From Bishop Park, on the Special Session of General Conference

Grace to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, Healer of our
Brokenness, and Hope of the World!
The General Conference is the highest legislative body in The United Methodist
Church and the only body that can legislate church law and speak officially for
the church. The special session of General Conference 2019 held in St. Louis
has ended. I am writing to share with you my heart and my understanding of
where our church is at this time.

Here is what we know of the decisions of General Conference 2019.

• The Traditional Plan passed by 54 votes. The vote was 438 (53%) in favor, 384
(47%) against.

• The Traditional Plan keeps the current language around homosexuality and
increases accountability by streamlining the processes to enforce penalties for
violations of The Book of Discipline related to marriage and ordination of
homosexual persons. Some parts of the Traditional Plan were ruled
unconstitutional and the entire plan was referred to the Judicial Council for
review to determine what parts are constitutional and what parts are not.

• A minority report was passed that would provide for an exit for churches that
choose not to stay in The United Methodist Church. That was also sent to the
Judicial Council.

• The Judicial Council, the highest court of the church, will meet April 23-26,
2019 to consider all these referrals. Thus, it will take some time to clarify
which parts will become part of our church law and which parts will not.

What happens between now and the decisions of the Judicial Council?

• The current 2016 Book of Discipline is in effect.

• Once the Judicial Council rules, only those parts determined as
constitutional will become effective January, 1, 2020.

This General Conference displayed that The United Methodist Church is a deeply
wounded and broken Church. In the midst of manifestation of hurt and division,
I give thanks for the witness of the Susquehanna Conference delegation that you
elected. All of them felt the enormity of making decisions on behalf of our
church. Filled with compassion and care for each other, they were
dedicated to the work you sent them to do. They served with diligence,
integrity and faith, led by the Spirit of Christ.

This is indeed a tumultuous time. While acknowledging that all are of sacred
worth deserving of and in need of the ministry of the church, The United
Methodist Church is in the midst of immense pain. No matter where you stand on
the question of inclusion of LGBTQ persons in the life and ministry of our
church, pain is so deep and real as both sides claim that their position was
made out of love for Jesus and the church. Pain will prolong. Knowing that this
question will not be resolved by legislation, it will continue and increase.

Knowing also that the intensity of pain is not equivalent among all, I want to
say to our gay and lesbian sisters and brothers and their families and friends
that your love for Jesus and the church is no less than anybody else. My heart
goes out to you and aches for the hurts and harms you have to live through. You
are of sacred worth to God. You are God’s beloved. I will do my best to offer
space of welcome and hospitality for you to worship, fellowship, and serve as
partners in the ministry and witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My prayers
will continue to be with you for the grace of assurance, strength,
perseverance, healing and wholeness.

The Council of Bishops and the Northeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops had
a time together respectively the day after the close of General Conference. As
you can imagine, the mood was heavier than any other time in my tenure as a
bishop. As we shared our pains and hurts over the brokenness of our church at
the college meeting, a bishop reminded us of Isaiah 43. When God’s people were
in the midst of drowning waters and fiery trials in exile, God’s words of
assurance came to them that they were God’s people known by name, that God was
their Savior, and that God loved them. And God called them to give attention to
a promise that God was doing a new thing by reminding them that God was making
a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
God is able.

As your Bishop, what I know and what I believe is:

• Those who have been hurt – God can heal.

• When the way feels the darkest – God will light the path and lead us to God’s
preferred future.

• While we cannot see beyond our hurt and division – God holds the future in
God’s hands as God loves and holds all God’s children in God’s loving arms.

At the Council meeting, Bishop Ken Carter, President of the Council shared with
us that, at least once a year, pastor should preach a, “I have a dream”
message. Our “Susquehanna Conference will embody the beloved community as
disciple making congregations.” God’s people, please keep this vision of our
conference alive as best as you can. Clergy and laity alike, please create as
many opportunities to share with one another your dream of the church in a most
inviting, winsome, honorable, humble, peaceful and loving way that would
reflect the Beloved Community of Christ for such a time as this.

My sisters and brothers, Ash Wednesday and Lent is but a few short days away.
As you know this season began as a time of fasting and preparation for baptism
for converts. It has evolved into a significant time of prayer and penance for
all Christians. This Lenten Season, all in the church have much to repent. Now
more than ever we need to be together as a faith community to reflect on
division and the hurts in the body of Christ by things we have done and things
undone. As we fall on knees with convicted humility, God will hear us and bring
new life to our spirits and to our beloved Church. Until the time of Easter and
Pentecost which follows, may we find our healing and hope in the possibility of
God’s future as we love each other more deeply and fully to embody the Beloved
Community of Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, Healer of our brokenness, and
Hope of the world.

Jeremiah Park