Plenary Session Proceedings
Monday, April 22: Afternoon Session
BISHOP ELIAS G. GALVAN: Our Council on Ministries. Bishop Dew. (laughter) Will the delegates be in order, please.
BISHOP WILLIAM W. DEW JR.: Good afternoon. The General Council on Ministries comes to you this afternoon to provide two information reports. The first of these information reports is on a shared mission focus on young people, Walking Together in the Way that Leads to Life. This calendar item has not yet been printed in the DCA, although I have been informed that it passed in the General and Judicial Administration legislative committee by a vote of 82, 0, 2. It can be found in the red book on page 599. Petition number 21678.
The shared mission focus on young people will provide our church with an opportunity to bring together ideas and resources, to address the critical issues facing our youth both inside and outside of the church. You will be hearing of our proposed response to provide assistance and support for our youth. So I invite you to welcome this presentation, which has involved a quadrennium of study by GCOM under the direction and with the leadership of Dr. Peter Weaver who will lead us now in this presentation. Peter.
DR. PETER D. WEAVER (General Council on Ministries, Shared Mission Focus on Young People): Thank you Bishop Dew. Good afternoon. Good afternoon! Anyone out there? (laughter) The shared mission focus on young people Walking Together in the Way that Leads to Life.
His name was Dorian Reed, a 16 year old scholar-athlete from our local high school. By all accounts he was a wonderful young man. He had made the decision to stay out of the warring gangs in our neighborhood, but on the evening of January 31st, 1995, Dorian was gunned down five yards from the back of the First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh where I am privileged to serve in the struggles of a congregation that deeply feels the hurts of its neighborhood and its neighbors and wants to make a difference for Jesus Christ in the world of that neighborhood and the lives of young people, that is young people who are children and youth and young adults who are all about us. (visual)
This picture, taken at Dorian's funeral, invites us to begin to open the doors of the church, its resources, the unconditional love and hope offered in Jesus Christ. How can we really make the world our parish? How can we share with all young people both the celebration of their gifts as well as being with them and for them as they face violence and hopelessness, economic issues, and moral and spiritual dilemmas? Have you been asking these kinds of questions in your congregation and community?
The General Council on Ministries is charged with the duty of recommending to General Conference one issue that, because it is so critical, should become a top priority for all boards and agencies, all conferences and local churches; in short, for all the people called United Methodists. Through GCOM a process of listening took place over the last quadrennium, listening to people in many settings, urban, rural, town, globally. And the one issue that rose above all others as being an urgent need requiring immediate attention is this: the need to open the doors of ministry to and with young people in our communities in new and creative life-changing and world-changing ways.
In drawing our attention to the young, Bishop Craig said to us in the Episcopal Address, "All else we do will be wasted if we do not engage in shaping the future so that it offers life abundant instead of squeezing life out of the next generation."
This statistical chart tells us that the nations in which The United Methodist Church exists--Africa, the Philippines, the United States, and Europe--report that from 40 percent up to 70 percent of their populations are persons under the age of 30. And yet The United Methodist Church itself reports only 6 percent of its membership as being between 12 and 30. Clearly, the call to be more present with young people is upon us.
Therefore, for the sake of all the Dorian Reeds of the world; for the 50 percent of the world's population who are young people, most of whom are outside of the Church; and most of all for the sake of Jesus Christ who loved the world, we are offering to this 1996 General Conference this shared mission focus on young people. It is a new way that the whole church can offer its resources to local churches. Here we can walk together in the way that leads to life.
To present to you the details of this shared mission focus, I'd like to present to you Jeannie Trevino-Teddlie, who gave excellent leadership to the Committee on Missional Priorities that led our missional emphasis division to this shared mission focus. Jeannie.
JEANNIE TREVINO-TEDDLIE (Central Texas): This proposal calls The United Methodist Church to reorder its priorities and focus on the needs of young people. It is to enable young people to be participants in the life and work of the church.
The shared mission focus is shared because it comes and it belongs to every part of the church. It is shared because it will take United Methodists working together in task forces, local churches, districts, annual conferences, jurisdictions, central conferences, and the general agencies for the response to cause a real difference. No one part of the church can do it alone. It is shared because this work is done with God. It is mission because in the spirit of the Great Commission in Matthew 28, verse 19 it is people to people.
We are being sent in response to a critical need in God's world. It is mission because it is action. It is a primary focus, not a program. This shared mission focus is a way of seeing and focusing on young people in our world. It calls us to turn our heads, open our eyes, feel with the heart, and look deeply into the eyes of young people all around us.
It is this focused theme that then inspires United Methodists to channel its creativity, its energy, and resources that can flow from every part of the Body of Christ. Every area of the church, especially the local church, is being called by God to participate in making a difference--making a difference in the lives of young people around the world through their understanding and response to the gospel.
The shared mission focus initiative has several important components designed to strengthen the local church with support from the annual conference and general agencies in this important ministry. The overall seed money for the next four years for this critical venture is $270,000, or $67,500 per year. The first component is that local churches would be equipped to undertake discovery and theological grounding. It would help United Methodists listen to the voices of young people both inside and outside their congregations and to discover the joys and challenges which young people experience.
