November 2023 – Memorial 857 Update
During its 150th session, a report on legal counsel’s review of amended Memorial 857: WITHDRAWING FROM THE DENOMINATION, recommended by the Memorial 857 study committee and approved by the General Board in May 2023, was received by the General Board as information. The amended memorial will be considered by the General Conference Committee on Memorials in preparation for the 15th General Conference, May 17-20, at Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Indiana.
May 2023 – Memorial 857 Update
The General Board gratefully received and acted on the Memorial 857 “Approval Process for Withdrawing from the Denomination” Task Force’s final report presenting four recommendations. The General Board was unable to act on the first recommendation, an editorial amendment to The Discipline requiring General Conference action. The General Board, which serves as the General Conference Committee on Memorials, will present the Task Force’s recommendation as submitted to the 2026 General Conference. Additional work groups may be formed to examine other aspects of the Approval Process for Withdrawing from the Denomination; each comprised of individuals with specific, relevant expertise. The General Board acted on the other three recommendations: approving for immediate implementation edits to General Board Policy on Church Discipline paragraph 5004 Conflict Resolution and 5425 General Board of Review Organization and Procedure, and approving a motion to clarify and strengthen TWC’s position regarding gender identity.
A recap of the May 2023 General Board meeting is available here: https://www.wesleyan.org/general-board-convenes-149th-session
December 2022 – Memorial 857 Update
The study committee reported to the General Board during its 147th session. A recap of the 147th session of the General Board is available here: General Board convened for final 2022 session – The Wesleyan Church
June 2022 – Memorial 857 Update
On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, the North American General Conference of The Wesleyan Church passed a motion with support was made to refer Memorial 857 to a study committee.
The motion was amended to including members from each of the six districts that submitted a memorial regarding these issues. The motion to amend was adopted. (Yes 234, No 95)
The motion was then amended requiring the committee to report to the General Board within the next twelve months. The motion to amend was adopted. (Yes 218, No 108)
The amended motion to refer Memorial 857 was adopted. (Yes 213, No 109)
