Reports of the Legislative Committees

1996 United Methodist General Conference

Church and Society (4/19/96, 5:00 p.m.)

The committee recommended concurrence:

Adding to the Social Principles ¶71 a new sub-paragraph on "Sexual Harassment"which "interferes with the moral mission of the church";
Deleting from the Discipline paragraphs dealing with the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) vacancies, officers, executive committee, meetings, responsibilities, staff, headquarters, and bylaws--all of which appear in the GB bylaws;
Revising Section III, ¶8,of the "Status and Role of Women" resolution on providing resources in the area of family planning and contraception;
Amending the Social Principles to:
- add a new sentence to "Basic Rights";
- change those with "handicapping conditions" to "people with disabilities" in the Social Creed and ¶72G;
- shorten and strengthen the paragraph on "Animal Life";
- add new text to ¶72M on "Rural Life";
- insert sentences on family violence and abuse to ¶71A;
- amend ¶70A on "Water, Air, Soil, Minerals, Plants";
- substitute new text for ¶70D on "Space" and for 70E on "Science and Technology";
- add two new ¶¶72 sub-paragraphs on organ transplantation and organ donation and the "Right to Health Care";
- amend ¶72C to call for general and complete disarmament under strict international control;
- change wording in ¶74E on civil obedience and civil disobedience.
Revising a number of resolutions in the current Book of Resolutions dealing with the United Nations' covenants and conventions, The United Methodist Church and peace, campaign finance reform, terrorism, and withdrawal of military bases from Okinawa.

Conferences (4/19/96)

The committee recommended concurrence:

To amend the Constitution to include the chair of the annual conference college student organization in the membership of the annual conference;
To renumber ¶604 as 604.1;
To amend so that the secretary of the General Conference determines how petitions should be sent to General Conference (¶608.1);
To add a new ¶ with information on how to send in petitions via fax or electronic mail (¶608.3);
To change dates for
- a) materials to be in hands of the petitions secretary, and
- b) time limitations (¶608.8);
To amend instructions on how much material a petition to General Conference may address (¶697.2);
To amend ¶ to permit exception if changes are identical (¶608.2);
To amend ¶ to include individual members, clergy or lay, and local church groups (¶608.7);
To add "persons from churches with small memberships" (¶707.4);
To add "the deaconesses" (¶35);
To edit for better understanding of the petitions in DCA (¶608.8);
To delete ¶608.9, add new ¶ regarding electronic access to all General Conference material prior to publication of the new Discipline.

The committee recommended concurrence with amendments:

Requiring the Secretary-Designate to insure that all delegates receive the DCA in their native languages (¶605);
Providing a new formula to determine the numerical base for calculating the ratio of representatives from conferences to General, Central, Jurisdictional Conferences (¶14)
Allowing annual conferences to utilize structures unique to their mission (¶15.14);
Following ¶703.3; deleted "and all conference meetings" and the Architectural Guidelines.

Discipleship (4/19/96)

The committee recommended concurrence:

Asking the Board of Discipleship to enable and encourage congregations to carry out discipleship;
Calling for revitalization of established congregations;
Changing certain Discipline language so as to make it more concise and precise;
Emphasizing training members as to responsibilities of the baptismal covenant;
Retaining current language regarding "Our Theological Task;
Adding editorial changes to "Ecumenical Interpretations of Doctrinal Standards";
"Care of Youth"
- adding language encouraging youth to participate in preparation for their profession of faith;
Shortening the time before removing inactive people from membership from three to two years;
Regarding membership reports and records. Includes members' addresses as part of church record keeping;
Adopting the "meaning of membership" vows for profession of faith
Amending the last ¶ of the proposed ¶211 by making the last ¶ No. 7, and changing "may" to "shall" (7. Such persons "shall" also be asked to receive and profess the Christian faith . . .);
Explaining the process for admission into the church;
Adopting language explaining the church's responsibility for caring for children and youth;
Outlining the circumstances under which people can be removed from the rolls of both baptized and professing members.

The committee recommended concurrence with amendments:

Defining church membership, deleting the specific categories of people, but saying that "all persons" are eligible to attend worship, etc.;
Added clarifying words which emphasize one comes into membership on confirmation;
Regarding qualifications for membership by adding an additional statement of faith to highlight the importance of Scripture, and adding wording to emphasize the importance of the profession of faith;
Making the wording of certain worship services compatible with those in use by the Central Conferences;
Delineating local-church guidelines for keeping membership rolls and reporting membership.

