 Hello, I hope we are all back and I think things are working. Am I correct? so I don't know how to tell people who haven't logged back in to log back in except if you have friends You know them you might want to text them if they log back in we can get so do we have this repaired? We think we may have this repaired somewhat The livestream is working so you might want to text those people or get in touch with those people who let you know That the live stream wasn't working and it is working and we assume that Everything else will happen. We're I'm still giving a little minute Rachel and Mike It's to make sure we can get everybody back on because I want everybody to be present for this This is I've been waiting all morning for this presentation. That's the literal truth I really was going to do this differently. I'll talk about it in a minute than why we're doing it Go ahead and begin you think Okay, I'm Rachel Bachman senior pastor at Oakland United Methodist Church, and I'm Mike Bachman I'm the pastor for Union coffee and we as Married couple are one of the probably few folks that get the stand at a microphone together at annual conference this year We share a lot not only a quarantine bubble. We share A child raising responsibilities that we share a bathroom and she was even kind enough to share You know a toothbrush with me last week when we I forgot to bring mine on a short little trip We share a lot together But we also share things together in ministry because we operate on the same corner Oakland and Cedar Springs in Dallas in ministry one of the things that we get to share together Sometimes is congregants Congregants who add particular beautiful aspects to both of our ministries And so today we get to honor one of those congregants Billy Jean Baker We're really excited to have the opportunity to share with you her story because she embodies so much of what is critical To evangelism John Wesley and the early Methodist movement were so clear in identifying that we can't feed the soul of somebody Until we make sure that their body has been fed as well And Billy Jean embodies that spirit of evangelism so closely. We're excited to share her story with y'all It is our great joy to celebrate Billy Jean Baker as she receives this award I help people because it's the right thing to do I've had a lot of help over the years myself And there's a lot of people that are just like me that don't know how to ask for help So if I go and offer it to them Then they're more comfortable and they're able to get the help they need And the reason why I do it is because I know it's the next right thing to do And that's what God tells us all to do is to do the next right thing and that makes him happy So in the end it'll make me happy Billy Jean finds ways to take care of people's spiritual and physical needs And that's what it means to be a Methodist I came to the church here and I was sleeping on the property And I thought well, I'm gonna sleep on the church property I like the church service anyways. I ought to attend church and For some reason the rest of the homeless community wanted to follow my lead and follow me through the doors It was a sunday morning in late december that Billy Jean came up to me between worship services and Said pastor. I want to talk to you about Maybe the possibility that I could come inside tonight. You know, I kept blankets and clean clothes and stuff So I stayed warm, but there was a lot of homeless out here on the streets They were freezing to death overnight because they didn't acquire the things that I had So I I was singing in the choir here and then going to church And the night before I had had on the saturday night. I had three of the homeless Seem me walking around and tell me well, I'm a member of this big old church Why don't I go and see if they'll open the doors and let them sleep inside? So the next morning at eight o'clock that morning When they opened the church doors, I went in and I grabbed River and Rachel's arm and I said come I need to talk to you. She said no, I need to go. I said no. No, this is important It's life and death one thing led to another and by the time we had our next service We announced that we would open for our very first shelter on that evening And we're able to rally folks to come and volunteer In that next service we had food and everything and the church doors were open for the first time and people slept right then sanctuary on the floor on the pews and It's gone on since That moment was groundbreaking for us here at oak one. It set the path for us to welcome people inside Not just on freezing nights and not just for shelter But also for a place of community and to experience What it is to be loved And so I'm so grateful for the witness of billy jean Not just in paving the way for us to open shelter but also for building connections and relationships With so many people who found themselves in very similar circumstances to her I believe that's my calling to to help the homeless folks and other people hear the word of god and You know just just be able to I stand up for those that can't stand up for themselves Because I have a loud voice and I have pink hair. So people are going to pay attention to me I didn't know we would end up with like a campus of union at the valencio apartments But in many ways that's what's happened because she brings our worship there Since we have the pandemic and most of your churches are not open and stuff I have a bluetooth speaker and union Does their church service? Live on facebook and I hook it up to my bluetooth speaker and I set it outside There's three little latino children. They can't go to church because of the pandemic right now So I play the church service for the union on sundays and tuesday night And they'll come outside and they like to misfit band and they like to hear god's word One of the little girls even brings her bible all the time And then I even have a lot of my other neighbors that'll come out on their porches and stuff because it's not a bluetooth speaker And they can hear it just so they can hear the word of god Billie jean has continued to be exactly that kind of evangelistic spirit That you pray that your congregants will be I'm really grateful for the ways that billy jean is in ministry the way that she's made union and oak lawn Better churches and more faithful to the calling that jesus puts upon our lives So billy jean, it's my pleasure to present to you the harry denman evangelism award And so I want to give this to you and a pen and the certificate And what I want to say to you is is this sort of the premier award for evangelism in the united methods church because harry denman is a person who never met a A stranger and was always witnessing to them about jesus and that is exactly what you've been doing This has been an inspiring video that we've seen and i want to thank you for your witness and what you do And i want to thank rachel and mike also for bringing uh billy jean and and uh helping her Find her own gifts and graces and to do the work and so we're grateful for you and your work with billy jean And the work that you do in your community and out and billy jean I only wish god made more people like you So bless you. Thank you This should been members of the annual conference. It's my honor to bring to you a report from the committee on nominations I first would like to thank the members of the conference nominating committee for their faithfulness and commitment to the work This was a quadrennial year, which means that we had well over 100 different positions to fill The members of this hard-working committee this year were our four district superintendents a layperson elected from each district from the east district becky keegan's Metro district eric markinson north central district leslie maynard northwest district trumanel maples Also, the vice chair and conference lay leader jeff buis Our conference lay leader elect kim brannon and I serve as our chair The nominations report may be found in full on pages 58 through 64 in your conference workbook The newly nominated positions and also bishops mckay's new appointments appear in bold in the report Since the report was published several weeks back in the conference workbook Two additions and two changes have come to light. I'd like to share those with you now First the two changes under the board of ordained ministry Please add jack sopher to the to the class of 2024 And also add pam liston to be nominated to serve as the conference chancellor The changes are both Related to campus ministries Under the texas a&m commerce wesley and campus ministry Please note that carol walker has stepped down from her chair position And will remain on the board and that mary brook kasad will has agreed to serve as the new chair And under the dentin wesley foundation kent carpenter Already a member of the board has agreed to serve as the new chair We're grateful for the people who responded to our request at last year's annual conference and completed a profile sheet Profile sheets convey to the committee people's areas of interest and serve as the first and primary resource for the committee's work Of the people who completed a profile sheet 63 percent were nominated and are included in the report before you today I do want to note as well that the committee went about their work with special attention To create a slate that would reflect the diversity of our mission fields and north texas conference The profile sheets not used this year will remain in our database and will be taken into consideration In the 2021 nominations process to submit a fresh profile sheet Or to submit one for the first time for the 2021 process Please go to the north texas conference website NTC umc.org forward slash ac hyphen nominations And you can complete one of those by mid january Bishop mckay. I present to you and the annual conference the 2020 nominations report for approval Okay, thank you. Andy lewis. We appreciate that jeff boos as the conference lady leader Thank you for serving as the vice chair of that committee as well and we appreciate the work So this is before you are there any other additional nominations? I see none so we are going to vote using the hand function If We got a poll for you. Oh, gotta excuse me have a poll yes or no And you can vote either at this at the time Thanks, it takes a village for bishop mckay. That's all i'm gonna say So if you would approve the committee on nominations report, will you Vote yes If you do not approve will you vote no You will vote now you have 30 seconds Don't move Uh Okay, so is a we're going to close the vote Right now we've discovered that people can't vote right now and the people can't vote on the panelists That's all of us are up here So I think we'll be okay at this time So it's unanimous it has passed 92 the others were unable or did not vote. Okay So That has been adopted. I want to thank the war for that. I do want to say take this just a moment for a personal word This is jeff boos's last act as the conference lay leader if you look at the nominations report You see that he's going to be serving on the board of orday ministry But jeff boos has been a just one of the privileges being the bishop in this conference is just to find lay leadership And I I want to take this time to thank jeff For the work he's done and we're around the table at a cabinet and he offers things. It's just It is just so insightful and very good And I said last night in a meeting a circle of extended cabinet before we came in here that One of the things that um just to know that every time we gather as cabinet We have a devotional to begin the day and every time that jeff brings the devotional it is is absolutely just so Formative even for our own spiritual journey and as many of you know jeff is a spiritual director In addition to his day job And his other non-paid job is the lay leader of the north texas conference And it's like it was always a little course and some church history that I may have forgotten Or didn't know and or any number of things about it. So jeff we're we're gonna miss you But we know that you're ever present in the north texas conference So I want to thank you and I'm like for everybody to thank jeff boos for his four years and three months as lay leader of the annual conference Jeff just a moment of privilege for myself I just wanted to say what an honor and a privilege It has been to serve with you bishop and the cabinet And the board of laity and all the members of this great north texas annual conference It's been a lot of work But it's also been a lot of fun and I am so grateful for the support of so many people Especially my family that have had to put up with a lot of long hours from me We have a very strong church. We have a strong conference and I just feel lucky and blessed To have been able to play some small part in the life of the church So thank you and I really look forward to the years ahead in this great conference. Thank you Thank you jeff. I wanted to introduce to you our new conference lay leader Kim brannon who's a member of university park united methods church And uh kim if you'd like to say something you may and so welcome. We're glad you're going to be with us Thank you bishop. Thank you so much. Um, I just want to say hello I want to introduce myself to everyone And I will come to know you and it's been it'll be my great privilege to do that It's my privilege also to be welcomed into this cabinet and to stand on the shoulders of those who have come before me Very grateful for that and very grateful for jeff who has really really taken me under his wing this past year I've learned a lot and um, we we share a lot of vision for this conference regarding lay leadership And it's my privilege to be here. Thank you very much Thank you kim and thank you jeff. We appreciate so very much We're going to continue the business of the annual conference tonight. I'm jody smith is uh next on the agenda She serves as our Connectional resources director. Many of you know that jody is going to retire at the end of october And so some people are wondering well, why didn't we recognize her? But we're recognizing people We're you know, we've moved three months beyond when this was supposed to happen. So, uh, jody will be recognized for retirement along with retirees Next year. So it's it's really um Jody, I need to tell you it's sort of a there's a method to my madness on this too I think that I can you know, I'm I'm just wondering if I can get more You know, you just