Discerning God's call will come through this process of discovering, which will lead us into moving beyond the four walls of the church out into the neighborhood and larger community. Resourcing ministry through action plans will be developed by local churches and will be supported by a comprehensive data bank of successful innovative models of ministry that will be catalogued in a central clearing house. Print media and electronic resources will be available to local churches and communities. They will be developed by the supporting church structures.
An exciting and unique resource will be dynamic issue forums. How can we make ministry with young people come alive? What are the critical elements required to help answer these questions? Ten issue-focused forums will function as creative think tanks to discover and document what works. This think-tank effort will press the ordinary boundaries of ministry and will be designed to take the church to the cutting edge of issues. New concepts of mission will be discovered and shared.
The third component is that of interpreting the mission and inviting the entire congregation to be a part. This process of engaging and training the congregation will enable the local church to do the needed reordering of priorities to make this effort successful. Creative resourcing tools will be developed. And in celebration of this missional journey, a mid-quadrennial celebration for lifting up successful ministries with young people will be designed and, if possible, linked with other general and global celebrative mission events that are occurring within the denomination.
And finally, this initiative will be guided by a shared mission focus team, a group of 19 persons representing the concerns of young people throughout the world. We ask this General Conference to approve $270,000 of seed money for this shared mission focus. In the spirit of collaboration, this figure is only a beginning portion of resources that will be multiplied--multiplied by the addition of human and financial resources from districts, annual conferences, jurisdictions, central conferences, general agencies, and most of all, local congregations where this mission focus will come alive. We, as United Methodist people and churches around the world, are being called to hear God's voice, a call that is moving us to a new place and a new ministry, a new promised land. We have an opportunity to transform the world.
Stories are a powerful way of sharing the truth of the word, the truth of the world. Let me introduce a young person who has moved from struggle to hope, who is walking in that path that leads to life.
Her name is Cecilia Williamson, a young woman who has walked a road of struggle and challenge, and found solace and support through the ministry of the church. Cecilia is originally from Toledo, Ohio, and is now residing in Indianapolis. Welcome Celia.
CECILIA WILLIAMSON (Indianapolis): Young woman? Gee,I like that. I want to talk to you today about where I am now in my life, and where I've been, and where I plan to go. I'm getting my Ph.D. right now at Indiana University in social work. And I'm focusing my research on youth and children and prevention of violence, substance abuse, teen-age pregnancy, and prostitution. What I've found, and a lot researchers have found, that there are common risks and common protective factors. Risk can be such things as family management problems, family conflict, neighborhood, peers that you hang around, having weak social bonds. Some protective factors could be things such as having a mentor, having a close family.
The reason I want to talk to you about that is because I have experienced close family bond and close family mentoring through a United Methodist mission. I was raised on the north side of Toledo by a working class family. And I played at Friendly Center, which is a United Methodist community center. When I grew up, I moved out of my parent's house, and I was 19 years old. At that time I was forced to go on welfare.
I stayed on welfare for three years, and I can tell you that's probably the most depressing time I've ever spent in my whole life. I decided, well you know, I should go to college. So I went to my case worker at the welfare department. I said, "I'd like to go to college."
And she said, "Well if you can go to college, you can get a job."
I said, "Well, if I go to college, I can get a better job, and I won't be back." [laughter]
Well, we differed; and so, three county conferences and two state hearings later, my attorney said, "You can't go."
So I decided, OK, eat now or eat better later...I'll eat better later. So I decided to go to college and I got my associate degree in Social Work.
Now let me tell you about expectation; and what expectation can do for you, or how expectation can fight against you. When I was in high school, my senior year I spent in the HERO Club, which is Home Economic Related Occupations. That's defined as, "Cecilia, we've given up on you, and so we better teach you some home-making skills so that at least you'll be able to keep your house and cook." Expectation can be a wonderful thing and it can be a detrimental thing. I decided to go to school anyway.
I got my associate degree in Social Work, and I decided, "Well, I fooled them. I don't know why they gave me this degree. It can't be because I'm smart." So I decided, "Well, okay, I want to get my bachelor's degree. So I'll go over and do a two plus-two program." And I went over to the main campus at the University of Toledo, and I said I would like to take two more years and get my bachelor's degree in Social Work. And they said, "We don't have that. If you want your bachelor's degree, you'll start over."
So I thought, okay, a genius I am not, but determined, I am. So I started over.
I got my four year degree, started work at Friendly Center as a Social Worker. I developed a program--the first program in Ohio that works with young women who want to get out of prostitution. I got that backing from the United Methodist Women--the only people that trusted in my idea and thought it would work. I have women today... [applause] Thank you. I have women today that are starting training programs, that are starting college, that have their apartments for the first time in their lives, that are trying to provide a place for their children, now, so it's working. I'm happy about that. That's my pride and joy.
After that, I decided, "You know, maybe I ought to get my master's degree." And so my boss there at Friendly Center, David Morris, he told me one day, "Guess what? I think you're going to get your master's degree."
And I said, "I don't know about that."
He said, "You're going to do it." And that brings me back to expectation again. See, no one rises to low expectation.
