Plenary Session Proceedings
Friday, April 26: Afternoon Session
BISHOP JUDITH CRAIG: Thank you very much. Now, delegates and friends, if you will find your seats. This is the last time we'll get to come together at sleepy time. By tonight it will be total nap time. So let's see if we can stay awake this afternoon, and be in good order. You've been a very good house this morning. It's time for us to be in order. And, I'm going to ask those that are coming in to come in quietly, please, because we're going to turn to that centering time that has been so rich for us across this week.
It has been beautiful to watch and to do, and I want to invite us once again to get in touch with our dreams and desires that rise out of our urge to be faithful, and see how close we can bring those to our awareness of God's loving desires of us. I want to suggest that we do it this way this afternoon. I want to ask those who are moving about to please cease your conversation and join us. Gallery, find a piece of paper and join us in this.
I'm going to suggest that as the questions come on the screen this afternoon, the first question, "What is my most earnest hope for the next few hours of this General Conference?" Will you sit quietly for a minute or two and reflect on that and write down, put it out there in front of you. "What is my most earnest hope for the next few hours of this General Conference?" See if you can put that in a sentence, in two or three phrases. Something that you can write concretely in front of you. And then in a moment I'll invite you to turn to a partner, and to share that, and say how close you think that is, or what kind of confession you need to make because it's not close, to what you really think God wants for us. We've been doing this so many times now, I hope these desires are coming closer and closer. But they will never quite be one until we always place ourselves in a position of prayer. So, will you contemplatively, honestly, find a way to put in a few words in front of you, what is your most earnest hope for the next few hours of this General Conference?
And now let me suggest you find a partner that perhaps you haven't spoken with a lot in this week and ask...speak to each other of what you believe God's most earnest desire is for us in these next few hours, conscious of what you have written on your paper. Please speak to each other.
Now, will you take the hand of that conversation partner, and remember the words we prayed in song this morning as we sang the closing hymn. "Come Spirit, come; our hearts control, our Spirits long to be made whole. Let inward love guide every deed. By this we worship and are freed. Amen." Thank you.
Now, friends, you have before you the agenda as its been printed on the front of the DCA. We're going to adhere to that as closely as we possibly can. We have several items that will precede the current Calendar Items and the chair is going to understand that everything that is on the agenda is in order of the day, and will be dealt with as an order of the day and, therefore not be very open to interruptions of any other kind, with your help. So we begin by turning to Bishop Edwin C. Boulton and the Rev. Kenneth Chalker, who have an invitation and welcome for us. Bishop Boulton, Ken. Let's be in order and give our attention to Bishop Boulton, please.
BISHOP EDWIN C. BOULTON: Bishop Craig and friends, I stand in a very privileged role before you in these next two or three minutes, for just by the very nature of things, there are not a great many annual conferences that will have the opportunity to entertain or make provision for a General Conference. And, the East Ohio Annual Conference, where I now serve, has been approved by you as the body that will be given the opportunity and the responsibility to do that in the year 2000. And I thank you. I thank the General Conference Commission which has given us this privilege.
I suspect this is one of those privileges that will end with a backache and a headache and a few other aches, but so be it. I'm a very courageous person, and about the first of September I'm going into retirement, and whoever, in the inscrutable wisdom of God, is to be assigned to my area is going to have it all to do. One of the fascinating things about being assigned to East Ohio eight years ago was the discovery of a wonderful new colony of people to me, that Betty Ann and I have come to feel at home with, and literally to adore. While my conduct as a retired bishop will have to be very, very carefully monitored, something of our profound affection for the area and the people is to be seen in the fact that we intend to retire there.
And so, we will drive less than 50 miles from where we now live to Cleveland so that I can be a retired bishop in the General Conference of the year 2000. And I'm looking forward to that. The East Ohio Area is one of the many great areas of the church. And Cleveland is one of the great cities of our country. It has had a kind of history, especially in the last number of years, that has caused people occasionally to make fun of it, referring to it, as sometimes, the "mistake on the lake." I've not found it so, I've not found it so. Nor will you. It's a great place, a great annual conference, a great people of God.
Kenneth Chalker, pastor of First Church in Cleveland, is a person that I've already appointed to chair the local arrangements that will be generated there. Ken and his colleagues have seen to it that there is a little purple- colored invitation at each one of your places. And madam chair, I am delighted, in behalf of Ken and all of my colleagues in East Ohio, to commend this to you that you might accept it as our formal invitation to you. We're going to have a party on the lake about four years from now. I hope to be there, and I hope you are, too. Thank you very much. (applause)
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you, Bishop Boulton. I'm particularly pleased to be in the chair when that happens. Cleveland is the city in which I was ordained an elder, and it is the city in which I will attend my last General Conference as, what they call, an effective bishop.(laughter) And it will be a thrill to go home to the conference that found a way to get rid of me, nominate her for the episcopacy. They said, "That'll get rid of her." (laughter) And, so, I feel like it's a wonderful invitation to accept. Thank you very much, Bishop Boulton and Rev. Chalker.
Now, he's mentioned retirement. We want to turn to William B. Cook, who is going to lead us in a moment of grace, recognizing some faithful servants of the church. Mr. Cook.
WILLIAM B. COOK (Oregon-Idaho): It is my pleasure to introduce Bishop Melvin Talbert, who will introduce the 1996 class of bishops.
BISHOP MELVIN G. TALBERT: Bishop Craig, delegates of the 1996 General Conference. It is my distinct honor and privilege now to present to you those members of the Council of Bishops who will be retiring this year, effective August 31. These servants of our church have provided exemplary leadership over the years. They have been faithful to the call of God and to the call of their church. Having reached the age of retirement, we now recognize them and honor them for their faithful witness and service, in the name of Jesus Christ and of The United Methodist Church.
As I call their names, they will join me here in front of the altar, starting here and going across. If you would hold your applause, after they all have arrived I will ask you to join me in extending to them our heartfelt thanks, appreciation, and love for who they are, and in so doing we will be asking God's continued blessings upon them in the years to come. Now starting with 1988: William B. Lewis, the Dakotas Area. And if you will just come and stand here and go across. Clay F. Lee, the Knoxville area; R. Sheldon Duecker, the Chicago area; H. Hasbrouck Hughes, the Florida area; Thomas R. Stockton, the Richmond area. Class of '94: David J. Lawson of the Springfield area; Forrest C. Stith--he had to leave today and couldn't be with us--of the New York area; L. Bevel Jones III, the Charlotte area; J. Lloyd Knox, of the Atlanta area; Richard B. Wilke of the Little Rock area. From the Class of 1980: Calvin D. McConnell of the Seattle area; C.P. Minnick Jr., the Raleigh area; William Boyd Grove of the Albany area; F. Herbert Skeete, of the Boston area; Edwin C. Bolton of the Ohio East area. And then of the Class of 1972: Joseph H. Yeakel, the Washington area. Delegates and friends of the General Conference, our retiring servants of our church. (applause) Thank you very much.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you, Bishop Talbert. Let me say this word to my episcopal brothers who are retiring. That applause wasn't "we're glad you're going." It was, "We're glad God gave you good life and health to serve us, and faith to lead us, and gave us this moment with you to thank you. Thanks be to God."
Now we have a few additional elections we need to attend to. If you'll turn first to page 25 in the blue book; that's the second page 25. It's in Volume 3, number 2, page 25. You'll see there a nomination for the secretary designate of the General Conference. You'll see the name of Carolyn Marshall. This nomination is before you, but the floor is open if there are other nominations for secretary designate of the General Conference. Are there further nominations? I see no cards. That makes me think you are ready to cast a vote, so we will give you an opportunity to elect Carolyn as secretary designate. Please vote when the light appears. [774 approved] (applause) Congratulations, Carolyn. Thank you, Carolyn, for your good service this year, and we look forward to your service in the future.
Now if you will turn in your blue books to page 652, 653, and 654. Blue books, page 652, 653, and 654. We have a series of nominations there that come to you by the rules of the General Conference and the order of the Discipline from the Council of Bishops. The nominations are there for you now to elect. Make sure you've got the pages: 652, 653, 654. Is this a question for clarification? We're in the midst of an election, if you can wait, thank you. Question for clarification? Microphone 8, please.
DAVID SEVERE (Oklahoma): Bishop, my question is, are the nominations open for additional nominations, or are we to vote this slate up or down?
BISHOP CRAIG: It is the chair's understanding that these come to you by rules of the council, and you are to vote the slate up or down. All right. Are you ready? Is it in relation to the elections? We're still in the electing process. All right, these nominations are before you. Do you have a question or a point of order? The floor is not open for further nominations. We are simply ready to act on the slate. What is the question in the back? By microphone 14, the woman in the blue, please.
PHYLLIS FERGUSON (Pacific-Northwest): On the Connectional Process Team, I'd like to ask if there is at least one nomination from each ethnic group? It has been brought to my attention, there are no Pacific Islanders on this team. This is in relation to the Connectional Process Team only.
BISHOP CRAIG: If you will notice on the right-hand column of page 652, there is a pool of names, and additional nominations and elections will be coming by the rules we adopted earlier in the week. And there are, I understand, persons available in that pool. I'm looking to a member of the nominating committee. So while it's not before you now, there will be additional opportunities for that at a later time by the rule.
FERGUSON: Thank you, Bishop Craig.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you very much. All right, I think you're ready to make...is this questions for clarification? We're on this election. Right here at microphone 3.
PATRICIA E. FARRIS (California-Pacific): Is a motion to refer back to the council in order?
BISHOP CRAIG: Yes, it is in order.
FARRIS: May I make the motion and then state my rationale?
BISHOP CRAIG: You may.
FERRIS: I would move to refer this back to the council for further consideration. Only 9 of the 24 nominated are women. There's only one clergy woman nominated, and I would respectfully request the council reconsider this list.
BISHOP CRAIG: Let me ask you to be very clear. Which list? We're on all three pages.
FERRIS: For the CPT.
BISHOP CRAIG: You're asking to refer only the CPT?
FERRIS: Yes.
BISHOP CRAIG: Is there support? I see support. The motion is to refer the nominations for the Connectional Process Team back to the Council of Bishops for further work for the reason stated. We're on the motion to refer. If you will refer, please vote when the light appears. Motion to refer. [Results: 315, yes; no, 509] Motion is not referred, so the whole slate is still before you, and all three pages are before you. I believe you are ready to elect these persons. Please vote when the light appears. [approved 756]
Thank you. These persons are elected. Thank you very much. Now we're going to turn to Calendar Items on the local church. And we're turning to Janice Riggle Huie for the committee. Good afternoon Janice.
JANICE RIGGLE HUIE (Southwest Texas): Bishop Craig, members of the General Conference. We've been waiting for this moment. We are pleased to present our report to you of the Local Church Legislative Committee. If you concur with many of the proposals presented in this report, there will be some significant changes in the chapter in the Discipline on the local church. We believe that these changes will make our congregations more effective in mission and in ministry.
Our legislative committee received many calls for change. They ranged from eliminating most local church structures, to adding more local church structures and work areas. In a style that has become familiar to us, we listened for deepest concerns and highest dreams. We built consensus around proposals that addressed local church concerns and expanded horizons for mission. In regard to local church structure, we are proposing what committee members referred to as a "cafeteria plan." This is opposed to either "cook it yourself," or "eat what I give you and don't complain."
In the cafeteria plan, you may choose an organizational plan from one specifically named. Or you may create your own structure within the guidelines named by our tradition and our mission. If a congregation already has an effective structure for mission, whether that's an administrative council, an administrative board and COM, a nurture outreach witness model, nothing we will offer here diminishes that. There is no requirement for any congregation to change. There is the opportunity for developing new options as the need arises. There are 21 petitions for us to vote on. An overview of the whole may help us to move more quickly. I will be brief and I want to overview the major themes.
Number 1. United Methodists want to be in mission. Structure is simply a way to organize ourselves for mission. Everything we offer here is directed towards mission.
Number 2. The local church is the primary base for mission and for ministry. We appreciate and affirm this insight from the connectional issues study. We boldly claim that reality. One of the ways that some churches may choose to claim that identity is to change the name of their governing body. There are many people who find that the language, administrative board or administrative council, is more bureaucratic than biblical, more maintenance than mission. You will notice in what we present, that the basic governing body is called simply "church council." It claims who we are--church. You will also notice that we would no longer have work areas. As Jean Dowell, a lay woman who was a subcommittee chair, commented, "Nobody wants to be a part of work areas. They want to be in ministry." Those same functions are now referred to as ministry groups. "Ministry"--it claims who we are.
Number 3. Flexibility, simplicity, innovation. Beyond the foundational units, that is, charge conference, PPRC, trustees, nominating committee, ministries of nurture, outreach and witness, the language of the structure is permissive, encouraging congregations to reflect on mission from their context and to organize themselves in the most effective way to accomplish their mission. Therefore, there are many more "mays" than "shalls."
Many people in our legislative committee felt that the Discipline in the local church section leaves them swimming in a sea of words. The legislative committee identified traditional areas of ministry in the current Discipline. It retained the ministry by naming it and often deleted long descriptions. We preferred simplicity in the Discipline in the section on local church. Sometimes people said, "Well the local church can't do this, or the local church can't do that." Our legislative committee was made up of people from local churches, clergy and lay. And over and over again, those 80 people said, "We can do it. We can do it."
Number 4. Clergy and laity are partners in ministry. You heard it in the laity address, you will see it in the legislation.
Number 5. Connect, connect, connect--the language of much of the first week in our legislative committee. Inclusiveness was an extremely high priority for the legislative committee. Language regarding inclusiveness remains, and in some places is strengthened. In addition the legislative committee on the local church is deeply committed to the United Methodist connectional church, the body voted unanimously to nonconcur with all items related to optional apportionments. We want to utilize our annual conference and General Conference boards and agencies to resource our local congregations as well as to extend the mission of the church in broad ways.
So these are the themes that will be woven throughout these 21 petitions which we will present to you. I begin by offering an item--the mission statement. You have already adopted it, but I want to call it to your attention. You will find it in the blue DCA on page 457, it is Calendar Item 1782. The underlined portions in that petition are the excellent additions which came from the Discipleship Legislative Committee. We thank them. We want you to celebrate with us this historic moment. We believe that this is the first mission statement in a single sentence, with the expansion statements under it, adopted in the local church section of the Discipline in more than a quarter of a century. Congratulations to all of you for that wonderful, wonderful adoption of that mission statement.
This statement is the beginning point now from which all our local church legislation flows. The first two reports will be given by Jim Harnish, clergy from Florida, Terry Clark, clergy from Southern [Central] Illinois. They are two subcommittee chairs. They will overview our first four major petitions, and then we will bring them to you for your vote. Thank you.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. Thank you.
JIM HARNISH (Florida): Bishop, and members of the conference, we present to you the main entrees in this local church cafeteria. You'll find it on page 140 in the blue book, Calendar Item 194. It refers to Petition 20696 in the red book, but you really don't need to turn to that because the DCA folks have been gracious enough to print the entire paragraph the way that we are proposing it to you. So, I'll lead you to page 140 in the right hand column, you'll see the new paragraph 245 as it would read. And at this time I'll ask the folks to project the graph that we have on the screen. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, we've tried to give you an image of what this structure looks like.
As Janice said, everything that we are attempting to do grows out of the definition of mission that has been developed and approved by this body. Our task is to fulfill that mission in whatever way is most effective for that particular congregation, meeting the needs of its particular community with the unique resources that it has. And so it's that sense of mission that drives us in this process. You'll see to the far left of the screen, the familiar form of the charge conference, which continues to be the connectional link for every local church to the rest of the body of United Methodism. Then in the center you'll see the new church council. The church council--it's a round table. And gathered around that round table are four mandated bodies: the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, the Board of Trustees, the Committee on Finance, the Committee on Nominations and Personnel.
And then if you're looking in the paragraph on page 140, the words read, "and such other elected leaders, commissions, councils, committees and task forces as the charge conference may determine. Every local church shall develop a plan for organizing it's administrative and programmatic responsibilities. Each local congregation shall provide a comprehensive program of nurture, outreach and witness, along with leadership training and the planning and administration of the congregation's organizational and temporal life in accordance with the mission of The United Methodist Church." See paragraph 101-114.
The three primary prongs of mission and ministry which are extended out from this church council table are defined as nurture, outreach and witness, which some of us have come to know as the NOW model. But the forms which those ministries and missions take will be determined by the church council. Around that church council table are the persons, we believe, who will be gifted by the spirit with the vision of the best way to fulfill that mission and that ministry in that local church.
Number 1 in the paragraph, you will note, that the church council and all other administrative and programmatic structures of the local church shall be amenable to the church conference. And the church council shall function as the executive agency of the church conference. Then item 2 is critically important and it underscores what Janice communicated to you about this cafeteria plan enabling churches to use those structures that are most effective for them. Alternative plans may be developed in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 248.2. Such alternatives may include: nurture, outreach and witness ministries; administrative council; or administrative board council on ministries.
In a real sense we see the work that the legislative committee has done as being a part of the process that began all the way back there when the Council of Ministries first came into what had been the Methodist Church into the new United Methodist Church, then was transformed and changed by the adoption of the plans for administrative council. And this continues that movement in the direction that we hear churches calling and asking for.
Now that is the primary petition that would establish the church council as the basic organizational plan allowing for all the other alternatives. If you'll turn in the blue DCA to page 456, I want to draw your attention to Calendar Item 1779 on page 456. This elaborates on this structure. You'll see the first part largely reinforces what we've said about the church council and lists the mandated membership, and then again says that the church council will be composed of all the folks that that local church needs to draw around its table. It defines the nurturing, outreach and witness ministries; says a word about meetings and the order of the structure. And then if you'll look in the right hand column, Item 4, "If a church chooses to have an administrative council or administrative board."
Because these forms of church structure have been effective in many congregations, we assume there will be many congregations who will want to continue their existence. And so the rest of this column picks up the disciplinary language which continues to define and describe the administrative board, administrative council structure. So that within the Discipline, those alternatives are defined and available to the persons who would want to use them. These two calendar items define the church council. You need to know that you've already approved Calendar Item 1779 on the Consent Calendar. Now Terry Clark will come and share with us the next two pieces of this outline.
TERRY CLARK (Central Illinois): Bishop Craig, and members of the conference, what we share with you is a variety; but it's important that we remember the variety is based on mission. Several years ago one of our daughters, in waiting for a date, out of parental curiosity I asked, "What do you expect of the evening," and she paused for a moment and said, "Well, dad, if the evening goes as I think, the purpose should, there won't be any confusion at the end of the evening." And that is how, I think, it is in ministry as we prepare this for you...is that there is no confusion, but a variety of which you can draw from.
There are two major petitions that will be before you that we will look at. They are both found on volume 3, the blue DCA on page 455. They both deal with the elimination of work areas. One is specifically dealing with the work areas that we have come to know. The other deals with age level coordinators and family coordinator. Now, even though the headings talk about elimination, because that was the wording of the original petitions, we have made amendments to those. And you look very closely at that and see that the words there are "may;" that a charge conference may continue those work areas that we have come to know. Of christian unity and interreligious concerns, church and society, education, evangelism, higher education and campus ministry, missions, you see a new one there that has been approved--prayer advocacy. Religion in race, role and status of women, religion and race.
And then on the far right column, the Calendar Item 1774, even though the heading says the elimination of the age level and family coordinators, please note, that here we also lift up again the "may." And the reason that is is because as churches think of their mission, there will be many as they continue to step out in new mission areas, feel very secure in using those categories of work areas as well as age level coordinators, to do that particular ministry. There are then four other petitions that will deal with that elimination also, of those. Let me again assure you that what is being done here is for the purpose of advancing the mission of the local church into the world.
The director of lay speaking for the district in which I reside, his name is Al Kochefski. Al is six feet seven inches tall, and weighs about 300 pounds, and a cartoon he has is most helpful, where a customer enters into a shop and there sees a sign that says "one size fits Al." He says to the salesperson, now, don't you mean one size fits all? And the sales personnel says, "no, Al." And she points over and there's a large man standing to the side. We hope that what is being presented here will not be one size that fits all, but will be in terms of many sizes that again gets at the thrust of the mission of the local church for Jesus Christ.
HARNISH: For our action, therefore, bishop and members of the Conference, we commend to you Calendar Item 194 on page 140. It comes to you with the recommendation of consensus of 76 for and 3 opposed.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. Thank you very much. What is before us is on page 140 of the blue book. Calendar Item 194. Are you ready? All right, I see a card, right here in this section. Come to microphone 8, please. OK, you're coming over to number 9.
CHARLOTTE ABRAM (Nebraska): Bishop, I would like to make a motion to amend if that would be in order?
BISHOP CRAIG: It is.
ABRAM: Yes, Bishop, I would like to amend the point 2 under this motion. The words begin "alternative plan" following the words "such alternatives include." I move to insert the words "the interactive organizational process." If I get a second, I will speak to that.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. Is there a second? I see support.
HARNISH: Bishop, we're willing to accept that.
BISHOP CRAIG: Jim is indicating that they'll accept that. Is there any objection in the house? If the committee accepts that? All right. It looks like it's acceptable.
ABRAM: Thank you.
BISHOP CRAIG: Do you mind not making your speech?
ABRAM: I don't mind. (laughter)
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. Calendar Item 194, Yes? right over here. Microphone 9, again.
JEROME DEL PINO (New England): Bishop, I have a question. The question has to do with the deletion of the existing text regarding the pastor as chief administrative office of the local church in charge. My question is simply, what then is the role of the pastor in relationship to this new creation? Particularly vis-a-vis the whole matter of apportionments, the whole matter of accountability for the overall workings of the local church.
...when it comes to the appointing authorities in supervision and evaluation.
BISHOP CRAIG: Let's turn to the committee.
JAMES A. HARNISH (Florida): Yes, there was a petition relating to that paragraph. The legislative committee voted nonconcurrence, which would remove that language. I'm not sure if that petition ended up on the Consent Calendar? Yes. It ended up on the Consent Calendar. The sense of the legislative committee was, they were uncomfortable with that language. It sounded more like the language of secular business and of the secular world rather than the life of the body of Christ. That was the basis upon which the legislative committee voted in support of the petition that removed that language.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. You've already spoken Jerome. Did he not answer your question? Let's come over here. Microphone 7, please.
THOMAS W. FLINN JR. (Baltimore-Washington): If I remember correctly, I was in this section, and the petition that was before us was not chief administrative officer. It was chief executive officer. And that was what we voted nonconcurrence. Isn't that correct? So understanding that and having the same concern that my colleague just mentioned a little while ago, I would like to move that we reinstate that printing that has been crossed out.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. There is a motion to amend. I hear support. Would you wish to speak to it?
FLINN: Yes. It seems to me that as we go in plowing these new grounds in areas of vagueness, and this is in vagueness when you start eliminating all the work areas, areas that have been assigned to individuals within your church that know exactly what their job is and where they're supposed to go, into three basic areas, we certainly need a leader out there that will guide that, someone in charge, someone that can certainly show us the right direction. So that's it.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you very much. Now we're on the motion to amend, which would restore the language in the middle, bottom third of the column in the middle that has been deleted. The motion to amend. On that motion, right there. Come down to microphone 4.