well, maybe you want to do this the middle of november or the last of november or the end of the year Or january so we can close out the year, but jody you can speak now But please don't respond to what I just said at all At this yet Well, thank you, bishop And hello again, uh, bishop and the members of the north texas annual conference Uh, I do I will be bringing legislation or my senator's bringing legislation for four different areas And uh, I'm just going to go ahead and get started with equitable compensation legislation It's legislative item number three. It's found on page 18 through 21 in your workbooks The legislation recommends the apportion budget for 2021 for equitable compensation be set at $50,832 And the associated subsidies for pension and health insurance at $12,000 in $22,000 22 800 respectively for a total apportion budget Of 85 632 Furthermore the legislation sets For the minimum compensation for an elder or deacon And we are recommending that that be uh remain flat at $50,236 And that the minimum compensation for a local pastor Serving full time be set or remain flat at $44,360 $360 the percentage change in the minimum compensation Has been historically tied to the recommended change in the ds salaries and for 2021 CFNA is recommending that we suspend the standing rules related to the Increase in that amount Which would have been 1.85 percent and just keep that flat You will see that in a few minutes when you see the budget that we are keeping all of the salaries flat Since these are all tied together It uh it seemed appropriate to keep the minimum compensation also flat So bishop the center for leadership development and the CFNA recommend the adoption of this legislation to the annual conference Okay, this is a motion uh related to actual comp as jody smith has said Um, I would like for you to get ready to vote. We're going to give uh Ben hensley said that there is not enough time And so i'm going to honor that Point of order by telling you we're going to vote soon and if you're going to Then and we're going to call for the vote. We're going to give you 30 seconds to vote. Yes or no On the poll. Do you approve legislative item number three has found in the workbook that is before you and that has been explained so Are you ready to vote? Vote now Yes Or no You have 30 seconds Yeah, call me when you're ready. Yeah 687 But has everybody voted everybody is voted so if you're and so it has passed 687 to 12 Judy So I have been very fortunate to have some fabulous People serving on the various teams that I oversee And very competent and capable leaders for those teams In a minute each Three teams will be represented by their chairs And I just want to say thank you to all of them and in the interest of time I'm going to very quickly say who they are and the order that they're coming up in Ann Willett Reverend Ann Willett will be presenting the board of pensions budget Reverend Chris Yoast will be presenting the trustee legislation and then finally Larry Womack Will be coming to you with our budget So I'm very grateful to all of them for their work for their service And their competence and their friendship Hello friends. I'm Ann Willett. I'm executive minister at first united Methodist Dallas and also chair the board of pensions for our conference I bring you greetings from the board of pensions and also some good news today I'd like to announce that we are going to extend a one month holiday on all health dental and vision premiums for the month of october This is very good news The holiday is for both pastors and their dependents if family coverage is provided So please check your october bill and ministers Please tell your treasurer financial administrator to check the october bill because it will be lower and better Remember that in november those premiums premiums will return to the previous amount again Churches will not be charged for health dental and vision premiums for clergy independence for the month of october Good news from the board of pensions The health insurance rates for next year have come in And our 2021 rates for the default plan charged to the local church will increase by six dollars a month Given national health insurance trends. We are pleased that the rate increases minimal that comes to 0.7 percent increase We also have two items on the consent agenda today the comprehensive benefit funding plan And the retiree housing allowance These are legislative items that are found on pages 25 and 23 in your conference workbook and they will be handled with the Consent agenda We do need to vote on two items today One is legislative item number four found on pages 21 to 23 And it presents the budget for 2021 The total change is about a half a percent decrease The amount budget is was lowered to align more closely to the actuals for the last few years on a couple of line items We also need to vote on another legislative item Item number six found on page 24 of the workbook The board recommends the pre 82 service rate remain at the current amount of 802 dollars per year Of pre pre 82 service We normally increase this rate by the amount of cost of living adjustment But given the financial challenges faced by our churches and our members We're recommending that this amount remain unchanged for the current year Next year we will address any increases with our 22 rate adjustments We have two these two items Item number four and number six for your approval and they will be on the same page Bishop that concludes our report. Okay, so we have two Items to vote on one poll question. And so I want to remind you that I want to know Does anybody have a question for ant and will it or jody? Smith related to this report and these votes that we're doing soon to take I don't see any so we're going to vote. So the first item is item number four Do you approve legislative item number four? It's on the board of pensions and health benefits apportionment budget is found in the what workbook We're going to vote And then we're going to take another vote on the next item after this But we're going to take A vote and this is on a poll and so you can vote yes or no when the voting begins And I'm getting ready to begin the voting. You'll have 30 seconds To do this so prepare to vote If you will approve item number four Will you vote yes? If you don't approve of item number four, will you vote no? Yeah, we're gonna take six here in a minute if we're ready to vote We're ready to vote on six Are we ready to vote on six? We're now going to vote on vote item number six And if you will approve legislative item number six, will you vote? Yes Vote no if you don't approve 10 seconds are left. Is it close? Okay Let's have the numbers On so item number four has passed. We're going to give you the numbers 720 in favor to four 720 in favor and four against and item number legislative item number six 713 in favor And 12 against so it passes as well Thank you, Ann. Good work. Appreciate it Hello church, my name is krishios and I have the privilege of serving at westerly knight of methodist church in greenville texas And as the chairperson of the conference board of trustees I first want to say a huge word of thanks to all of our conference trustees who I'd love to see in this room with us here today And I also want to take a moment and say thank you to all of you who serve in the local church and the your board of trustees We know this year has been extremely hard on you to be prayerful in your discernment about opening practices And just the tip of the hat. Thank you for all of your work And as a personal note reverend jody smith is both a personal friend and a great colleague and jody, we're going to miss you Who else could be a cpa and an elder? Mind boggling, but thank you On today, we're going to be taking up legislative item number 11 That'll be found on pages 44 through 56 in your conference workbooks Now legally churches in the annual conference function as nonprofit corporations A corporation's bylaws and articles of Formation should be reviewed every 10 years or so as changes in our book of discipline state laws county laws Particularly as it relates to property tax exemptions The north texas conference bylaws have not been updated in over a decade The proposed legislation is to bring our church our current bylaws into alignment With changes made in all three of those areas We also have a provision to codify our use of technology for meetings and voting While this is broadly covered under texas state law We are ensuring it is directly covered under our own conference bylaws These changes have been vetted with a real estate attorney who is licensed in the state of texas legal counsel for gcfna Then reviewed and approved by our conference trustees We do want to take this moment to encourage each and every church each and every institution in the north texas conference To review your own bylaws and articles of formation to make certain that they are in compliance With current laws and the current book of discipline If you have not updated your bylaws or articles of formation in the last 15 years There are certainly some areas that you do need to update in your church documents The most pressing issue as we function as a part of this good world that we live in is that you maintain your property tax exemption Can I get an amen? Several of our churches have already had to respond to challenges by local tax authorities recently to confirm that they still are in compliance with current laws The guidance is found on page 44 of the conference workbook and it will help you Take a look at to confirm that current tests are met in your local church. What does that mean? Well, tests are simply the criteria that taxing authorities are looking for to ensure that you can demonstrate or satisfy the requirements of being a tax exempt organization Now reverend jody smith has made it clear and I need to reiterate that the conference office cannot provide specific legal aid and advice to every church To this matter in all of our local churches There is however a sample that may be found a sample of bylaws and articles of formation That have produced been produced by GCFA Those can be found on the conference website and should appear on your screen They can be found at ntcumc.org Slash church and then look up sample bylaws and articles of formation Bishop the trustees of the annual conference recommend passage of legislative item number 11 found in the conference workbook for the amendment of the bylaws of the north texas annual conference Thank you chris. We do have a motion uh to refer this from william bill laurence and um, so um Bill are you are you all now and i'll let you speak to this and make the motion Uh, I am on uh, can I be heard? Yep, you're heard. All right, uh, My motion is to refer legislative item 11 specifically the proposed revision of the bylaws for further study And by the motion to refer I specifically suggest That the referral for study Be to the board of ordained ministry and to the annual conference council on finance and administration If there is a second i'll speak to it. Okay, do we have a second? We have a second we have a second so Dr. Lawrence, please speak Thank you, bishop and thanks to the seconder as I studied the presentation of the workbook And I reflected on it. I certainly have no objection to the basic premise which is That the need for changes in the bylaws Occurs from time to time and the revisions must be entertained periodically I am specifically concerned however about certain items That I believe need further study and that prompt me to make this motion to refer I will simply cite Two examples that exist in various places in the document For example on page 47 of the conference workbook at line 22 The text refers to the corporation as the basic body of the church That strikes me as unwise language that needs further reflection and possible revision because the corporation is not The basic body of the church the annual conference is according to paragraph 33 Of the constitution of the united methodist church If an annual conference incorporates itself or forms a corporation By discipline by church law the corporation is subsidiary to the annual conference That cannot be identical Further the way the text is currently written at page 47 line for 22 It suggests that the language which is present in the current document Could be construed as an amendment To the constitution paragraph 33 obviously an annual conference does not have the authority to amend the denomination's constitution The process for amending the constitution begins at the general conference when an amendment Is adopted by a two-thirds vote and then it goes to the annual conferences for their aggregate two-thirds vote If it's to be approved as a second example of the need for further study, I will cite page 52 of the Workbook at line 10 Uh, which Makes reference to the fact that the bishop of the north texas conference would become the ceo of the corporation This has in my mind no reference to any particular individual bishop It certainly doesn't refer to the current bishop. It just refers to the office of bishop Of the north texas conference as the ceo of the corporation I do not think that as it stands without further study we can accept that because By the constitution of the church the bishop is not and cannot ever be A member of the annual conference the bishops membership is in the council of bishops bishops are assigned to Uh, the Episcopal areas they preside at annual conferences But i'm concerned about the use of the language of ceo on page 52 line 10 I have other concerns as well, but I simply offer these two citations and my additional comments as A reason for asserting That I think this needs further study and I think the two bodies that I mentioned The board of ordained ministry can look at the draft from the standpoint of how it impacts Clergy members of the annual conference And the conference council of finance and administration can provide further study specifically looking at such questions as the legal and financial implications Of creating the corporation in the form in which this document currently exists So again, my motion is to refer this document for further study. Thank you This most the motion to refer is is uh, what is before us? I'm going to ask christios to speak to it now Bishop, uh, dr. Lawrence, uh tremendous respect for you. Um I'm sitting here laughing thinking about me sharing more with you Tip of the hat. I do want to point out on your first, uh, uh question Or