News and Views

In the play, The Wiz, an adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy is working hard to find her way home. When she and her companions reach Emerald City, they find the Wiz, only to learn that he will not help them unless they kill The Wicked Witch of the West. Evillene proves a formidable opponent, but Dorothy is finally able to find Evillene’s weakness and prevails. As everyone is released from Evillene’s wicked spells, they begin to sing the song, “A Brand New Day.” The chorus resounds with the words, “Can’t you feel a brand-new day? Can’t you feel a brand-new day?”

That is exactly what the postponed session of the 2020 General Conference feels like -- a brand-new day.

Even the Council of Bishops meeting, which preceded the General Conference, had a different feel, empowered by a fresh wind of the Spirit. That ethos remained as Bishop Thomas Bickerton gaveled us into the postponed session of the 2020 General Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Many noted that a spirit of cooperation and collaboration was present from the passing of The Rules of Organization, to supporting the first piece of significant legislation, Regionalization, to approving significant portions of the revised Social Principles. Every delegate or observer I have spoken with has felt an openness that was not present during previous sessions of General Conference. Delegations are engaging in deep conversations over meals, listening to one another rather than remaining siloed or arguing along partisan lines. It is being reported that during legislative sessions, participants are asking questions out of curiosity, rather than pronouncing judgments. While only one week has transpired and we have a long way to go, this is a very hopeful sign. It really does feel like a brand-new day. 

I was privileged to preach during Thursdays in Black, a service held on Thursday, April 25, to recognize and support survivors of intimate partner abuse and rape, both male and female. The response has been overwhelming. There are so many survivors in our midst, those who were abused outside of the church, and those who are victims of egregious harm within the church.

There is no question that an opportunity exists for the church to break the silence on abuse and offer acknowledgment, hope, and healing to survivors. It simply isn’t enough that we offer prayers, for as theologian and scholar Miroslav Volf teaches, “There is something deeply hypocritical about praying for a problem you are unwilling to resolve.” We need to confront the systems and abusers that cause the harm and demand that all those in authority take greater responsibility to provide justice and safety.

I was also invited to preach at First United Methodist Church of Asheboro, NC. This is a Lighthouse Congregation and part of a newly formed cooperative parish, bringing five congregations together to engage in transformative mission and ministry to the poor and marginalized. It was a powerful worship experience.

The delegates have roundly supported the legislation concerning Regionalization. However, it must be ratified across the connection before it becomes effective. As it would change our Constitution, it must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of central and jurisdictional conferences. Regionalization would decenter the United States’s influence and dominance in the denomination and create equity across the worldwide connection. This reorganization would allow for more contextualization and autonomy in each geographic region.

We also received a report on the budget from Moses Kumar, the General Secretary and Treasurer for the General Council on Finance and Administration -- “GCFA.” The crux of the report established that we are operating from a position of strength, and we have sufficient resources to support the mission and ministry we are called to do throughout the world.

While disaffiliated churches did have an effect on the budget, their departure has not decimated our finances and we are fiscally sound. Most notably, the local church will not see a dramatic increase in apportionments or mission shares. This is tremendous news as we move toward annual conference and establishing our budget for the next conference year.

The week of April 28 is the final week of General Conference, and will determine where we stand on the revision of our Social Principles, full inclusion, removal of restrictive language from the Book of Discipline, and the number of active bishops that will lead us during the next quadrennium. The legislative committee work has concluded and delegates will now perfect the legislation and cast their votes. This is often where tensions rise and progress is slowed. Yet, I remain hopeful that the spirit hovering over the first two weeks of our meeting will remain.

 I believe we are experiencing a brand-new day. May it be so.

Blessings and peace,

Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling
Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences
The United Methodist Church