1 May 2008
Reports from GC – Day 8: Apr 30
The days are beginning to blur together. I had lunch with the Foundation for Evangelism. Jack Ewing, executive director, framed his talk around Collins’ Good to Great schema, outlining the FFE’s passion, gift, etc. If you know the lingo, he is looking for a BHAG to establish a new vision for the foundation. All ideas are welcome as long as they are audacious enough.
This afternoon was a sobering one for reconciling ministries. Eddie Fox successfully led a motion to adopt a minority report on para. 161.G of our Social Principles, maintaining the infamous “incompatibility” clause about homosexuality and adding language to define the parameters of acceptable sexual behavior within the confines of heterosexual marriage. The vote was 501 to 417. This means that a majority of the 800 non-African delegates voted against this motion, assuming that no African delegate would have voted towards increased tolerance or acceptance of homosexuality. At the 2012 General Conference, the Ivory Coast Annual Conference will have about 42 more delegates than they do now, making them the largest delegation behind Nigeria with (44). This is one reason why the worldwide UMC restructuring proposals are so contested and important.
The delegates were debating about pastoral discretion to refuse to receive persons into church membership (remember our panel discussion at DHUMC on Judicial Council Decision 1032?) when I left the fun to get back to the hotel. I’ll have a report tomorrow.
One Comment so far...
Janie J. A. Says:
1 May 2008 at 3:39 pm.
Thank you for all of your great reporting. I never would have known how many acronyms you have to know to go to General conference! Best wishes as you get to the end of the ten days!