CHARLIE O. DUNDAS (Minnesota): I speak against the motion to amend. I do not believe that pastoral leadership and administrative guidance depends on that being designated in the Discipline, but rather on trust and relational experiences within the congregation. And I believe that the pastoral role as shepherd and as prophet provides every opportunity for us to lead the church as pastoral servant leaders, and that we do not need to be shored up by having a designation of administrative executive or chief executive or whatever.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. Thank you. There was a speech for and a speech against. I need now a speech for the amendment. For the amendment. Back there, far back. I'm sorry, behind you. The gentleman in the grey jacket. Yes. Microphone 9. Are you speaking for the amendment?
ARNOLD A. RHODES (Western Pennsylvania): Yes. It is very important in the life of the church to have a connection. And one of the places of connection in following the principles that were placed on the screen is the pastor. And the pastor as a chief administrative officer ensures the connection with that local church to the annual conference and to The United Methodist Church as a whole. When the local church makes decisions about its life and its mission, it's important that they have that connection and that there is a person in the life of that congregation that supports that connection and interprets that connection to the local church. And the pastor as a chief administrative officer can do that well.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you very much. We can have one more speech against. Way back in the back corner. Microphone 11. Are you against the amendment?
THOMAS J. BICKERTON (West Virginia): Our United Methodist Discipline is very clear about the responsibilities and duties of a pastor. Paragraph 439 on pages 236 and 237 state very clear what the role of a pastor is in the local church. I speak against the amendment.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, thank you. We've had two for and two against. By our rules we go to vote. We are on the motion to amend by restoring the text that is marked "deleted," in the middle of the column of Calendar Item 194. Please vote when the light appears. The motion is defeated. We are back on Calendar Item 194. All right, right here. I see a card. Come to microphone 3 please.
JEANNIE TREVINO-TEDDLIE (Central Texas): I have a question. On this petition, it says, "amend paragraph 3 by eliminating paragraph 245.2 as follows." Now that seems to indicate it's really amending the petition and not amending the Discipline. If you go back to the original petition, the original petition eliminates paragraph 245.2 and then substitutes that language. So my question is, what are we voting on?
HARNISH: That's specifically why we requested the DCA to print the entire paragraph. In the right-hand column the proposed paragraph coming from the legislative committee is in its entirety there. That's what the new paragraph would look like.
TREVINO-TEDDLIE: OK, so that, what is in the Discipline then would not even appear, is that what you're saying?
HARNISH: That's right.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, are you clear? If you look at the right-hand column of Calendar Item 194, you have the perfected new paragraph 245. All right. We're on this Calendar Item. Yes, right here in the middle. The woman in red. There. Would you like to go back to microphone 8, please?
LUCILLE V. VANZANT (Oklahoma): Bishop, I see nothing in there that holds the church accountable for its relationships to its racial obligations. We know that racism has reared its ugly head in so many ways until the church has gotten behind already in dealing with it. I feel that the church should be, someone said, in front of the parade. Why should we give opportunity for racism to creep into our congregations and we do not have any structure to deal with it. I only ask that, in its nurturing or in its outreach, that somewhere in here it is built in that there shall be some responsibility given to something in the church so that we can be aware where racism has taken over, and we as United Methodists becoming a global church will be ready and able to deal with it.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you very much. The chair takes that as an invitational speech against. Anyone else wishing to speak? Yes.
HARNISH: May I say a word to that. We're looking for the exact paragraph. By consent you have already approved a very strong statement about inclusiveness being a part of the mission of the local church. And so our position would be, we are in total agreement with this delegate, and that that is clearly expressed in the mission of the church. We're dealing now here with structures that grow out of that.
BISHOP CRAIG: Let the chair give the house some encouragement. We have adopted an enormous number of Calendar Items by consent. And it is probably true that there are many, many pieces of this larger plan that has been overviewed for us that we have already adopted. I'm sure that between 2 and 4 a.m. you haven't read all of those items. I've only gotten halfway through between 1 and 2. And so, I think from time to time we may need to give the latitude to the committee to help us know what we've already adopted. All right. Thank you very much for that clarification, Jim. And it reminds us that there's a good deal out here already in our pocket. All right. We're still on Calendar Item 194. Now I had seen a card way back there I was about to acknowledge. Go to microphone 13, please. I'll come to you in just a moment. Let's listen to the gentleman on 13.
SCOTT J. JONES (North Texas): I'm a member of the Local Church Committee. I want to support what you just said, Bishop, and respond to the previous speaker and call the body's attention to page 456, Calendar Item 1779. Jim Harnish called our attention to this in his presentation. It's important to remember that the witness missions of the church, I'm looking at paragraph 2C--actually it ought to be outreach ministries in 2B--which mandates that the church shall give attention to religion and race, and status and role of women. By listing these functions, we must not back away from any of these areas of ministry but allow local churches to adapt the particular ways that they deal with them.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you very much for that help. Now you had a point of information here at microphone 2.
WILLIAM D. REESE (Missouri East): It adds to that, and I don't know where it is in the blue DCA, but it is on page 953 in the red DCA. Our committee concurred 78 to nothing, and I assume it's on the Consent Calendar. And it addresses that issue very specifically. It says, "Seeking inclusiveness in all aspects of its life without regard to race, gender, age, national origin, and disabilities.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you very much. It's helpful to have these folks who are keeping the pieces together help us keep them together. Now we're on Calendar Item 194. Way over here, microphone 5.
JIM HOLSINGER (Kentucky): I'm aware that we have 21 such petitions to deal with, and if it's in order I would therefore move to suspend the rules and vote on all that is before us.
BISHOP CRAIG: That is in order. Is there support? It takes two-thirds. If you will suspend the rules and come to vote on Calendar Item 194, please vote when the light appears.
You're quite ready to vote Calendar Item 194 is before you. Please vote when the light appears.[837 approved] Thank you. You've adopted Calendar Item 194. Where do we go next?
JAMES A. HARNISH (Florida): As I stated, you have approved by consent on page 456, Calendar Item 1779. Now we go to page 210; there are four calendar items, all of which are dealing with actions which follow out of the action that you've just taken. Calendar Item 543 from paragraph 258 deletes the language regarding the Council of Ministries. We recommend consensus by 75-1.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, we're on Calendar Item 543, page 210, this is cleaning up after what we've done. You've found it? You look ready to vote. Please vote when the light appears. [848 approved] Thank you, it is adopted.
HARNISH: Calendar Item 545, regarding paragraph 259 deletes the membership description of the Council of Ministries. We recommend concurrence by 75-1.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, Calendar Item 545 is before you. Please vote when the light appears. [860 approved] It is confirmed, thank you.
HARNISH: Calendar Item 547, regarding paragraph 250 deletes the name of the Council on Ministries from the charge conference. We recommend concurrence, 76-0.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. Calendar Item 547. Please vote when the light appears. It is adopted. [852 approved]
HARNISH: Calendar Item 548 regarding paragraph 249 changes the language about who can call the charge conference into the language of church conference, and simply makes that language change in that paragraph. We recommend concurrence 76-0.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, Calendar Item 548. Please vote when the light appears. It is adopted. [866 approved] Thank you very much.
HARNISH: Page 175 in the blue book, Calendar Item 461, regarding paragraph number 245. This is that portion of the connectional issues study which describes some of the function that the legislative committee feels was taken care of in the previous legislation that you've already approved. We recommend nonconcurrence by a vote of 53-24.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, Calendar Item 461 is before you. Yes, I see a card in the middle, coming to microphone 9.
CHARLOTTE ABRAM (Nebraska): Bishop I'd like to make a motion. I'd like to speak against it. This is some important language. It's language that comes and enables us to understand what is coming from the connectional issues study, and the CPT team, when they talk about the interactive organizational model or process, and I'd like to see it retained somewhere in the Discipline. It'll be a way of helping to point local churches and local church pastors towards what is coming on the horizon. One more menu opportunity as far as how a local church can organize interactively, being proactive, in making sure that the leadership team and the leadership ministries and the nurture, outreach and witness ministries and administrative ministries remain in dialogue and conversation.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, that's a speech against nonconcurrence. You may want to tell us where this is in the red book since the text we're deleting isn't there.
HARNISH: Yes, Bishop. It's on page 954 at the top of the left hand column, Petition 21643.
BISHOP CRAIG: The motion is for nonconcurrence. We've had a speech against nonconcurrence. Does anyone wish to speak for nonconcurrence? Are you for nonconcurrence? Come to microphone 7 please.
JAY BRIM (Southwest Texas): Bishop, I believe we've already amended paragraph 245. Wouldn't this overlay language that we've just adopted as a body?
HARNISH: That's the position of the legislative committee, is that although it isn't word for word what this paragraph says, that all the content of this paragraph has already been approved in Calendar Item 194.
BISHOP CRAIG: We'll let the house see how clear they are about that. We've got this calendar item before us. Yes, right here in the middle. Microphone, which way do you want to go? You want to come to 3?
KATHY AUSTIN MAHLE (Minnesota): When we added the accepting of the interactive process model in the action that we were taking before, we're really caring for all of that. I believe that the petition that we're looking at right now just lays it out more carefully.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. We have this calendar item 461 before us. Are you ready to vote? I think you are. The committee recommends nonconcurrance. Anything further, Jim? All right. Vote when the light appears.
Thank you. You have adopted Calendar Item 461. Thank you. [764 approved]
JAMES A. HARNISH (Florida): Page 482, Calendar Item 1998, you must remember that the committee must respond to every petition that is sent to it. And responding to the petition that came to us, this changes the language specifically regarding the United Methodist Women from "shall" to "may." The committee wants it to be perfectly clear that this is no lack of affirmation of the ministry and mission and importance and critical value of United Methodist Women, but the committee voted by a vote of 41 to 26 concurrence with the petition, so that we continue to be using more "mays" than we use "shalls."
BISHOP JUDITH CRAIG: Jim, let's be sure people know where we are in the other books. We've got some interest out there this time. You were doing so well cleaning house, what happened?
HARNISH: You see why saved this one.
BISHOP CRAIG: Yes, I do, where do we find this one?
HARNISH: It's on page 1416 in the white book, Calendar Item 1998.
BISHOP CRAIG: I was just about to invite you to come home with and clean my house! (laughter) All right, page 1416 in the white book. We're on Calendar Item 1998.
HARNISH: That's not harassment, is it?
BISHOP CRAIG: I hope it's not! (laughter) No, because my house isn't really that dirty, so we're OK. All right, we're on Calendar Item 1998. My, what a choice we have. Let's go all the way back in the back, in the center aisle, microphone 13, please.
BROOKE CONKLIN (Troy): Thank you. I would like to speak against. I believe we should retain the current language as in the Discipline. United Methodist Women and its predecessor organizations have been the impetus and focus for mission for our total church through out the years. We are over one-million women strong. It is the largest women's organization in the world. We have the strength because of the members in the local units. They are the vitality behind the mission of our church and our outreach to women, children and youth. I ask for you to vote to retain the current language in the Discipline.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you very much. That's a speech against. Do we have a speech for concurrence? (laughter) I just dropped the cards like fury. Right there, please come to microphone 4, please.
CHARLIE O. DUNDAS (Minnesota): I'm 60 years old, so I can risk it. (laughter) I just want to say that I serve as a pastor in a suburban congregation that has so many very young families and young women. And, I believe, with all my heart, that we need flexibility around organizational models for women's ministries. If we do not pass the permissive language, then I want to urge the United Methodist Women to look at some new paradigms for ministry with, to and for women in local churches. I'm going to tell you, friends, that in the church I serve, the young women who live in a totally different way, in many cases, than the model that has been in place for years, or can't relate to that model that has been in place for years, will not respond. That does not mean that they are not interested in mission. That does not mean they are not involved in the life of the church. It simply means that we need some new paradigms. I want flexibility at this point as well as several other points.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you very much. Now we can have a speech against. Let's go way over here to the right, the second card back, the woman on the aisle. Microphone 1.
