The 1992 General Conference approved Calendar Item 114 on page 228 of the Daily Christian Advocate. It requested that the General Council on Ministries respond with two initiatives to help facilitate awareness of the "New Developments in Genetic Science."
The General Council on Ministries Office of Research was asked to survey United Methodist general agencies and annual conferences requesting names of informed speakers in seven fields related to genetic science.
Process and Implementation
Early in the quadrennium, the Office of Research communicated with all annual conferences and general agencies requesting the information identified in the genetic science report. Through staff consultation and follow-up work by the Genetic Science Task Force, it was decided that other methods would be more appropriate to develop a speakers bureau on this topic.
In addition, the General Council on Ministries was urged to convene a meeting of general agency staff in early 1993 to review the work of each agency's plans in the 1993-96 quadrennium relative to the ethics of genetic science technologies. The General Council on Ministries convened such a meeting in conjunction with the spring 1993 meeting of the General Board of Church and Society.
The Division on Research, Planning and Futuring received periodic reports throughout the quadrennium as this referral was accomplished.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 21703-GJ-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference