<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><head><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml><o:OfficeDocumentSettings><o:AllowPNG/><o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch></o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--></head><body><div>I wasn't there @ the UMC's disastrous 2016 General Conference. But here's an account from <a href="https://um-insight.net/perspectives/why-i-m-not-afraid-of-the-gracious-exit/">Rev. Bryan Butcher</a>, who was. Turns out that where we are as the UMC is entirely due to (you guessed it!) our colleague George Howard. Who, like Superman, managed to stop the runaway train with his bare hands. Plus a lot of clout!</div><div><br></div><div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 12.899999618530273px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16.899999618530273px; line-height: 30.757999420166016px;">"But you don't have to be an actuary to understand United Methodist math. <b>Barring an appeal from the most trusted and respected American United Methodist in all of Africa (thank you George Howard)</b>, the era of Book of Discipline "fuzzy enforcement" would have been over. Parts of the A&W Plan, which is essentially the new "Accountability Option", were speeding toward consideration on the floor of General Conference, while the previous forms of the "Local Option" and the more-complicated-than-algebra "Autonomous-Affiliated-Jurisdictional-Or-Whatever-It-Is Option" languished in committee. <b>Only George's motion, which swung enough African delegation votes after Adam Hamilton's motion failed, stopped that train from reaching the station.</b></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 12.899999618530273px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16.899999618530273px; line-height: 30.757999420166016px;">"Which brings me back to the subject of United Methodist math.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 12.899999618530273px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16.899999618530273px; line-height: 30.757999420166016px;">"In 2019 virtually the same delegations from all the various conferences from around the world will convene in St. Louis <b>to take up what George Howard's motion delayed for three years.</b> At that gathering the same three options - accountability, local, and the other one - will finally come up for vote. Only this time, the progressive wing of the denomination is more defiant and the conservative wing is more organized and determined.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 12.899999618530273px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16.899999618530273px; line-height: 30.757999420166016px;">"The math will be the same."</p></div><div><span><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16.899999618530273px;">I don't know whether even George Howard can stop this runaway train. In time. This time around. Next February.</span></span></div><div><font color="#454545" face="Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><br></span></font></div><div><font color="#454545" face="Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif" size="3"><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69);">Marshall</span></font></div><div><br></div><div><span><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16.899999618530273px;">If you're at all interested in the Methodist Meltdown, read more from Bryan Butcher here:</span></span></div><div><a href="https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/a-way-forward/six-things-united-methodists-need-to-do-now-if-their-pastor-/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/a-way-forward/six-things-united-methodists-need-to-do-now-if-their-pastor-/</a><span><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16.899999618530273px;"><br></span></span></div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/a-way-forward/why-centrist-and-progressive-clergy-need-to-have-the-talk-wi/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_5487650956">Why Centrist and Progressive Clergy Need To Have "The Talk" With Their Lay Leaders</a><br></div><div><br></div><div id="ydpd6960c5benhancr_card_5487650956" class="ydpd6960c5byahoo-link-enhancr-card ydpd6960c5bymail-preserve-class ydpd6960c5bymail-preserve-style" style="max-width: 400px; 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line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">Why Centrist and Progressive Clergy Need To Have "The Talk" With Their L...</h2><p class="ydpd6960c5bcard-richinfo-primary" style="font-size:12px;line-height:16px;margin:0 0 4px 0;color:#979ba7">Bryan Bucher</p><p class="ydpd6960c5bcard-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 155, 167);">Centrist and progressive United Methodists need to plan, as the Wesleyan Covenant Association has, for the possi...</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a><div class="loadingSpinnerContainer" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.298039);"><div class="D_F F_n gl_C ab_C H_6MGW o_h"><div class="W_6MGW H_6MGW D_X ah_1PEzoz" data-test-id="loading_indicator"><svg class="W_6MGW H_6MGW ah_Zq6hUs" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="24" height="24"><path class="cdPFi_n cZ13pKbK_Z2aVTcY cZ1XO2Ji_dRA c2abBOT_EY cZ1vNhDV_rd cZV8aCd_pI ah_14s73" d="M12,22C6.477,22,2,17.523,2,12S6.477,2,12,2"></path><path class="cdPFi_n cZ13pKbK_Z2aVTcY cZ1XO2Ji_dRA c2abBOT_EY cZ1vNhDV_rd cZV8aCd_pI ah_14s73" d="M12,2c5.523,0,10,4.477,10,10s-4.477,10-10,10"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); 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