This morning we elected the new Judicial Council members.  They are:

Laity:
Angela Brown (California-Nevada)
Reuben Reyes (Philippines)

Clergy:
Kathi Austin-Mahle (Minnesota)
F. Belton Joyner (North Carolina)
William B. Lawrence (North Texas)

This slate of candidates were proposed by about 50 delegates (from US and central conferences) because they will offer a fair and balanced view.  They also strongly support a unified denomination.  What’s even better about this election is that Mary Daffin and Rev. Keith Boyette, two former judicial council members, were only elected as some of the last alternates. They supported the decision the judicial council made last quadrennium to allow pastors to discriminate against membership.

We also accomplished the following today:

• Commissioned a study to reorganize the UMC to reflect our denomination’s world-wide nature (the study will look at making the US a regional conference)
• Commissioned a hymnal revision committee (which the 2012 General Conference may or may not choose to adopt)
• Adopted or rejected all petitions with financial implications!
• Wasted A LOT of time debating how to save time (UMs love to debate  anything and everything!)

Tomorrow will be another busy day.  I imagine we’ll be dealing with a lot of church and society issues - abortion, homosexuality, immigration, war doctrine… the list goes on! Also, tomorrow President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, a United Methodist herself, will address the General Conference.   President Bush was also invited to speak to the General Conference, but he declined the offer.

Good night!