Bishop Farr Provides General Conference Update
Disaffiliation Ends, Regionalization Moves Forward
New Clergy Retirement Plan Approved
General Conference Reduces Requested Giving
Missouri and Mozambique Break Bread Together
Full Communion with Episcopalians Gets Closer
Bishop Farr Provides General Conference Update
Missouri Bishop Bob Farr posted a video update this afternoon from General Conference regarding actions taken at the session today. View the video at https://vimeo.com/941779287/7feb6e5f5a?share=copy.
Disaffiliation Ends, Regionalization Moves Forward
The United Methodist Church’s focus on disaffiliation has come to an end and a new push for regionalization is just beginning. General Conference delegates supported the end of a disaffiliation policy added by the special 2019 General Conference and used by more than 7,600 U.S. churches to leave the denomination. Delegates also adopted the last of the regionalization petitions aimed at giving church regions equal standing in decision-making. Read the United Methodist News Service story at https://www.umnews.org/en/news/disaffiliation-ends-regionalization-moves-forward.
New Clergy Retirement Plan Approved
General Conference delegates have supported the request by Wespath, The United Methodist Church’s pension and benefits agency, to move to a defined contribution retirement plan for U.S. clergy. Wespath leaders said the denomination’s steady numerical decline over many years required a new, sustainable approach to supporting retired clergy. Sam Hodges has the story. Read the UMNS story at https://www.umnews.org/en/news/new-clergy-retirement-plan-approved.
General Conference Reduces Requested Giving
After vigorous debate, delegates voted to reduce the base rate for The United Methodist Church’s apportionment formula — a key component used in calculating requested annual conference apportionments. Ultimately, delegates voted to reduce the base to 2.6% for 2025 and 2026. Read the story at https://www.umnews.org/en/news/general-conference-reduces-requested-giving.
Missouri and Mozambique Break Bread Together
On Tuesday evening following adjournment of the day’s General Conference session the Missouri delegation hosted the Mozambique delegation for dinner.
Full Communion with Episcopalians Gets Closer
The United Methodist Church approved full communion with the Episcopal Church on April 30. The agreement needs the approval of the Episcopalians before taking effect. The vote came as General Conference celebrated Ecumenical Day, with the Rev. Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, delivering a sermon centered on Christian unity. Read the story at https://www.umnews.org/en/news/full-communion-with-episcopalians-gets-closer.
