General Conference 2004

Rocky Mountain Conference News and Resources

Day 11

General Conference Report for Thursday, May 6 from Paul Kottke, Alternate delegate:

General Conference Report for Thursday, May 6 from Rev. Paul Kottke, alternate delegate.

While this proved to be a difficult day, as a first time delegate, I have been deeply moved to be part of the Rocky Mountain delegation and the Western Jurisdiction.

The morning worship began with Bishop Robert Fannin, resident Bishop of Birminghan Area (Alabama) preaching on the critical importance of living with a passion of faith in worship, in our personal lives, and within our churches. Living the love of God in a narcissistic, commercialized world.

The morning business session was chaired by Bishop Janice Huie of the Arkansas. Shortly after 11am with the signal of a slow, rhythmic drum beat, persons began walking onto the conference floor. The presiding bishop acknowledged the witness of support for of gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender persons. As the line of persons began to circle and weave around the conference floor, members and delegates joined in the witness by standing, by walking with the witnesses and by singing.

After twenty minutes the witness peacefully left the General Conference session while continuing in their singing and sharing in a separate room.

The work sessions have been grueling. Last night we worked until midnight. Today, we did not take the lunch break until 2 pm.

When the conference reconvened at 3:30 pm, Bishop Palmer of the Iowa Area presided. During this session, a major set back for the Western Jurisdiction occurred when legislation passed that cut by more than half of the representation for all of the Western Jurisdiction on General Boards and Agencies.

Apparently during this time, a news release was distributed by an unofficial conservative voice that was covered by some national news outlets about legislation for splitting the United Methodist Church. [UMNS Story]

No such legislation was presented as of Thursday night and has little or no apparent support by either conservatives or liberals.

The evening closed with the defeat of legislation that would have changed the 200 plus year history of the Methodist movement from being a non-creed Church into being one defined by doctrinal statements. A defining moment for the debate occurred when a layman from Texas spoke about the Church that he loved as having been a grace-filled Church and that the last two days he had witnessed it as a harsh legalistic Church, showing no grace.

What we can be proud of is that the Western Jurisdiction delegates have presented themselves throughout the last several days with dignity and fairness even as we were being treated in very disenfranchising ways.

Paul Kottke

General Conference links:

*Please note: people have been experiencing access problems with the GC site and related pages, due to the high volume of traffic they are receiving. Don't be afraid to try again later!* You can also try some of the General Church agency web sites below, or the unofficial ones listed on the main RMCUMC GC2004 page.

Please keep the Rocky Mountain Conference Delegates in prayer: Janet Forbes, Youngsook Kang, Olon Lindemood, Chuck Schuster, Aaron Gray, Judy Hill, Brad Laurvick, Dan O'Neill, Liwliwa Robledo, and Peggy Sewell.