MARTHA MORRISON (Mississippi): I rise to oppose the recommendation of the committee. To make optional, the local unit of United Methodist Women will weaken the strongest mission area of our church. The local units of United Methodist Women offer the most effective, in-depth mission education program in our church. In light of the conversations around money that we had this morning, it is very important for this body to know that pledge to mission by local women exceed what this total church gives to mission through world service. That is very important. In response to what we do for young women, there has been a structure that has been made during this quadrennium that addresses the issue of young women. I urge this body to defeat the recommendation of the committee.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you. We can allow one more speech for the recommendation of the committee. Someone who speaks for the recommendation of the committee. Way back in the back there. Come to microphone 14.
Microphone 14, please. Are you speaking for concurrence?
MARY ANN GALLOWAY (West Ohio): Yes, Bishop. There's nothing in this statement that says we shall not have a United Methodist Women's. It says we have flexibility, we have a choice.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you. That's two speeches for, two against. This Calendar Item 1998 is before you, and we'll turn over here for a last moment.
JAMES HARNISH (Florida): Let me just underscore, since the bishop and I had some humor about it, but let me underscore, that the legislative committee did not enter into any evaluation or any questioning of the value and the significance of the United Methodist Women, that's number one. Number two, the committee had committed itself to a principle of flexibility in the local church, which is what led to this. Number three, to go back to the "shall," I speak on behalf of the majority, to go back to the "shall" at this point, opens a slippery slope, because next, we're going to hear from the United Methodist Men, who'll want their "shall" back. And then you'll hear from somebody else who wants their "shall" back. And so, they're totally on their commitment to allowing flexibility in the local church, they said this was where this would come. The fourth element is that if Janet Sorenson of Pottsboro, Texas, had not sent in a petition, you never would have heard about this.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, we're ready to vote. Having two speeches for and two against. Point of information? What is your point of information? I think the house is ready to vote on this, and knows its mind.
JAMES LAWSON (California-Pacific): I want to ask the question: Is the "shall" being removed from the United Methodist Men's paragraph?
BISHOP CRAIG: It never came before us. I think the house is ready to vote on this. Let's vote when the light appears on Calendar Item 1998. [yes, 407; no, 477] All right, the committee has been overturned.
HARNISH: OK, if you'll turn to page 895, I'm sorry it's 316, Calendar Item 895 on page 316. Calendar Item 895 is actually mis- titled. The content of the petition, which you'll find on page 1408 in the white book, actually has nothing to do with the rights and responsibilities of youth members of the church. It describes who has responsibility for nurturing, and for teaching, and for nurturing youth in the Christian faith in the church. The petition included the phrase, "professional staff." The committee, by a vote of 75-0, recommends concurrence with the removal of the word, "professional" from the phrase, "professional staff." It's the only change. The sense of the committee was that saying "professional staff" left out lay volunteer staff who may be involved in ministry, and that was their reason for removing the word, "professional." That was the only issue that we had with the petition.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, it's Calendar Item 895 on page 316 that's before us. Yes. Right there, microphone 8, please.
JEREMY VETTER (Nebraska): I move to amend this petition. I move to amend by inserting the following sentence at the end of paragraph 226: "It shall be the responsibility of the pastor to participate in this growth process through interaction and ministry with youth."
BISHOP CRAIG: I hear a second. All right.
VETTER: Can I address this?
BISHOP CRAIG: You certainly may.
VETTER: The original petition added several other categories of workers, such as diaconal ministers, Christian educators, and youth workers. I personally, and all the others I've talked to, have nothing wrong with adding these people to the list of those who have responsibility for working with youth in the church. However, as it presently reads, with the pastor as the only one listed, and I believe it is important to maintain a strong position that the pastor should be involved with youth. And I think it is of vital importance that all of the youth work not be pushed away completely from the pastors, that there be some kind of interaction, not only as a model of ordained ministry for prospective persons to be called into the ministry, but also to show that youth are an equal part of the church.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, thank you, that's an amendment by addition. Are you ready to vote on that? You understand where it is? Please vote when the light appears. [yes, 582; no, 308] All right, you've approved the amendment. Now the whole item is before you. Are you ready to vote? If you will adopt this item, please, just please vote, whatever you want to do, when the light appears. What language I've learned! (laughter) Thank you. That item is adopted. It's my understanding that Mr. Harnish has one more. The chair has passed an order of the day, hoping to finish his work. Then we're going to break in with two other items, and take a break before we come back and return to these Calendar Items. Take your additional one, Jim.
HARNISH: Thank you, Bishop. Page 259, Calendar Item 790. It's found in the white book, on page 1410 in the lower right hand corner. The petition requested that we change in the Discipline from "pastor-parish relations committee," to "staff-parish relations committee" in all places that the committee is named. Our legislative committee felt that we should stay with the language of "pastor-parish relations committee." One, because we have a huge number of our churches for whom the pastor is about all the staff it has; and that the Discipline already provides the option for the church to call the committee the "staff-parish relations committee" any time that it wants to. So, that's what our recommendation was based upon. We recommend nonconcurrence by a vote of 66-11.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. Calendar Item 790 is before you. Please vote when the light appears. [817 approved] You've agreed with nonconcurrence. Thank you very much for your good work.
Now friends, I'm going to turn to the secretary. She has some introductions to make, a couple announcements, and do you want to read this other item at this point, Carolyn? Do you want to read this item, also? We're just going to let you do several things, Carolyn.
CAROLYN MARSHALL: You have all been most generous with your support of the work that has been done by the secretary's office, particularly here, at this General Conference, and prior to it. This time, I would like to ask those persons who are on the secretarial staff to please stand and come here in front of you. (applause) Thank you for your affirmation. You may go ahead and sit down, but I would also like to share their names with you, because you need to know them as individuals. These are the people who have really done the work. I may sit here, but these are the people who have really made it go, and for that, we're deeply, deeply grateful. I'm going to have to do a little turning around, and I hope the microphone will cooperate with that. On your immediate left is Preston Price.
BISHOP CRAIG: Carolyn, we're not going to hear you that way. Why don't you say their names, and let them step forward?
MARSHALL: All right.
BISHOP CRAIG: Have you got a list in front of you?
MARSHALL: No, I don't. Preston, David Wilson, John Ross Thompson, Eradio Valverde, and Odell Thompson, the person to whom you all sent all those thousands of petitions (applause).
I want to share one particular word about Odell with you. You probably saw her name and her family listed on your prayer list several days while we've been here. Some of you are aware that her daughter- in-law had a heart attack and died on the Saturday before General Conference started. She felt a deep commitment to be here, not only as a delegate from Wisconsin, but as a part of this staff and the commitment she had made to be the petition secretary, and to fulfill those responsibilities. So with a heavy heart and responsibility at home, she came on Sunday, and was here through Tuesday evening, in order to get us started to meet with the Committee on Reference and to get things going; then returned to Beloit for the funeral, and was back here the next morning after that. And so we share with Odell at this time, and are grateful to her for the commitment that she has made to her church. (applause)
I could really say something similar about all the rest of these people, but that particular one, I wanted to share. Continuing on, we have Lindy Lorescoe, Millie Hilts, Dorothy Caldwell, Arlie Brawn, Susan Brumbaugh, Randall Partin, Gere Reist, and John Brawn, the brain and the effort behind the computerization, which has been such a benefit to us all. Thank you very much. (applause) In addition, there have been two volunteers who are not here to be introduced at this time, but whom, if you know them, should be recognized. Bea Cook had to return because of a local church and a conference responsibility, and we are grateful to her. She has given countless hours. And then also to Mim Porterfield from South Indiana. (applause)
At this time, which will give me time to get back over there to make some announcements, we turn to Roger Kruse who will introduce the business manager's staff.
ROGER F. KRUSE (Conference Business Manager): Thank you, bishop and members of the General Conference. As Carolyn indicated, there are literally dozens of people who make this conference work, not only these two weeks, but for several of them, many, many months in preparation.
Let me introduce, first, the co-chairs of our page and marshall team. They've led a cadre of approximately 150 volunteers who have spent many long hours delivering messages, packages, making sure there was water, keeping the appropriate people off the floor: Laura and Mark Wharff. (applause)
Our music at this General Conference, I think, has been second to none. And the persons responsible for that, first, our two co- directors of music, Cynthia Wilson-Felder, (applause) and the Rev. S.T. Kimbrough, Jr. (applause) and they have been assisted by Johnetta Johnson-Page who has had to leave, who was our pianist, and two very, very fine organists: Austin Lovelace and Kathleen Forsburg (applause). When I addressed you more than ten days ago, I indicated that we were translating into eight languages. That has changed and we are now translating into nine. We've added Indonesian this week. That translation and interpretation service is made possible by a cadre of 44 highly qualified individuals who do the actual interpretation and three technicians. And they have been very ably lead throughout this entire General Conference by a colleague whom I'm proud to count as friend, Nilda Ferrari. (applause) Carrying out a production such as General Conference in terms as lights, sound, the set-up, voting booth, keeping the TV monitors running...is not an easy task to do, and it has been ably handled for us throughout this General Conference by Jay Voorhees from UMCOM. He's here as a private contractor with us. (applause) And then, Bishop, last, but certainly not least, are three members of the staff of the General Council on Finance and Administration. Two of whom work for me full time, and one who is on loan. All of you have had contact with these individuals in one way or another, and let me tell you they have made my life a lot easier--Ronna Levy-Tritz, Steve Hellman, and Russell Elenz. (applause)
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you very much. Thank you so much to all of you. Now Carolyn, you have some announcements?
CAROLYN MARSHALL: During the plenary last evening, there was referral made to the Judicial Council, and I share with you their report. "We have received the referral raising the question: Does the statement ceremonies that celebrate homosexual union shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches belong in paragraph 71C? Paragraph 2616 provides that the General Conference may petition the Judicial Council regarding constitutionality, meaning, application or affect of proposed legislation. This is a legislative placement decision. We do not have jurisdiction." April 26, 1996. Signed by Tom Matheny, President and Wayne Coffin, Secretary of the Judicial Council.
One other announcement. Perhaps you take confession, too. In as much as we were coming to the end of General Conference, and this announcement had been made last week, the secretary chose to ignore one that came up yesterday that would remind those of you who are not delegates to allow during our refreshment break, for delegates to get to the tables and refreshments first. But inasmuch as it has surfaced several times again, today, even for this last coffee break, refreshment break, we bring to your attention that if at all possible, please if you are a visitor, observer, would you let those persons who are here as delegates partake first in order that we may all be back to business. Thank you so much.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, thank you. Now, house you have done very well, let's take a 15 minute break. That means that in ten minutes you are on your way back to your seats. Thank you very much.
All right. Thank you. Thank you. All right friends, if you'll find your seats. That's a grand duet, isn't it? No, I didn't request the content of that song. But that's a grand duet. Now if you'll come to your seats, I'd like to tell you where we're going. The chair would like the privilege of telling you where we're going before we interrupt the flow. The house will come to order.
Let the chair suggest what we hope to accomplish between now and an hour and ten minutes from now when I'm going to sing "Free at Last" (laughter and applause). Now this is fun. Thank you so much for being a good house. If you are coming to your seat, if you can come, if you can walk and not talk, then the chair will talk. Isn't that silly language, "the chair will talk." First, I want to acknowledge that we know there is a winged bird flying around in here. That is a real bird with wings. I'm assured that it is appropriately credentialed. Don't worry about it. (laughter). If it's within the bar, it's OK. Worry about other things.
