Bishop Lanettte Plambeck.

If I were to sum up our time here in Charlotte with two words, they would be: holy conferencing. This means of God’s grace has been evident each day of General Conference. United Methodist delegates from around the world have moved intentionally through items on the consent calendars. Discussions of the body have been grace-filled. Votes demonstrate unity of the world-wide Church with overwhelming majorities.

We have celebrated our full-communion relationship with the Moravian Church (North and South) and taken a major step toward creating the same relationship with the Episcopal Church. We established that each conference will identify a coordinator for creation care. We have already adopted large portions of the Revised Social Principles. Regionalization has passed. 

Delegates have also voted to embrace full inclusion in its many forms, youth were ensured representation on the Comission on General Conference, and our LGTBQ+ siblings were affirmed as persons of sacred worth, with restrictions on ordination and marriage removed. We celebrated the consecration of deaconesses and home missioners. We peacefully showed support for Palestine, paused to pray for all conflict in the world, and lamented the damage done by sexual abuse and partner violence. We will continue to celebrate and live into beloved community.

We have affirmed that all means all in The United Methodist Church. Churches can determine how their own facilities are made available for weddings, and the right and responsibility to officiate marriages—including same-gender marriages—is the decision of each clergyperson after counseling with the couple.

We have heard amazing preaching—including in today’s opening worship that was led by Bishop David Wilson, our first Native American bishop. 

We give thanks to God for guiding us toward the creation of the kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. To God be the glory.