So, I applied to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, which is a private, prestigious university for social work. Now you have to understand that I didn't graduate magnum cum laude. OK, in my undergrad, I graduated Oh-God-Thank-God-I'm-Done-O'Lordy. [laughter] OK? So when I applied at Case Western, I had a 2.69999. You had to have a 2.7 to apply. I don't know why the man called me for an interview. Maybe he thought well, this will be fun; we'll see what happens. So I drove down to Cleveland, 45 minutes late and an $85 speeding ticket. And I walked into the room and he was reading his paper. And he looked up and I said, "I'm sorry, sir, I'm Cecilia Williams. I realize I am 45 minutes late."
He said, "Yes you are." And he went on reading his newspaper.
So I thought, "OK, Lord, be with me today because I'm about to do something crazy." So I walked in and I said, "Excuse me, sir, but you have to hear what I have to say."
He listened to me and said, "Well, let me ask you this, what makes you think you can make it at this university when you had a 2.6 at the other university?"
I said, "Because, sir, I'm not a genius, but determination I have. And I will be famous. And I'm going to do national things, and I'm going to do great things, and I'd just like to have Case Western's name attached to it." [laughter]
So he told me, "I will personally walk your file over here and admit you to this university. But," he said, "you better walk across that stage."
I said, "We have deal, sir."
He said, "If I don't see you walk across that stage, I'm going to drag you across that stage."
I said, "OK."
I graduated in 1993. All A's and only two B's. [applause] So, I went back to work at Friendly Center. People told me, "Why, with a master's degree from this university, are you working at a small community center?" I said, "Because, you don't understand my mission. You don't understand my determination. You don't understand my focus. See, United Methodists have been taking care of me for a very long time. And now I have to take care of them." [applause]
I decided, well, let me just find out what else I can do. So I competed for a national fellowship and I was chosen to go to Indiana University and get my Ph.D. And that's where I am studying today. [applause] So, I just want to bring a message of thanks. Every time I'm invited to do anything for the United Methodist Women, I jump to do it. I always say I am partial to United Methodist Women, but I love United Methodist Men as well. [laughter]
I want to thank you for allowing me to come here and share my story. And I want to let you know that wherever I'll be or whatever I'll be doing, it will be for The United Methodist Church. It will be God's work. And I'm sure that United Methodist people will continue to take care of me, whether they know me or not. They always have friendly faces. The first group of people I've run into during my life that were color-blind. [applause] And that's, you know, that's God's work in action.
So, I will leave you with the message that no one rises to low expectations. Strong nurturance and high expectations is the key. I thank you. [applause]
PETER WEAVER (Western Pennsylvania): As Celia said, God's work in action. Wouldn't it be wonderful if that were multiplied throughout the United Methodist churches around the world with a shared mission focus on young people, so that we could walk together in the way that leads to life? Stephanie Gray is from Los Angeles. She's been on GCOM and has helped us to get the enthusiasm as well as this ministry shaped. Stephanie.
STEPHANIE GRAY (Los Angeles): Greetings, bishops and friends. I think that the time has come when we, as United Methodists, seriously evaluate how we consider youth and young adults in our conferences and our congregations and our communities. As a young adult who has served on the GCOM this past quadrennium, I am in strong support of the shared mission focus on young people. I believe that the resourcing and networking that will happen as a result of this shared mission focus will enable local churches to reach out to their communities and to the young people within those communities.
As I've learned by my experiences on the GCOM and in the real world, one cannot change an institution from the outside. In order for The United Methodist Church to reach out to young people, doesn't it seem most wise to reach within the institutions of gangs, drug circles, and poverty and to provide the leadership and guidance for young people within those institutions to take the leadership roles of changing their own communities? And also within the institution of our church there is a need for change.
The shared mission focus would enable congregations, conferences, general boards and agencies, and General Conference to consider youth and young adults in a different, new way, one in which young people are not patronized or stuck in token youth/young adult slots to fill disciplinary mandates. (applause) A way in which our own individual senses of spirituality, social justice, conviction, and our leadership abilities will be respected and fostered by our church family. For the sake of our church in the present, for the sake of our young brothers and sisters who long to be heard and understood and loved, I urge you to take the shared mission focus in a prayerfully enthusiastic way. Thank you.
PETER WEAVER: So the question now before us is whether we are willing to be bold disciples and through Jesus Christ to move and walk together with young people in the transformation of the world. Shall we move from apathy to loving concern and unconditional acceptance to be authentically and enthusiastically with and for young people? It is only that kind of movement that will make possible a shared response to the joys and pains of young people around the world through the good news of God's unconditional love in Christ. The names--Dorian Reed, Celia, Stephanie--the names are many yearning to walk in the way that leads to life. We urge you not just to adopt but to implement this shared mission focus on young people.
BISHOP DEW: The second item on which we wish to present an information report is "Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century." It is Calendar Item 762, found on page 235 of the Daily Christian Advocate. In the red book, page 579, petition number 21677. Since the item that was printed in the Daily Christian Advocate was printed this morning, and our rules call us to wait 24 hours for action, we urge you to hear this report and be prepared to vote later. We are very happy to present this report as we believe its approval is going to have a tremendous impact on all of our congregations as they benefit from congregational resource centers. And so I invite Bishop Woodie White, who has chaired the task force that has prepared this proposal, I invite him to come and present the report.
