General Conference 2024
The Floris UMC/Restoration Church community is preparing for the 2024 General Conference. We are providing insight and vital information to equip members and all United Methodists. Our community is committed to supporting Virginia Conference leaders and other global leaders to create a new regional structure for the United States church. We are dedicated to removing harmful language about our LGBTQ+ siblings.
General Conference typically gathers every four years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a delay in the 2020 General Conference. The 2024 General Conference will be held from April 23 to May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Watch Now
- May 5 – Town Hall: General Conference Debrief
- April 7 – Town Hall: General Conference Preview
- February 6 – General Conference Forum
April 23-May 3 | 2024 General Conference | Charlotte, NC
Latest News
- April 29 wrap-up: African bishops added; prayers after Charlotte shooting (April 29, 2024)
- Church broadens defense of human rights (April 27, 2024)
- General Conference gives regionalization green light (April 25, 2024)
- What to know about General Conference proposals (March 7, 2024)
Leading Interest Groups
Resources
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- The Road to General Conference (PDF)
- General Conference by the Numbers (PDF)
- A beginner’s guide to General Conference
- Overview of the General Conference
- Revised Social Principles for General Conference 2024
- The Christmas Covenant
- The Connectional Table
- Virginia Conference – General Conference 2024 and Virginia Delegation Resources
Virginia United Methodist Conference (VAUMC)
The Three Rs
Regionalization
Removal of Language
Revised Social Principles
General Conference Forum Q&A (February 6)
What is regionalization?
The United Methodist Church has a series of definitions.
If regionalization legislation passes, do we expect to see more churches disaffiliate in Virginia?
The window for disaffiliation under paragraph 2553 closed on December 31, 2023. Under the current Book of Discipline, there are no more opportunities for churches to disaffiliate from the UMC using that paragraph.
If the General Conference passes conditional amendments in May, will Virginia vote on them six weeks later at the Annual Conference in 2024? Or in 2025?
It is likely that a vote will be taken at the 2024 session of the Virginia Annual Conference around any constitutional amendments that pass at the General Conference.
What is the process and the deadline for submitting petitions to the General Conference?
Paragraph 507 of the Book of Discipline stipulates that any organization, clergy member, or lay member of The United Methodist Church may petition the General Conference. These petitions must be postmarked 230 days before the General Conference to be considered, and meet several other guidelines in paragraph 507.
If we decide to regionalize this April, could the decision on LGBTQ+ relevant policies be delayed to the next General Conference?
If regionalization legislation passes at the General Conference and is confirmed by the required ⅔ majority of Annual Conferences, it is likely that a US regional conference would convene in 2026 or 2027, and some policy decisions could be implemented.
Are there any concerns that a change in policies might not fully support the transgender community? For example, could a MtF be ordained with the proposed change?
Most of the policies around ordination and marriage, including those that are proposed for the 2024 General Conference, focus on cisgender identities. It is unclear how policy changes will impact the transgender community specifically.
Are there any concerns that a change in policies might not fully support the transgender community? For example, could a MtF be ordained with the proposed change?
Most of the policies around ordination and marriage, including those that are proposed for the 2024 General Conference, focus on cisgender identities. It is unclear how policy changes will impact the transgender community specifically.
Does IRD et al still have delegates and lobbying efforts in place at the General Conference?
In a recent article , Good News claims they are attending GC to lobby for continued disaffiliation options. No person who has withdrawn their membership from the UMC is eligible to be a seated delegate at the General Conference.
Does full ratification mean 3/4 of the Conferences or 3/4 of all votes cast around the world on this matter?
Full ratification comes with 2/3 of all votes cast around the world on this matter.
If paragraph 2553 is not renewed, how is it just to withhold the same opportunity to disaffiliate from them as we have had in the US?
There are several petitions before the 2024 General Conference to allow African churches to disaffiliate.
Is the proposal to change the Book of Discipline to make UMC churches inclusive to all LGBTQIA people? The ability to marry in the church? The ability for pastors to be openly LGBTQIA?
In theory, local churches in the UMC should be inclusive of LGBTQ+ persons now, with restrictions around marriage and ordination. Changes in the Book of Discipline could open the door for same-gender weddings in UMC churches and the creation of provisions to ordain LGBTQ+ clergy in the UMC.
Can we see any draft plain language changes to the Book of Discipline?
Unfortunately, no. There are over 1500 pages of petitions that delegates will consider related to changes in the Book of Discipline, with many subjects having multiple petitions and perspectives.
How many churches disaffiliated in our district (Nova District)?
Three United Methodist Churches disaffiliated from the Northern Virginia District.
What is left to decide at the Virginia Annual Conference after the General Conference?
If regionalization or any other legislation requiring constitutional amendments passes, Virginia will join every other Annual Conference to vote around those amendments and whether members support them. In the future, Virginia will need to hold elections for delegates to future sessions of the General Conference.
What can a local church member do to prepare for the General Conference in a ``purple`` (or ``red`` or ``blue``) church?
All United Methodists should be rooted deeply in prayer and spiritual disciplines leading up to the General Conference. Stay informed through your local church. The Annual Conference has several helpful resources. Remember that the call of the Gospel is to love God and love your neighbor, even if you have moments of disagreement with any of those parties.
Speakers
- Alison Malloy, Church Council Lay Leader and VA Delegate to General Conference
- Rev. Gina Anderson-Cloud, Floris UMC/Restoration Lead Pastor
Speakers
- Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, Resident Bishop, Virginia Annual Conference
- Rev. Dr. Mark Holland, Director of Mainstream UMC
- Martha Stokes, Virginia Conference Lay Leader
- Rev. Gina Anderson-Cloud, Floris UMC/Restoration Lead Pastor