Now here are the things we need to do. We've discovered that we have another set of nominations that have never been voted upon. So I want to turn first, when we begin, back to the General Conference secretary, who will help us with some nominations and elections. Then we want to return to the local church legislation. If we can move through a whole series of cleaning up items much like the series we've just finished, if we can move with some dispatch through those, they really are the actions that are necessary in order to have responded to petitions, to bring everything into conformance with the major piece that we've already done. We've already pretty well organized the local church. Isn't that marvelous? That's a wonder. And we need to kind of put some other things on the shelf and close a couple of drawers, and then we'll be in order.
Then we would hope to have time to go on to half a dozen such items from Discipleship and then turn to a few moments with the Central Conferences report. Now we can do all that if we'll just pay attention and move as well as we've been doing all day. So with that in mind, I want to turn to the General Conference secretary. Carolyn, if you will help us.
CAROLYN MARSHALL: We'd ask that you would open your blue DCA's to page 23. That would be the second 23 in that compilation, the one for April 17th.
As you are moving to it, I would suggest that you look at those nominations which are listed there on page 23, and then the first column of page 24, just beyond the half-way point. Those are the clergy and lay person delegations to general boards and agencies as was contained in the Discipline before we arrived at General Conference. Those are nominations which come from the Council of Bishops and also from the colleges as had been specified in our Book of Discipline. While we have been here, we have made changes to that Book of Discipline. However, it has not been possible for adjustments to be made to this time. And so, therefore, we bring to the body a recommendation. And therefore, I move that we elect those persons so listed here, with the provision that the Council of Bishops make adjustments, be permitted to make adjustments, as necessary in order to conform to the new structure. Bishop, I so move.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, thank you, Carolyn. Now, in essence what's happened is that we're at Friday afternoon, and the opportunity to reconvene the Nominating Committee of the Council of Bishops and get material back in your hands is well nigh physically impossible. Yet we need to elect these persons and have some flexibility. I think you understand the situation in which we find ourselves. We're on pages 23 and 24 of the blue book, the items on page 23, and the first two-thirds of the left hand column on 24. There are some persons elected to some general agencies by the General Conference. We've nominated to an old structure. Since we've been here, we have been transformed. And then, the motion is to elect these persons with permission for the Council of Bishops to make adjustments as necessary to conform to the new structure. All right? I hear a question. Who's asking a question? Over here, I'm sorry. Clear over here. That happens when you are deaf in one ear, got a good hearing aid that lets you hear on that side, but you don't know where the side is. (laughter) Yes, microphone 5.
JIM HOLSINGER (Kentucky): Bishop, I'd like to just simply point out that we previously, on page 652, 653, elected the members to the General Commission on Archives and History, and we may not want to go past down to General Board of Pension and Health Benefits.
BISHOP CRAIG: Is that true, Carolyn?
MARSHALL: Yeah, I hope we've got them all. I hope so.
HOLSINGER: Midway down on the right-hand column of page 653, General Commission of Archives and History is listed there, and that represents the new size and structure of that agency.
BISHOP CRAIG: We think you're correct. Thank you very much, Jim. So we're voting for page 23 and the first two items on the top of page 24, Church and Society, Pension and Health Benefits, with that proviso as the General Conference secretary has said for us. All right. Please cast your vote when the light appears. [785 approved] Thank you. You have elected those persons and given the council permission to make necessary adjustments. Thank you so much. Let's return, then, to local church legislation. Who's up next?
TERRY L. CLARK (Central Illinois): If you would to turn in your blue DCA, Volume 3, to page 313. We're going to be dealing with four petitions here that the vote of the committee was, on three of them, in favor of a previous petition which I pointed out to you in the first presentation. These were two petitions on page 455. They were Calendar Item 769 and 774. You approved those primary petitions on the Consent Calendar 805. So these petitions are coming, three of these, in preference to those petitions you have gathered. We're looking again at page 313, Calendar Item 862. Your primary reference is Volume 1; that's the red DCA, page 960. We're looking at Petition 20353, which deals with paragraph 262. This was with the elimination of the local church work area chairpersons. The vote of the committee was concurrence, 70, zero, zero in favor of the Petition 20352 that you approved on the Consent Calendar.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, thank you. Now, recognizing that we're dealing with the clean-up around the edges of the major legislation, we're on Calendar Item 862 on page 313. It is before us. Please vote when the light appears. [822 approved] The bird and the chair is declared confirmed. Not the bird in the chair, the bird and the chair. (laughter) Next item.
TERRY CLARK: Looking now, if you would turn to page 259. Again we're in volume 3, blue cover of DCA. On that page we're looking at Calendar Item 785, which is in the left-hand column, halfway down. The petition comes from the red DCA, Volume 1. We're looking at Petition 20672 dealing with paragraph 264. The vote of the committee was concurrence, 41, 33, 3. This petition, however, retains--if you will look at the red DCA--one is the church school, one also is the youth council, and then also, United Methodist Women.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. Ready? Calendar Item 785, page 259. Recommendation is concurrence. Please vote when the light appears.
It is adopted. Thank you. [813 approved]
TERRY L. CLARK (Central Illinois): We're looking, if you would, at page 316 in your blue DCA, Volume 3. And we're looking at Calendar Item 890. The primary reference is in your red DCA, Volume 1. It's Petition 20357. This is to eliminate the local church work area commissions. The vote of the committee was concurrence 61, zero, zero. Again in favor of the previous Petition, 20352, that you approved on the Consent Calendar.
BISHOP CRAIG: Very well, Calendar Item 890, page 316. Please vote when the light appears. It is adopted. [845 approved]
CLARK: Then, looking at page 316, again the same page, we're looking at 891 now. The primary reference is on page 962 of Volume 1, the red DCA. We're looking at Petition 20358 in reference to paragraph 268. This is to eliminate the local church task groups. The vote of the committee was concurrence, 62, zero, zero, in favor of the previous Petition 20352 that was on the Consent Calendar.
BISHOP CRAIG: Very well. We have Calendar Item 891 before us. Please vote when the light appears. You have concurred. [834 approved]
CLARK: And then if you would please turn to page 455 again in your blue DCA, Volume 3, we're looking at Calendar Item 1772, that's the middle column, the third item down, 1772. Your primary reference is Volume 2 of the DCA, that's the white cover, Volume 2, page 1417. We're dealing with Petition 22133. And if you'll look at that, you will see that the committee voted concurrence 64, zero to 3. And as you can see there in the wording is that we're moving to the chairperson of the Committee on Nominations and Personnel being a co-chairperson. That is the lay person being elected from among the membership of the Committee on Nominations and Personnel and being the co-chair of that committee with the pastor.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, 1772 is before you. Well now, which one of you really wants to speak. All right, the woman in red. Microphone 13, please.
RUTH PALMER (Texas): I would like to substitute the following words to those presently stated in paragraph 270.1. After "the pastor shall be the chair person," I would like to add these words, "A lay person elected by the Committee on Nominations and Personnel shall serve as the vice chair person of the committee." If I have a second to that amendment, then we'll speak to it.
BISHOP CRAIG: I see support, you may speak.
PALMER: I will yield to the gentleman behind me, my colleague, Rev. Caldwell.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right.
KIRBYJON CALDWELL (Texas): Bishop, if it is OK with you, we have a tag team match here today.
BISHOP CRAIG: That's quite all right. It's refreshing. Go ahead.
CALDWELL: We would like to urge the house to please support this amendment, primarily for three reasons. Number one, the nominations committee is the only committee that the pastor can chair, so in the spirit of a blessed balance, we think this would be healthy for the local church. Second, its not unusual for the pastor to have, shall we say, access to confidential information, which others may not be aware of, which may impact the election process of the nominations committee. Third, the Lord God Almighty and the bishop and the cabinet of the Texas conference have blessed me to pastor a two-point charge during the past 14 years, and during that 14 year period I've been able to pastor a small church, a medium church, two large churches; and throughout all of those evolutionary trends, one thing has remained constant, and that is, there's always a need for a pastor with vision, and there is always the need to have lay persons who are involved, equipped, and empowered to bring that vision to reality. We believe that having the pastor as chairperson, a lay person as vice chairperson can best implement that vision. Furthermore, it helps to wipe out internal civil wars which may erupt in some churches. Thank you.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. The chair would like permission to treat this as an amendment to paragraph 270 rather than a substitute for what is before us so that we cannot get caught in substitute parliamentary procedure. Is the house amenable to that? We'll treat it as an amendment. Any objection? All right, the amendment before us would be to amend paragraph 270 to allow for the election of a lay person to serve as vice chair. I see somebody over here, yes. Microphone 4. On the amendment.
EARL RENSHAW (Southern Illinois): I would like to speak to this issue. As a pastor, I wish to live out the stance of partnership in mission and ministry with the laity of the churches I pastor. I am not afraid to share the chair with the laity. It's coming. Pastors will not permanently hold the chair of the Committee on Nominations and Personnel, its time has come, we are in ministry together. The parallel may not be perfect, but here is my witness. During my years as a full member of the Southern Illinois Conference, I've been on the conference nominating committee three quadrennia, one as chair, two as member. Frankly, I was able to influence the direction of the conference more when I was not in the chair. As co-chair of the local church committee, my philosophy of leadership will be to step out of the chair position on occasion to enable my perceptions to be better heard. We clergy don't chair other committees. Is our influence diminished by this fact? Why do we have to chair this committee? It's a matter of partnership. I support the committee.
BISHOP CRAIG: OK. That's a speech against the amendment which would allow for the election of a lay person as vice chairman of the nominating committee. Does someone wish to speak for the amendment? Yes, back here, are you for the amendment?
BRIAN BAUKNIGHT (Western Pennsylvania): One of my deepest convictions is that a church's strength is built on the spiritual gifts that are found within its people. And I believe that I could defend biblically and theologically the fact that the pastor or pastors of a congregation are the overseers of those spiritual gifts. So I would support the amendment. I would have no problem with a lay person as a vice chairperson of the committee, but I think in this particular office in the life of the church, the pastor in charge, as the overseer of the spiritual gifts, should be the chair of the committee. And I strongly support the amendment.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you very much. We can have one more speech against the amendment. Are you against the amendment? Yes sir. The gentlemen back there that's coming to microphone 6. I'm sorry, sir. He was behind you. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Yes.
BISHOP CRAIG: Microphone six.
LELLAND P. MCKEOWN: I helped all through the original bill that was before the committee. I speak against the amendment because I would like to see us return to the original legislation that's on page 1417 of the Volume 2. I feel like this answers the spirit of what we were trying to do, and I don't think we've had a chance to do that during this conference. I'm sorry I didn't get to attend the legislative committee when this was deleted. May I speak to it or should I just wait until this is either voted up or down?
BISHOP CRAIG: We need to deal with the amendment and see what we've got before us then, sir.
MCKEOWN: Well, I would like, I will speak against the amendment because I'd like to see us come back to the original legislation as it was written.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, thank you. Now, we've had two speeches for and two against on the amendment, which would in effect amend paragraph 270 to allow for the election of a lay person as vice chair of the nominations of personnel committee. By our rules, we are ready to vote on the amendment. Please vote when the light appears. The amendment is adopted. [Results: yes, 469; no, 429] That makes it the main motion now. Just a sec, let the chair make sure she says the right thing here. Hold on. It now becomes the main motion for 1772 that the nominating and personnel committee will have a lay person elected as vice chair. Do you understand where we are? That is now the substance of 1772. Are we clear? Calendar Item 1772. Yes? Back there. I see a card.
GARNETT M. WILDER (North Georgia): I would like to have a response from the chair. If this motion is defeated, does this leave the Discipline as is?
BISHOP CRAIG: It's chair's judgment, yes.
WILDER: I would like to speak against this motion.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right.
