WHEREAS, the Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church voted to allow 294 local churches to disaffiliate from the TAC in 2022,
WHEREAS, the Texas Annual Conference of the UMC is recovering from a season of conflict, division, power politics, and competition,
WHEREAS, though this kind of culture might have benefited a few, it has not served us well as a whole, and has left us divided, fractured, and dismayed, rather than united, focused, and hopeful,
WHEREAS, those remaining in the Texas Annual Conference of the UMC affirm our faith in Jesus Christ, who gives us hope of resurrection and is always making things new,
WHEREAS, we renew our commitment to the Scriptures and the historic creeds of the church, which remind us to not lose heart because the Spirit is moving,
WHEREAS, it is a new day in the Texas Annual Conference, with the opportunity before us to shed our old ways of being, to repent of our sins, and to embrace the revival that the Spirit is stirring in our midst,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Annual Conference moves forward in a spirit of hope and embraces a season of reformation for making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in this season of reformation, we commit to the revitalization of The United Methodist Church through planting new ministries, and through structural reform and to the revitalization of our relationships with one another as a connectional people.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Annual Conference works for a culture marked by compassion, courage, and companionship, such that the following measures are true in our life together:
● Annual Conference is an occasion of reunion marked with joy and hospitality
● Districts are strengthened by the sharing of knowledge and resources between congregations
● Clergy health is improved because of deep, meaningful friendships
● Young clergy and candidates for ministry find and connect with mentors, who equip them for a life of friendship.
Respectfully Submitted,
Nathan Londsdale Bledsoe
Emily Chapman
Lindsay Kirkpatrick
Seann Duffin
Brandi Horton
David Horton
DeAndre Johnson
Preston Morgan