist Church approaches General Conference, UM News is providing video resources to help people better understand how the legislative assembly works and what legislation is under consideration. The first three videos are now posted with more to come over the next few weeks.

Should The United Methodist Church divest from fossil fuel companies or hold onto the stocks and pressure the companies to do more to curb global warming? It’s a debate that engaged the 2016 General Conference. The different sides will be at it again at the upcoming General Conference in Charlotte.