Motions

At the 2018 Annual Conference, the body voted to no longer include Resolutions in the Agenda. As such, motions are being made and have been scheduled from 10:30 am to 11:00 am on Friday morning, with a brief time scheduled Saturday for “left over” motions.

The following are the motions that have been submitted, in accordance with the Conference rules, and will be presented starting Friday morning. How can you help? Be prepared to speak in favor of motion and/or be prepared to call the question to end debate and to vote.

Motion to Petition GC 2020 to Remove “Incompatible” language. (3 motions)

Total Number of Pages: 1

Suggested Title: Removal Incompatibility Language

Book of Discipline paragraph or Book of Resolutions number: Discipline para. (¶)161 G

 General Church Budget Implications: None

 Global Implications: Yes

I move that the Virginia AC call upon the 2020 General Conference to delete the following language from paragraph 161. G “The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”

Rationale:

The United Methodist Church implores “families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends,” declaring ourselves a Church open to all, but current language in the Book of Discipline undercuts our claim and hinders our ability to love and be in ministry with all people.

Date: June 5, 2019

Total Number of Pages: 1

Suggested Title: Removal of Incompatibility Language for Ministry

Book of Discipline paragraph or Book of Resolutions number: Discipline para. (¶)304.3

General Church Budget Implications: None

Global Implications: Yes

I move that the Virginia AC call upon the 2020 General Conference to delete the following language from paragraph 304.3 “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.  Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.”

Rationale:

Our identity as Christians flows from our baptismal vows.  A life of ministry is a natural consequence of those vows and to declare a called person “incompatible” is to deny the will of God.  We affirm our theological understandings and our unrestrained love for all of God’s children.

Date: June 5, 2019 

Total Number of Pages: 1

Suggested Title: Removal of Incompatibility Language for Chargeable Offenses

Book of Discipline paragraph or Book of Resolutions number: Discipline para. (¶)2702.B

General Church Budget Implications: None

Global Implications: Yes

I move that the Virginia AC call upon the 2020 General Conference to delete the following language from paragraph 2702.b “practices declared by The United Methodist Church to be incompatible with Christian teachings, including but not limited to: being a self-avowed practicing homosexual; or conducting ceremonies which celebrate homosexual unions; or performing same-sex wedding ceremonies”

Rationale:

God’s gift of sexuality is indelible and intrinsic to who we are – not a choice or a lifestyle, but part of the way that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God.  No person is “incompatible with Christian teaching” in their very being. 

Date: June 5, 2019

Motion to Commit to be an Inclusive Church

Will be presented as the following

Be it resolved, that the Virginia Conference is committed to work for the full civil rights and privileges of all persons, including LGBTQIA+ persons, and declares its opposition to continued restrictions on the participation of LGBTQIA+ persons in the United Methodist Church; and

Be it further resolved, that the Virginia Conference commits to working together to build a fully inclusive church that is in ministry with all people, regardless of their economic status, race, age, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, or immigration status.

Motion to Repent for Harm Done

I move that the Virginia Annual Conference repents of the harm it has done to LGBTQIA+ persons over the past few decades, and commits itself to becoming a fully inclusive church that welcomes and affirms all people, regardless of economic status, race, age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity expression, sexuality orientation, ability, or immigration status.