The committee recommended nonconcurrence:

Making foot washing a sacrament;

Reaffirming Doctrinal Standards;

Proposing changes in the section on "Our Theological Task."
Financial Administration (4/18/96)

The committee recommended concurrence:

Exempting the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits and the General Board of Publication from the audit and review by GCFA;
Allowing other structures to provide for the functions of the Council of Finance and Administration;
Reducing the size of the Executive Committee of the General Board of Publication;
Reducing the number of members required to call a meeting of the Executive Committee of the General Board of Publications;
Changing the name of the General Board of Publication to United Methodist Publishing House;
Deleting ¶906.12;
Adding new administrative responsibilities for the cross-and-flame United Methodist insignia to General Council on Finance and Administration;
Giving GCFA authority to gather salary equity information;
Ensuring that no apportioned general funds are expended for use of alcoholic beverages;
Adopting the Comprehensive Protection Plan;
Allowing transfers out of the Cumulative Pension and Benefit Fund;
Removing the South Africa ban in Cumulative Pension and Benefit Fund;
Adjusting actual contribution percentage tests for certain plan sponsors;
Adopting the Cumulative Pension and Benefit Fund Plan;
Clarifying definition of the word "compensation";
Adding a new ¶ to allow transfers out of the Ministerial Pension Plan;
Removing the South Africa ban as of July 1, 1996 in the Ministerial Pension Plan;
Adopting the Ministerial Pension Plan

The committee recommended nonconcurrence:

Deleting mandatory language in support of World Service and Conference Benevolences;
Giving an annual conference or local church the right to accept or refuse all or any portion of any apportionment;
(there were 59 other petitions voted non-concurrence)

The committee referred:

To the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits a petition to consider raising disability benefits for disabled pastors;
To the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits a petition to amend the Ministerial Pension plan;
To the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits a petition on voluntary conversion program from MRPF to MPP;
To the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits adding a new ¶ to Plan Document of the Ministerial Pension Plan;
To the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits allowing people to leave money in the personal pension funds after age 70, if they wish;
Giving an annual conference or local church the right to accept or refuse all or any portion of any

General/Judicial Administration (4/19/96, 4:00 p.m.)

The committee recommended concurrence:

On designating responsibilities for the Advance Special program;
On concerning evaluation process of General Agencies;
On providing for retirement of general agency staff personnel;
On nondiscrimination;
On conditions surrounding open and closed meetings;
On GCOM training of Conference Council on Ministries directors;
On policies for socially responsible investments;
On complaints of misconduct or unsatisfactory performance of a Bishop;
On fair process in judicial proceedings;
On guidelines for sexual misconduct policies

The committee recommended nonconcurrence:

Deleting the conference Advance programs;
Changing language concerning inclusiveness in Discipline ¶4;
Concerning amenability and program accountability;
Pertaining to health benefits plan of general agency staff personnel;
Requiring that associate general secretaries and assistant general secretaries be members of the UMC

The committee referred to GCOM:

Granting Advance Special status to Appalachia Service Project, Inc.

Global Ministries(4/19/96, 3:35 p.m.)

The committee recommended concurrence:

Condemning the use of rape as a weapon of war;
Registering opposition to Proposition 187 of California;
Supporting communications access for people with hearing and sight impairment;
Endorsing program recommendations from the National Committee on Deaf Ministries;
Opposing deportation of Salvadoran refugees from the United States;
Endorsing a statement on immigrants and refugees, "To Love the Sojourner";
Recognizing "the many faces" of persons affected by HIV/AIDS;
Encouraging observance of World AIDS Day on December 1;
Offering recommendations from the Interagency Task Force on AIDS;
Evaluating the church's responsibilities in a mass media culture;
Calling for an end to abusive treatment methods for persons with mental disabilities;
Continuing the Hispanic Ministries and Native American Comprehensive plans;
Adopting "Holy Boldness" plan for urban ministry;
Providing quadrennial training for annual conference and district disaster response coordinators;
Adopting a special emphasis on the U.S. rural crisis and affirming rural chaplains;
Calling for the release of 14 Puerto Rican political prisoners;
Continuing the Communities of Shalom ministry and supporting a national plan for town and country ministry;
Supporting cooperative parish ministry, church and community workers and mission personnel in the United States;
Continuing the Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence

The committee recommended concurrence with amendments:

Providing for health and social care of the elderly;
Supporting mission work in Appalachia;
Assisting teens at risk;
Reducing the risk of child sexual abuse in the church

Higher Education and Chaplaincy (4/19/96, 3:45 p.m.)

