Thousands of United Methodists have gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina for the General Conference, which was delayed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 11-day conference will run from April 23 to May 3, with voting delegates representing regional church bodies making key decisions. General Conference is the only entity that can speak for the entire denomination and amends church law and the Social Principles. This year’s conference is significant as it is the first since 7,600 conservative congregations left the church due to disagreements over LGBTQ issues.
One of the main issues to be addressed at the General Conference is whether to lift bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy. With a shift towards more progressive delegates and the departure of many conservatives, supporters of removing these bans are optimistic about the outcome. Other key issues include disaffiliations, regionalization, and budget proposals due to the significant number of congregations that have left the denomination in recent years. The conference kicked off with a call for unity and rebuilding the church in the face of recent divisions.
There are 862 official voting delegates at the General Conference, with the majority coming from the U.S., followed by Africa, the Philippines, Europe, and concordant churches. However, not all delegates are able to attend, with about a quarter of international delegates facing issues obtaining visas or other obstacles. Some African groups have criticized denominational officials for delays and lack of information, raising questions about accepting voting results from the conference. Congregations are preparing for the conference with a focus on repealing LGBTQ bans and making meaningful changes.
United Methodists are part of a worldwide family of Methodist groups following the teachings of John Wesley. They emphasize evangelism, holy living, and social service, with beliefs in line with other Christian denominations. United Methodists traditionally range from liberal to conservative and were the third largest U.S. denomination until recent declines due to disagreements over LGBTQ issues. There are currently 5.4 million United Methodists in the United States and 4.6 million in Africa, Asia, and Europe, reflecting recent changes within the denomination.
