Petitions to GC2020: Reinstatements

Here are another two petitions, dealing with the least-protected clergy people in our system: certified candidates and licensed local pastors. What happens when someone in this position is discontinued from the process, and then moves-- especially given that the Spirit might call people *years* later, in different contexts and settings, and after great transformation? Sometimes,…

Petitions to GC2020: Reduce Inappropriate Medical Disclosure and Discrimination

This is legislation I plan to submit to General Conference, regarding candidacy, clergy status, and the medical forms. This legislation failed by ONE vote in 2016. The UMC may or may not look anything like the denomination we know come May 15, 2020, but if it does, I hope we stop asking candidates for their…

Petition to GC2020: Trust Clause in the case of Successor Entities

I'm working on some legislation, and would love the input from other minds! Comments? Suggestions? (Im)Perfections?   Motion: Amend ¶2501.1 by adding a new paragraph following the first paragraph (which currently ends “from their connection with the entire worldwide Church.”) This trust requirement must be maintained by The United Methodist Church and its successor denominations,…