In less than two weeks, the 2019 Special General Conference will be meeting in St. Louis (Feb. 23-26) to receive the recommendations from the Commission on the Way Forward concerning the church’s stance and therefore the church’s policies concerning sexual orientation as it relates to marriage in United Methodist churches and to the ordination and licensing of individuals for clergy status in the UMC.  Not only will the General Conference be receiving proposals from the Commission, but they will also be receiving proposals and motions from others and will also receive proposed amendments along the way.

Someone asked me the other day what I thought the outcome of the General Conference would be.

The simple answer is that I have no idea what will ultimately be approved or whether nothing will be approved and the status quo will stand.  I suspect that none of the proposed plans will pass without amendments of some form. And the truth is that whatever is decided …

Some will be happy and others not …

Some churches and individuals will likely sever ties with The United Methodist Church …

But I also know that God is still in control and this is God’s church.

The Church will never cease to exist.  It may not look the same, but Jesus says “the gates of hell will not prevail.”  After all, the church is the body of Christ and Christ is alive and well.

In the meantime, continue to be in prayer …

For the delegates as they deliberate and seek to discern God’s will…

For The United Methodist Church as we navigate God’s Way Forward after General Conference…

For First Wayne Street United Methodist Church as we continue in our mission to make disciples.

It’s all about God’s Way!