The United Methodist Church
The Protocol/Postponement of the 2022 UMC General Conference
The Commission on the General Conference announced on November 4, 2022 that the 2024 UMC General Conference will be held April 23-May 3, 2024 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC. The 2020 and rescheduled 2021 and 2022 UMC General Conferences were postponed due to pandemic and government related obstacles. Postponement of the General Conference has delayed the UMC's decision on the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation.
There are several items you can read/view for more info:
- A pastoral response from Bishop Ken Carter concerning the lawsuit brought against Western North Carolina Conference
- The full announcement from the Commission on the General Conference
- A pastoral response from our Western North Carolina Conference Resident Bishop Ken Carter
- A statement from Council of Bishops President Cynthia Fierro Harvey
- A vision of the future for United Methodists in Western North Carolina from our General and Jurisdictional conference delegates.
- Our Resident Bishop, Ken Carter and Assistant to the Bishop, Rev. Amy Coles provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
- Bishop Ken Carter's message on Living in Connection in a Season of Waiting.
- Q&A from Ask The UMC: Is The United Methodist Church Really...?
Please click on the Adam Hamilton articles:
The Intellectual Evangelicalism of United Methodism
The Gracious Orthodoxy of United Methodism
A Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation
The global United Methodist Church (UMC) has struggled with the issues of human sexuality and gender identity over the last nearly 50 years. Fundamental differences regarding the UMC and its member's understanding/interpretation of Scripture, theology and practice concerning same gender marriage and ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy have continued following ruling of the 2019 Special Session/UMC General Conference. Since the ruling, several groups of UMC members representing each of these constituencies formed and have developed new plans for consideration at the next UMC General Conference.
One of the groups led by Bishop John Yambasu of the Africa Central Conference was uniquie in that it was comprised of 5 persons representing progressives, centrists and traditionalists with the goal of reaching a gracious and dignified resolution of this impasse. The plan was introduced to the UMC in January 2020 and is called A Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation. This proposal is known simply as The Protocol.
Rev. Tom Berlin, Floris UMC, Herndon, VA/ video summary of The Protocol:
Links to additional information concerning The Protocol
-Council of Bishops press release of January 3, 2020
-Statement from our Bishop Paul Leeland, WNCC, January 3, 2020
-A Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation
-The Protocol FAQs
Also helpful background on development and provisions of The Protocol:
-UMC News livestream panel discussion with developers of The Protocol
Please join in this prayer written by Pastor Chuck for the 2022 General Conference.
Our Path Forward Information Sessions & MUMC FAQs
Information Sessions concerning the Protocol/Postponement of the 2022 UMC General Conference and the UMC/MUMC Path Forward were held at MUMC in 2022.
Our Path Forward Session 1: April 4, 2022- Watch here & view information packet here.
Our Path Forward Session 2 with Rev. Amy Coles: June 5, 2022 - Watch here and info packet here.
Our Path Forward Session 3 with Rev. Kim Ingram: August 28, 2022 - Watch here, view PowerPoint presentation here and info packet here.
Matthews UMC Frequently Asked Questions - updated 6/30/22 to include questions from our June 5 Our Path Forward Session & other recent info from The UMC.
Updated Statement from Church Leadership 5/25/22
See Past Resources & Matthews UMC Healthy Conversation Sessions.
Refer to The United Methodist Church website for complete/current information.
Please contact the Church Office with any questions at 704-847-6261.
