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General and Jurisdictional delegates from the North Central Jurisdiction (NCJ), meeting in suburban Chicago, have released the following statement:
Gathering on November 8 and 9, 2019, in a crucial moment in the life of The United Methodist Church, we, 140 members present and voting from the North Central Jurisdiction’s Annual Conference delegations and the North Central Jurisdiction’s Mission Council, through honest, prayerful dialogue discerned the following:
ADOPTED November 9, 2019
80% support, 18% does not support, 2% abstain
The statement was written during a Pre-General Conference gathering. The 177 delegates, alternates, and the Mission Council from around the Jurisdiction were guided through small group discussions and open conversations. While officially non-binding, the statement was adopted by a vote of YES: 80% NO: 18% ABSTAIN: 2%
NCJ Mission Council Chairperson, Ryan M. Russell described the outcome
“As the chair of the Mission Council, I had some concrete hopes for the gathering. As the body worked together, the spirit of openness and respect was present even with some disagreement. I am heartened that we as the United Methodist in the NCJ were able to come to a commonplace with the document adopted by this gathering.”
The North Central Jurisdiction includes Northern Illinois, Dakotas, East Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, West Ohio, and Wisconsin Annual Conferences.
The 2020 General Conference will take place May 5-15 in Minneapolis, and the 2020 North Central Jurisdictional Conference will take place July 15-18 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. At General Conference, delegates play a key role in making decisions that impact the future of The United Methodist Church, and at Jurisdictional Conference, delegates elect bishops.
For more information:
Contact Jim Searls
NCJ Mission Council, Communications Coordinator
jsearls10@gmail.com
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