The committee recommended concurrence:

To approve a resolution on incorporation (Pan Methodist) in order for the African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, and Christian Methodist Episcopal colleges and universities to establish eligibility for E.I.I.A.;
To affirm and encourage the UM-related precollegiate schools and to learn more about their mission and contributions;
To affirm the 11 historically Black colleges related to the UMC by establishing $46,708,480 as the Black College Fund goal for the 1997-2000 quadrennium (an increase of 12 percent from the 1992-1996 quadrennium) and that this resolution be recorded in The Book of Resolutions of the 1996 General Conference;
To amend ¶1532 with the words "conference" and "and Diaconal Ministry";
To add a new sub-¶ after ¶1514.3 regarding inquiries to UM-related schools, colleges, and universities;
To ask 1996 General Conference to fund the National United Methodist Native American Center at $316,000 for 1997-2000 quadrennium

The committee recommended concurrence with amendments:

¶1505 to include the words "and persons with disabilities";
¶1515 to read "persons with disabilities" instead of "people with disabilities";
The last sentence of the Ministry Study's proposed substitute as pertains to the Divisions of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (section VIII, ¶1508.1);
¶1531 dealing with the UM schools of theology to read "with the dynamics of ministry in a multi-cultural society";
To fund seminary education, amended to read 1) encourage increased funding for seminary students through endowment programs and/or capital fund drives for United Methodist student grants, loans, and scholarships; and 2) Develop and evaluate the feasibility of a plan for seminary student loan repayment by years of service in UM missional areas;
To fund the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico to the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry as amended to read: GBHEM continue its financial support of the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico through the year 2000. (Delete the words "at the 1992 level").
To add a new sub-point after ¶732.4d(11), adding the words "United Methodist college students as" after "election of" and before "lay members"

The committee recommended nonconcurrence:

To change the makeup of the membership of the University Senate.
To amend ¶1506.2 dealing with election of the general secretary of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry;
To amend ¶1503 to move the accountability of the GBHEM from the GCOM to the Council of Bishops;
To amend ¶1509.2 to delete words "World Service moneys";

Independent Commissions (4/19/96, 4:45 p.m.)

Concurred with the document "Churches in Covenant Communion," with the amendment that UMC may continue to maintain its own standards for ministerial training and ordination and apply those to the transfer of ministers from other denominations. This includes any prohibitions of the General Conference.
Concurred with a petition authorizing "historic" establishment of a Commission on Pan-Methodist Union;
Concurred with document, as amended, on Christian-Jewish Relations, "Building New Bridges in Hope";
Concurred with mandating a Conference Commission on Small Membership Church or other body to care for those functions.
Concurred by allowing the Council of Bishops to name an Ecumenical Officer other than the council's secretary;
Concurred by mandating a Pan-Methodist approach to any event organized by a general agency of the UMC and Pan-Methodist approach to GCOM coordinating functions;
Concurred by allowing functions of Conference Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns to be assigned to an alternative structure, either existing or newly-created;
Concurred by adding sections to present resolution on Holy Land tours, especially urging that United Methodists enter partnership with indigenous Palestinian Christians, help to strengthen Christian witness in the Holy Land and consult with UM Liaison in Jerusalem about how to implement tour resolution;
Concurred by retaining membership in World Methodist Council and continuing membership in the NCC, updating present language in the Book of Resolutions;
Concurred by renaming Historic Shrines as Heritage Landmarks and recommended two new Heritage Landmarks:
- First UMC, Johnston, PA (site of merger of Evangelical and United Brethen in Christ Churches into EUB Church 50 years ago)
- and the Wesley Foundation at the University of Illinois, Champaign, first Wesley Foundation established by the Methodist Episcopal Church as a student organization in a secular university

Local Church (4/19/96, 3:30 p.m.)

The committee recommended concurrence:

Naming the local church as the "most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs;"
Eliminating named local church program agencies (¶264) other than the church school;
Youth ministries coordinator and council and United Methodist Women

The committee recommended concurrence with amendments:

Stating the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ, along with rationale and process to replace existing ¶¶101, 102 and 103;
Establishing the church council, amenable to the Charge Conference, as the basic organizational plan for the local church, mandating a comprehensive program of nurture, outreach and witness;
Naming the pastor as the chief administrative officer of the church and charge;
Urging use of appropriate district and annual conference relationships and resources;
Retaining first person language in the statement concerning "The Journey of a Connectional People;"
Mandating training in cooperative ministry for general board staff, bishops, district superintendents, and conference staff and mandating priority in appointment making to place directors and clergy staff trained in cooperative ministry in those settings;

The committee recommended nonconcurrence:

Amending the present description of the mission and ministry statement of the church as submitted by the General Council on Ministries

Ordained and Diaconal Ministry (4/19/96)

The committee recommended changes to the Ministry Study that would eliminate sequential ordination for elders. They approved single ordination for both deacons and elders and consecration for probationary members who are working toward ordination. Following this decision, the committee returned to meeting in sub-committees until 4:00 p.m.

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Reports of the Legislative Committees
1996 United Methodist General Conference