WILDER: For 20 years, I have been working with local pastors in the Course of Study School. One part of the curriculum of the Course of Study School in which I work is a discussion group and case study situation where lay pastors, after five years in the Course of Study, bring their situations for discussion in the group. One of the things lay pastors observe in the smaller churches is that quite often there is a small cluster of people who control everything. No one on the nominating committee is going to change that leadership. The only one who can do so is the pastor, who must be willing to pay the price of being moved that year. (laughter) I do believe that leaving the Discipline as it is, keeping in mind that two-thirds of our Methodist churches, United Methodist churches, have fewer than 200 members; that many, if not most of these churches have situations where long-term office-holders need to be encouraged, one way or the other, to give up that and the development--to enable the development of a broader range of leadership. I believe that to leave the pastor as chairperson of the nominating committee will help to effectuate this in courageous moments.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, thank you. We're on Calendar Item 1772, which you have amended. That is a speech against. Does someone wish to speak for the amended Calendar Item 1772? Over here, microphone 1. Are you for?
ROBERT B. BRANDT (Northern New Jersey): I would speak in favor of the amended petition in the spirit that it at least moves us toward a partnership arrangement between pastor and lay people in the local church. Laity are in the church long before and many times long after a pastor comes into our presence. I am concerned when I hear someone say that the pastors are the, and I'm not sure what the exact words were, but those who oversee the spiritual gifts in a local church. As an individual who's been leading workshops in rediscovering spiritual gifts, I think each one of us have a responsibility in the spiritual gifts, and laity just as well as clergy, in a partnership relationship, can bring to the fore the best leadership that's needed in the local church. So I would urge us all to take a step toward partnership rather than a step back, away from partnership, and vote in favor of this petition.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you. We've had a speech for, a speech against. Who is against? Point of clarification, microphone 9.
ROBERT D. PIERSON (Oklahoma): Because of the nature of the first speech a moment ago, I'd like the motion read again because I believe that it leaves the pastor as chair and the lay person elected as vice chair, and so I'd like that clarified.
BISHOP CRAIG: That's correct. What we have before us is the paragraph now in the Discipline that provides for the pastor to be the chair, with a new provision for the election from among the membership of a lay person as vice chair. That is the substance of Calendar Item 1772. I need someone to speak against. Yes.
HENRY RODDY (Central Texas): I'm not sure I'm speaking against, but I think what we've done is superfluous because the pastor is on the committee and no more than 10 lay people. If the pastor is chairperson, who is left to be vice chair except lay people? (laughter)
BISHOP CRAIG: (laughter) All right, are you ready to hear from the committee and vote on the new 1772? I think you're ready to hear from the committee. You have a question? All right.
PORTER WOMELDORFF (Central Illinois): The previous speaker made the statement that the pastor is on the committee. This may well be, but I want to know what we did with all the pastor's memberships in committees. I believe that we defeated the restoration of that language, and I'm not sure that the pastors are on any committee.
BISHOP CRAIG: The chair understands that before us is the paragraph that provides for the pastor to be on, and chair of the Nominating and Personnel Committee. The body has amended that to allow for a vice chair who is lay. That's what we're voting on. Does the committee wish to speak?
TERRY CLARK: Yes. Our intent was to move what we would see as a new partnership. One that in many ways has been there for years, but has some veterans on the committee who have been at their fifth and sixth General Conference have pointed out, this is something that has been lively debate every General Conference. As much as we would have liked to have seen you affirm the co-chair, and as much as the brother has pointed out who that leaves on the committee besides the pastor, the fact is that in many churches there is no designation of a vice chair. And so as a compromise in true United Methodist fashion, we would certainly give support. And hope that you will support this amendment that has now become the main motion to carry us further than where we presently are.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. We're ready to vote on Calendar Item 1772 as you have amended it. Please vote when the light appears. [750 approved] You have adopted it. All right, thank you very much. That is all. Thank you very much for your leadership. Janice?
JANICE RIGGLE K. HUIE (Southwest Texas): Bishop Craig, the remaining six calendar items will be presented by our vice-chair, Shirley Parris.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, Shirley. Welcome.
SHIRLEY PARRIS (New York): Thank you, Bishop. If you will turn in your blue DCA to page 259, we will be dealing with Calendar Item 786, which is found in your white DCA. The petition, itself, on page 1405, and it's Petition 22105. It is an amendment to the petition as you see there. The amendment is given to extend and strengthen the definition of inclusiveness under the paragraph in the Discipline that describes the marks of inclusiveness in the church. And the amendment, Bishop Craig, is on page 259 in 786. We're adding, "a further mark of inclusiveness is setting of church activities in facilities accessible to persons with disabilities."
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, then. Calendar Item 786 is before us with the amendment as you see it on page 259. Please vote when the light appears. [829 approved] You have concurred. Thank you.
PARRIS: The next item is still on page 259, Item 788, and it's found in your white book 1421; the original petition, on page 1421, Petition 22682. And we voted nonconcurrence on this because we feel the Discipline adequately provides for membership of other than full members in any local church. We did not see the need for this petition.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. Calendar Item 788.
PARRIS: No, 787.
BISHOP CRAIG: I'm sorry, 787. Excuse me. Pardon me, 787, page 259. Yes, sir? You wishing to speak to this? Go to microphone 8.
JAMES GENTRY (South Indiana): Bishop Craig, the title should be "Consecration," not "Conversation."
BISHOP CRAIG: Jim, I think we are 787. We're on 787. I was confused, too. It's good to be in your company in confusion, Jim. That's all right. Calendar Item 787, Seasonal Local United Methodist Church Trustees. All right, please vote when the light appears. [822 approved] You have concurred with nonconcurrence. Thank you.
PARRIS: The next item is number 788, also on page 259, and that is on Conservation and Dedication of Local Church Buildings. And the committee recommends nonconcurrence. The petition may be found in your red DCA, page 966, and it is Petition 21091. The petition was asking to add a sentence at the end of paragraph 2545 about inviting the participation of clergy and lay representation from neighboring congregations. The legislative committee felt that this is a normal courtesy which does not need to be legislated, and therefore we voted nonconcurrence with the petition.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. Now we're on 788 on page 259 with a recommendation of nonconcurrence. Please vote when the light appears. [861 approved] You have agreed with the committee. Thank you.
PARRIS: Still on page 259, in your blue DCA Calendar Item 789. The petition may be found on page 946 in your red DCA. And it is Petition 21084. We voted concurrence with this. It is adding the words "church universal," a member of the church universal which ties in with a language in our current constitution, division 1, part 4. We voted concurrence and ask your support.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. Calendar Item 789, page 259. Please vote when the light appears. You have concurred. Thank you.
PARRIS: Now if you will turn to page 389 in your blue DCA. Page number 389, it's Calendar Item 1696. It refers to Petition 22149, which is on page 1426 in your white DCA. And the petition refers to the voting of the membership of the building committee. And it would change it from a simple majority to a two-thirds majority. The legislative committee felt that a majority vote as stated in the current Discipline is adequate, because this vote still needs charge conference concurrence. And therefore, we voted nonconcurrence with the petition.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, Item 1696 on page 389. The recommendation is nonconcurrence. Please vote when the light appears. You have agreed with nonconcurrence. Thank you.
PARRIS: And finally, still on that page, Calendar Item 1697, Enabling Legislation For the Basic Salary Plan Option. It refers to Petition 22117 on page 1412 in your white DCA. And all the legislative committee did was change "basic salary plan" to "shared salary plan" in keeping with other languages, which is more commonly used now. We voted concurrence with the petition with that amendment, and we ask your support.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, 1697, page 389. Yes? I see a card back there. Microphone 13, please. Number 13, please.
SCOTT JONES (North Texas): Shirley, was it not the case that in a previous action we declined to put the basic salary plan someplace else. We were told in committee this was dependent upon another action, and I don't remember what the conference did.
PARRIS: OK, my records show, Scott, that it was an amendment that we had passed. I show no reference to another petition, but just let me check. Bishop, I've just been told that last night the petition that was suggesting a shared salary plan was rejected, so this is really a moot point.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. You're saying then, that this should...we should simply ignore this one because we have already voted on it last night?
PARRIS: That's correct.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you very much. The house agree? Thank you.
PARRIS: I'll vote nonconcurrence with the legislative committee, which ever one is legal. Thank you, Bishop. That concludes the presentation.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, Janice.
HUIE: Bishop Craig, the legislative Committee on the Local Church, after it had spent more than two hours deliberating all the petitions, which had come to it regarding apportionments, and changes or potential changes in how the apportionments and the local church would be related to each other, nonconcurred on all those petitions. But in the discussion, they prepared a statement which was voted unanimously by the committee, which they asked me to read to the General Conference. With your permission, I shall read, it's a simple statement to be read, on behalf of the Local Church Committee, our sense of regarding those matters.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right.
HUIE: From the Local Church Committee: We have heard the passionate call of local churches throughout our denomination for relief from apportionments, which many of them perceive as a heavy burden. We believe that our local churches are deeply committed to the United Methodist connection system, and do not seek to break this inheritance and covenant. But we also believe that many of our local churches are struggling with the reality of the economic situation to which none of us is a stranger. We express our profound appreciation to the local churches for their faithfulness. The legislative Committee on Local Church, after consideration of many petitions, accepts no new proposals on local church apportionments to the 1996 General Conference. In true United Methodist tradition, we considered calling for another task force. But in true United Methodist reason, we didn't.
However, we would like to go on record reporting our encounter with much local church frustration around the following unresolved tensions. The need for annual conferences and general agencies to be sensitive to the financial demands they place on the local churches.
Two, the need for annual conferences and general agencies to be more accountable to local churches.
Three, the need for local churches to be given adequate support in interpreting and personalizing the causes of our church.
And four, the need for local churches to have greater voice and ownership in the mission work of the church.
We call on The United Methodist Church to enter into a period of prayer, dialogue, and action around these issues in the next quadrennium. We are unwilling to cast aside our covenant of connectional mission work. However, we do believe that it is time to translate our mission giving process into new terms for a new day and time. May God grant us the wisdom to discover the way forward. That concludes our statement and with your permission I'd like to introduce the other members of the committee.
BISHOP CRAIG: Go ahead.
HUIE: The secretary of the legislative committee, Herchel Sheets from North Georgia; Jean Dowell, seated out here, she chaired sub-committee number one, a lay woman from Minnesota, thank you Jean; Mary Brown Oliver, if you'd please stand, she chaired sub-committee number two, clergywoman (Baltimore-Washington). Thank you very much. This concludes our report. (applause)
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you very much for your good work. All right, the chair would like to go to one item from Discipleship Legislative Committee and then come to the Central Conference Commission. Is it a question? All right, microphone 3 please.
KATHI AUSTIN MAHLE (Minnesota): I would like to move referral of Janice Riggle Huie's statement to the CPT for consideration. The issues that the Local Church Legislative Committee dealt with are issues that we heard very clearly in the Connectional Issues Study.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, it's a motion to refer. Help us the with acronym CPT is, I haven't learned it yet.
MAHLE: Connectional Process Team.
BISHOP CRAIG: Connectional Process Team, yes, a new one for us. The motion is to refer this last statement we've heard there for their consideration in that. I heard support, yes, on microphone 9.
TRACY MERRICK (Western Pennsylvania): In one of the reports we adopted this morning, it was mentioned that GCFA is establishing a task force to study this exact matter, and I move that we refer this to GCFA.
BISHOP CRAIG: We have a motion for referral to the CPTs. Are you wishing to amend?
MERRICK: That's correct.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. Is there support for the amendment to refer to GCFA? I hear support. Now what we have is an amendment to say, "Let's refer this to GCFA." Kathi, did you hear that speech? Maybe we...just better ask the house. I was just going to ask you if you thought it was a better place there. Microphone 3.
