IESDG (Inter-Ethnic Strategy and Development Group) requests and urges the Commission on General Conference that the legislation on regionalization coming from Central Conferences, be the first matter to be deliberated in General Conference 2020, followed by the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation.
All the plans and legislations offered for considerations to our General Conference this year are intricate and complex. As such, it mandates an incremental and intentional process in order to provide a space for constructive conferencing and discernment that will allow a gracious path forward.
IESDG is also asking that the Commission on General Conference take such action as necessary to include all other supplementary legislations and priorities, as dictated by these primary petitions.
“We need to give priority to the Christmas Covenant petitions coming from our Central Conferences, if we truly want to be a Global Church that is connected for mission and at the same time promotes self-determination and equity in each of our different contexts,” says Rev. Lyssette N. Perez, Chair of IESDG and President of MARCHA.
IESDG is working together with all the Racial Ethnic United Methodist plans. All the caucuses are in support of the recommended process.
“I support the process of regionalization and the protocol because it aligns with the mission, vision, and values of BMCR,” says Deborah Dangerfield of BMCR, Inc.
IESDG represents the five (5) national racial ethnic caucuses of The United Methodist Church:
- Black Methodist for Church Renewal (BMCR)
- Methodist Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic/Latino American (MARCHA)
- National Federation of Asian American United Methodists (NFAAUM)
- Native American International Caucus (NAIC)
- Pacific Islander National Caucus of United Methodists (PINCUM)
Since its inception in 1992, IESDG have endeavored to remain true to the charge, “to strategize toward the renewal of The UMC in recognition of the gifts of racial/ethnic minority persons and to advocate for justice ministries within the Church and the world,” among other things. IESDG feels the great urgency of the time and it is committed to continue to seek God’s preferred future.
I believe the IESDG is missing an opportunity to be a prophetic voice in the denomination by not publically extending ” a hand” to those who have been “left out of the tent”, the LGBT community. It seems to me that this statement disregards the enormous injustice that the UMC, as a denomination, is making.
As people of color, we need to convey the message that we know what it feels to be ostracised and know what it means to be marginalized. Therefore, we need to use this opportunity as a teaching moment and maybe show what God’s grace is all about.
Therefore, a preamble is needed to provide the right context.