Mercy. Where do I begin? This has been quite a day, one that we anticipated – and if we’re honest, dreaded – from the time we were selected for this responsibility at General Conference. I’ll start with the “easy” stuff.

We heard a wonderful presentation on the development of Africa University where over 2,500 students have been educated over the past 16 years. With the annual inflation rate over 200,000% (you read that correctly), the school has remained debt-free and continues to provide quality education for students, 49% of whom are women. That is a remarkable story.

A Social Litany (companion to the Social Creed written in 1908) was approved without the Trinitarian language as some requested. Let me know what you think of it as it becomes available.

From now on, we need to say that we will “uphold the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness.” Not bad, in my opinion.

The major decisions today centered on the positions of the UMC re homosexuality. From the first day of our arrival at the convention center, scores of persons wearing rainbow-colored scarves were passing out literature and candy, displaying banners, and holding pictures of their children. Some of these persons are part of SOULFORCE, a Gay Rights activist group. Others are UMC members and pastors who see this as a justice issue. Still others are parents and friends of gays and lesbians.

Here are today's decisions of the GC in brief:

· the prohibition of civil unions/marriages between gay persons in UM churches and conducted by UM pastors was upheld.
· after almost 3 hours of debate, the minority report re “Human Sexuality” which mirrors the current language of the Discipline that “homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” was adopted by 55% - 45%.
· the GC rejected a petition to make church membership more inclusive by 12 votes. This motion would have required pastors and churches to receive into membership all who were willing to take vows. Without clear language, the Judicial Council ruled that pastors have the authority to discern who is ready to become official members of the church.
· a petition to remove exclusionary language re “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from applying for certification for ministry was rejected 63% - 37%.

I cannot describe how weary I am tonight after this emotionally exhausting day. After the votes began to show that the GC delegates were not going to change the UMC position on the matters related to homosexuality, supporters of gay/lesbian/transgender persons in the visitors’ section stood and sang “Jesus loves us” for about 30 minutes. No one felt “victorious” with these decisions. There are no “winners” and “losers” re this issue. I won’t try to re-hash all the arguments here, but simply point out as one delegate explained, we wonder why God has not made a clearer, easier path for UMs re this matter. Strange as it may seem, conflict and the Church have acquainted from Day One. For whatever reason, this issue (homosexuality/gay rights) is the challenge for our generation, so we must learn how to hold fast to the essentials on the one hand and respect opinions of those with whom we disagree on the other.

That’s enough for now. I think I’ll try to catch a few hours of sleep before we get back to the other 122 petitions we need to approve before Friday p.m. I’m pooped. Stay tuned.