Thread by @umjeremy

Beginning of multi-day thread: coverage of General Conference 2019 in St. Louis.

Qualifications: I’m a reserve delegate from the greater Northwest, and a press-credentialed blogger at HackingChristianity.net.

Follow for updates, analysis, and copious snark. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Found outside the convention center. Caption options:

- Jesus, you took the wrong wheel
- GC is already off the wheels.
- Where GC is going, we don’t need wheels.

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Opening prayer and service is focused on submission and subservience, surrendering ourselves to God. That’s a good reminder amidst our machinations and seeking to control the votes that we are in service to God. But I doubt those who do that are heeding it. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

View from the press box. We get to watch a sound-delayed video here. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

The Convention Center is hosting a monster truck rally right after GC. I’m not sure whether more cars or more LGBTQ persons will be crushed by the end of the week. :-/ #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

It has been announced that the Judicial Council is reviewing the constitutionality of 90078 the Modified Traditionalist Plan (by @MaxieDunnam) and the 90052 Traditional Way Forward with Enhanced Enforcement (by Lonnie Brooks). Both are horrible. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

That’s a bit disturbing that they are being considered by the Council of Bishops, but clarity on constitutionality helps everyone. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Coming back from lunch break in a few minutes. Livestream should be back up soon, but I’ll be sure to relate anything not caught on it. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Back on session. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

First mention of LGBTQ from General Conference comes 4 hours in. A good prayer from the Bishops about the weight and pain of LGBTQ people in the room. “When one suffers, we all suffer.” #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

You won’t see it on the livestream, but the General Conference delegates who are LGBTQ have gathered in the middle of the floor in silent witness. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Delegates and observers are invited to a few minutes of prayer for LGBTQ persons. A section full of Allies is standing in solidarity and praying with one another. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Too high up for photos, will share ones I get from photographers closer to the floor. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

By far the most densely populated section has LGBTQ inclusion supporters and allies in it. Rest of the observers very sparsely separated into groups of 1-8. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Oh good. Livestream now showing the delegates and allies gathered in the middle around a rainbow flag. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Photo from the livestream: #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/pastorkatie/status/1099389559467577344

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/fluteVA/status/1099391148274143235

The love song to God sings “I need You to survive.”

A love song from the church might sings: “We need LGBTQ persons to thrive.”

It keeps getting bigger!

#WithNotAbout

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/ralphmays_/status/1099393388036669442

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/rmnetwork/status/1099405656912814080

Blog with reflections on who the players are right now and what the goals might be of each group. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/umjeremy/status/1099408352503726080

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/downey/status/1099410719181758466

Amidst all the graceful words of forgiveness and grace shared after the passing of the peace and sharing communion, I guess it was inevitable that an ungraceful word would rise up and offer a Communion Conspiracy Theory (!!!).

Bless your heart, John. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

A good list of other good folks to follow for live updates. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/ReligiousInst/status/1099434863080415232

NPR did a story on GC: npr.org/2019/02/23/697…

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Just a warning: don’t read the comments when you post about LGBTQ inclusion. #FromTheBlog #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

The death rattle hope of the Traditionalist Plan, which hinges on a hope that the MTP would be a good substitute, is now toast: umnews.org/en/news/court-… #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

End of Day 1.

Day 2: we’ll have the key vote for which plan we are going to prioritize and perfect, as well as which members of the body will lead the perfecting (it must be a delegate not a bishop).

See you at 7:30am CST for worship. Thanks for following. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Good morning. Opening worship is happening right now. You can follow the livestream here: umc.org/who-we-are/gen… #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Reflections on whether Law and Order United Methodists will finally disavow a lawless GC plan. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/umjeremy/status/1099682939280019456

Bishop Alstead: “This is not a game”

Rob Renfroe: “This is a cage match.”

You choose which metaphor feels better to you. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Yea @ladyemilybug! #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/emmillerwrites/status/1099695764199141379

Thanks to @RobRenfroe1 for replying and sharing his full quote, which I quoted only the first part. The Metaphors we choose matter. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/RobRenfroe1/status/1099697125003350017

In case anyone is wondering how “bird’s eye” the press area is, this is six stories up from the floor. Hello from the Eagle Eye in the Sky. Thanks to @UMCommunicators and @UMCommunication for this space.

