Legislation, legislation, and more legislation

Guten Tag!

Well, I found out this morning the results of last night´s vote. Of the legislation allowing pastors to marry same-sex couples in states/countries where it is legal and the legislation changing the necessary paragraphs in the Book of Discipline to apply the previous legislation, neither passed. Both were at a vote of about 50/50, and we require a 2/3 majority to pass a piece of legislation. A final legislation calling for removing same-sex marriage as a chargeable offense for clergy was declared out of order.

This morning in the worship service, my roommate from the Philippines was the preacher. She was wonderful and I can´t wait to have the chance to tell her so. Her speaking of unity was perfect after the terrible discussion that went on last night. I was not there last night, but I have heard all day how heated and even inappropriately heated it got last night. Maybe it is a good thing that I could not go, because I might have left upset. Many things this weekend have been based around the idea of unity, and today was no exception. We all have unity under God, we are one body, and it is wonderful to have this connection. Our moniter for this morning´s legislation session will be speaking in German, so I look forward to the experience.

Today is a full day of legislation, and I will do my best to keep a record of the results and report them to you. I assume that you can read the actual legislation on the GYPC websit. If you don´t care about the legislation, just skip down.

This morning we barely passed legislation written by Pastor Chris to add a resolution to the Book of Resolutions that churches should support feasible alternatives to abortion (with one amendment). I did actually speak to this one, explaining some of what it meant and speaking in favor of the legislation. A second legislation by Renee is to add a line to the Social Principles saying that we mourn high abortion rates and commit to lower them. It did not pass, barely.

This afternoon, we continued. Thi next legislation affirming efforts to lower abortion and increase services, also by Renee, passed with some ammendments. Legislation calling to affirm the statement by a majority report on Human Sexuality from General Conference 2008 passed. A petition against homosexuality and alcoholism, which has very abrasive language but was rewritten from the original language, which was hateful, was declared out of order.

Affirmation of the Resolution against Extrajudicial killing in the Philippines: passed
A Call for Education and Understanding about the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, by Chris: did not pass
Mandating Civility at General Conference: sent to General Conference rules committee
Getting all the facts before making decisions: did not pass
Supporting a fully global church leadership during general conference: passed
consideration of the schedules of young peoplein planning dates of boards and agencies: passed
DMYP Leadershi development funding: referred to GBOD
DMYP Youth membership, adjusting adult membership: passed
DMYP youth membership, adjusting young person membership: referred to Division on Ministries with Young People
percentage on general agencies and boards: referred to DMYP
central conference youth and young adult membership to general boards and agencies of the UMC: referred to DMYP
resolution in support of major changes in the approach to the young adult missionary programs of the General Board of Global Ministries of the UMC: referred to DMYP

Anything that passed here will go directly to General Conference. Interestingly, about halfway through our total slate of legislation, people started calling the question immediately. We made it through about 5 legislation that way, then somebody complained, our pace significantly slowed, and the last three pieces of legislation were referred to DMYP so they wouldn´t become dead legislation.

--Monday Morning--
Well, last night, we had a cultural celebration, where people brought presentations from their cultures. It was awesome. THen we had a worship service that didn´t end until 12:30. As much as I like to sing and worship and even listen to sermons, once the midnight mark passed, I was ready to collapse. It was a lot of fun though, and the Bishop of Wisconsin was anything but boring.

This morning we checked into our hostel. The internet for some reason isn´t working on my computer, so I am on a German computer. Apparently the y and z on their keyboard is switched from ours, so if there were any typos, that explains it. See you all soon!