BISHOP WOODIE W. WHITE: I remember quite well, as a student in college, watching with considerable interest speakers when they came to visit that tiny college. I watched their mannerisms, listened carefully to their words, studied their motions, and one of my observations was this: I noticed that most of our speakers had a habit of putting their glasses on and taking them off. And I thought they did it for dramatic effect. Now I know why they did it!
Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century: a challenge, a goal, a mission. Through the past three years, we have studied, related to and with, consulted with lay persons and clergy all across the United States. We found exciting, growing, and vital black congregations in a variety of settings, some suburban, some rural, some major metropolitan areas. However, we also found many congregations that were struggling to keep their heads above water, looking for focus and direction and very much wanting to be in mission and wanting to know how they could do that.
Out of our time together, we thought, why not pair, why not match those exciting, vital, growing congregations with those congregations seeking to reach out? Thus, the proposal "Strengthening the black Church" is one such proposal. It is to bring together those congregations that they might share and they might learn from each other; a focus that is principally laity led as lay persons from vital congregations, growing congregations, missionally-focused congregations can share with those who are intending to be so; vital congregations where there are vital pastors, where there are vital programs.
As we looked at the statistics over the last several years, we noted with dismay that, despite the fact that the United States census revealed an 11 percent increase in the black population between 1980 and 1990, in the course of those years we have seen a decline in Black United Methodist congregations and membership. But there is opportunity to turn that around.
The proposal is a simple one: Have 25 congregational resource centers all across the country in the course of the quadrennium, bringing together lay persons, youth, clergy from congregations all across our denomination, exposing them to other youth, other lay persons, other pastors in settings much like their own, with the one difference being these are settings where the congregations are growing and are vital and are missionally focused. We calculate in the course of that quadrennium we can reach between four and six hundred congregations through such a process. This will involve congregations of every description, every size.
As we worked on this proposal more, we thought, while this program calls for strengthening Black churches, we also observed that there are congregations located in racially transitional communities, some located in predominantly Black communities, who are needing an opportunity and wanting an opportunity to be involved more effectively in those communities. These resource centers will be open to all churches regardless of their ethnic make-up, in order that they might determine and be equipped to be in mission more effectively.
The proposal is before you. You have read it. It is a proposal that we believe has considerable merit and promise. Vital congregations pairing with, partnering with, praying with other congregations seeking to be vital as well. I'd like to call Rev. Walter Kimbrough, who has been a part of this process, to share with you, for he comes from one of those vital congregations. And he will make a statement at this time.
WALTER L. KIMBROUGH (North Georgia): Thank you Bishop White. Sisters and brothers, I take this opportunity to say thank you for being sensitive and caring to a request that we make of this 1996 General Conference. I've thought about this United Methodist Church long and hard and I'm convinced of three principal things about it.
Number one, of the greatness of who we are lies in our connectionalism. It says to me that we are not alone. We don't stand by ourselves. No one congregation is independent of all of the other congregations. And when that power is released, as we reach beyond ourselves across the vastness of this nation, and yea, even and especially globally, joining hands one with the other, the power of God is released in our midst and we rise to new and greater heights. The power of this proposal simply seeks to say in significant ways that first of all we're connected. We're not alone.
The second thing it says is that we are in a significant position to help each other. Those that have grown, those that are made stronger ought to certainly bear the responsibility of reaching back to help those who are still weak. I'm convinced it's like D. T. Niles years ago. In seeking to describe what evangelism was all about he declared, "Evangelism is like one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread." We proposed, sisters and brothers, that each of our congregations that have in fact become vital congregations ought to directly assist other congregations in becoming vital as well. Then we are in a position to be a blessing for the total church.
That leads me to the third point. I call it a blessing for the total church. Some people raise the question about the amount of money that we are requesting, $1,779,400. I thought about it. How much do we pay income from apportionments? And I thought in my own city of Atlanta, in the North Georgia Conference, that two of our congregations in that city, formerly all White, today 99-plus percent Black, will in fact give this amount of money over the quadrennium. And I thought that was exciting. I was applauding it. But there is another Black congregation in Texas giving currently at the level $429,000 annually in conference apportionments. And yet just a few years ago it was nearly dead.
The issue is, sisters and brothers, because something is nearly dead does not mean there isn't the possibility of resuscitating it and bringing it to new and vital life. That's God's will for us. God's will for us. [applause] And we're committed to do that. We're simply asking you to help us. We're simply asking you to empower us. We are simply asking for your blessing to be a blessing for others in our denomination with the understanding every Black congregation that we streng- then, every Black congregation that's empowered, becomes a blessing for this United Methodist Church. We can do it. I'm convinced we can do it.
Now what's different about it is that we aren't looking at bringing in consultants from anywhere. Amen. [applause] The people with the know-how reside within our congregations. And we're talking about empowering that leadership from within our congregations to help teach, to train, to motivate others so that they will have the desire to become a vital congregation. That's what it's about. And that's our challenge.
Let me see if I can close on this note. There is a song writer who said it much, much better than I could ever say it: "If in the course of my life I can help somebody as I pass along. If I can cheer somebody with words or a song. If I can show someone he's travelling wrong, then my living shall not be in vain."
