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We\u2019ve had a fascinating day.<\/p>\n
After what looked like a lot of deliberate slowing of the procedures in the first session, the Judicial Council delivered their report.<\/p>\n
A summary: they found substantive portions of the Traditional Plan unconstitutional\u00a0and\/or illegal.<\/strong><\/p>\n After that pronouncement, The Rev. Tom Berlin gave an appeal to replace the punitive and gay-unfriendly Traditional Plan with the One Church Plan that gives space for clergy, churches, Bishops, districts and Annual Conferences to follow their conscience. This led to a solemn moment of prayer and then the vote.<\/p>\n The delegates had to decide to keep working on the constitutionally-impaired Traditional Plan (which will surely be thrown out after the Conference) and leave the church smeared with the name \u201canti-gay\u201d in public perception or give space and freedom of conscience with the One Church Plan.<\/p>\n I admit to sweaty palms and my hands were shaking.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, and in the meantime, I can sleep around and watch pornography and grab power and demean other people and no one will EVER accuse me of doing things that are not consistent with Christian practice.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, the Traditional Plan was voted to stay alive and on the floor. Once more, the One Church Plan was voted down.<\/p>\n I have been predicting this outcome, effectively a take-over of the UMC by the far right, for some time. Doesn\u2019t keep me from grieving, groaning inside, hoping the Holy Spirit can find words to intercede for me because I can\u2019t pray right now.<\/p>\n But the \u201csure they are righteous\u201d have, at least momentarily, prevailed. The future of UMC appears to be firmly in their hands, nearly completely. I can guess at some of the fallout from this and know it won\u2019t be pretty. In other words, prepare \u201cPrepare for the implosion.\u201d<\/p>\n Let\u2019s think about the dynamics of the UMC here. A large percentage of the US church is either centrist or progressive. The US church covers the vast majority of the worldwide budget of the church, perhaps 98% of it. Ponder that.<\/p>\n The African \u201cInterpret the Bible MY way\u201d\/\u201dSouthern Baptists in United Methodist Clothing\u201d coalition comprise about 55% of the worldwide church but are perhaps, maybe, a generous 25% of the budget. Let\u2019s assume that the rest of us no longer want to be controlled by the Southern Baptists in UMC clothing\u201d and the \u201cInterpret the Bible MY way\u201d African coalition and say, \u201cOK, it\u2019s all yours. Name, insignia, structure. Bye, Bye.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, first, the General Boards and Agencies will be decimated because the \u201cSB\u2019s in UMC clothing\/Bible my way African\u201d coalition has no interest in that kind of connectional work. Furthermore, Wespath has already made it clear in their report that, should the Traditional Plan pass, it will cause havoc with our shared pension system. Our retired clergy, many of whom live with sparse means already, will suffer greatly.<\/p>\n The rest of the US church will form a new denomination, and accept the ordinations of the formerly United Methodist Clergy. That\u2019s always a possibility.<\/p>\n BUT, things are getting interesting on the floor. Late this morning, a delegate asked for an amendment to petition number 90032,<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how Petition number 90032, written by the (apparently) gay-fearing Tom Lambrecht, reads now:<\/p>\n \u201cSelf-avowed practicing homosexual\u201d is understood to mean that a person openly acknowledges to a bishop, district superintendent, district committee of ordained ministry, Board of Ordained Ministry, or clergy session that the person is a practicing homosexual; or is living in a same-sex marriage, domestic partnership or civil union, or is a person who publicly states she or he is a practicing homosexual.\u201d [Should the person admit this, he\/she may not serve as ordained clergy in the wider reading of the whole plan<\/em>.]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The delegate wanted to amend that petition with this addition:<\/p>\n \u201cAND is either living in an adulterous\u00a0relationship, a polyamorous relationship or in any deviation from the civil definition of marriage.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Personally, I think they should add as well \u201cand ever uses pornography and was not a virgin on his\/her wedding night and has ever spilled his sperm anywhere except in a vagina.\u201d But, that\u2019s just my opinion.<\/p>\n
\nThe Crucial Vote<\/h2>\n
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And the delegates spoke: \u201cGays, get out.\u201d Well, not true. It\u2019s \u201cGays, we love you, but you are not in conformance with the Bible. I, ever so holy, get to judge you that you are just not quite good enough. Clean up your act and the doors will swing wide open.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe dynamics of the takeover<\/h2>\n
\nMore interesting things on the floor: hypocrisy exposed<\/h2>\n
![\"hypocrisy](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/667\/2019\/02\/hypocrisy-exposed-300x178.jpg\")
Anyway, the final vote: A \u201cno thanks\u201d\u00a0hypocrisy exposed vote<\/strong>. Other\u2019s people\u2019s sexual activities are wrong, but I get to keep mine.<\/p>\n