Oh, my. Seek first to understand. Our General Conference proposed Rule 44, a process for Christian conversation that allows everyone to be part of small group interaction to generate a multi-layered and multi-faceted response to key legislation. The United Methodist Church has painted itself into a corner by so poorly employing and executing Robert’s Rules of Order, that it is desperately looking for alternative ways to make big decisions with a mob of people. The effort is backfiring badly. But why?
When leadership and participant body lack a fundamental understanding how group decision-making works, it is hard to generate a positive outcome. The end result is rarely better than the system designed to produce it. Execute an inappropriate system poorly, you will not get great outcomes. We have forgotten how to speak together in meaningful ways. That’s on us. We live in a winner/loser culture that has long abandoned civil discourse. That’s on us, too. We are navigating a new day in a new global culture in a new paradigm of messaging and mass media by employing 70, 100, and 200 year-old processes. Once more, on us. But the devil we know is so much more comfortable than the devil we don’t. Change is hard. And this year’s General Conference is proof-positive that United Methodists are all too human, and we resist change and do not like things we do not know.
So, where does this leave us? We will move backwards into the future. We will do what we have always done ineffectively, and we will continue to complain. And in four years, we will probably do it all again. But, by God’s grace, may we learn a little something, and next time do it better. We shall see.
The vote on Rule 44? Yes – , No – . The No’s have it.
Categories: General Conference, The United Methodist Church
United Methodeviations 
Days after the defeat of rule 44 and I still remain sad. Your article highlights a sad commentary on where we are as a General Conference. I believe people do not want to have conversation around the will of God. Much easier to create situations with either/or, black and white, yes or no etc. what we lost in Rule 44 was a creative way to give voice to the Holy Spirit and see the awesome power of God moving in our words and actions. Just as important, we lost the opportunity to start building trust again. We lost the chance to hear and understand what is important to each other. We lost the chance to show respect to brothers and sisters in Christ (all of whom are seeking to be faithful). We lost a chance to witness positively to the world on how a family resolves differences in a healthy way. We failed to grasp a God-given moment. We failed.
Not sure any of those voting against Rule 44 should be allowed to complain their congregations are unwilling to change or try new things.
Unbelievably disappointing. God created us to be better than this–we can’t even talk together?
Sorry. Should be shades OF Donald Trump here.
I weep for us. Totally agree that we are now only winners or losers. Shades on Donald Trump here.
Black or white, majority rule has got to go. We won’t be able to see anything new if we stick to the old. We have got to find a new way of doing things – where we actually listen to one another and move from there.