"Whereas we support the decision of the 2016
General Conference to empower the Council of Bishops in leading the United
Methodist Church beyond the current tensions rooted in our disagreements over
human sexuality; and
whereas we share the acknowledgment that
“our Discipline contains language that is contradictory, unnecessarily hurtful,
and inadequate for the variety of local, regional, and global contexts;” the
inadequacy of current language to address a wide diversity of ministry settings
is also clear in the North Texas Annual Conference and we are heart broken
for those who have been denied full access to the ministries of the
church; and
whereas the Council of Bishops is exploring
“options to help the church live in grace with one another—including ways to
avoid further complaints, trials and harm while we uphold the Discipline,” and
we pray that members of our Annual Conference will demonstrate a spirit of
compassion even when we are not of one mind;
therefore, be it resolved that until the Council
of Bishops Commission completes its work, members of the NTCUMC will
prayerfully and actively work toward a new reality in which space is given while
joining the bishops and upholding the discipline for a diversity of
theological reflection, preaching and practices surrounding ministry with
LGBTQ+ members of our congregations that is authentic to the call of
pastors, parishioners and their contexts for ministry as they do their
best to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."
This is the first legislative action ever taken by the North Texas Annual Conference regarding human sexuality and the resolution was adopted by standing vote with an overwhelming majority in support.
The amendment (the underlined text in the resolution) passed narrowly with a vote of 356-325.
The amendment (the underlined text in the resolution) passed narrowly with a vote of 356-325.
