Jonathan LeMaster-Smith

1. What are the pieces of legislation that are sent to annual conferences after passing General Conference, and who gets to vote on them?

Any legislation that amends the Constitution must go to the annual conferences to vote. The aggregate number of votes (that is, total of all individuals voting, not total annual conferences) are pooled and a 2/3 vote in the affirmative will formally amend the Constitution. Other than that, unless the legislation particularly requests that something go before the annual conferences (and I’m not even sure they can).

In regards to the members of annual conference who get to vote, ¶602.1.a states that clergy member in full connection receive a vote. No other clergy receive votes on amendments (presently, legislation can always change that). ¶ 602.6 – all lay members of annual conference will vote on constitutional amendments.

2. What legislative committees are handling the restrictive language around human sexuality, marriage, ordination, etc.?

Several. Great Plains Annual Conference has the full list, but the restrictive language is littered throughout the Book of Discipline, and thus, multiple areas handle this, including faith and order, ordained ministry, church and society, Higher Education/Superintendency, financial administration, and judicial concerns.

3. How can Jurisidictional, Central/Regional Conferences, Annual Conferences and (my addition) local churches respond to portions of the legislation they may disagree with?

According to the present regionalization model, the Constitution, the doctrinal standards, historical documents, Social Principles, and Ministry of All Christians cannot be adapted or changed.

However, all other parts of the Discipline will become adaptable as needed in regions. Moreover, and this is already happening, jurisdictional and annual conferences are already adapting leadership models, social and theological frameworks, and practices around many topics. The Western Jurisdiction already has queer bishops, many annual conferences are licensing, commissioning, and ordaining queer clergy, and local churches are having queer weddings.

As our polity decenters judicial practices, it us up to various checks to decide how to interpret and apply the discipline.

4. How do we explain regionalization and that it doesn’t immediately change things or force us to do anything around queer matters (or others)?

The regionalization will take some time to go into effect (even with the Regional Committee going into effect at end of business), even once we approve at annual conferences. Though some of it goes into effect at close of business on May 3rd (nothing about lgbtqia+ things).

Moreover, may annual conferences and local churches may not like all the changes, but we will have checks and balances in place. Local churches and clergy have rights that are protected, including rights around weddings (no church can be forced to have a wedding, no pastor can be forced to perform a wedding), membership (pastors determine who can join a church), and many other things.

In fact, this is actually giving all levels of the church more flexibility to contextually and practically interpret Methodism in their contexts. The only thing we cannot do is deny people access to worship, regardless of anything (other than actual threats of violence from said worshiper).

5. When does regionalization take place?

Pieces of it begin to take form immediately following General Conference, as a US regional committee will form (all USA GC Conference Delegates, plus representation from outside Central Conferences).

Assuming amendments to the constitution all pass, this committee is tasked with forming the US Regional Conference. Now, I cannot say when this committee will convene, but it seems as soon as it can be organized.

6. What was the purpose of the proposed Amendment to the legislation that came to the regionalization debate (would remove several paragraphs from the Constitution)?

I can’t speak to motive, although I have heard that this was a conservative action.

But I can say, the reality is that jurisdictions are complicated due to their racist and regionalist pasts. They are also used to protect certain folks from conservative or liberal actions across the denomination. But, we do have a Jurisdictional study committee that keeps trying to give a report, but time has not allowed.

7. WHAT IS GOING ON! (Jim Halpert gif)

The process is messy and heated. I love it. And yes, the organization and rules are often used to silence and oppress folks, but they are what we have at present.

If can’t handle impassioned speeches, ad hominem attacks, slippery slope arguments, and the appeals to heaven of people who firmly believe God is on their side (and all people assume this) just take some breaks.