Delegates from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States gathered today in Charlotte, North Carolina, to begin the postponed 2020 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. The General Conference convenes every four years to consider revisions to church law and to adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy, and economic issues. The General Conference also approves plans and budgets for churchwide agencies and programs.
The theme is “… and know that I am God” from Psalm 46:10. The entire verse (NRSV) reads: “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations. I am exalted in the earth.” The verse number may vary in non-English translations. The General Conference Worship and Music Team has planned to create a new focus each day by pairing the theme with different words, such as “love” or “believe.”
Elected delegates from the Arkansas Conference include Karon Mann (chair, lay), Rev. Mark Norman (chair), Sarah Argue (lay, alternate), Elizabeth Fink (lay), Rev. Lynn Kilborne, Rev. Natasha Murray-Norman (alternate), Regina Norwood (lay), and Rev. Michael Roberts.
The voting delegates for the postponed General Conference include 55.9% from the United States, 32% from Africa, 6% from the Philippines, 4.6% from Europe, and 1.5% from concordat churches that have close ties to The United Methodist Church.
The Commission on the General Conference reported that 751 of the 862 elected delegates were registered and present as of noon on Tuesday. These numbers also reflect 273 of the 370 elected delegates from Central Conferences. The number of registered delegates will likely increase with additional registrations completed throughout the day. Updated data will be provided in tomorrow’s report.
Following delegate orientation, the General Conference officially launched with worship and communion, which was live-streamed with more than 3,200 people worshipping online.
Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, outgoing chair of the Council of Bishops, preached during the opening worship service. He encouraged a “spirit of hope” and warned delegates not to revert to the “finger-pointing” that has blamed others for issues within the denomination.
The day concluded with a plenary that offered information on various processes and procedures, including setting the conference bar, voting, health and safety, and monitoring. A ⅔ majority approved the Conference rules.
Tomorrow, the legislative committee meetings will begin for all delegates. The Arkansas delegation members are noted beside the committee that they will serve:
- Church and Society 1 (Rev. Natasha Murray-Norman)
- Church and Society 2 (Brandon Bates*)
- Church and Society 3: (Katie Pearce*)
- Conferences (Regina Norwood)
- Discipleship (Amy Forbus*)
- Faith and Order (Rev. Michael Roberts)
- Financial Administration (Sarah Argue)
- General Administration (Karon Mann)
- Global Ministries (Rev. Hammet Evans*)
- Higher Education/Superintendency (Rev. Mark Norman)
- Independent Commissions
- Judicial Administration (Elizabeth Fink)
- Local Church (Rev. Pam Estes*)
- Ordained Ministry (Rev. Lynn Kilbourne)
- Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters
*reserve delegate observing only
To read today’s report from UMNews, click here.