General Conference 2004

Rocky Mountain Conference News and Resources

Day 9

Greetings in the name of our Peacemaker and Lord!

It is my pleasure to share some of the highlights of today, the seventh day of Christian Conferencing in the Westin Convention Hall, Pittsburgh, PA. while I am typing this report, Sarah Babb, our lay reserve, is sitting on my behalf.

Highlights:

1. Judicial Council election:The GC delegates elected 2 clergy and 6 clergy reserves, 2 lay and 6 lay reserves to the Judicial council.

Clergy persons elected: Susan Henry-Crowe, White, Southeastern Jurisdiction and Dennis Blackwell, African American, Northeastern Jurisdiction. Reserves: Swamwange Kyungu, African, Central Conferences, Rex Bevins, White, South Central, Rodney Wilmoth, White, North Central, Frank Trotter, White, Northeastern, Gloria Brooks,White, West Ohio, John Harnish, White, North Central.

Laypersons elected: John Gray, African American, South Central, Beth Capen, white, Northeastern.

Reserves: Solomon Christian, White, Southeastern, Edwin Gausi, African, Central Conference, Daniel Ivey-Soto, Hispanic, South Central,David Beckley, African American, Mississippi, Daniel F. Evans, White, South Indiana, Raymundo Annang, Filipino, Central Conference.

2. Church and Society Proposed Amendments to the Book of Discipline re Homosexuality:

Paragraph 161.G -There was much discussion, quite emotional and passionate y and at times heated, especially coming from the Central Conferences. A Minority report which was presented became the main motion and eventually passed,(or became concurrent) again after much debate. If you wish to read your Discipline, the words stricken are "Although we" and changing to "The United Methodist Church" does not condone......etc.
Then the sentence "We affirm God's grace is available to all" and insert "and we will seek to live together in Christian community." The rest of the paragraph remains.

Other petitions on homosexuality were not passed (non-concurrence)

3. The Judicial Council's Decision re. the Dammann Case. This was much awaited. It is much to complex
to share to you the long declaratory statement read to us. You will read more about it as copies of the
document will be available. But here is the summary. The Judicial Council (JC) decision number 985 can be summarized as follows:

• The JC has no authority to review the finding of the trial court.
• The JC declared that based on decision 984 regarding whether the Paragraph 161.G is church law, Karen Dammann is a self-avowed homosexual and therefore can not be appointed to a local church.

4. Other highlights of the day included a wonderful worship service on Christian Unity to celebrate our ecumenical fellowships and relationships and to speak of the joy of our unity and to speak of our differences. Bishops and leaders of ecumenical groups were with us and recognized. The sermon Heavenly Vision: New Heaven and New Earth was most fitting asking us to speak boldly and to be agents against racism.

The children's choir of about a hundred voices was awesome!!

5. Impressions: It has been a great privilege to represent you as a lay delegate to General Conference.

The delegates are serious about their tasks and there was many debates on the floor regarding issues that
affect the mission and ministry of the church. It is a Christian Conferencing. Much was accomplished in the seven days of conferencing. More to be done. I learned much from legislative committees. Delegation meetings at 7 in the morning is a time for briefing and raising issues. There is laughter and humor here and there. New friendships, smiles, nods, all over the place. Recess time finds the delegates trooping to the coffee and cookie lines and the restrooms!!. After sessions, delegates rush to dinners or luncheons hosted by agencies or boards or groups. Some are free which is nice!!Sessions end rather late. We go back to our hotels tired but with a sense of accomplishment.

This is all for tonight from your sleep deprived lay delegate,

Liwliwa T. Robledo

General Conference links:

*Please note: people have been experiencing access problems with the GC site and related pages, due to the high volume of traffic they are receiving.  Don't be afraid to try again later!* You can also try some of the General Church agency web sites below, or the unofficial ones listed on the main RMCUMC GC2004 page.

• General Conference 2004 Web site
• General Board of Global Ministries GC2004 site
• General Board of Church and Society
• General Board of Discipleship
• General Board of Pension and Health Benefits GC2004 Information
• General Council on Finance and Administration

Please keep the Rocky Mountain Conference Delegates in prayer: Janet Forbes, Youngsook Kang, Olon Lindemood, Chuck Schuster, Aaron Gray, Judy Hill, Brad Laurvick, Dan O'Neill, Liwliwa Robledo, and Peggy Sewell.