This is the Compass Podcast: Finding spirituality in YOUR everyday.


I’m Rev. Ryan Dunn, bringing you a mini-episode for this week. Here’s what’s going on: Every 4 years, the United Methodist Church–that’s the denomination I’m a part of and the denomination who sponsors this podcast—every 4 years we have a big world-wide conference to set the policies and vision for the next 4 years. It’s called General Conference. It involves elected representatives from across our worldwide connection. Because of the pandemic, it has not happened on it’s regular schedule. And next week, Starting April 22, 2024, it’s finally happening again. The General Conference is happening in Charlotte, NC… and will hopefully get back on track with a regular schedule.


Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications, and we are more than neck deep into both producing and covering the General Conference. 


So in this episode of Compass, I wanted to do two things:


1. Let you know why the United Methodist Church is likely to back in the news in the next couple weeks. AND
2. Let you know why we’re going to get off schedule a bit with the Compass Podcast.


Let me address that second purpose, real quick, since it’s short. Our bandwidth is a bit maxed at the moment with the General Conference stuff. I’m preparing to be onsite for the two weeks of the conference. I am not a delegate, so I’m not directly involved in the decision-making items that I’ll mention later. But I will be involved in providing daily update videos about the happenings of General Conference. If you’re so interested, you can check those out at UMC.org/connectedgc


We’re supposed to have a Compass episode come out in the midst of General Conference. I don’t like the idea of just throwing something together to fill the space when my attentions are elsewhere. So I’m just going to admit that we won’t have a new episode on May 1. We should be back to regular episodes on May 15, 2024


Alright. Let’s talk about why the United Methodist Church might be back in the news related to this General Conference.


The General Conference is the only body in the UMC that can set official policy and speak for the international denomination. In many ways it’s like a UN General Assembly or a US congressional session–with the addition of lots of prayer and rousing Christian worship.


The General Conference has the authority to make revisions to the Book of Discipline and the Book of Resolutions. It can also make amendments to the denomination’s constitution. 


In short, the General Conference has the final say on the doctrine of the UMC and how we carry out our mission in the world–which, by the way, is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.


You may have heard that the UMC has become internally divided over some of our doctrinal stances and related policies. This division has led to congregations and leaders leaving the denomination. That’s what we’ve been in the news for lately.


There are many issues of discord at play here, but the single issue most people have likely heard about is the denomination’s policies regarding the full participation of LGBTQ+ individuals in the leadership of the church.


Most of the congregations and leaders who have left hold a view that the church should continue to limit the involvement of practicing LGBTQ+ individuals. Since such measures were introduced in 1972, there have been efforts to remove those restrictions. It’s certainly possible that with those traditionalists now having left the denomination, then legislation approving the removal of the restrictions could surely pass.


It’s going to come up before the General Conference… and whether or not it passes it’s likely to be a newsworthy event.


But that’s not all. This General Conference has a lot to cover, as again, it’s been years since they met. But the big issues demanding delegate’s attention come down to three R’s: 


The aforementioned removing restrictive language regarding LGBTQ+ participation
Regionalization
And Revised Social Principles approval.


Regionalization is a plan that would provide for a bit more contextualization regarding issues of church policy and practice. The UMC is a worldwide denomination–increasingly so. Yet up to this point, it’s been a US-centric denomination. 
It’s hard to hold the same policies and procedures for one church in Los Angeles, California and 
a church in Harare, Zimbabwe. The contexts are quite different. Regionalization would allow for greater self-determination and self-governance.


That third R relates to approving the Revised Social Principles.
The Social Principes are the UMC’s responses to pressing social issues. It includes denominational statements and calls to action on global warming and climate change, human trafficking, the death penalty and more. The goal of revision is to make the statements relevant and succinct.


That’s the thousand-foot view! Appreciate your understanding for missing an episode. Appreciate your prayers for the Conference. 
Again, we’ll be back with new episodes in May. It means a lot that you listen, and I look forward to bringing you more meaningful conversations soon. Later!