We don't want our living to be in vain. Help us members of this 1996 General Conference. And to know full well what will be a blessing to the Black church is also a blessing for the whole church because it is a model that will work anywhere. God bless you. And thank you one and all. [applause]
BISHOP WOODIE WHITE: We regret that Dr. Kimbrough does not have more enthusiasm for this proposal. [laughter] This is a proposal about mission and persons being in mission. This is a proposal about bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to those who have not heard and not yet responded. This is a proposal about church growth and changing lives. This is a proposal about sharing and vision and futuring.
It is our prayer and our hope that in four years when we return we can give evidence of vital, growing, relevant Black congregations--directly the result of this proposal. Thank you very much. [applause]
BISHOP WILLIAM DEW: These comprise the two reports we wanted to bring to you this afternoon and urge your full consideration when they are reported out from the legislative committee.
BISHOP GALVAN: We thank Bishop Dew and Bishop White and all those presenters today for their very fine presentations. Thank you very much. I see a card in the back. Microphone number 6, to the front. Microphone number 6. Your name.
FRANK H. FURMAN JR. (Florida): Two wonderful programs have been presented to us. But in keeping with our Rules on Budget, I bring to the attention of the presenters that GCFA, the General Council on Finance and Administration, will be meeting. The question I have of the presenter, both of these mission statements require additional funding, have they been submitted through the budget process or are they in position to bring us figures so that they may be considered at the appropriate time?
BISHOP GALVAN: Bishop Dew, can you answer the question?
BISHOP DEW: They have been presented through the budget process. And you will hear from the legislative committee later in the conference about that.
FURMAN: Thank you. And, Bishop, if I may, one further statement. I understand there are other fund items that'll be brought to us that have a missional quality about them that have yet to come before General Council on Finance and Administration. And I implore those who may have such items that need to be funded to be sure they get to us so that we can work on the budget at the appropriate time. Thank you, sir.
BISHOP GALVAN: Thank you for your statement. In the back, microphone number 12.
BETTY S. GORDON (West Virginia): Bishop Galvan, I move to suspend the rules to consider voting on Calendar Item 762, page 235 in DCA three. And I'll speak to it if I have a second.
BISHOP GALVAN: You can speak to it because it's a suspension of the rules. Yes please state the reason for suspension of rules.
GORDON: OK. The reason is to suspend the rule that states materials must be printed 24 hours before plenary action. This Petition 21677 was approved by a vote of 86 to zero against in the legislative committee.
BISHOP GALVAN: Excuse me. You cannot speak to it. You're just stating the reason why you want to suspend the rules.
GORDON: Okay. Well, it's so we can suspense.
BISHOP GALVAN: The motion is not debatable. Thank you.
GORDON: OK.
BISHOP GALVAN: So the motion is before you. Are you ready to vote on the suspension of the rules? Please indicate when the light appears. It will take two thirds vote. [Results: yes, 614; no, 266; abstained, 19] The rules are suspended so we now turn our attention to Item 762 for consideration.
BISHOP DEW: The legislative committee chair is here.
BISHOP GALVAN: Okay, please.
DAVID SEVERE (Oklahoma): The legislative committee has indeed acted on this as has been stated and we did approve it 86 for the proposal. No voting against it with one abstention. And we would move concurrence on this report with reference to the GCFA.
BISHOP GALVAN: The motion was concurrence with reference to the GCFA. Is there any discussion? Yes, in the back. Microphone number 12.
JAMES D. SWANSON (South Georgia Conference): Bishop Galvan, just one concern that I have about this particular petition, and that is that there is no program indicated for ministerial recruitment. And I would like the GCOM persons to speak to that concern.
BISHOP ELIAS G. GALVAN: Do you want the respond to the concern? It's a question?
BISHOP WOODIE WHITE: This proposal did not deal with ministerial recruitment, and so consequently you did not find a component in it.
SWANSON: May I make another statement here? I feel that, in the midst of us trying to strengthen the Black church, it is so extremely important that we have the engines to try to drive this program. My conference that I come from in South Georgia, we have a tremendous shortage of ministers. And I think that it's probably one of the things that we suffer throughout the whole connection, and not to speak to this, to me, is shortsighted. I think the committee needs to look into this.
BISHOP GALVAN: Thank you very much. You have spoken to it. I consider that a statement is against the motion.
SWANSON: Not really. What I'd like to do, probably, is to go on and offer an amendment to this program.
BISHOP GALVAN: OK, anyone speaking in favor? Microphone number nine.
DAVID L. WHITE (South Indiana): I would like to say that, we as laity, African-American laity, in this church think that we are very capable of giving the leadership necessary. This is not giving any reflection on the pastoral leadership. We want to do this in partnership with our clergy brothers and sisters, so I urge you, my fellow delegates, to vote for this, as has been asked.
BISHOP GALVAN: Thank you. Anyone wishes to speak against the item before you? Yes? Against the item? OK, if no one wants to speak against, now we can accept the speeches for. Here I recognize you, microphone number eight.
TULLALAH F. WILLIAMS (Northern Illinois): I just want to urge your support of this mission. I think often times clergy forget that we were once laity, and that if we strengthen laity in the church, surely we will enhance the recruitment of clergy in the church, so I strongly urge your support. Thank you. [applause]
BISHOP GALVAN: Are you ready to vote? All those in favor, please vote as the light appears. It has been approved. [857 approved] [applause, most are standing] The chair recognizes Mr. Cashar Evans, chair of finance and administration for some calendar items.