point of clarification That you had the reference to the annual conference as a corporation is in perfect keeping with this document if you notice on page 45 You'll look at line 18. Actually, you can start at line 13 and 14 Where the north texas conference is assigned for the purpose of this document as the corporation The reference to annual conference refers to this gathering of the body for the purposes of this document I think on the first one that that would address what you're asking for your second point that you made I do not know the answer to that. I've asked, uh, reverend jody smith to come up and speak to that on page 52, I think you said it was um under the bishop as the ceo Anyway, let me let you say a word about that And i'm going to ask for some input from our chancellor and our bishop But when I look through all of our documents, they all list the bishop Of the north texas annual conference as the president of the corporation even though he's not a member He he is listed as the president. So that is the reason for that language Do either of you have any Feedback for that Do I So I've been so I think that each bishop has been referred to as the president of That particular conference. I mean I sign the documents is that so, um, I I will say That we I I'm seen as the president of the conference. Yes So I agree with you that he's not a member of the conference, but he is listed as the president So I I don't see a conflict with that particular item. I would like to note that A real estate attorney here in texas Over 30 years of experience He and I spent Two different sessions Two hours each with the general council at gcfna going over these documents with a fine tooth comb trying to To really dig deep with each word And the the changes that are being Suggested here. I was going to wait till next year until I realized I was retiring this year So I wanted to be able to try to to push, you know to talk about it this year Because I have a more experience with it the The language that was in the original document was it was drafted in 1980 when the The discipline only referenced the trustees of the annual conference there the Annual conference itself was not incorporated. We are currently Incorporated both as trustees and as an annual conference And the way the original wording in 1980 was placed it quite honestly gives the board of trustees um Differential power over this body And that is not the intent Of what we are trying to do. So this language is in line with the 2016 book of discipline that affirms and confirms that the The ability to amend the bylaws the ability to make any decisions are made by this body and not the trustees I believe that there is more work that will need to be done on these articles and the bylaws I just wanted to get the main part of it done and cleaned up before I left And so I would like to offer a friendly amendment to to recognize that there is more work to be done and certainly refer this to the board of ordained ministry and to cfna for further review for the items that Dean Lawrence has raised um I don't know whether to rule that out of order or not, but it's like this is what's before so I don't think we can amend this piece Okay, correct pan So My chancellor says i'm right so we can't amend this So this is the only thing that's before us and i'm talking about the body work whether we're going to refer this or not So I want to be everybody to be clear about what we are doing at this time Is voting on the motion to refer to the bodies that were mentioned She's excuse me cfna and the uh board of ordained ministry. Okay, so that's what for us I want to by the way, I know there are several points of order here and what I would like to do is Complete this vote on this referral before we get to the points of order that may take care of some of them It may not so let's do that. Okay So are you ready to vote on the motion to refer? Bill do you want to speak more you to your motion? Just to add uh one thing I Recognize that with current uh language and some other language use the term a president But that's consistent with the role of a bishop in an annual conference because a president presides The addition of the phrase ceo chief executive officer Could be taken to imply that the bishop has the power to act on behalf of the annual conference That's one of the many aspects of this document that concerns me and calls me again to request further study. Thank you Thank you Okay, I want all of you to prepare to vote and we're going to vote on the motion to refer that is before you That's been very clear We'll just it's it's a document basically will be referred to cfna and to the board of ordained ministry So I want you to prepare to vote. It's a yes or no on referral If you vote yes, then there'll be no more consideration to refer the no more consideration of this document at this meeting at this time So that's what we're getting ready to do is vote if you vote no Then we'll still consider the document and move through several points of order related to the document at that time Okay, so I want you to prepare to vote We're going to do a hand raised vote on this So there'll be a we'll take a yes, and then we'll take the no's so Are you ready to vote we're going to vote in five seconds if you vote for the motion to refer will you vote yes? Vote now you have 20 seconds to vote yes 10 seconds more Okay, that is closed If you want to vote no Not until we finish if you want to vote no on the referral then vote now You have 20 seconds 10 seconds left Okay, it is closed. We're going to report the vote totals Okay, the motion to refer past four hundred sixty five to One hundred seventy one so this is referred so this no longer is before us So I see several points of order and just as a matter what I want to say is is that we will make Notations of these they address to this Then we're since the legislation not before us is being referred Then they will be referred along with the referral to that so we will not We'll not take these points of order up. Is that am I right about that pam Okay, check with the chancellor and that is correct. So Chris, thank you for your work jody. Thank you for your work and we will refer these to the To that which is mentioned and conform to that bill. Thank you for bringing that We'll go to now the cfna report Thank you, bishop. My name is larry womek. I am a lay member of the annual conference out of first united methodist church in rockwall And it's been my pleasure to Work also with reverend jody smith and her capacity as the director of the center for connexional resources for many years I first worked with jody on the board of pensions wound up as chair of that board for a little while and have Worked for the last several years with her in this role as president of the council on finance and administration And jody's done remarkable work and jody. We wish you well in your retirement Also want to thank the team that jody has put together at the conference office I don't think you could have a better set of resources in a conference office environment to do the work that Her teams do in support of the local churches and support of these committees that do this work of the church That's there. And so we really appreciate that Also want to take just a second to thank also the members of the council on finance administration the clergy and lay members Of the cfna who particularly over the last several months just as all of you have been doing Have done yeoman's work in some really really unusual times And so i want to thank those folks For their their efforts as well as we come before you today Bishop the legislative items from cfna are found on pages 36 through 43 of the conference workbook Under legislative item number eight The first legislative item that we present today is that the cfna recommends the continued engagement of ratliff and associates For the 2020 audit of all corporate entities consolidated under the leadership of the north texas annual conference And these entities are the north texas conference The board of pensions the pro-throw center and the bridgeport center The second legislative item is the proposed budget which is found on pages 39 through 42 of the workbook This is a little different environment. I don't know are we considering both of those in one vote or their Two votes on these items. Do we know? Can you wait let me ask sure I'll I'll just move on then and we'll we'll uh go from there just a little bit of background Like larry everything for cfna is one vote so we can go ahead and take those so which one would Reminds again. What would you like for us to vote on now? um The first vote would be on the recommendation of the continued engagement of ratliff and associates for The role as auditor for the 2020 audit and this is legislative item number eight number eight so We are going to vote on legislative item number eight and is to recommend what is before you as our auditors larry has explained that so i want to remind you about the hand function Andy actually i'm going to ask andy lewis to remind us about the hand function So some people are having some challenges with the hand function. So we think we know how to help Thank you, bishop I would remind us that the raise hand function is found along the bottom of your zoom webinar screen in the center And so if you'll hover your cursor Over the bottom of your screen the raise hand function will appear if you click that that is a way to record your vote Thank you Okay, we're voting to approve the auditors We do this annually if you will vote to approve the auditors get ready to vote find the hand function I'll call for the yes votes and then after after 20 seconds I'll call for the no votes on this get ready to vote if you will approve the request for the auditors Will you vote yes now you have 20 seconds? 10 seconds to go Okay Okay, if you're going to vote no to On the approval of the auditors will you vote now you have 20 seconds? Oh, they have to excuse me just wait. Yeah, they have to clear the deck Are they ready? Okay, if you want to vote no on the auditors will you vote now by raising the hand? You have 10 seconds remaining to vote no Yes Okay, the motion passes by 646 in favor 646 in favor Seven no Larry to continue. All right. Thank you as we turn our attention Toward the 2020 budget Just want to give just a little bit of background because this has been such an unusual year Not only for the cf&a but for all of you and and your churches After we set the budget Actually, I will say that cf&a actually set the budget for 2021 in february prior to all of the Issues coming forward with the covet 19 and all the potential impacts that were there so We knew that we were going to have to relook at the budget make adjustments and And see how we were going to carry forward with a financial plan for the conference for 2021 and as such the cf&a Bishop the members of the cabinet and I'm sure all of you and your local churches began Looking for ways to lessen the financial impacts of what we were seeing as a result of covet and then figure out ways to respond to what was going on And so like many of you some of the actions that were taken The conference was able to secure a payroll protection loan which appears Thankfully that 100 of that will be reviewed as Being able to be forgiven at the end of its term west path also came forward and announced a three month holiday In the cpp premiums, which also provided some cash flow relief to the conference at this period of time Cf&a's continued to monitor the budget on a monthly basis And it appears that we will actually finish the year with the Approximately the same amount of funds and reserve as we had coming into the year bishop I think that's pretty miraculous myself under the circumstances, but it's great work By the staff to keep our reserves in that kind of condition Including these opportunities that we have had throughout the year So we were able to receive that payroll protection loan the west path premium holiday helped Your conference staff also did some things to consolidate functions and reduce staff Which also had significant contributions to alleviating upward pressures on the budget We also had some changes and some terminations of some programming that was being offered That allowed for some savings as well and the conference staff also Had a pretty dramatic reduction in travel and expenses as the quarantine issues and issues of the Virus we're taking hold around the conference From an income standpoint North Texas conference recorded a payout of 90.2 percent of the total apportionments for 2019 The apportionment apportionments received were about 6 percent below our 10-year average of receipts on Apportionments we did have a few churches that opted to escrow their apportionment payments as a result and in response to 2019 general conference activities Rather than remitting those funds and their usual basis to the conference treasury However, several of those churches did remit those escrow payments by checkout time in january So the total paid apportionments was 11 million Approximately 565,000 and we also had payments for benevolent causes beyond the apportionments of right at $300,000 So to recap going into the budget we closed 2019 with that apportionment payout of 90 But we were also very grateful to receive the apportionment payments that were given considering the Circumstances that we were under it appears that we're on pace For about that same level of performance in 2020 and we're kind of expecting a payout of around 90 So going into the budget The proposed budget for 2021 There we go you can see at the top of the screen From a jurisdictional and general conference perspective on the apportionments There's a significant decrease in that apportioned amount coming to the north texas conference this year reduction of approximately 28 percent as you go down through the Different centers at the conference level you'll see about a 14 percent decrease in the center for church development for a four percent increase from the center of leadership development About a four percent in decrease from the center for missional outreach a effectively flat budget for the center for Connectional Resources And about a four percent increase from communications About a percent and a half decrease from the district superintendents for an annual conference total Reduction in budget from the annual conference perspective of 4.02 percent And total apportioned and budgeted expenses a decrease From 20 to 21 of 