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February 26, 2021
Yesterday, United Methodists across the global connection learned that the postponed General Conference 2020 had, once again, been postponed to Aug. 29 – Sept. 6, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can read the Council of Bishops’ press release on their website.
What this means for our church is that 2021 will not be focused on solving our deeply held differences in the church, but instead it will focus on continuing the work that we already have in place and preparing for the work that must be done when we meet again in 2022.
The Commission on the General Conference made the decision in a Feb. 20 meeting that holding a meeting of our global body in 2021 would not be feasible due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the technological barriers that would prevent a virtual meeting from taking place.
Instead, there will be a called virtual special session on May 8, 2021, to handle a limited number of legislative pieces, enabling us to make changes to the Book of Discipline so that we can continue to carry out ministry in 2021 and 2022. It will be a very brief session to establish a quorum to suspend the rules and allow us to vote on 12 pieces of legislation through a paper mail-in ballot system. You can read about those 12 legislative pieces here. The ballots will be mailed to delegates following the Special Session, and the results of the ballots will be released on July 13, 2021.
The Protocol of Grace and Reconciliation Through Separation, as well as other plans that have been submitted, will not be considered until our 2022 meeting. The budget will also not be considered until the postponed General Conference gathering. As well the 2016 Book of Discipline as amended will remain in full effect through our next General Conference gathering.
More information on all of these moving pieces will be forthcoming.
In this time of waiting, I am aware that some of you are anxious about settling the church’s future. That’s why I urge you to remember three things while we wait for the 2022 General Conference.
First, be graceful to each other, as you have done so well up to this point.
Second, continue to keep the main thing the main thing, which is creating vital congregations that make disciples of Jesus Christ, who make disciples equipped and sent to transform lives, communities and the world.
And finally, during this time, we need to be open and aware of how God is at work in our midst. Maybe God has plans for us and our church that will be revealed to us in the coming months.
I am proud of the work you have done in 2020, and continue to look forward to the work we will accomplish in 2021, 2022 and beyond. We all should remain in prayer that the work of God’s church will manifest in powerful ways.
Grace and peace,
Gary E. Mueller
Bishop
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