CASHAR W. EVANS JR (North Carolina): In the blue DCA, on page 169, Calendar Item 422, can be found on page 382 of the red DCA. That petition number is 20020, and it is in the second column at the bottom. The subject is property used as fulfilling the mission of the church. The committee recommended nonconcurrence, 63 for, 34 against, and 0 abstentions. It is before you, bishop.
BISHOP GALVAN: The item is before you. Any discussion? I think we're ready to act. When you're ready to vote, please vote when the light appears. [728 approved] It is approved.
EVANS: Page 169, blue CDEFA... DCA, you can tell where my mind is. Calendar Item 423, that is on page 364 of the red DCA. In the second column, in the middle of the page, the petition number is 21627, the subject is the Episcopal Residence Committee. The committee recommends concurrence. The vote was 71 for, 24 against, and 0 abstentions. It is before you.
BISHOP GALVAN: It is now before you. Any discussion? The committee recommends concurrence. Are we ready to vote? Please vote when the light appears. [878 approved] It's been approved.
EVANS: Page 169 of the blue DCA, Calendar Item 424 can be found on page 1318 of the white DCA. And it is in the first column, in the middle. The petition number is 22251. The subject is establishing a relationship with a major credit card company. The committee's recommendation is referral to GCFA. The vote is 88 for, eight against, and zero abstentions. Bishop.
BISHOP GALVAN: Item 424 is properly before you. Any discussion? Yes, microphone number one, please.
PORTER J. WOMELDORFF (Central Illinois): I want to question the impact of this referral. If the referral is made, does that mean that GCFA would require four more years to undertake such a relationship if they found it desirable?
EVANS: Four years ago they investigated this and determined that it was not desirable, hence they did not do it. But they will be glad to re-study it again.
BISHOP GALVAN: Any other discussion? Anyone else seeking the floor? I see none. So are you ready to vote? Please vote when the light appears. [651 approved]
BISHOP GALVAN: Item 424 has been referred.
CASHAR EVANS: Page 169 of the blue DCA, Calendar Item 425 can be found on page 365 in the red book. That petition number is 20592. It's in the second column in the middle of the page. The subject is the amenability of the General Council on Finance and Administration. The committee recommends nonconcurrence by a vote of 94 for, seven against, and zero abstentions.
BISHOP GALVAN: Item 425 is before you, any discussion? I think we're ready to vote. Please vote when the light appears. [826 approved]
BISHOP GALVAN: You have supported the recommendation of the committee of nonconcurrence.
EVANS: On page 170 of the blue DCA, Calendar Item 426, page 370 of the red book, the petition number is 20596. And it's in the second column in the middle of the page, deals with general program agency funds. The committee recommendation is nonconcurrence. The vote was 94 for, nine against, and zero abstentions.
BISHOP GALVAN: Item 426 is now before you, any discussion? I believe you're ready to vote, please vote when the light appears. [837 approved]
BISHOP GALVAN: The recommendation of the committee is sustained.
EVANS: On page 170 in the blue DCA, Calendar Item 427, page number 372 of the red book. That's in the second column at the bottom, the petition number is 20420. The subject is the support of World Service and Conference Benevolence. The committee's recommendation is nonconcurrence. And the vote was 95 for, eight against, and zero abstentions.
BISHOP GALVAN: Item 427 is now before you. Is there any discussion? I believe you're ready to vote. Please vote when the light appears. [811 approved]
BISHOP GALVAN: The report of the committee is sustained.
EVANS: On page 170 again of the blue DCA, Calendar Item 428, page number 373 of the red book. The petition number is 20602, second column at the top. Deals with the subject of elimination of the General Council on Ministries. The committee recommendation is nonconcurrence. And that vote was 94 for, nine against and zero abstentions.
BISHOP GALVAN: Item 428 is before you for action. Any discussion? I believe you're ready to vote. Please vote when the light appears. [718 approved]
BISHOP GALVAN: The recommendation of the committee is sustained.
EVANS: Still on page 170 of the blue DCA, the Calendar Item now is 429, page 373 of the red book, first column at the top, the petition number is 20601, the subject? Eliminate General Council on Ministries. The committee's recommendation is nonconcurrence. And the vote was 91 for, 12 against, and zero abstentions.
BISHOP GALVAN: Item 429 is before you. Any discussion? I believe you're ready to vote. Please vote when the light appears. [714 approved]
BISHOP GALVAN: The recommendation of the committee is sustained.
EVANS: Page 170 of the blue DCA, Calendar Item 430, page 372 of the red DCA. It's in the first column, in the middle. The petition number is 20418. The subject is general policies. The committee's recommendation is nonconcurrence. The vote was 84 for, 19 against and zero abstentions.
BISHOP GALVAN: Item 430 is now before you for action. Is there any discussion? I believe you're ready to vote. Vote when the light appears. [790 approved]
BISHOP GALVAN: The recommendation of the committee is sustained.
EVANS: Again on page 170 of the blue DCA, Calendar Item 431, page 372 of the red book. It's in the first column, the second item. The petition number is 20016. The subject is annual conference apportionments. The committee's recommendation is nonconcurrence. The vote is 80 for, 23 against, zero abstentions.
