Petitions from UNY individuals were not adopted at General Conference

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5/4/2012

Among the more than 1,100 petitions that were submitted to the 2012 General Conference of The United Methodist Church, were four from the Upper New York Annual Conference (UNYAC).

The items covered a range of issues – from allowing churches to conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies and retaining the language in ¶2702 of the Book of Discipline regarding charges brought against clergy to the workings of the Staff Parish Relations Committees and a request that schools of theology include a course on older adult ministries.

None of the petitions was adopted; these petitions did not move beyond their respective committees.

Here are details of the legislation and the action taken:

  • Petition 21052-JA to retain the language in the Book of Discipline ¶2702 regarding chargeable offences, was submitted by David Ring of Endicott, Union Center UMC Administrative Council.

The petition went before the Judicial Administration Committee.
Committee motion: reject in favor of another similar petition.
On April 27, 41 voted for, 4 against and 3 did not vote.

  • Petition 20999-MH that would allow clergy to perform same sex marriages and allow those marriages to be performed in United Methodist churches was submitted by Rick Dorman of Cincinnatus.

¶341.6 Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.

The petition went before the Ministry and Higher Education Committee.
Committee motion: Reject in favor of another similar petition.
On April 27, 63 voted for, 10 against and 12 did not vote.

  • Petition 20777-MH asking for a seminary course on aging and older adult ministry be offered by United Methodist-approved schools of theology was submitted by Winona Stonebraker of the UNYAC Older Adult Ministry Team.

Recognizing the growing older adult population, United Methodist-approved Schools of Theology will include at least one course, by 2016, related to aging issues and older adult ministry.

The petition was not considered by the Ministry and Higher Education Committee.

  • Petition 20778-LC regarding the Staff Parish Relations Committees (¶258.2) was submitted by Julius A. Archibald of Plattsburgh (who was also a delegate from the UNYAC).

The petition went before the Local Church Committee.
The petition was not supported.
On April 26, 59 voted for, 2 against and 1 did not vote.