April 23, 2024
By Rev. Dr. Scott Fiel
The long-delayed United Methodist General Conference is underway. Unfortunately, some participants spent time last week throwing dust in the air to misinform, malign, and misdirect. Allegations and inferences were made that the WCA, and our advocacy partner Good News, have been involved in a) fraudulently altering documents of the Dakotas Annual Conference, b) working from a sinister secret playbook to destroy the UMC, and c) “reveling in delight at one last chance to jab the UMC.” That last one came from the President of the UM Council of Bishops. All of these have, as Tennessee Williams wrote, “the odor of mendacity.” 
My daughter would roll her eyes and say, “They should take it down three clicks.”
We have neither the interest, influence, nor time for political shenanigans. We’re interested in moving on. And so, I think, are many of the General Conference delegates. No need for throwing dust in the air. It only confuses the situation.
One thing is undeniably clear, however.
UM News Service reports that Africa will likely be substantially underrepresented in Charlotte. Our friends at MainstreamUMC conclude, surprisingly, that despite the disenfranchisement of African delegates, “the show must go on.” I can’t imagine any of us responding to voter disenfranchisement in Georgia or Alabama, for example, by saying something like, “Well, that’s too bad. I’m sure the election officials did their best. Besides, the show must go on.” They suggest that this situation will be remedied by the delegates who are actually seated being “thoughtful.” Weak.
Okay, so what is the “one thing”?
We will be present and advocating for the General Conference to extend to African United Methodist congregations the same freedom and agency that was available exclusively to United Methodist congregations in the USA until the end of 2023. Denying the freedom of choice to African United Methodist congregations as well as dismissing the underrepresentation of African delegates with “the show must go on” will forever overshadow the 2020/2024 General Conference with the cloud of injustice. I believe that most General Conference delegates understand this.
While planning to approve the Three R’s, the General Conference can also put the wrong right by authorizing a disaffiliation pathway for African United Methodist congregations and conferences that, after prayerful discernment, seek to separate from the UMC. This would not just be “thoughtful”; it would be just. That’s the “one thing” that allows for everyone to end up where they desire to be.
We won’t speak on behalf of African delegates. They speak for themselves. Last week the Africa Initiative released its statement from nearly 150 African General Conference delegates, some of whom will have made it to Charlotte. No doubt, the show will go on. If you are a General Conference delegate, you might want to thoughtfully consider what these underrepresented voices have to say. And, we pray, to vote in support their appeal. CLICK HERE for their press release.
Here’s more information on WCA’s Fair for Some Fair for All initiative.
And, again, our deep appreciation for the generous support of so many who desire to see this wrong put right.