BISHOP GALVAN: Item 431 is before you. Are there any questions or any discussion? I believe you're ready to vote. Please vote when the light appears. [731 approved]
BISHOP GALVAN: The recommendation of the committee is sustained.
EVANS: Page 170 of the blue DCA, Calendar Item 432, page 382 of the red book. It's in the second column, the third one down, the petition number is 20606. The subject is eliminating the General Council on Ministries. The committee's recommendation is nonconcurrence. The vote was 92 for, 10 against, zero abstentions.
BISHOP GALVAN: Item 432 is before you for action. Any discussion? I believe you're ready to vote. Please vote when the light appears. [740 approved]
BISHOP GALVAN: The recommendation of the committee is sustained.
EVANS: Thank you. very much.
BISHOP GALVAN: The chair recognizes David Severe, Oklahoma, of the General Judicial Administration.
DAVID L. SEVERE (Oklahoma): All of ours are on page 170 of the DCA, and one of them on page 171.
BISHOP GALVAN: Is there a point of order? Microphone number 9.
ROBERT SWEET (New England Conference): It's a parliamentary inquiry, I think. Bishop, I'm concerned about the amount of time that we're taking and I know that our Rules of Order say that all motions must be brought to the floor if they have at least five votes in the legislative committee. At what time is it appropriate to make a motion to suspend the rules to increase that number?
BISHOP GALVAN: That's in order any time.
SWEET: I so move.
BISHOP GALVAN: Will you state your motion again?
SWEET: Yes. I move that the rules be suspended so that a minimum of 10 dissenting votes in any legislative committee report be required to bring it to the floor.
BISHOP GALVAN: Is there a second? OK. I think we are ready to act on this. There's no debate on this motion. If you suspend the rules, it requires two-thirds. Please vote when the light appears. [Results: yes, 650; no, 275; abstain, 10]
BISHOP GALVAN: You've suspended the rules. OK. Go ahead.
SEVERE: All right sir. We are...
BISHOP GALVAN: Point of order. Come to microphone number 8.
THOMAS R. BOLLER (Yellowstone): The inquiry is if we've changed the rules at this point, that's going to put items on consent calendar. At what point then, if someone wants to lift something that is now being shifted, will they need to take care of that matter?
BISHOP GALVAN: This is a very good question. We need to ask the calendar people to, the Committee on Calendars to find a way to do so. And they will have to report to us. Thank you for that question. Point of order. Microphone number 1.
PORTER J. WOMELDORFF (Central Illinois): Bishop, I believe the motion was to suspend the rules. The change in the rules, I believe, must be a separate motion and is debatable.
BISHOP GALVAN: The chair rules that you are correct, so we need to go back and ask for the motions to be placed before us. So will you please come back, the person who moved to suspend the rules? Come back and make the specific motion again.
SWEET: It's my understanding we have now suspended the rules so the motion is in order?
BISHOP GALVAN: That's correct.
SWEET: I move to suspend Rule 28.3a so that it reads, "No more than 10 votes were against the prevailing position in the committee."
BISHOP GALVAN: You need to clarify your motion. We already suspended the rules, so now you just state your motion.
SWEET: I did. Oh I'm sorry, I beg your pardon. I move that Rule 28.3a now read "No more than 10 votes were against the prevailing motion in the committee," substituting 10 for five.
BISHOP GALVAN: Okay. That's the motion. Is there a second? It's been seconded. Is there discussion? Come to microphone number 7. Is that 7?
JONATHAN KEATON (Northern Illinois Conference): Bishop, at what point would this change, if it does get approved by the body, take effect?
BISHOP GALVAN: My understanding is it takes effect immediately. Any discussion on the motion? It takes two thirds because an amendment to the rules. Yes? Microphone number seven.
PAUL ERVIN (North Georgia Conference): Would the person moving on the motion be willing to say effective as of tomorrow? That would allow, I believe, the DCA to make the appropriate adjustments.
BISHOP GALVAN: Would you like to amend the amendment?
ERVIN: If that's in order, I would.
BISHOP GALVAN: It's in order.
ERVIN: Then I would like to amend the amendment to make it effective as of tomorrow.
BISHOP GALVAN: OK. Is there a second? (second) It's been seconded. We're now on the amendment. Any discussion? Yes, microphone number 13. Twelve. You're closer to 12.
FLO MARTIN (South Georgia): My concern would be that it's after three o'clock, and if this takes effect tomorrow, then what do we do by getting the items we need to pull from today's stuff?
BISHOP GALVAN: So you're speaking against the amendment. Anyone in favor of the amendment? Since there is no one, I think we are ready to vote on the amendment. If you are ready to vote, please vote when the light appears. [Results: yes, 556; no, 342; abstained, 23]
BISHOP GALVAN: OK, it is amended. Now we are back to the motion that was made before, and this will take two thirds. Are we ready to vote? I see a card. Microphone number eight.
JOHN HOPKINS (South Indiana): I would like to amend the motion to exclude any of the, exempt any of the minority reports that are attached to a calendar item so that these would automatically be presented.
BISHOP GALVAN: Is there a second? (second) It has been seconded. Do you want to speak to your amendment?
HOPKINS: Yes, I think our Rules allows us to have ten members or ten percent of a committee in order to bring a minority report. A lot of work has gone into those particular calendar items, and I think they ought to be exempt.