MAHLE: I would change my motion for referral to both GCFA and to the Connectional Process Team.
BISHOP CRAIG: Let me ask the maker of the amendment. Would you accept both? All right, we got both people saying that now the motion is a referral to GCFA and the Connectional Process Team. House clear? Please vote when the line appears. You've referred that. All right, yes.
HUIE: Bishop, I've made a significant error of omission. I did not introduce Robert Rosas (Pacific Northwest), chair of subcommittee number 5 from which you had no calendar items to deal with on this floor. And I want to ask him if he would please stand, and I apologize for leaving him out of the list.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, thank you very much. We thank the legislative committee for their work (applause). Now the chair would really like to move on. The chair wants to move. You're going to resist. Microphone 1. (laughter) What the chair wishes to do, following this, is to take us to one item from Discipleship, then come to the Commission on Central Conferences.
PORTER WOMELDORFF (Central Illinois): Bishop, I would like an interpretation from you. In Calendar Item 194, we refused, or we declined to reestablish the deleted language regarding the chief administrative officer. However, we did not discuss at that same statement, is the statement that establishes the pastor as an ex- officio member of many local church organizations. In my hasty survey, I cannot find any place else that we do that. And so my question to you, Bishop Craig, is have we disenfranchised the local pastor and excluded him or her from many meetings within the church?
BISHOP CRAIG: Janice, are you still within the sound of my voice? Janice, help. Here she comes. Look at this. At 4:00, 4:40 on Friday afternoon, the woman can still run. It's incredible. (laughter)
Janice, did you hear the question? OK. Can you help us.
JANICE HUIE: I think, Porter, we'll have to research that carefully. It is certainly, as you know, not the intention of the committee to disenfranchise the pastor. We will simply have to research that carefully. I can't refer immediately to the place where that would be cared for.
BISHOP CRAIG: Can you be patient with it, Porter? Thank you very much. All right, let's turn to Discipleship, Paul Ervin Jr. Paul, are you ready?
PAUL ERVIN JR.: Bishop, the one item we will take up is Calendar Item 1988 on page 478 of the blue book. This has a minority report, Bishop, which would really be treated better as an amendment, and the representative from the minority report is here to confirm that. But Duane Sarazin from the Minnesota Conference will present it.
BISHOP CRAIG: OK, we're on Calendar Item 1988, page 478.
DUANE E. SARAZIN (Minnesota): Our legislative subcommittee on doctrinal matters within legislative committee three on Discipleship had literally dozens and dozens of petitions, which came before us reflecting the intense interest in commitment to being faithful to "Our Doctrinal Standards and Theological Task." This is a petition which our legislative committee believes has merit as it is amended. It's on page 478 of the blue book, number 1988, third column in the bottom. There is a minority report reflected on page 479, but in the interest of conciliation and going on towards perfection, we have continued to speak one with the other. And so I'm prepared, Bishop, to lift the amendments which would be made to the majority report beginning on the bottom of page 478, and then allow Phil Wogaman to step forward, who headed the team that put together the minority report, to second it so that it can be open for discussion. Does that seem agreeable to you, Bishop?
BISHOP CRAIG: All right. So you are in effect moving the minority report?
SARAZIN: I would be moving the majority report with amendments.
BISHOP CRAIG: With amendments.
SARAZIN: Yes.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, that's fine.
SARAZIN: OK. So beginning at the bottom of page 478. The first paragraph would have several deletions. Beginning with the first line, you would strike the word, "of"; second line, you would strike the word "stand"; and then, in the third line you would begin striking the words, "these standards," and continue striking the entire rest of the paragraph. And then there would be insertions beginning with the first line. It would read: "The Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task found in The Book of Discipline, paragraph 65-68, places United Methodism in the broad stream of apostolic Christianity." I'll repeat how that paragraph should read: "The Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task found in The Book of Discipline, paragraph 65-68, places United Methodism in the broad stream of apostolic Christianity."
Then on page 479, dropping down to the fourth paragraph which begins, "Episcopal leaders are given responsibility to guard" and so forth, just beginning with an editorial correction, it should read paragraph 514.2 rather than 512.2 in the Discipline. And then, in that same paragraph, substitute the following sentence for the last sentence: "Such oversight includes providing leadership to the church in doctrinal matters." I'll repeat that: "Such oversight includes providing leadership to the church in doctrinal matters."
And then, dropping down to the bottom part of that column, in item number one, after the "Therefore, be it resolved," there is a one in the second line. After the word, "standards" would be the addition, "and our theological tasks." In the third line of that same paragraph, strike the word, "practice," and insert the word "observance." And then at the top of the second column on that page, we would change, "we encourage" to "we direct the secretary." Those then, would be the amendments to the majority report as agreed upon by the leader of the group which put together a fine minority report. And if there's understanding about these amendments, then I would like to call upon Phil Wogaman to step forward and make the second. Bishop.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, let's hear from Mr. Wogaman.
PHILIP J. WOGAMAN: Thank you, Bishop and fellow delegates. I wish to second the motion that has been made, and if I could say a word about that.
BISHOP CRAIG: You may.
PHILIP J. WOGAMAN: In the spirit of a prayer which appears on the walls of our church kitchen, which is as follows: "Dear Lord, when I am wrong help me be willing to change. And when I am right, make me easy to live with." We want to be easy to live with and to acknowledge a useful compromise to save the body's time. The concern of the minority in this group was not to replace the doctrinal standards or to show any disrespect for them. We join in a solid commitment to our doctrinal standards. The issue with us was how the doctrinal standards would be used. And therefore, we felt it very important to maintain the balance between the statement of doctrinal standards which are quite large and vast in our Book of Discipline and the statement, "Our Theological Task," which encompasses the quadrilateral and a way of using those doctrinal standards. We have arrived with an agreement with the majority, which preserves both of those interests, and therefore, we feel it unnecessary to maintain the language of the paragraph immediately before the "therefores," which was the major statement of our committee. And thus, Bishop, we are prepared to go along with that. If there is no objection from any of those who signed on to this within our group in the minority.
BISHOP CRAIG: Is there objection from anyone who is the signer of the minority report? All right.
SARAZIN: Are the amendments before us? I would like to speak before we would vote on the final motion.
BISHOP CRAIG: You have put the amendments before us as a whole.
SARAZIN: That's right.
BISHOP CRAIG: And once we have dealt with the amendments, we'll come back to the amended report. It's complicated, and he read it slowly and carefully. Let the chair ask, do you have a sense of what the amendments are? Are you ready? I see a card way back at the back. Yes sir. Microphone 13.
JOHN "JACK" ALBRIGHT (Texas): I'm a signer on the minority report. And I concur with the amendments and will support this on the basis that it is not that anyone on the minority report was trying to negate doctrinal standards, but that we were seeking to place doctrinal standards in the context of having some form of understanding their place.
There was a time when we had very strong doctrinal standards. And those doctrinal standards gave us a clear sense of identity. And out of that community there came an individual that did challenge some of those doctrinal standards, by healing on the Sabbath, and feeding on the Sabbath, and touching lepers. And that individual was charged and convicted.
So I hope that we will learn from that, that we support the doctrinal standards, but that we also know the one that we are behind and who we follow, who is the one that leads us into the continuous, mysterious struggle of how we faithfully practice our beliefs. So I will support the changes that have taken place, and support this petition with its amendments.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, thank you. We are on the amendments. I saw a card back here. Microphone 9, please. That was a speech for.
JEFFREY GREENWAY (Western Pennsylvania): Bishop, I'd like to speak in favor of this as well.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right.
GREENWAY: I've been a member of this legislative committee and a supporter of the majority opinion throughout. This is one of the several resolutions that was sent to us from individuals and local churches, concerning doctrinal integrity. Several of us would say that we have no issues here, but others in The United Methodist Church family would beg to differ.
However, some on what was formerly the minority side would see this resolution without these amendments as an effort to squelch serious theological inquiry and reflection. This is not an effort to do such a thing. We live in a day when forces at polar ends of the theological spectrum might be pulling us so hard that it might tear us apart. In these days I believe that we need to affirm a centrist position, a dynamic center where we can live together and stand in ministry. If we're going to stay together as a vital force for mission and ministry, we must take our doctrinal standards and theological tasks seriously as we work together to fulfill the mission and ministry to which we have been called.
These amendments citing the Discipline would accomplish two things. They will affirm, as it says in paragraph 68, page 74, in the third paragraph on that page, "while the church considers this doctrinal affirmation as the central feature of its identity and restricts official changes to a constitutional process, the church encourages serious reflection across the theological spectrum." This language found in our theological task, affirms serious theological reflection. But, secondly, it would also affirm that we are a distinctively Christian church. We are Trinitarian, not unitarian. We believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This language, as found in our doctrinal standards, helps to define who we are as the people called United Methodist. Thank you.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, thank you. Now we are on the amendments. Is there anyone who wishes to speak against the amendments? Against the amendments? Yes, sir. Question? Microphone 8.
JERRY HEARE (Southwest Texas): Could you tell me, please, where we might find the doctrinal standards published?
BISHOP CRAIG: They're in the Book of Discipline. In the early section of the Book of Discipline.
DUANE SARAZIN (Minnesota): Paragraph 65 through 68.
BISHOP CRAIG: Is there anyone wishing to speak against the amendments? Are you wishing to speak against the amendments? You wish to hear one of them read again? All right. Well, I'm going to ask him to read the amended paragraphs in just a moment, all right? I don't hear anyone else...see anyone else wishing to...you wish to speak against the amendments? You want to move an amendment to the amendment? All right. (laughter) Now we see in a glass darkly. Microphone 3, please.
MARY ELIZABETH MOORE (California-Pacific): Actually this is a very small amendment which I think is consistent. I move that at the bottom, on page 479 at the end of the last of the last sentence of the fourth full paragraph, after the word "doctrinal," the words "and theological" be added. And if I have a second I'll speak to it briefly.
SARAZIN: We would accept that.
BISHOP CRAIG: Would you accept that? I hear acceptance. Thank you. Now I'm going to ask you to read the paragraphs you've amended as they would be amended...just the sentences around them so we can get the sense of it.
SARAZIN: OK, the first paragraph on the bottom page 478 would read now: "The doctrinal standards and our theological tasks found in the Book of Discipline, paragraphs 65 through 68, place United Methodism in the broad stream of apostolic Christianity." End of first paragraph.
Paragraph four, on page 479, left-hand column, would now read, in its entirety: "Episcopal leaders are given responsibility to guard, transmit, teach and proclaim, corporately and individually, the apostolic faith as it is expressed in scripture and tradition, and as they are led and endowed by the Spirit to interpret that faith, evangelically and prophetically (paragraph 514.2). Episcopal leaders have the responsibility of general oversight and promotion of the temporal and spiritual interests of the entire church (paragraph 50). Such oversight includes providing leadership to the church in doctrinal and theological matters."
And then number 1 at the bottom of that page would read: "We affirm our doctrinal standards and our theological tasks, as set forth in the Book of Discipline, and encourage their observance at all levels of church life." And number 2: "We direct the secretary of the General Conference," etc.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, that's what is before us now to amend this report. Please vote when the light appears.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, the document is now before us as amended. [820 approved] There has been considerable discussion. I think you know what it says. Are you ready to vote? Please vote when the light appears. [864 approved] You've adopted Calendar Item 1988 in good spirit and good spirit from those who have worked on this. Thank you for the excellent work on that and the good spirit. That's right.
PAUL ERVIN: Bishop, will we be first up tonight (applause) or do you know? Will we be first up, so that I can let the people who'll be making presentations know?
BISHOP CRAIG: I'll have to refer that to the agenda committee. I don't have the authority to tell you.
ERVIN: Let me say that Aileen Williams and Christian Ricks--I'll need to see them here at 7:00, just in case.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right.
