Dear United Methodists of the Susquehanna Conference,
May grace and peace from Christ be with you.
First, I want to thank all the clergy and laity who attended one of the C3 Tour gatherings held in every district on October 13-17. The C3 Tour offered an invaluable opportunity to connect, converse, and commune as we begin journeying together in this new season of ministry. The joy, excitement, and apparent hope I experienced as I traveled around the conference filled my heart and energized me for the work ahead. In the coming weeks and months, I will share more about what I learned during the C3 Tour and reflect on the emerging priorities as I continue conversing with clergy, laity, and conference leadership.
Today, I write to you to clarify some information, share an important update, and share some reflections about some of the important changes approved by the postponed 2020 General Conference of the United Methodist Church, which was held in the spring in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Removal of the Exclusionary Language against LGBTQ Persons in our BOD
The General Conference removed the exclusionary language against LGBTQ persons inserted in our Book of Discipline 52 years ago - 93% of the delegates supported this decision.
While the General Conference eliminated the restrictive language in our Book of Discipline against LGBTQ persons, it also passed legislation that prevents district superintendents and bishops from penalizing pastors and churches that refuse to perform or allow a same-gender wedding on their property.
Let me be very clear, despite the inaccurate information that continues to be irresponsibly shared by leaders of the GMC and other individuals to create confusion and further disrupt our ministries, NO clergy in the Susquehanna Conference will be forced to perform same-gender weddings. NO congregation in the Susquehanna Conference will be required to permit same-gender weddings on their premises. General Conference entrusted clergy and congregations to make these decisions gracefully, considering their ministry context based on their beliefs and attitudes regarding ministry with and by LGBTQ persons. The cabinet and I will continue to make pastoral appointments and assignments based on gifts, graces, experience, commitments, and theological alignment between congregations and clergy.
These changes, coupled with the approval of regionalization, are a bold witness to the desire of
United Methodists to be united in Christ’s love and mission, gracefully acknowledging our disagreements and different ministry contexts.
Back in the summer, the NEJ College of Bishops commissioned a team, including representatives from our Conference, to develop a resource to help clergy and congregations make these decisions in a spirit of Holy Conferencing. The team is on track to complete its work by November 15. In the coming weeks, I will share the resource and explain how to use it.
Disaffiliations
The delegates at the General Conference removed paragraph 2553 from our Book of Discipline, which was inserted in 2019, to provide a temporary path for congregations to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church through December 31, 2023. As many as 25% of United Methodist congregations chose this path.
Before the General Conference, the Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church ruled that paragraph 2548 should not be used for disaffiliations and clarified that paragraph 2549 is for a church closure and how to handle the property.
This past Saturday, October 26, the Judicial Council published two decisions on recent questions about changes made to 2549 by delegates at the General Conference and the continued use of 2549 for disaffiliations post-General Conference.
- Decision 1507 - the Judicial Council ruled that paragraph 2549.2(b), as amended and adding paragraph 2549.3 as a new paragraph, is unconstitutional because it denies and circumvents the authority given to the Charge Conference by the Book of Discipline.
- Decision 1512 - the Judicial Council confirmed that with the end and deletion of paragraph 2553, the General Conference removed from the Book of Discipline the only pathway for the disaffiliation of local churches. They also clarified that except for the General Conference, nobody or entity in the Church can reinstate or replicate paragraph 2553 or adopt legislation, policies, guidelines, rules, or regulations authorizing the departure of local churches. Any such action, plan, or attempt to do so intrudes upon the exclusive prerogative of the General Conference and is unconstitutional, null, and void. Further, the JC ruled that paragraph 2549 cannot be construed or used as legislation allowing the exit of local churches because it applies to church closure and the sale of property, not disaffiliation.
Therefore, disaffiliation is no longer a path for leaving the denomination.
Moving Forward
As we continue moving forward in this new season of ministry, the Susquehanna cabinet and I will continue,
- Promoting a vision of Christ-centered missional unity that transcends our disagreements.
- Seeing and welcoming all people and inviting them to experience Christ’s healing and liberating love.
- Celebrating our rich diversity as a precious gift from God.
- Acknowledging SUS leaders’ and congregations’ theological beliefs around ministry with and by LGBTQ persons and
- Equipping and resourcing leaders and congregations to thrive in ministry.
Whether you identify as a conservative, centrist, or progressive, be assured that you are loved and valued and that there will always be a place for you in the United Methodist Church and the Susquehanna Conference—we and the mission are better and stronger TOGETHER!
United Methodists are moving forward as a diverse worldwide Christian community that welcomes people from all walks of life. Our faith and hope are anchored in Jesus Christ. Led by the Holy Spirit, our journey of faith and mission is grounded in Scripture and guided by our doctrine, polity, and social principles. We celebrate our rich diversity as a gift from God. Although we may not always agree on certain specific issues, we are joyfully united in our love for Christ and our shared mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
In this new season, I encourage us to embrace God’s invitation to live the gospel, be God’s love with all our neighbors, and continue building the beloved community of the Risen Christ - all for God's glory.
Paz,
Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez
Serving the Susquehanna & Upper New York Area
The United Methodist Church