This is the second half of a report on General Conference. Those of you who heard me preach last month while Pastor Linda was on vacation heard me tell the story of Katherine Commale, who at 6 years of age built a diorama to demonstrate how a mosquito could not get through the bed nets that prevent malaria. By the time she joined Bishop Bickerton and others in New York for the Nothing But Nets kick off, she had, with her family and church raised over $10,000! Katherine, now 7, appeared before the plenary and was asked by Bishop Hopkins how much money she had raised to date. Her response was "Over $40,000" which brought cheers, applause! The Bishop next asked what her goal was. "That everybody in Africa gets a bed net who needs a bed net." Katherine is a wonderful example of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, transforming the world, and a reminder that it is not only adults that are disciples, but all ages.
     There is one issue and one event that might have reached the local news media. The issue was the various votes around homosexuality and how that is addressed in our UM Book of Discipline, the guiding rules of our denomination. In the legislative committee and sub-committee that dealt with those issues, there was a wonderful statement crafted that stated that "Faithful, thoughtful people who have grappled with this issue deeply disagree with one another; yet all seek a faithful witness." There was much more to the statement, intended to replace a paragraph including this statement: "The UMC does not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching." No matter where you come down on this issue, you would be discouraged with some of the language used to describe people, tactics used in deliberating the subject, and the pain inflicted on those who are delegates who are gay, lesbian, transgendered or bisexual as the parliamentary maneuvering suggested this was the most crucial item of ten days work, yet isn't among the Four Foci of the denomination...
     The one event that I know reached CA media was a lesbian couple who after 25 years of partnership [being a couple] had a wedding ceremony. Little did we know, at the time of their ceremony, that it was just days before California would grant the right to marry to same sex couples. Again, no matter what your personal theology, beliefs or opinions are about same sex marriages, I would urge you to be sure when you discuss it with others, that your language and tone reflect that of a thoughtful, loving, caring Christian.
     As of 2012 there will be fewer U.S. Bishops. Noting that the UMC in Africa is our fastest growing area, we approved $20 million for Africa University, and $2 million for theological schools in Africa. The study of the ordering of ministry will be continued with a more diverse group, especially age and ethnicity wise. There was also enabling legislation that would move us in the direction of being a less colonial, paternalistic denomination in our relationships with UMCs outside the USA. Some of this will come in the form of Constitutional amendments that must be ratified by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the annual conferences. We increased the retirement age of Bishops from 66 to 68.
     We elected members of the Judicial Council, and the University Senate that oversees the accreditation of our many UMC related schools, universities, and seminaries. We celebrated UM s raising $3 million for restoration of Katrina damaged churches, and I believe we are still the leader in sending VIM [Volunteers in Mission] to the area as work is still needed.
     There were many social issues that were addressed: immigration, welfare, hate, torture, Israel/Palestine relations, to name just a few. We passed a budget for four years. When all the money was raised to fight malaria, one young adult delegate got up and reminded the body that the monetary commitment made four years ago for HIV/AIDS
     In Africa had only met one-fourth of its goal in the four years, reminding us once again that not all diseases are equal. The 100th Anniversary of the Social Creed was celebrated and a proposed new creed was adopted as a “companion litany” that is also set to music.
We added to our UMC mission state a phrase so it now reads, “The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” And a companion piece to that was the addition of the word “witness” to the vows you take when you join the UMC “to uphold the church with your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.”
     When you read this, I will be getting ready to go to the once every four year Western Jurisdictional Conference in Portland, OR, where we will elect two new Bishops for the Jurisdiction, and learn who our new Bishop will be as of September 1.

-Peace, Alice Ann