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Good summary. Thanks for the share, @emmillerwrites #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/emmillerwrites/status/1099697216489435136

Now begins the Report by the Commission on A Way Forward. This is the culmination of over 2 years of work on the One Church Plan and Connectional Conferences Plan…and about 2 hours of work on the Traditional Plan legislation. #ItShows

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/downey/status/1099698487086669824

David Field on the Commission on A Way Forward: “Yes, we did not find a single solution for what the future of the UMC should be. But we discovered something else: complexity, diversity, pain, brokenness, but also its unity in a deeply personal way.” #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/carianne80/status/1099703432318017542

Yea Donna! @revdonnafumc giving a part of the Commission on A Way Forward report. Thankful. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

“The OCP provides a generous unity that gives conferences, churches & pastors the flexibility to uniquely reach their missional context. It does not understand unity as uniformity, but our unity under One Lord, One Spirit, One Faith, & One Baptism” - @revjaz #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

“The OCP values the connectional nature of the church, a unique strength of the UM movement. Together we can do more…transformation of the world for good. The cost of division is high, and the cost of disruption of mission…church trials is too high.” @revjaz #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Let’s take a moment to address the concerns with a diversity of practices of our common theology. Today @kevinwatson questioned whether such common theology should be contextual like that on his blog here: vitalpiety.com/2019/02/23/is-…

My response follows: 1/5

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

The truth is that we have done contextual theology before. From the 1850s to the 1930s, the various bodies of Methodism were hardline against divorce, calling it “consecutive polygamy.” ” But as Dr. Darryl Stephens wrote (see pic), that changed:

2/5 #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

So you see? We already had contextual expressions of our theology of marriage, with enforcement rightly placed at the peer and direct oversight levels of the church.

Were UMs then “dependent on the shifting winds of culture” then, @kevinwatson?

3/5 #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

By living into Wesleyan regional accountability, the Church was held together. While we still struggle with the practical inclusion of women, persons of color, and those who experienced abortions or divorce, we do so at a common table, not siloed apart.

4/5 #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

End of interlude. Just wanted to address one late-breaking commentary on the OCP while it was fresh on my mind. Thanks for reading, and feel free to reply or comment.

I quoted some of my post here: hackingchristianity.net/2019/02/better…

5/5 #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Currently hearing presentation and appeal for the Connectional Conferences Plan, which is part of the COWF report. Reported by Mazvita Machinga from Zimbabwe. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Wesleyan accountability is peer-based, watching over one another with love. When we watch over our peers, we know their every action, thought, and pore on their face.

When you are from afar, global oversight ceases to be Wesleyan from a birds eye view. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/halehawk/status/1099714339471269888

The Traditionalist Plan as described by @JessicaLaGrone. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

A view from an African in America. Thanks Albert for reminding us that episcopal leadership has varied contexts. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/albertotshudi/status/1099716032250433543

A good perspective on the failure of tradition when it comes to women and persons of color. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/nate_nims/status/1099716884159705090

Accountability has always been regional and local. Trials are by peers. Supervision is by peers. This is nothing new, and is consistent with our practices and our polity already.

Uniform globalization of accountability is foreign and new. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/halehawk/status/1099717478266138624

I applauded it was over. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Now we are talking exit proposals. One is in the Traditional Plan, but not in OCP or CCP. There are a few in the legislation. The Commission recommends Exit Plans be considered by either 2019 or 2020 GCs (which nicely implies “defer these to 2020 please”). #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Clergywomen holding each other accountable: #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/HannahABonner/status/1099718877901135873

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/GPUMC/status/1099721934101729287

Divorce was at one time banned at the GC level, and then it was given grace to be held accountable at the annual conference level. Here’s the history. Allowing regional diversity in our polity has precedent.

hackingchristianity.net/2019/02/better…

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/holtz517/status/1099721943102775298

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/HannahABonner/status/1099722151685484544

By the way, if you want to follow the Blog or other commentary on Facebook, I’m only 75 “likes” away from 7,000 likes.

facebook.com/HackingChristi…

I know I just met you, and this is crazy, but here’s my Facebook page, so like it, maybe? #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

#umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/UMWomen/status/1099726285578952704

Read Rachel’s thread. Thank you. Thank you. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/RachelTernes/status/1099723906888462336

JC decision 1375 is here: umc.org/decisions/7928… #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Summary: Petition 90052 is unconstitutional because it infringes upon the right of the Annual Conference to vote on all matters relating to the character and conference relations of its clergy members under ¶ 33 of the Constitution. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Summary: Petition 90078 is unconstitutional because the creation of a Global Episcopacy Committee violates ¶¶ 49 and 50 of the Constitution. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

I’m leading a presentation about GC on Sunday. I’ll just copy a buncha tweets haha. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/JerodLycett/status/1099727860816900097

This is cool: all my tweets in one place. Thanks @wisekris! #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

https://twitter.com/threadreaderapp/status/1099730615283470336

And we’re back. This session will be on electing leadership for the legislative actions tomorrow, and perhaps getting into prioritization votes (though I expect that in the second session this afternoon). #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

The prioritization process allows the body of delegates to make those choices instead of the 3 presiding officers (that will be elected today). #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

This speech by Delegate Jeremy ________ is out of order. You can’t make a motion and read the motion unless the motion is seconded or recognized. #umcgc #gc2019 #umc

Bishop Hope Morgan Ward interjected with “Jeremy!” very loudly and the speaker was right above my press box workstation and it literally made me jump. :-) #umcgc #gc2019 #umc