Jonathan LeMaster-Smith

Questions will be answered to the best of my ability.

1. Have any petitions related to Deacons sacramental authority and leadership authority made it out of committee?

So far, calendar items related to Deacons include:
-rewording the authority of provisional Deacons to include the phrase, “The appointment setting is defined as ‘people within or related to the community or ministry setting being served.”’ to better clarify the role of the Deacon.
-naming alternate routes for deacons related to professional certifications and full time service.
-sacramental rights for deacons has made it out committee in the form of petition 20897.
-deacons are now included in the list of pastors in ¶339.
-deacons are included in those who can preside at Charge Conferences.
-petitions to make Deacons eligible for bishop and district superintendent do not make it out committee.
-other deacon related work is clarifying the appointment of the deacon (just better wording for local church, extension, other denominations, and school) and that the their are resources for exploring the appropriateness of appointments.

2. What happened with the Local Pastor related petitions?

Most local pastor related petitions were bundled and “not supported” by the committee, and there has been a call for a ministry study. This is disheartening for many, as local pastors often feel like the leftovers and placeholders. Also, many churches feel like their pastors are not supported in the system as well. I would encourage those local pastors who feel disempowered to begin the work of conversations with clergy and laity in their conferences, AND to organize within their local Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members.

Some things that did pass: Retired local pastors may continue serving so long as they have completed educational requirements or are willing to complete educational requirements. And, as long as they are under appointment, shall attend annual conference with voice and vote for those things allowed for the local pastor.

Also, local pastors can now more easily serve in conferences other than that in which they were certified as candidates.

3. Any idea when the legislation on removal of language and the other LGBTQIA+ concerns?

-Many petitions passed committee that add sexual orientation and/or gender identity to the expectations of leadership and committee roles on various levels of the church.
-A petitions that remove restrictions on same sex weddings by pastors and in our churches have made it (by close margin) to the plenary.
-A petition that place moratoriums on any human sexuality related complaints passed committee.
-A petition that removes not only being a “self-avowed practicing homosexual” and conducting same sex weddings, but also requirements for celibacy and singleness/faithfulness in marriage as chargeable offenses.
-The revised Social Principles that made it out committee include piece that remove incompatibility language and redefine marriage as between two people.
-I cannot tell you the days all of these will make it, but pay attention the calendar items in the DCA.

4. Who selects which bishops will preside over the plenaries? Will my bishop preside?

¶ 16.11 notes that the General Conference selects all presiding officers (except the first one, the council of bishops selects the first presider). We delegate this power to the committee on presiding officers as part of the Commission on the General Conference.

5. Will there be any more disaffiliations?

It appears that all disaffiliation and exit plans have been rejected.
But there is a petition for churches to return who have disaffiliated.

6. What is something boring that has passed that is actually a significant deal?

In consent calendar for April 27th, which we will vote on in the plenary on April 29th, the role of Discipleship ministries has the phrase “Develop standards” replaced with “Promote contextual” in the phrase: Promote contextual resources for the conduct of public worship in the churches, including liturgy, preaching, the sacraments, music, and related arts.

This means the Board of Discipleship/Discipleship Ministries is no longer tasked creating standards but providing multiple contextual resources for worship in various settings, locations, and venues.

7. What is something that seems significant that is actually boring?

Russia and the Eurasian Countries leaving. This happens regularly.