11.61 percent Just a couple of other issues to mention as we look at the numbers here We are showing the annual conference budget of a decrease of about four percent We accomplished that through a couple of things Um We put forward a request to temporarily suspend the standing rules That place the increase to the district superintendent salaries to an amount equal to the average change in pastor's compensation As reported on the prior year checkout the council is asking that the 1.85 percent increase be suspended And the district superintendent salary being kept flat at the current rates for 2021 In addition the other salaries all other salaries for conference employees will remain flat in 2021 And the remaining reductions to the annual conference budget Were brought about by a reduction in a few areas where conference has been able to streamline and consolidate some expenses So that or some Some actions that we took to try to keep the amount of the budget increase as Um minimal as possible and to bring forth this overall decrease So, uh, bishop north taxes members of the north taxes conference Um the cf and a thanks each and every one of you for your commitment and dedication to both reduce expenses And to continue the work of the church through faithful payment of your apportionments We're looking forward to that continued. We've really not seen anything like 2020 before but we're still committed And committed to funding a role in 2021 Where we all strive to make disciples for jesus christ and the transformation of the world With that bishop the cf and a recommends adoption of the budget Okay, thank you. So that is before you we do want to answer a question that was asked in the justice and reconciliation team Report related to where the funding was going to come. We want to use this time and andy lewis is going to address that for us Thank you, bishop. It's an honor for me to speak To the question that was raised about funding in the 2021 budget to support the journey to a racial justice efforts by our north texas conference I do want to acknowledge that there is not a designated line for the journey to a racial justice In many ways that is an intentional decision That was discussed by the center directors as we worked on our budgets Rather than designate a single line and we feared risk Siloing the work of this this team We instead decided to take an approach whereby all of our centers would share in the responsibility for supporting And advancing this important work And so there are many Places in our budget where one could look and rightfully acknowledge that funding is going to support our journey toward racial justice I have the honor of directing our center for missional outreach and I can speak specifically to some of the the items there First and foremost, I would want to say that on the center for missional outreach staff. There are two full-time associate directors At least one half of each of their job descriptions is devoted solely toward Advancing our work on the journey toward racial justice In addition, if we look at our budget The commission on ethnic and local church concerns, which we supervise Has a a budget of over 100 000 dollars All of the expenses there go to support and resource our clergy and lay leaders and congregations That are churches of color And finally, I would note that our budget contains $55 000 that supports the work of various united methodist extension ministries those extension ministries The focus of their work in many cases is to Meet the needs of communities of color And also to come alongside and be in ministry with persons of color some of those ministries include justice for our neighbors project transformation Wesley Rankin center and the dallas Bethlehem center again overall, I just would want to share That that the work Of the journey toward racial justice and all that it implies Is being wholly embraced by each of the centers Each of us has directors and our staffs And so again, well, there's not a single line item all of our centers have significant resources including financial That are going to support this work mission Thank you. I also want to make a report that there has been some funding That will be made available to the conference from from a donor Who chooses to remain anonymous that will also be significant as well So Thank you So let us vote in on legislative item number eight, which includes the report of the council and finance Administration and also includes the budget and that's been before you and i've seen no questions come up So i'm getting ready to move to vote. This is going to be a poll. Am I correct about that? Yes It will be a poll. So I would like for you to Get ready to vote And we're going to vote if you will they can vote yet. Yes or no on a poll can't they okay at the same time I was not like raising hands Okay, so we're going to vote here in a few in a few seconds and i'm going to Tell you that we're going to vote in about 10 seconds. So get ready to vote locate the function It's coming before you it's coming up and then we're going to give you 30 seconds to vote Okay Prepare to vote now If you prepare if you vote for legislative item number eight, which includes the budget vote yes If you don't approve vote no vote now You have 10 seconds to vote Yeah, okay, the voting is closed And then the number of votes for yes are 686 686 12 12 votes no It passes larry wall max cfna jody your team everybody. Thank you for your work on this We're going to do some announcements. So we are running behind schedule We're going to do some announcements then we're going to break for lunch I'll give you the time about how long we'll need for lunch. So I think at this time We're going to hear from two to three Okay And in floor granille, please be ready to vote for I mean to pray for our break and our lunch Bishop the only announcement that we have received so far is for a clergy golf outing On monday october the 19th at 1 p.m. In Plano Contact either matt gaston or john mcclarity for more information and watch for an email for an official invitation Okay, thank you Allison how long shall we take? 45 minutes And what do you think? Okay, when we adjourn and after this prayer we're going to recess for 45 minutes So we are going to gather again at about um 130 Is that right? So flor are you ready to pray? Lord granille one of our newly commissioned ministers. She ready Okay, you hear me. Thank you floor Conference I want to say That I am very Honored to be part of the united method is yours and To be specifically is specifically part of the north Texas conference Now that I am Commission and to be able to do ministry with you During these unprecedented time Let us Pray let us bring our hearts together and pray At this moment when we go For lunch Almighty and loving God we want to thank you for this day A historical day in our church and in our lives We no doubt. This is a day that we won't forget Amid the circumstances of a global pandemic Here We are together responding to your call Against all the challenges we are facing right now We can continue with that task. You haven't trusted us You take care of your church and your people So we want to thank you for reassuring us with your love because Once more you have provided all the resources and the necessary means for the celebration of these in your home For all you do for us We feel humble and recognize you as our sovereign God Empower for and pray for God that it is bigger than anything else We pray for strengthening with power of the of the power of the holy spirit to continue power As empowering us given this time As we are taking a break for lunch, we pray for your blessings over our food and we pray for it To nurture our bodies in our minds and we thank you for all things We need to make possible for that food to come to our table Thank you Lord in the name of Jesus Christ. We pray Lore we will reconvene at 1 30 Thank you for your presence this Far away Don't you think it's great to know that God loves you and me In God's holy word, it says God always will God knows everything about me even knows my name When I make mistakes God loves me still We'll sing a thank you song You can sing along You God for loving me Me so perfectly It's great to know that God loves you and me In God's holy word, it says God always will God knows everything about me even knows my name When I make mistakes God loves me still When I make mistakes God loves me So we're reconvening and so we are at an item I want to be clear about where we are and that is is that we are Excuse me. I think we have completed everything through I want to be sure So we have legislative matters is that where we are is there any leftover items from this morning? Lucretia if you'll be ready. I'm going to ask you to pray in a few moments Okay, we have a center's video next Lucretia Will you pray for us, please? Lucretia, we gladly hear you pray. All right bishop. Can you hear me now? We can Welcome. All right. Thank you greetings to you and to the members of the north texas annual conference. Let us pray Loving God you have called us together for such a time as this You've called us to be your people for such a time as this And God we acknowledge that these are difficult and uncertain days And that at times the issues before us feel insurmountable But God you've given us many gifts And one of those great gifts is the gift of one another So Lord you've called us to face these uncertain times together You've called us to serve together to persevere together to labor together To build bridges together Because we are recipients of your profound grace And your grace compels us to resist evil injustice and oppression in whatever forms they may present themselves And God the only way we can do this is together So may we truly be your people the body of christ For such a time as this In Jesus name amen So I I aired in something I said to you so where we are at this point is There are items that were on the agenda for one o'clock when we came back And uh, that is the uh video from the centers And so we'll do that and then we have a commissioning service for a deaconess And uh, and a home missioner and so we'll be doing that before we take up the legislative items So I simply wanted to tell you that so let us now begin and I think we're going to hear from our center directors at this time I give you thanks. Oh lord with my whole heart Before the gods I sing your praise All the kings of the earth shall praise you oh lord For they have heard the words of your mouth Though I walk in the midst of trouble you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies You stretch out your hand and your right hand delivers me In the time when our world Our nation and even our denomination is filled with so much bad news and discouraging words Thankfulness Is a powerful weapon of encouragement It reminds us of the faithfulness of god of the goodness of god And emboldens us to face days of uncertainty Thank you for your faithfulness You the north texas annual conference have given so much during the season And so we want to thank you for the many ways that you have been faithful Thank you to our non-profit partners who from the very beginning of the covet 19 pandemic Have been on the front lines in ministry with those communities most affected We thank you for stepping up and helping your peers Navigate this new world where we are seeking to reach people through digital mediums Thank you for pasturing our children and our youth and caring for their greatest needs during this time Thank you to project unity St. Luke community united methodist church Hamilton park united methodist church and cocker and chapel united methodist church and all the volunteers Who have made free covet 19 testing available to communities throughout the city of dallas We give thanks to our church planters and our multiplying churches Who are boldly seeking to continue to reach new people in a challenging season Thank you for your adaptive leadership for delivering bibles to third-grade children For taking the sacraments outdoors for creating new fellowship spaces and learning spaces for youth Thank you to so many churches for collecting food Distributing food making hot meals to meet the needs of people who found themselves without food to put on the table during this pandemic Thank you for the many ways that you reached out to the people of god And took care of their pastoral needs and cared for them Thank you for being a voice for justice For standing up for what you believe in and standing up with those whose voices are so often not heard Thank you for recognizing That being a part of pursuing racial justice and equity is a part of what it means to be a disciple of jesus christ I want to thank the center directors for their work during the last several months and also The people who work in the in those centers and providing The kind of leadership and help in terms of for our churches during this difficult time And so i want to thank them publicly for the work that they do so Andy oh and jody and cammy. Thank you very much We're not coming to a time of the commissioning of the connoisseurs and home missioners And so i'm proud that these two people are standing with me today and i'll introduce them in a moment Well, tell them that jonah ballesteros and roselle. Justo sale are with us this afternoon So friends in christ, we rejoice that you responded to god's call in ministry as a deaconess home missioner of the united methods church In your ministry you continue a tradition of service that is as vital today Maybe even more so as it was in 1888 when the office of deaconess was first authorized in the methodist tradition The call of god is always profound and our response can be no less Extraordinary in the varied ministries of law of justice and service to which the holy spirit is leading you You will testify to the infinite love of god in christ jesus and such a lifetime of vocation confers a great privilege It also lays upon you a solemn responsibility In your consecration you publicly declared your commitment to engage in the lifelong work of justice A work of love and service and to assume its responsibilities led by the spirit of god To be diligent in prayer in the reading of the holy scriptures and mutual relationship with the communities you serve And all other means of grace available to you Darnestly seek to carry forward your ministry Call in sincerity and love under the direction of the church And to accept responsibility for participation in the mutually