General Conference 2024 Legislative Priorities

Reconciling Ministries Network envisions a transformed Church that ensures justice, equity, and dignity for all of God’s children in their diverse intersecting identities (RMN’s vision statement). To that end, RMN supports the passage of legislation and resolutions that make possible this vision of a Church for all of God’s beloved children.

Removal of the Discriminatory Language

For the sake of LGBTQ+ people, who are created with love in the image of God: removal of the discriminatory language would initiate a long path of reconciliation. The United Methodist Church is hostile toward LGBTQ+ people, demonstrated by our denomination’s explicit policies. Exclusion of LGBTQ+ people from the full life and leadership of the Church has impoverished our ministry and fellowship, and it attempts to stanch the flow of God’s grace.

Therefore, RMN supports the complete removal of all prohibitions against the full participation of LGBTQ+ United Methodists in the life and leadership of the Church.

Revised Social Principles

RMN also supports the adoption of the Revised Social Principles as written by Church & Society. This revision was created by and for the global Church in a process of deep collaboration. It is therefore a faithful representation of the values for which we strive today. Across the connection, United Methodists have experienced fifty years of social progress and scientific discovery. Therefore, as we ground ourselves in timeless Christian principles, we commit ourselves to Wesleyan ministry updated for our global context. 

RMN believes in the inherent and equal worth of people of all races, languages, ethnicities, nationalities, tribes, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, disabilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The Revised Social Principles address the most pressing concerns of our day.

The Church has the obligation and opportunity of prophetic witness. Therefore, the Social Principles to which we uphold ourselves must reflect the social issues we experience today.

Regionalization

In addition, RMN supports legislation for worldwide regionalization for the sake of a more globally equitable Church and world. The current Church claims regional equity and connectionalism but is built upon U.S.-based, white-majority dominance. The Church’s geographic inequity cannot be untangled from the racism built into its foundation.

Because the American Church currently wields an outsized influence on the denomination, true connectionalism cannot occur until regions of the Church possess equal access to self-determination. Worldwide regionalization would require a radical restructuring of the UMC, but such a transformation is needed in the pursuit of a radically Christ-like Church.

While the General Conference can initiate the process of worldwide regionalization, the UMC’s transformation requires the vital partnership of local church members. Passage of regionalization legislation by the General Conference must be followed by annual conference ratification in order to take effect. 

Each of us has a role to play in the co-creation of a Church that testifies to the inclusive and revolutionary love of God.