2019, the year the LGBT United Methodists of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference have to wait for justice, or at least that's what they told us. On June 15th- June 17th I attended the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, I went in hoping that this would be the time for a change especially after the incident with Karen Oliveto. I was hoping that the majority that wanted equality in the church would finally win. I had the hope that I would come back home and write an article of celebration. That is not the case.
Instead of an article of celebration, I am writing an article of anger and disappointment. LGBT United Methodists were told that we would have to wait until 2019 for any sort of justice, we have to wait two more years before we are accepted in Eastern Pennsylvania. As I looked around the room I saw faces of anger, disgust, and hopelessness, at least those were the faces of those who have suffered. This was supposed to be the year for change, but it was not. We continue to suffer.
Why do we have to wait till 2019? After the incident with Karen Oliveto, a committee was formed to help pave a way forward for equality in the church. The committee is called Paving the Way Forward. The committee was designed to address the issue of equality in the United Methodist Church, which would be a reason to celebrate if we did not have to wait until 2019 for their proposal. They have to present their decision the General Conference which meets every 4 years, will be held in 2019.
Despite this news, we tried to pass some resolutions that would bring equality to Eastern Pennsylvania. Each and every resolution was either voted to be set aside until the committee presents their decision in 2019 or withdrawn completely. The resolutions were either met with so much debate that someone finally made a motion to set it aside or there were many amendments added by voters that the entire resolution was gutted to the point where it was withdrawn.
It is time now for equality Eastern Pennsylvania. Two years is too long for us to wait. We will not stop fighting even though you want us to. We will not wait another year. We are getting stronger and stronger in our fight. We will win in the end. WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED.
