Therefore, before the General Conference meets in 2000, The United Methodist Church will hold a series of five regional meetings and a United States Convocation on "Heterosexism and the Mission of the Church." The purpose of these gatherings will be to:
1. Hear the pastoral and social needs of people both within and outside the church who are affected by heterosexism.
2. Explore how heterosexism adversely affects both the oppressed and the oppressors.
3. Discern how God is calling the church to respond to these needs.
4. Propose appropriate mission responses to guide the church in the 21st century for:
a) Local churches
b) Annual conferences
c) Boards and agencies
d) United Methodist-related institutions (seminaries, colleges, hospitals, etc.)
The 1996 General Conference authorizes the General Council on Ministries to form a planning committee of 21 persons representing diversity of geography, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Members of the planning committee will include persons from the General Board of Church and Society, General Board of Discipleship, General Board of Global Ministries (each division represented), General Board of Pensions, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, General Board of Publications, General Council on Ministries, Commission on Religion and Race, and the Commission on the Status and Role of Women.
The 1996 General Conference will instruct the General Council on Finance and Administration to provide funding for such a convocation and regional meetings.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 20888-GJ-NonDis-O$
1996 United Methodist General Conference