Friday, April 25, 2008

Madam Secretary

This evening in Fort Worth, Texas I was elected Secretary of the Sub-committee on Human Sexuality of the Church & Society II Legislative Committee of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church. I would now ask that you address me by my proper title: The Secretary of Sex.
The S.O.S. had a very full day at General Conference today. The highlight had to be the first ever young person's address (and they were so prophetic and honest it could very well be the last). A young person finally said the words, "sexual orientation", "homosexual", "inclusion of gay people". And you won't believe it but the ceiling didn't fall in. However, the Spirit did descend.
I had to wait about twenty-four hours after conference began for us to finally organize as legislative committees, but when we finally did things moved right along. We elected officers, formed subcommittees and began meeting. As I said above, I am serving on the Sub-committee of Human Sexuality, which is exactly why I think I am supposed to be here. Tomorrow we'll start organizing the petitions and discussing how we want to forward them on to the entire legislative committee and then to the entire conference. By Sunday night we'll be done with our work as a legislative committee. In other words, this will be what is know as a loooong weekend.
I am sorry that I couldn't attend the Transgender info press conference today. But I just watched some of it at www.generalconference2008.org. It looks great. And, several petitions dealing with gender and trans people have been assigned to my committee, so I'm glad about that.
Tomorrow will be almost all legislative committee meetings, so I don't what I'll be able to write about or share. We also will learn who the bishops are nominating for Judicial Council. That will be very important because most people base votes on those suggestions.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear SoS:
Great blogs! Keep up the good work, but get some sleep. Pls check gift shop for UMC fuzzy dice. Sounds like you packed that extra suitcase of patience and good humor (wrinkled between peace and power). You're in our thoughts.

Allen Ewing-Merrill said...

Keeping you all in my prayers as you are striving to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God at General Conference. Peace.