supportive deaconess and home missioner covenant community And for a lifetime of loving and supporting your sisters and your brothers is part of the world Diaconate do you affirm these commitments publicly and in the presence of this assembly? Today we send you forth with our blessings and support I'm gonna allow you to stand. There's no place to serve. So I want to commission Jonah by yesteros I commission you to the appointed ministry of home missioner on behalf of the united methods church and all god's people said Amen Roselle who stole sale I commissioned you to be the appointed ministry of deaconess on behalf of the united methods church Amen Let us pray Most gracious god of all mercies anoint these your servants with your spirit Enrich them with your grace strengthen them for the task which lie ahead And may their labors glorify your holy name as they continue their daily work in ministries of law Justice and service on behalf of the united methods church through your son jesus christ. We pray Amen To those who are gathered as the church who are present but also present with us virtually Gathered here and around the world. I present our deaconess on home missioner commission to a life of time Of christ-like service under the authority of the church. Thanks to be to god God bless both of you. We look forward to sharing your work together peace I'm clayton oliphant and it is my honor to represent the delegation of the north texas conference We want to thank the north texas conference for electing your delegates to uh jurisdictional and general conference Which was scheduled to be in may and in july respectively of 2020 but COVID changed everything It seems like a general theme for a lot of our reports So, uh, currently I want you to know that general conference is scheduled Proposed to take place august 29th through september of the 7th of 2021 which means we'll have another annual conference session between now and general conference And the jurisdictional conference is scheduled to take place November the 10th through the 12th 2021 in the woodlands texas I want to just tell you what an honor it is to serve as a delegation And ever since our election, we have been seriously taking our role very seriously in terms of preparation for the general conference when it comes whenever it comes and um, so your your delegation has been meeting on a monthly basis We have um studied. We have prepared We have uh tried to connect with delegates from around the world We are trying to be the best prepared delegation In uh in all of methodism as we go to represent you I want to just tell you what an honor it is to serve with this these delegates because They are deeply devoted followers of jesus christ And they are very passionate about the church being um Being the church that god is calling us to be so I just want to thank all of them To tell you a little bit about some of the things that we have proposed or or endorsing Kelly carpenter is our lead lay delegate Greetings bishop and north texas annual conference as clayton said i'm kelly carpenter I'm a member of union coffee and a lay delegate to general conference on behalf of our delegation It's my honor to bring a couple of recent conversations and endorsements held by our delegation I'm going to refer to legislative items. This is just a report. You don't have to turn quickly to them During our august virtual delegation meeting we reviewed the petition to change discipline paragraph 807.1 This is going to be legislative item number 12 from your pre-conference workbook It is submitted by delegation member revlyn edlin callie This petition would begin the process that will result in a new umc insignia In revlyn callie's juneteenth article reposted on north texas communications united methodus new service and many other places revlyn callie states As we have the words of a new united methodus campaign united methodus stand against racism By our council of bishops general commission on religion and race and others I can think of a Better or more powerful. I cannot think of a better or more powerful anti-racist first step than totally rebranding our denomination The north texas conference took a subsequent vote electronically and of the 16 delegation members who participated in the poll Everyone voted to endorse revlyn callie's petition for a new umc insignia During several delegation meetings we have also held discussions on many items coming forward In one particularly the document and the subsequent legislative pieces that are known as the christmas covenant A petition to support central conference leadership and the christmas covenant is also coming before you this afternoon In legislative item number 16 that was in the supplemental legislation on our annual conference website We believe the connectional ties between the united states and the central conferences is of sacred worth We believe in the vitality of the global church We believe the existing structure of methodism Of the methodus church diminishes our ability to be vital and effective church and thus is no longer feasible We believe in the conversion of central conferences into regional conferences and the creation of the united states as a regional conference as outlined in the christmas covenant And affirmed in a statement by the connectional table published in march which states Such legislation can provide a way for our church to remain a big tent church worldwide As we each shape ministry in our different contexts During our august virtual delegation meeting a motion was made and seconded to vote to endorse the christmas covenant The vote was unanimous of the 19 people present on the call Everyone voted to endorse the christmas covenant The north texas conference delegation continues the work to celebrate and affirm all people making disciples of jesus christ Through our ministry together as the united methodus church It is an honor to serve on your general and jurisdictional conference delegation We look forward to reporting to you again at the next annual conference and we covet your prayers on this journey. Thank you Thank you. Clayton kelly. I want to say a word of appreciation to them and the members of the delegation who are serving Especially grateful for your leadership. Kelly and clayton Very very much and I want to echo something that clayton said about being the best prepared delegation at general conference This is always seems to be One of the goals of a delegation the north texas conference I knew that when I was a delegate several times the central texas conference And so I want to say thank you for leadership current and past and ensuring that the delegation was always prepared For general conference. So clayton kelly. Thank you for your work on that. We appreciate it very very much We now come to the point and time in which we're going to take up legislative matters So i need your turn there and we're going to move through those in these in a way I'm taking taking i'll be paying particular attention to those points of order and things that you bring I think endy Lewis is first of all going to bring the consent calendar for for approval as gene wood comes up to to get ready to present Thank you, bishop members of the annual conference The consent calendar has been properly before you since yesterday afternoon when it was Shared at both the lady session and the clergy session at about this time again yesterday The conference secretary has not received any requests to remove any items Therefore, I move that the consent calendar be approved as presented on page six in the conference workbook We're going to simply raise our hands for this And I want you to prepare to vote And we're going to vote in about 10 seconds. Will you approve the consent calendar? No one has asked for anything to come off. So that time has passed and so it's simply a matter of approving it Are you we're going to vote in 10 seconds? In five remaining Okay If you will vote to approve the consent calendar, will you raise your hand? It's a poll excuse me. It's a poll Uh, then will you vote? Yes Or no You have 10 seconds remaining to vote Passes 684 a favor 10 Okay, it passes 684 four and 10 votes against Okay, that is done. We'll now hear about legislative item number 13 About cosro and women in the pulpit resolution We gladly hear from gene wood gene Thank you, bishop McKee and members of the annual conference I am gene wood the outgoing chairperson of your conference committee on the status and role of women And we are presenting legislative item 13. It is in your supplement I am going to read it since you may not have had a chance to download it Whereas united methodist churches we practice the itinerary system and whereas in united methodist churches We believe god calls men and women as pastors And whereas some united methodist churches in north texas have never had the joy of having a female pastor And may not understand united methodist theology behind the practice of ordaining women And whereas it is vital for young women in the north texas area to not only see women in leadership roles But to imagine the possibilities of women in church leadership both lay and clergy Therefore be it resolved that the north texas annual conference will expect every senior pastor to preach annually in their congregation about women's ordination Be it further resolved that a written copy or video of the sermon will be sent to the district superintendent in the north texas annual conference Commission on the status and role of women with the report of attendance and the date of the worship service Be it further resolved that the north texas annual conference will recommend that every united methodist church in north texas Will have women lay or clergy preach at least four times a year It's submitted by causro Comes from a committee. It does not need a second. Okay. It does not need a second Is there friendly amendment that was mentioned? Various. Okay. Do you want to can we have that or is it in there already? Uh, I have the printed copy of it if okay, you would like it You didn't did you read it? No, okay So this is before us and we know of the friendly amendments should we ask for the person who's making it to make a Presented or would you like to do? I know that we talked about it. So I can't remember We've talked about in the committee and we were willing to accept it. So it's coming from The committee coming incoming chair of causro. Okay for presenting it. Okay. Would you like to change this? Yeah, let's let's go ahead and hear that now because it becomes a part of the main piece It does. Okay. You like all right. We are adding a whereas Every senior pastor is called to prepare each congregation to welcome celebrate and grow through the gifts of the senior pastor to follow whether male or female And also they have changed. We've changed the Be it first we resolved to say that we will invite Every senior pastor to proclaim the word in the congregation with a particular emphasis at least annually Regarding the divine intent to call all Christians both men and women to serve in vocations within the body of christ and the church Including ordination consecration The requirement for submitting a written video or copy of the sermon has been struck and That we are inserting that the causro will engage in dialogue with senior pastors and the district superintendents in order to develop An instrument of receptivity that will be able to communicate congressional Congregational readiness to receive female senior pastors Also adding another further resolve the committee on the status and role of women will now submit an annual report to the next north texas annual conference Regarding the success of this effort The committee will also assess the effectiveness and need for these practices So within three years based upon these markers of equity church receptiveness is assessed by the district superintendents Equal representation of ordained clergy women in appointments of churches with the membership of a thousand plus clergy compensation And be it further resolved that the north texas annual conference will recommend that every united methodist church In north texas will have women lay or clergy preach at least once a year And causro will provide a list of female clergy who are available To fill the pulpit Thank you. And so the causro has accepted that friendly amendment is that correct? Okay, so that so the document is before us But we do have two well now only see one person wanting to make an amendment I'll call them heather goddess. So we need to allow her to move her to um The status where she can speak We'll do that heather goddess Heather are you online Bishop can hear me. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Hold on a second. Samantha Were you a part of the friendly amendment that just came? Okay, so we don't I don't need to call on her. Is that correct gene? Okay, great. I'm sorry heather. Okay, go Heather Yes, we're sure We're ready for your amendment. Oh, my amendment was part of that amendment. You're good She was part of the conversation last night bishop and we worked it in so okay You were part of the conversation so you okay, so you you already It's already been addressed. Okay. So Then the document As presented is before us from causro. Are there any speeches for or against? Bishop, I'd just like to have a word. Oh, I'm gonna let you have the last one. I'll make sure nobody else wants Trust me Okay, you may have the last word change. Thank you. Thank you one of the mandates of our committee is to be Advocates for the full participation and inclusion of all women within the church In consultation conversations with clergy women's groups and united Methodist women We look for a way to have more congregations experience women in the pulpit From children to young people to staff parish committees We want the role and authority of women to be represented and recognized in every church We're celebrating this year 64 years of women's ordination in the Methodist church And the North Texas conference is doing very well We have 183 women in the clergy that Compares 263 males So we've got 41 percent that are women in the clergy However Those churches of a thousand or more out of the 30 that we surveyed We have five women senior pastors and 25 male senior pastors So this is one of the places that we're going to be concentrating efforts We want everyone to experience the joys of seeing and hearing a woman in the pulpit of your church in the next year Thank you Bishop Thank you, jean, and I want to thank causro for their work And so I want us to prepare to vote and this will be a poll so you vote yes or no on this resolution from causro So I want you to prepare for to vote And I'm going to begin the vote in about 10 seconds So get ready You know how to vote using the poll And I'm going to prepare us to begin to vote. You'll have 30 seconds So vote now either yes or no Okay, I again I said it was a poll So you vote either yes or no on the poll. We're not raising hands So vote yes or no on the poll not by raising your hands vote yes or no on the poll You have 10 more seconds Initiative passes 634 in favor Okay, you have affirmed the resolution it passes 634 to 97 So thank you jean. Thank you moment of personal privilege privilege. Oh, of course I want to express my appreciation for those who've served this quadranium on causro and especially to rebert emma williams for her Tireless work as our liaison to the center for leadership development My term has come to an end, but I'm confident the new committee will continue in this vital work Thank you, miss. She we know this is an ongoing work that must continue as we move through The next two or three quadranium. We appreciate your work in service in doing this and we are confident that your good work will be continued by those who follow We now move to legislative Action number 12. This has to do with the what was spoken about earlier So you may turn and get this in your workbook. It's on page 57 It comes from edlin cali and it is about the north texas conference petition to change the discipline pursuant to paragraphs 807 Point 1o edlin Where are you? There you are. All right. We're glad to hear you. Yes So I just wanted to share a few words before I want to submit this I'll send this to the conference. I want to share these words On June 19th of this year. I was inspired to write an article in title It's time for a new insignia for the united methodist church This article was inspired by my reflection upon the cross and flame as our insignia and how it albeit unintentionally Uses an image of a burning cross to represent our people our programs and our shared ministry The insignia itself is symbolic The flames together represent the pentecostal experience of the holy spirit in ax chapter 2 The two distinct tongues of flame Represent the two denominations that came together to form the united methodist church The evangelical united brethren and the methodist church The problem is when you put those elements together with the cross You get a burning cross a historically powerful image that for over 100 years has been And is still being used today To assert dominance and invoke fear As I continue to do research for the article I was shocked to discover a chicago tribune article that told of an instance where the kukas clan in kansas city, missouri Under threat of legal action from the united methodist church Sent a letter to roger burgess united methodist communications executive saying it would cease and desist its use of the likeness Of the united methodist insignia in its publications In the same article it reported that clan members in wisconsin Had likened their ritual of cross burning to the united methodist church logo The symbolic nature of the cross and flame while beautiful is problematic Many african americans anglos and others have felt this way about the insignia for years Since my article was published I have received several emails and direct messages from fellow united methodist clergy And laity from across the country The great majority of those persons have expressed their belief that it is time for a change tim crouch A lay member in our conference and a fellow member of our north texas conference general jurisdictional conference delegation Who is also a member of the united methodist communications board has shared with me that united methodist communications is very interested in this legislation And is ready to begin the process of getting a new insignia designed if the general conference approves this legislation As our denomination prepares to step into its brand new future I believe this is an excellent time to take the bold step of creating a new insignia That will be a banner that can better represent all of us a banner under which we can all stand with pride Approval by the north texas conference to submit this legislation To the general conference would be powerful and symbolic The united methodist church was born in north texas in 1968 It would be fitting that the genesis of its rebrand and to some degree is rebirth would begin right here in north texas The legislation I present today is the next step on the journey to a new insignia I say again, it's time for a new insignia for the united methodist church Bishop mckay, I respectfully submit this legislation to you and to our conference for consideration Thank you, reverend callie. So this is submitted to us. This is before us And so I am watching the queue. There are no questions or anything that have appeared Which means if I don't see one here soon that I assume that you're going to be ready to vote We have something coming now Uh, is there a second for this this motion, there's a second. Thank you So we have a point of inquiry question is would it not make sense to wait until after gc 21 to see what happens to the entire connection Edlyn you want to answer that question comes from john haraney from oakland Oh, we could but I would feel very confident with moving along with this now. Okay So, uh, thank you. So he feels confident that it's time to move along. Are there any other questions? And I'm going to assume you're ready to vote So this again will will be a poll where I'm the petition to change discipline Oh, there's something coming Katie can and ask is there a replacement symbol being proposed or created? I think you sort of spoke to this, but you want to you want to further clarify that headland. Um, so united methods communications is Ready and really waiting uh, if general conference would adopt and make that action ready. They're they're ready to move So they would just be waiting on the on the go ahead from uh from general conference. Okay. Thank you Are there any other questions I'm ready to vote. Are they ready? Okay, we're ready to poll so no, we're going to use the polling function Which means you vote either yes or no on this resolution that goes to general conference from the north texas conference Uh edlin callie is the author, but it will come then it will belong to the north texas conference Are you ready to vote? We're going to begin to vote in 10 seconds And you either vote yes or no on the poll five seconds You may vote now you have 30 seconds to vote yes or no There are 10 seconds remaining for you to cast your vote You've approved this resolution that will be sent to the general conference 558 for 176 against Reverend callie. Thank you for your work on this We now move to uh the resolution The legislative action number 14 again will take a poll on this vote I just wanted you to know that as we begin to consider this and it will be the black lives matter resolution craig holcomb Hello, I am craig holcomb a lay delegate from first united methodist church in dallas Yesterday the lati session ended with a powerful message from st. Luke's community united methodist church choir They sang a piece The lyrics of which were heal our landlord Praying for our nation in perilous times Those lyrics were repeated over and over in a most moving fashion And the video was interspersed with shots from charlotte'sville with people carrying torches And shots from downtown dallas when police officers were murdered The methodist church has traditionally taken stands on important public issues Today i'm going to offer two different resolutions One regarding the pandemic Which is claimed 198 thousand american lives as of today And the other pertaining to black lives matter Because black lives do matter The resolution pertaining to black lives matter Whereas for too long the united states has kicked the can of racism in our country down the road And whereas in the past few months george floyd rihanna taylor and jacob Blake have been viciously attacked by police officers Resulting in the deaths of mr. floyd and miss taylor And mr. Blake being paralyzed from the waist down after being shot In times in the back by an officer And whereas nine black members of the emmanuel african-american episcopal church Were murdered by a white supremacist Whereas the black lives matter mission is to quote Build local power and to intervene when violence is inflicted upon black communities by the state and vigilantes To work vigilantly for freedom and justice for black people And by extension for all people Whereas the united methodist church believes that god created human beings in god's image Whereas the social principles of the book of discipline of the united methodist church states quote The strength of the of a political system depends on the full and willing participation of its citizens The church should continually exert a strong ethical influence upon the state Supporting policies and programs deemed to be just And opposing policies and programs that are unjust Unquote whereas the social principles of the book of discipline states quote Taking an active stance in society as nothing new for followers of john wessley he set the example for us to can Bind personal and social piety for ever since predecessor churches to united methodism flourished in the united states We have been known as a denomination involved with people's lives with political and social struggles unquote therefore Be it resolved that the north texas conference of the united methodist church Supports black lives matter and calls on all elected and appointed officials To immediately address the systemic racism in our law enforcement Be it further resolved that the north texas conference of the united methodist church Fully support all police officers who are endeavoring to do their best to preserve the peace for all of us respectfully submitted craig holcomb Mr. Holcomb, so Um, we have a couple. I have some things I'm going to do this in the order in which it takes precedence There's a point of information from nick mccray. So, uh, nick. I can ask this for you or we can provide we can Let's let's give him Um Permission to ask the question himself the point of information for nick mccray Nick Will you ask your question? Uh, yes, uh, it was just uh, uh, a sort of question for clarification I was wondering that in the resolution or we would we be voting to To support the sort of broader grassroots movement for black lives Or are we being uh, uh, or we being asked to support? Uh, specifically the nonprofit organization black lives matter incorporated and the the the executives of that organization I'm I'm just curious because just for informational purposes Okay, craig would you like to address that? Sure We are addressing the principles and the mission of black lives matter Not the specific organization Okay, thank you So I'm going to do this and I miss There's an amendment to the legislative item and I am unsure about who it is Allen johnson Allen, we hear you we're I mean we're waiting for you But there's church in Plano And I understand what craig said just a moment ago and I fully agree with what uh craig said about the presentations yesterday But I have submitted an amendment to this to change the legislation from black lives matter To state the lives of people of color and it deals specifically on line 16 through 19 Whereas the black lives matters mission is quote To build local power and intervene When violence is inflicted on black communities and the state and vigilantes And to work vigilantly for freedom and justice for black people and by extension all people You cannot get away from the fact That that line refers specifically to the organization black lives matter So I'm proposing that we remove line 16 through line 19 And also in line 23 33 replace black lives matters To read the north texas conference of the united methodist church supports justice and equality For people of color and for all people and calls on all elected appointed officials to immediately address systemic racism The lives of black people matter As do the lives of all people of color and surely the lives of all people matter The organization named black lives matters Has goals that in some way conflict with the teachings of christ and the united methodist church Our 2021 budget contains funds across the spectrum for support of racial justice Equality for people of color and indeed equality for all people and women and genders There is no need for us to state commitment Of support by the united methodist church for one specific organization As noted on line 16 through 19 The wording of the revised statement of item number 14 as i've just given shows the support for justice for people of color Without tying the united methodist church To implied support for one single organization Therefore, I urge you to accept the change that i've just proposed On this legislation Thank you Okay, so You have made the motion and i should have asked for a second before you made your speech So you've already made a speech alan in favor of your motion, but I do not have a second on that second Okay, I do now have a second and so thank you for the speech Craig you want to speak to that and you want us to open it for to the floor? How would you want to speak to the amendment or? Yes, I would like to speak to the amendment All people of color in this country deserve the same rights and privileges However Only black people were brought to this country as slaves and were held in slavery for years And we as white people have a history of backing away from Accepting that and dealing with it directly I do not accept this amendment because the time has come for us To accept and to deal with this problem directly We do it in a peaceful way. We do it in a thoughtful way. We do it in a legal way But we do it It's time. We've kicked the can down the road long enough Okay I understand that uh, dr. Ron Henderson wants to speak to this and ron are you in the room? You were Always going to be a panelist. Okay, ron is also going to speak to this Ron I've done it Oh, we can hear you now. You may speak I'm having a problem No, we can hear you. Okay. I like to speak against the amendment specifically Of the idea of erasing black lives matter The presenter of the motion was very clear And that he was not speaking of an organization But of policy and of value Black lives matter is of great value and to eliminate that phrase is to devalue itself black lives you Are there any other people who wish to speak any other persons who wish to speak? Judith you have a copy of the amendment Okay Of the amendment. That's what's before us So at this time since I see no one else Okay, okay, we have another speech against the amendment Okay Who is first Ben will you you want to speak against the amendment? Ben David Hensley Okay, he's ready Bishop, can you hear me? Bishop, can you hear me? Yes Thank you I rise to speak against this amendment and I echo what Craig Holcomb has said and also what reverend Ron Henderson has said The experience or as you say the effects of white supremacy affect the community the people of color and communities of color And specifically different ways and this resolution does not speak to how white supremacy affects immigrants Part of the community of people of colors How it affects east asian folks how it affects Arab folks how it affects indigenous folks. I believe that this resolution is specific To the way by which we have much to repent for as a church And how white supremacy has oppressed Black people as they have been called by white people since 1619 in efforts to defend the practice of slavery Um, I believe it is necessary for us to name the thing a thing as jesus said let our yes be yes And our no be no I register my disagreement with this amendment. Thank you bishop Okay, thank you So I have a um We have a speech for the amendment Yes, okay David rucker, we will hear you unmute A speech for the amendment David proceed, please I'm sorry, bishop. I temporarily got disconnected I'd like to speak for the amendment and my reason is that Uh Specifically the deletion of line 16 to 19 Unfortunately The phrase black lives matter which is embraced by almost everyone I think Is conflated with the organization black lives matter incorporated, which is anti American and anti christian And uh you keeping those lines in Uh in a quoting from the mission of the organization Makes it connect to the organization not just to the phrase black lives matter Therefore I support the amendment Thank you, david Are there any others because I want to move to a couple of things that have appeared on two The first thing is is I just want to speak to just one question Simply because I'm Aware of what the budget is No We'll not send money to and craig. I think I'm speak. I don't want to speak for you But I want to be we will not be sending money to black lives matter dot or that's not what this is about That I agree with you completely that was not supposed to be in effect. Yeah, and so I want to answer that question for you It's not in the budget. It's not the intent Uh at all of the conference So just no we will not Um I think there is a friendly amendment and actually if y'all will permit me there are two or three people who have mentioned this Can you uh craig would you be willing? Well, the body be willing for me to just go because it's trying to do this. It's an editorial correction I'm going to do this craig. Would you be willing to call that mother immanuel afro-american epistle church? That's what they go by as mother immanuel. So would you be willing to accept that? I accept that Okay, I know you would so I mean I just want to make sure that It's a When people say mother immanuel, everybody knows what they're speaking of in this country. Are many of us know what they're speaking of Okay So that has taken care of that. I don't see any other amendments or people who wish to speak I don't want to speak. I'm sorry. You're right Yeah, so, um, they're trying to keep me straight. Shirley Austin Newsom wish to speak against the amendment. I think Is that correct? That is correct, bishop. And thank you for recognizing me. I speak strongly against the amendment Since 1619 black people have been the only people enslaved in this nation who have gone through Jim Crowism segregation And today we are looking at what happens when people do not value us as black people To remove the the the title the designation Black lives they lose this resolution totally. It needs to stand as is. Thank you one more I think you've shifted over. Yes, this one about basically calling the question. I guess Thank you, Shirley So I have um A call for the previous question that's not debatable from adam white. Do you want to speak to this adam? I mean you don't speak to it. You just make the motion. So don't speak to it or i'm gonna rule it out of order adam white adam white speak, please unmute I do this a cabinet all the time unmute Can you hear me? Yes All right, sorry about that bishop. Yes, I'd like to call the question and call to the vote and that should proceed The cue if i'm not mistaken um The previous motion. So i'm calling on not the amendment but the Uh proposed legislation before any amendment I didn't understand anything you said Can you do that? Can you do that? Adam you have to do the amendment first. That's what before us you cannot call all of it So you have to do only that which is before us the amendment is before us So if you want to call the previous question you can do that But you cannot call the previous question for everything Okay, then I would like to call the um the current amendment although I will say I did try to cue this You can say anything you just make the motion I know i'm saying that Speak to your motion to close uh to the previous question. So have you moved the previous question on the amendment? Yes Okay, I want everybody to know going forward. We got to be careful We can't start speaking until we get what's really before us and uh, I'm going to Provide greater clarity than I have so what's before you is to end debate To end all debate, um on the on the amendment and then that will take us to the amendment So will you take it takes two-thirds vote? We're going to do it by raising hands so about yeses If you want to end the debate on the amendment And then after you do that we'll take another erase the hand for the nose on this So it requires two-thirds to close the end the debate If you will vote to end the debate on the amendment, will you raise your hand? You're going to give you 10 seconds to get ready. It's going to take 20 seconds to vote so I'm now it's going to take about six seconds to be ready to vote if you want to end the debate on the amendment Okay, we're going to vote if you will vote to end the debate on the amendment raise your hand now 10 seconds left You have 10 remaining seconds to vote Okay, it is closed If you would vote no To ending the debate will you vote now by raising your hand? You have 10 remaining seconds to vote no And then we'll report the vote out Okay, Bishop Past and debate 650 in favor 43 Okay 650 of you have voted to end the debate on the amendment and 43 Have have voted against so the debate on the amendment is closed So now we vote on the amendment So are you ready? Okay, we vote on the amendment get ready to vote. We'll do this On we'll do this by hand as well By raising your hand We're going to vote On the amendment if you will vote for the amendment. Do we need to read that again? Do y'all want does somebody want it read again? Why don't we do it We can show let's Oh, it's going to show it and That'll be that'll that's helpful. So this is it. So I want you to take some time to read it and we'll scroll through it If we could see the rest of the Are those all the changes? Judith Those are Okay, those are all the changes so they're before you so this is what we're voting on is the amendment to amend the resolution Item 14 on north texas.com. So I'm at this church in support of black lives matter to amend the resolution In the manner that you have seen there and has been spoken about So if you would amend the resolution with this amendment where you're going to vote Yes in a few moments if you're going to vote against the amendments Then you're we're going to give you an opportunity to vote no later. So just know this Yes, or the first votes will take and then no votes will take after we've taken the yes votes Okay, you're ready to vote in about 10 seconds if you want to vote in favor of the amendment Raise your hand now you have 10 seconds remaining to vote yes for the amendment Okay, that is closed if you would vote against the amendment that was offered and that you have seen on the screen Will you vote no now? You have 10 seconds remaining Okay, the amendment was defeated there were 296 who voted for the amendment and 413 who voted no the the resolution is before us intact as it was presented and Craig Holcomb has agreed to accept mother Emanuel For african-american Episcopal church. So we'll know that and I apologize for getting that wrong You know if that's the biggest mistake any of us make today will be okay. Yeah, I want okay We're gonna vote unless anybody wants to speak And I don't see it coming to the queue. I've not been informed anybody is Peter which what is it gary do you have gary stevens? Do you have a question? Hmm It's been done Gary be sure you unmute and then I did Yes, I did have a question bishop. It's an informational question Uh, so the line 17 through 19 State a claim of a quote of the mission of the black lives matter I've tried to look for it online to find the full text since there's a dot dot dot in the middle of the quote I wanted to see what the full mission looked like I have found several missions so far that do not match this one So I wanted to know a what the full text is and b. What is the source of the quote? so I want to help us here for a moment gary because basically you didn't get the You're not referring to the amendment. You're referring to the resolution. Is that correct? Yeah, it's an informational question on the Yeah, you said we were back on the motion, right? Yeah, okay So the question is basically that's in the document the answer to your question. I'm going to read We'll read line 17 through 19 for you Um, I have that in front of me bishop. I'm sorry so, I mean Can you help us hear what it is you're asking because I'm we need a little The the legislative item 14 line 17 19 says black lives matter mission is quote And in the middle of that quote, there's a dot dot dot which means normally the words have been left out And so I went online to find the full wording of the mission. I cannot find it So I wanted to know the full wording of the mission and what document is being quoted I got that quote off of black lives matter as I remember that I clicked on mission The dot dot dot was because there was language there that I didn't think was Was just going to make the thing the resolution longer and long experiences taught me that shorter is better Okay, but I but I went to their website. Am I still on bishop? Okay I didn't catch what you said Um, I I went to the website he referred to and it does not have that anymore. Okay Okay So we have someone who is calling the question. I understand Jeffrey Moore Okay, they're moving Jeffrey Moore Okay, Jeffrey we'll hear from you You need unmute Yes, I'm waiting for technology to catch up Move to call the previous question Okay Thank you. Is there a second? Do I hear a second in the house? So this is no debate if you uh, the previous question has been called it requires two thirds get ready to vote We're going to vote by using the hand If you will move the previous question, which is then to um, Then we'll vote the shuts off debate. Will you vote? Yes by raising your hand. Do you have 10 seconds remaining? Okay, if you would vote no, would you raise your hand? Move too quickly from yes to no I move too quickly from yeses to noes Okay, those of you now we're ready to now we're ready to vote for no if you'd vote no on calling the question Apologize for that. We will you raise your hand? We have 10 seconds remaining to vote no Okay Yes 76 Okay, it has passed the debate is closed We'll now vote on the resolution as it has been presented and amended which is the insertion of mother immanuel church Okay, if you will vote for the resolution will you We're going to take a poll on this one And will you vote yes if you oppose the resolution will you vote no? Prepare to vote on the resolution before you 10 seconds You have 10 seconds remaining to vote It's approved 481 in favor 238 against You've approved the resolution 481 to 238 Okay, it has passed Craig Holcomb the pandemic resolution now I'm going to read the resolution now in it. I refer to the date august 11th I want to make it clear that date has no significance other than it happened to be the date on which I wrote the resolution Resolution of the north texas conference of the united methodist church addressing the covet 19 pandemic Whereas as of 11 a.m. On august 28th. I'm sorry. It was august 28th not 11th 5.8 million cases of covet 19 have been confirmed in the united states of america And 180 731 deaths have been confirmed And whereas as of 11 a.m. On august 28th 2020 24.4 million cases of covet 19 have been confirmed worldwide And 831 961 deaths have been confirmed And whereas the social principles of the book of discipline of the united methodist church states quote We cannot just be observers So we care enough about people's lives to risk interpreting god's love to take a stand To call each of us into a response no matter how controversial or complex unquote And whereas containing the spread of covet 19 virus can best be achieved by all persons wearing face masks Practicing social distancing of six feet Frequently washing their hands and being tested for the virus Therefore be it resolved that the people of the north texas conference of the united methodist church Are resolute in their desire to stop covet 19 Pandemic from harming more of our brothers and sisters be it further resolved that all people should wear face masks Practice social distancing of six feet Frequently wash their hands and be tested for the virus Okay, so the resolution is before you and I see nothing in the queue I want to remind you we do have a hard stop We are to be out of here at three o'clock. It doesn't mean we end at three o'clock And so what I want to do is is you want to vote on the resolution Um, and this way you can move to the other resolutions because there's a time at which we do have to draw to a close Okay Okay, Scott Gilliland Yes, bishop. I call the question Okay, so the question's been called. It's not debatable. It requires a two-thirds vote We will take this by raising the hand So prepare to vote We have a poll on on calling the question I was