BISHOP GALVAN: It is already on the floor, so we need to act on it. It has been seconded. Are we ready to vote on this amendment? Are you ready to vote? Please indicate so when the light appears. [730 approved]
BISHOP GALVAN: It's been amended. Now we are back to the main motion. Are we ready to act on the main motion? I don't see any cards, so I think we are ready to do so. Please vote when the light appears. It will require two thirds.
BISHOP GALVAN: The motion is approved...We only have about three minutes or so.
DAVID SEVERE: All right, these are hopefully quick. Page 170 in the DCA. Calendar Item 436. It is on the right hand column toward the lower part. In the DCA number two, the white book, it is page 1324. And it is Petition 22707, and it will be found in the upper right hand column. The gist of this is that it would strike the language "without regard to race, color, national origin, or economic condition". The committee voted nonconcurrence: 83 for noncurrence, 8 against, and 1 abstention. Our rationale is that we believe that the present language should be retained in the Discipline as it is.
BISHOP GALVAN: Item 436 is before you for action. Is there any discussion? I see a card; right, in the back. Microphone number 13.
GRADY KNOWLES (California-Nevada Conference): This is a point of information, Bishop. I believe we just suspended the rules and acted to move anything with fewer than ten votes onto the Consent Calendar. The amendment is as of tomorrow. Does that mean it doesn't take effect until items are presented tomorrow?
BISHOP GALVAN: That is correct.
KNOWLES: Thank you.
BISHOP GALVAN: We are on the Calendar Item 436. Are you ready to vote? If you are ready to vote please indicate so when the light appears. [762 approved]
BISHOP GALVAN: The committee recommendation has been sustained. I believe this is the last item we have time for.
SEVERE: Thank you, sir. Do you want me to take one more, or was that it?
BISHOP GALVAN: No, that was it.
SEVERE: That's what I thought. Thank you.
BISHOP GALVAN: At this point we are on the Orders of the Day, and we recognize Chita Framo, president of International Diakonia, to make a statement.
GLORIA J. BLACKLOCK (Southern Illinois Conference): It is with a great pleasure that as chair of the Committee on Deaconess Service for the National Division I present to you Chita Framo. She is a United Methodist Deaconess from the Philippines. She is attending this conference as a reserve delegate from the Northwest Philippines Annual Conference. Chita is a graduate of Scarritt College in Nashville, Tennessee, and is presently serving as president of Diakonia, World Federation of Diaconal Associations and Diaconal Communities. I present to you Chita Framo.
CHITA FRAMO: Bishop, and members and friends of General Conference. This is indeed an honor and a wonderful privilege to be present among you and to greet you in the name of all the deaconesses and diaconal ministers from about 48 associations from many countries around the world that form Diakonia, the World Federation of Diaconal Associations and Diaconal Communities. This is an ecumenical federation of women and men who after the end of World War II felt the need for reconciliation between countries and groups that had hurt one another. Diakonia will celebrate its 50th founding anniversary in July 3-11, 1996, in Frederic Rhoda in the eastern part of Germany under the theme "Bridges of Reconciliation, Hope, and Mission." There is so much need in our world, and we extend our hands to care for those in need as we stand on our tiptoes to advocate for change, and as we continue to build bridges of friendship and mutual ministries. We are Christ's own persons touching people with love and grace. We all stand in the long line of faithful women and men who follow God's call to service. We are servants, one with another to carry on the mission of Christ wherever we are. Lastly, as a member of The United Methodist Church in the Philippines, I bring you greetings from my 300 active deaconesses who are presently appointed in churches, institutions, and agencies of The United Methodist Church across the Philippines archipelago. Thank you. (applause)
BISHOP GALVAN: Will you please give your attention to the secretary of General Conference for announcement? (Floor Voice) Is this something very urgent? Come to microphone number 13. Yes. We have reached the Orders of the Day. That's the reason it has to be something of extreme urgency. Will you please state.
BARBARA LEMMEL (Troy Conference): I'm not sure if this is an emergency, but it will be very short.
BISHOP GALVAN: Go ahead.
LEMMEL: I have a motion to present to this body that General Conference recommend to the Commission on General Conference that child care be provided during all scheduled worship and business sessions beginning with the General Conference of 2000. If I have a second, I will speak to it.
BISHOP GALVAN: It is my judgment that this can be referred to the Commission on General Conference since it is dealing with next General Conference. Is that correct?
LEMMEL: Yes.
BISHOP GALVAN: Could that be referred to the Commission on General Conference?
LEMMEL: I didn't know that. That is what I am asking to do.
BISHOP GALVAN: Fine. Then the motion is properly before us. Anyone who wants to speak to it? Any discussion. It's a motion of referral. I believe we are ready to act. If you are ready to act, please indicate so when the light appears. It is a motion of referral.
BISHOP GALVAN: This has been referred. Thank you very much.
CAROLYN MARSHALL: A reminder that the Legislative Committee on Higher Education and Chaplaincy will meet for a brief time at 3:35 upon adjournment just now in the area near the press tables. That's stage left, and for a bit more clarification, it will be near microphone five.
BISHOP GALVAN: The plenary is adjourned at this time, and please go to your legislative committees after your break.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Floor Proceedings, April 22
1996 United Methodist General Conference