Legislation to restructure United Methodists moves forward

The Rev. Vance P. Ross, pastor of Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta, has been watching the conference online. Ross was not initially in favor of regionalization but over time changed his mind. He views the vote as a positive that will allow conferences to make decisions that align more within their culture and context.

”There’s a difference between my native West Virginia and New York City,” he said. “So there are rules and laws written in and for the the state of West Virginia that would not be applicable in the same way to the state and city of New York. That’s’ what regionalization does. It recognizes the cultural and geographic differences for clergy and lay persons in those places.”

He said the future is unknown at this moment, but the vote yesterday could pave the way for removing the language around human sexuality, although it does not change the constitution.

“The big change this petition brings is really for our brothers and sisters here in the United States, where you would finally be given the right to decide things which only concern you among yourselves, the same right that we have enjoyed for a long time,” said Christine Schneider-Oesch of Switzerland, a member of the committee proposing the changes.

The Book of Discipline outlines the doctrine, administration, organizational work and procedures of the UMC. The doctrines are not adaptable. Currently the Book of Discipline considers homosexuality to be incompatible with Christian teaching. It prohibits clergy from performing same sex marriages or union ceremonies and doesn’t allow “self-avowed practicing” members of the LGBTQ community to be ordained or consecrated as a bishop.

LGBTQ issues weren’t central to the debate on Thursday, but they are expected to arise in the coming days at the General Conference. Some proposals would lift the current bans on ordaining LGBTQ people and on same-sex marriage.

“I believe that the values upon which worldwide regionalization is rooted will give renewed strength, life and vitality to the church,” said the Rev. Jonathan Ulanday of the Philippines. He said it gives autonomy while maintaining connection to the worldwide denomination, which he noted has been helpful in areas ranging from disaster relief to aiding Filipinos working abroad.

But the Rev. Forbes Matonga of Zimbabwe said the plan actually perpetuates colonial structures by creating multiple regional conferences in Africa along national lines, compared with a single one in the United States. He noted that many African national borders were created arbitrarily by European colonial mapmakers.

“It is this divide and rule,” Matonga said. “Create a region for Africans. Creates a platform for Africans so that we speak as a continent and not as small colonies.”

The Rev. Ande Emmanuel of Nigeria said he has been to multiple General Conferences and that many of the discussions are “U.S.-centric,” not relevant to African delegates. Regionalization would let each area of the church manage such issues, he said. “We are not here to control the Americans,” he said. “Neither are our brothers from America here to control us. We are trying to build a platform that is mutual. We’re trying to build an understanding that would move our church together.”

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