right on that one. This is on raising the hand Uh So if you will uh Support calling the question will be no debate no amendments and just moving forward this will you raise your hand by voting? Yes, and a moment. We'll close that and raise our hands for no, but let's prepare to vote Vote yes to call the question Then hensley says we cannot call the question Okay So scott i'm gonna have to rule you out of order because we cannot call the question until three people have spoken per the standing rules of the north texas conference Okay So we'll listen to three people, but there was no one in the queue. So there was no one that was willing to speak So do you want to speak anybody? Does anybody coming in? okay Then i'm gonna rule that we can call the question. We're gonna start this again if you will vote. Yes to what? Dorff has a speech is that what you're saying michael dorff? Okay Okay michael dorff is moving in to speak He's in michael Bishop if you if you have ruled that we can move on I don't need to speak Well, no, it's fine. Go ahead I would just like to say that uh, I I support the resolution and I think everyone should wash their hands frequently I'm sorry to hear that you support the resolution and what and everyone should wash their hands frequently Okay, okay. Thank you So we'll now Does anybody else want to speak or we can dispense with even calling the question if you don't mind me sort of moving through this Would is that agreeable to you? I don't see anybody coming to the queue. So we're gonna vote on the resolution So if you will vote in favor of the resolution this time will you raise your hand? This is a poll You ought to watch andy and I do comedy if you think this is something Okay, so this is a poll will you vote? Yes and support of the res if you support the resolution or vote? No, if you don't support it It's a poll vote now. You have 30 seconds 10 seconds are remaining to vote Okay, you have approved this resolution 603 in favor 122 Against it's done Okay, so we have two resolutions left. That's provided we get to both of them Uh, I think we can do one. We'll see how that goes and then we'll take the second But there will be a time and where there's no way in which we can negotiate this time with st. Andrew We have to be out of here so that they can turn this room over It is the only place set up for us to do this work today And so that's the way in which we'll proceed. That's the agreement and Jessica legislative vittoria legislative Adam, excuse me. Yeah number 16 Thank you, bishop. Um, I am going to move more quickly through this than I would like because there are two pieces of legislation I'd like to get through so this particular piece of legislation relates to the Christmas Covenant, which comes from our central conferences as Kelly and Clayton mentioned in their delegation report the North Texas general conference delegation did vote in support of the Christmas Covenant a couple of things that I want to briefly say about the Christmas Covenant first The purpose of the Christmas Covenant if I was going to give a one sentence summary is to create regional conferences throughout the United Methodist Church Which um provides us an increased structural capacity to be able to minister in our own context throughout the global United Methodist Church The importance of this is that it maintains and continues our Connectional relationship throughout the global United Methodist Church and also allows us to continue our mission together um In addition, it is extremely important in my perspective that we take this action to Support the leadership of our central conferences. This comes as I said from the leadership of the central conferences. I've had the honor throughout the past year or so to be able to be present while our Central conference leaders were working on the Christmas Covenant legislation and in subsequent conversations that they've had Attempting to promote the Christmas Covenant legislation um I want to be clear on a couple of myths or Points of information that I've been asked specifically as it relates to the Christmas Covenant and the protocol And to be very clear There is nothing within the Christmas Covenant legislation that conflicts or would otherwise prohibit Support of the protocol. So if that's a concern that should not be a concern And then a logistics issue to keep in mind. This does not pass the Christmas Covenant I wish that we had that power, but we don't um, this is just a resolution Sharing with the global United Methodist Church And the general conference at the north texas conference supports the Christmas Covenant and our central conferences in bringing that forward So with that quick overview, I will Pass it to debate Okay, so this is before us So there are any first of all are there any questions of clarity or does anybody wish to speak? And I see no one in the queue. I'm going to give it a few moments to To see what happens here okay so if you Prepare rob spencer to get into the queue And he'll speak for When he speaks I think that's where he's in so rob we hear from you Yes, sir Bishop offer Conference offer a speech for the Christmas Covenant a covenant that through regionalization levels the The playing field across the globe as we continue our mission together As jessica said this covenant comes from beyond the us It comes from our sisters and brothers and central conferences specifically the philippines earlier this year It's an honor to serve on our delegation And I was very pleased that our delegation after great discussion voted unanimously to endorse the Christmas Covenant I encourage you to vote yes. Thank you Okay, any thank you. Are there any other speeches in the queue either for or against? Okay, rachel Thank you, bishop I also am rising to speak for this resolution for the Christmas Covenant. Um, I think that this is uh Precisely the time that we need to show the kind of unity and support of our global connection While still moving forward and making progress In what has held us in tension for many many years This gives us an opportunity to act in different contexts with different solutions By creating regionalization across the globe. Um, we won't We won't be able to Fully move into this in in one year, but it does move us toward um A place in the church that will have greater equity Um across across the board and so I stand in support of this motion Okay, thank you. Are there any other speeches in the queue? Jill Jackson sears I would like a point of clarification. Could you please name all of the central conferences that supported this covenant Just can you provide information on that? What central conferences supported it? So I Don't know that I can provide a complete answer on that. It was passed and comes forth from the philippine central conference. There are um other central conferences in africa that have supported it, but I don't have a comprehensive list in front of me of the Um those whose annual conferences have voted in formal support Okay, thank you. Are there other questions in the queue? Okay, so we have a motion to call the question um, this is not Uh, and actually it's not needed if there's no other debate So and we don't see any other debate so we can save a little time here and just vote whether we're going to prove this or not And so I don't see anybody raising any objections. So we're going to vote If you would vote for legislative item number 16, this is a poll If you will vote for this you will vote yes If you will not support this you will vote no We begin voting now and you have 30 seconds You have 10 seconds remaining on the vote 127 Okay, you have passed this resolution 579 in favor 170 set 20 excuse me 127 against To approve legislative item number 16, which expresses the conference's support of the christmas covenant Your delegation has already done that Okay, we can do this last resolution But if we get into a lot of debate, we're gonna sort of Be in trouble here. So just go go I promise to be as brief as a lawyer can be Okay, I've already crossed the line This resolution is in support of young or youth and young adult leaders in the church um I do want to briefly share a question that was posed by one of our youth members from epi mc de soto earlier today and um, I think this highlights why this resolution is so important and her question was in the course of debate What are the ideas of the conference to help ensure that justice within the church is served and that we people of color are heard and responded to clearly? um We still often talk about our youth and young adult leaders as if they are the church of tomorrow But the reality of the situation is that our youth and young adult leaders are the church of today just as much as they're the church of tomorrow and um, I have authored this piece of legislation with, um shannon kline and katie cannon And the purpose of this is really for the conference to recognize publicly and at a Formal level that our youth and young adults are full members of the church And we should not be using them as tokens on boards and committees and commissions that they have perspective and insight and um say in the church that it is important for us to consider and being mindful in Taking those perspectives and opinions and voices into consideration is um Is part of the imperative nature of ensuring that the church will be sustainable and inclusive going into the future and also um That we have a church to sustain because ultimately while we are the church of today We are also the church of tomorrow. So that being said, uh, it's a support and resolution in support of our young and Youth leadership and I will close it with that thank you, so I'm going to uh, I see no questions or anything else before us And I think we should just go ahead that we should proceed with voting on this resolution And so um, we're going to take the poll and I'm not trying to shut off debate But I don't know that that's really something of which you will want to debate the debate I don't want to make that judgment for you, but I would imagine that to be the case Knowing the good people you are in terms of uh, of this matter. So be ready to vote Be ready to vote If you will vote yes for resolution for this resolution in the poll Legislative item number 17 supporting young leadership resolution. Will you vote? Yes If you're not in favor of this resolution, you may vote no in the poll Prepare to vote. We will vote now. You have 30 seconds You have 10 remaining seconds to vote 654 in favor 60 60 zero Okay, so it passes the res the resolution passes 654 four And 60 against so that passes this concludes the business that we have before us Let me close with a couple of quick things and I know we have to move on I want to say that in many ways this has been an experiment and we've been building a bridge as we move for it across it and I said earlier that We changed the date and we changed the date and then we changed the way in which this would happen I cannot thank The st. Andrew united methodist church of staff and we've we've called them and I don't know where kyle fote is or Kaye richardson are y'all in the back of the room before there's k And so let me let me just wait wait. Yeah, okay So we want to give you some thanks and um We appreciate it very much. Okay. I'll be in touch on behalf of the annual conference. I owe you lunch Oh cow lunch That's about all the lunches. I think I owe But if I may need some more or we'll just get robert to take us all the lunch But anyway, I want to say I cannot thank st. Andrew enough. I mean they At some great expense on their own, you know, we we did this and we All of the staff I want to thank our communication staff and some of our Some of our extended cabinet has been helping feel questions and do run the Back of the house in terms of what you see on the screen and things of that nature and monitor the questions And correct me when I've been wrong. So they've been very very busy today And I want to thank you I want to thank the wonderful people of the north texas conference who've hung in here today with us I understand that I've got to see the video of the lady a session a laity session yesterday I hear it was just outstanding and I think we will post that on the website Much of what you have seen and some of you some of what was Prepared for you to see after annual conference will be on the website We will send you notifications of that and so I want to say that I think we've given good work Considering the time in which we had the manner in which we were able to do it And it just goes to show that We are more adaptable than we sometimes think so. Thank you all for being present I hope that you have a wonderful celebration Sabbath tomorrow. I want to say that church is the metro district. You'll be hearing from From me and from deborahob's mason this coming week And as we open churches remember the protocol stay in place mask Physical distancing I assume everybody washes their hands. I mean, I hope you listen to your mother growing up That's the guess the one I was saying wash your hands and there'll be no singing I mean, we are going to make sure that not one church in the north texas conference The diamond this church is a spreader And that means that most of our people will be very safe at least from going to church God bless you. I simply want to offer this simple benediction to you It is as if the world is changing and moving Under our feet It seems as if we cannot keep pace with this rapid change that is happening And the cobit 19 virus probably has accelerated that in ways. We did not know what happened and we Probably will come from this. We will have learned more Been much more adaptive in terms of what we do and been much more imaginative I cannot think of a pandemic ever being a blessing in any shape form or fashion I can think that the responses you the clergy in the lathe of the north texas conference have made during this time Have been a blessing And i'm reminded about the apostle paul's words. So let's be careful about what we ascribe to god and that is We know That in everything it's not that god wills everything but in everything god is still able to work for good with those who love god According to his purposes Friends, thank you for being the willing instrument of god's good effective grace And a time that we can't believe has happened, but it's still going on God bless you god bless the church of the north texas conference and i so deeply appreciate being able to serve You as your bishop god bless you. Good afternoon