The General Conference will be considering approximately 1,500 petitions which have been submitted by annual conferences, boards and agencies of the general church, or by individuals. To do that work, each delegate is assigned to a legislative section with a specific topic in the Discipline, such as “local church” or “church and society” or “finance and administration” or “ministry and higher education.” There are around 100 delegates per legislative section; most sections break down into sub-committees to manage the load of petitions it is assigned by the GC agenda folks.
Nuts and bolts. Details. Specifics.
Yes. And where most of the work gets done.
It is in the legislative sections that petitions are discussed and debated in-depth, and recommendations for action made. For example, in one of the church and society sections, there are 6 petitions which recommend that the church divest its assets from companies profiting from the occupation in Iraq. If the section recommends one or more of these petitions by a large margin, then it is likely (but not guaranteed) that the entire plenary will be supportive. If not, then there is floor debate……..just like in Congress. And the ultimate decision is written into the Book of Discipline for the next 4 years.
I’m sitting in on the Ministry and Higher Ed legislative section, which has the largest number of petitions to consider – everything from simplifying the ordination process to defining a pastor’s role in deciding on membership and other pastoral responsibilities.
Did I mention that the sections meet until 11 pm each night?
Nuts and bolts. Details. Specifics.
Yes. And where most of the work gets done.
It is in the legislative sections that petitions are discussed and debated in-depth, and recommendations for action made. For example, in one of the church and society sections, there are 6 petitions which recommend that the church divest its assets from companies profiting from the occupation in Iraq. If the section recommends one or more of these petitions by a large margin, then it is likely (but not guaranteed) that the entire plenary will be supportive. If not, then there is floor debate……..just like in Congress. And the ultimate decision is written into the Book of Discipline for the next 4 years.
I’m sitting in on the Ministry and Higher Ed legislative section, which has the largest number of petitions to consider – everything from simplifying the ordination process to defining a pastor’s role in deciding on membership and other pastoral responsibilities.
Did I mention that the sections meet until 11 pm each night?
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