General Conference – bishops need to lead

I'm piecing my story from several sources, some of which are Twitter feeds that give only moments in the story, not the full outline. So I think this is what happened. I likely have details wrong.

Bishop Bruce Ough gave an announcement this morning in which he called for unity within the denomination. He was partly addressing behind-the-scenes talk of a schism. Ough was saying there will be no schism.

That spawned a protest, though perhaps not a disruptive one. LGBT people and allies sang "Blest Be the Tie that Binds" as they bound their wrists with rainbow cloth. Some were even on the floor with cloth binding hands to feet behind their backs. The general message is there is no unity if it doesn't address full inclusion of LGBT people. There is no path forward and there doesn't look to be one by the end of GC in two days.

That prompted Rev. Mark Holland and Rev. Adam Hamilton of the Great Plains Conference to say to the bishops: Do something. You're the church leaders – lead. Come back tomorrow with a plan describing what you are going to do. Holland's motion passed 428-364.

The bishops don't have a vote at GC, though they do preside over the plenary sessions. One thing they can do is call an extra General Conference, likely in 2018, and for the purpose of figuring out what to do with this one issue.

At a news conference Ough admitted the bishops are not united on (I think) both the LGBT inclusion issue and the schism issue. Some respond that admitting division in your ranks is not leadership.

Matt Berryman, executive director of Reconciling Ministries Network responded:

Separation conversations are not new, and at this General Conference, the idea has been pushed by conservatives who finally understand that fairness and equality for LGBTQ people in the church will not be silenced. While we appreciated the recognition of our struggle by the Council of Bishops today, we are discouraged by their refusal to meet this head on and bring peace and justice to all of us who serve this church.

The conservative Good News caucus issued a statements:

Bishop Bruce Ough’s morning statement at General Conference should be applauded for its directness and its honesty, but it was also a cause for sadness and disappointment. His confession that the Council of Bishops is divided and unable to provide the leadership we need to be a united and vibrant church is another indication of how serious our dysfunction is.

More background to the story is here in an article in the United Methodist Reporter.

I've had discussions with people since GC in 2012. I heard that schism isn't realistic. Neither side would have enough resources to operate a global church with all the boards and agencies we have now.