Leaders want to change UM debate tone

United Methodist News Service
WASHINGTON—United Methodists want to change the tone of conversation at the denomination’s top legislative assembly in 2008.
Organizers of the General Conference, which meets April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth, have endorsed “Guidelines for Holy Conferencing—What God Expects of Us” as a blueprint for such conversation.
The guidelines are in response to concerns that the General Conference resembles more the style of secular political bodies than the higher expectations of a faith-focused group, said Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, who leads the Houston Episcopal Area and is president of the Council of Bishops.
Ten principles in the guidelines focus on respect, civility, mutual understanding and a desire to hear diverse voices in the consideration of legislation.
Huie pointed out that John Wesley, founder of the worldwide Methodist movement, believed in Holy Confer-encing as an organizing and governing principle.
As a method of discerning God’s direction for the church, “Holy Confer-encing sets United Methodists apart from other organizations,” she said in a letter introducing the guidelines.
”We urge all who are involved—local congregations, individual writers of petitions and resolutions, members of interest groups and caucuses, general agency members, and delegates—to grow into the spirit of Holy Conferencing,” Huie said.
”In much of the Western world, results are measured in terms of winners and losers. Holy Conferencing does not work that way. It focuses on discerning where God is leading us. It focuses on prayer, rational and respectful conversation, and a belief that with God, all things are possible.”
Bishop Sally Dyck, who led the group that refined the guidelines, credited the young people for bringing the issue to the forefront.
“Our United Methodist young people successfully used these principles when they met in South Africa earlier this year,” Dych said. “Their example is a lesson for the whole church: We can do things differently, respectfully and with God in the forefront.”
Dyck, who leads the Minnesota Conference, is encouraging delegations, caucus groups, authors of petitions and resolutions, general agencies, and anyone else connected to the General Conference to practice Holy Conferencing leading up to and during the meeting.