ERVIN: Thank you, Bishop.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, thank you. Let's turn now to the Central Conferences Commission, Bishop Nacpil.
BISHOP EMERITO P. NACPIL: Bishop and members of the conference. I'd like for you to turn to page 477 of the blue book, Calendar Item 1977; 477, Calendar 1977. Petition 20021, the subject of which is a request to translate into Hausa, the language predominantly spoken in Nigeria, of portions of the Book of Discipline, Book of Worship, and the hymnal. The full text of this petition appears on page 542, top of the page of the same blue book. When this matter was considered in the commission, there were 29 of its members present. All 29 voted for it, none against. The recommendation of the commission is for concurrence and refer the matter to the publishing house.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, before us is Calendar Item 1977 on page 477, recommendation for concurrence and referral to the publishing house. Clear back at the back, right there yes, you sir, microphone--no I'm sorry it's the gentleman behind you, not the one in the blue shirt. I'm sorry I called on the man in the jacket. I'm sorry, sir. Microphone 11. I'm stuttering, I'm sorry. Eleven, please.
WILLIAM S. DEEL (West Virginia): Bishop, the publishing house is aware of this proposal and has some clarification we'd like to make. I'd like you to recognize Neil Alexander for clarification on this matter.
BISHOP CRAIG: Yes, please. Would the house allow that? Yes, please. Mr. Alexander?
NEIL ALEXANDER (President, UMPH): We'd be glad to receive this as a referral to be investigated, to be developed as far as possible. What we don't know are all of the implications relative to both cost and practicality. The material that's in The United Methodist Hymnal, much of that material is not owned by The United Methodist Church. It is licensed for a one-time publication in The United Methodist Hymnal. Similarly, there is material in The Book of Worship that is not owned by The United Methodist Church. So there are issues here of copyright, practicality, and other related factors in terms of cost, all of which need to be further investigated.
BISHOP CRAIG: Do you want to respond to that in any way?
BISHOP NACPIL: We have no problem with that.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, understanding those issues to be resolved, this item is before us. Yes? Microphone 4. I'm sorry, 5.
MEL BOWDAN (Kentucky): Nigeria is the largest country in population in Africa south of Sahara. You also have Ebo, Yorba, other tribal languages that are there that are also very competitive. Just a point of--a question. Has the committee considered that once we print something in Hausa that there may be some real requests for printing in other languages of Nigeria?
BISHOP NACPIL: There is that distinct possibility.
BISHOP CRAIG: Sounds like they've considered that. All right. Are you ready to vote on this item? Right back there in the center. Microphone 8, please.
ROCKY EUBANK (Southwest Texas): In view of what the gentleman from the publishing house said, I make a motion that this be referred at the publishing house rather taking action approving this request.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, this is a motion for referral, simply referral.
BISHOP NACPIL: We have no problem with that either.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, I hear the chair of the commission saying that's all right. Motion to refer. Please vote when the light appears. [860 approved] You have referred the item. Thank you. Bishop?
BISHOP NACPIL: The other item appears in the special Consent Calendar, A08, which you received this afternoon on your desks. It is Calendar Item 2464, Petition 23082, the subject of which seeks to amend paragraph 2301.3 of the Discipline by adding a lay man and a lay woman to the composition of the Executive Committee of the Commission on Central Conference Affairs.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, this item is before you, are you ready?
BISHOP NACPIL: The recommendation is concurrence.
BISHOP CRAIG: Concurrence; the recommendation is concurrence. Please vote when the light appears. [866 approved] You have concurred, thank you.
BISHOP NACPIL: And while I'm on my feet, Bishop, may I just point out two major actions that you took through the Consent Calendar, namely the continuance of the Eurasia Episcopal Area in order to provide for the continuing increase of our mission work in the Commonwealth of Independent States. We have signs of that here. We had the Latvia Choir this morning; we have the representative from Bulgaria; we have a representative from Estonia; we have observers from Russia. This is in grateful acknowledgement that God continues to bless our work there. The other action that you took was your provision for an enabling act that would make Zaire become a Central Conference by itself, to be composed of seven annual conferences. When we came to you in 1992 requesting that that section of the Africa Central Conference was to be allowed to meet, they had 500,000 members. Now the report comes to us that they have 700,000 members. Again, this is a reason for celebration. (applause) Thank you.
BISHOP CRAIG: Thank you very much, Bishop Nacpil. Now the chair is aware that it's 5:00, it's the dinner hour. Let's see if the house would be willing to extend for two things: a report on the status of the delegation to the White House, which we asked for earlier in the General Conference, and one motion on Consent Calendar. Would the house be willing, is there any objection to extend the time for those two items? Then I call on Bishop Woodie White.
BISHOP WOODIE W. WHITE: Delegates and friends, I'd like to give you an update on the request that you made earlier in the General Conference.
For the last several days we have continued to be in touch with the White House and the security council. It appears that a meeting can be scheduled for next week. With that in mind, earlier in the week it was necessary to name delegates to this White House visit, in order that security clearance could take place on the persons who attend.
I've asked the following persons to be a part of that delegation: Delegate Ronald Bretsch from [North] Central New York, who is a specialist in Middle East affairs; Dr. Randy Day from the New York Conference; Paulo Phillipe Bunga of Angola, and if he is unable to be with us, we'll have Kristen Dowdy of Virginia; Jo Ann Fukomoto; and myself. It is our intent to have a report for you in the DCA roundup. Thank you very much.
BISHOP JUDITH CRAIG: Thank you Bishop White. Now let's turn to Fitzgerald Reist and Sarah Miller for a calendar item.
FITZGERALD REIST: I'm coordinator of the calendar. Consent Calendar A07 may be found on page 665 of today's DCA. Calendar 2421 found on page 667 of today's DCA has been removed from Calendar A07 at the request of 10 delegates.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right.
SARAH MILLER: I move the acceptance of this calendar.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, This calender is before us. I'm sorry, tell us the number again.
REIST: Consent Calendar A07.
BISHOP CRAIG: Page 665.
REIST: Page 665 of today's DCA. The one removed was 2421, found on page 667 of today's DCA.
BISHOP CRAIG: Consent Calendar Item A07 is before us with the exception of that calendar item. Are you ready? Please vote when the light appears. [812 approved] I think it passed. (laughter) I'm sorry. All right, anything else from the...Go ahead.
REIST: Consent Calendar C07 begins on page 668 of today's DCA, there are no changes.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, 668.
MILLER: I move the adoption of Consent Calendar C07.
BISHOP CRAIG: Calendar C07 is before you, please vote when the light appears. And, I'll look this time. [874 approved] That's approved. Almost perfect, you're going on to perfection.
REIST: Not quite yet, but that's why we're Methodists. United Methodists are always going on. I recommend suspension of the rules to act upon Consent Calendars A08, B08, and C08, which were distributed to the desks of delegates this afternoon after 7:30 p.m. That is the action after 7:30 p.m. The deadline for removal of items to be 7:00 p.m. This would allow almost the normal amount of time for delegates to request removal of items from the Consent Calendar.
BISHOP CRAIG: All right, the first motion is to suspend the rules, will you do this by hand, I think you will. If you will suspend the rules will you lift the hand? Thank You. Opposed? They are suspended. Now your motion.
MILLER: I so move.
BISHOP CRAIG: We're into good shorthand here. (laughter) All right, these special Consent Calendars are before you. Please vote when the light appears. What's the point of order, excuse me.
BECKY HAASE (California-Pacific): I believe the motion was that they would be taken up tonight at 7:30 p.m. and not before.
BISHOP CRAIG: Excuse me. You're correct. The chair has in error, thank you. All right. What a good house you are. I've been handed a couple of things here. One is, Bishop White failed to name that Bishop Dale White and Bishop Dan Solomon will also be in the White House delegation. I believe Jane Middletown, where are you? We're going to give you 35 seconds. Microphone 1.
JANE MIDDLETON (New York): Thank you, bishop and members of the conference, I'll try to talk fast. When we acknowledged our bishops who are retiring, we failed to recognize yet another bishop who will retire again this year, Bishop James K. Mathews first retired in 1980, in 1985 he was assigned Bishop of Zimbabwe and retired for the second time in 1986. In 1990 he was yet again assigned to the newly-created Albany Area and retired for the third time in 1992. Last May he was assigned to the New York Area and has served with energy and wisdom, and we of the New York Conference have benefited enormously from his experience. He will retire for the fourth time at the end of August and what we hope will be a well-deserved rest. I have no historical data to support this, but we suspect this is a record.
BISHOP CRAIG: We'll put it to the Guinness Book of Records and see. (applause) All right, let's give our attention to the secretary of the General Conference for some announcements please.
CAROLYN MARSHALL: The first one is to ask that legislative chairpersons with items, which remain to be cared for this evening, would meet with Sara Miller, chair of agenda and calendar committee, near the platform immediately on adjournment this afternoon.
The question has come about the availability of pictures of the clergywomen which was taken here. The answer, which has been secured, is that the press office is closed at this particular point that was handling that. However, that picture will be available if you will contact United Methodist Communications in Nashville next week. Particularly ask for Lynn Scott.
Question also came as to sharing with you the amount of the offerings, which have been received here. The United Methodist Committee on Relief communion offering amount was $9,384.19. (applause) The native American Awareness offering was $3,579.00. (applause) And the offering most recently received, that for Pages and Marshals, amounted to $12,114.41. (applause)
Earlier during this session you were more than gracious in responding and affirming the work, which had been performed by two of the staffs, which have served you in preparation and during the General Conference. We now want you to be able to express your gratitude, our gratitude, to the local committee, Paula Johnston has chaired that committee. Unless you've done this, you have no idea of the amount of work that has gone into it. But we now present Paula Johnston to you, and Peggy Sewell, from the Rocky Mountain conference, who will share with you for just a minute.
PEGGY SEWELL: We in the Denver Episcopal Area, along with Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, have been twice blessed in the last nine months to be able to welcome our global family to our neighborhood. First with Youth '95 in Salt Lake City, and now these two weeks with General Conference in Denver. As we all prepared with great anticipation to receive family and friends into our individual homes, so had we in the Denver Episcopal Area, been filled with great excitement and anticipation to welcome you. We will continue to hold you in our prayers as you return to your homes and places of living out your faith commitment, just as we have prayed for you in our preparation and during the conference.
We thank you for the opportunity to be able to open our doors, our homes and our hearts to you. We have been greatly blessed and enriched by your presence among us. We pray that it has been for you a time of encountering the movement of the Holy Spirit in new ways, settings and relationships. Thank you for coming among us and living with us.
MARSHALL: Thank you. (applause)
BISHOP CRAIG: We thank you so much for your gracious welcome and hospitality. And, I want to thank this house for being a gracious and delightful house over which to preside. Thank you for the privilege. My thanks to Bishops Christopher and Lawson for keeping me straight. And, I'm happy now to say that at 7 o'clock, Bishop Hearn will be here to take us home. But in preparation for our evening meal recess, I've asked Bishop Ho of Singapore, who hosted the 1991 World Methodist Conference to come and give us our benediction. Let Us stand.
BISHOP HO (Singapore): Let us pray. Great and gracious God, we praise you for the day of opportunities and challenges. We thank you for the fellowship we share as the people of God. We acknowledge with gratitude your presence and guidance throughout the sessions of the General Conference. We now commit ourselves and all the resources of The United Methodist Church into your loving and sovereign hand. And as we continue to struggle with the very difficult issues that seek to frustrate and divide us, we believe and trust in your goodness and love that hold us together. So may we now go in you name with the assurance of your grace, peace and benediction. Amen.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
April 26 Afternoon Proceedings, 1996 United Methodist General Conference
1996 United Methodist General Conference