Two Chattanoogans will join Christians all over the world in watching the proceedings of a historic meeting this week that could change the future of The United Methodist Church.
Becky Hall and Bob Lockaby will serve as delegates representing the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church at the denomination’s General Conference Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis, Mo.
The General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church.
The nearly 900-member international assembly will meet in a special session to attempt to move the denomination past its decades-long struggle with issues around homosexuality.
Delegates will consider plans that could strengthen the denomination’s current ban on same-sex unions and gay clergy – or change the law to be more inclusive of the LGBTQ community. The proposed plans offer ways for the denomination to stay together or to split.
Ms. Hall is a member at Christ United Methodist Church in East Brainerd, and Bob Lockaby is a member at Ooltewah United Methodist Church.
“The United Methodist Church has a history of spreading the Gospel and being in mission with local communities, regions, and around the world,” said Ms. Hall. “It is an honor to be elected as a delegate for Holston, but with that comes an incredible responsibility.”
Holston Conference includes 872 United Methodist congregations with 160,000 members in East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and North Georgia. The organization’s central office is located in Alcoa, Tn.
For more information about the United Methodist Church’s special General Conference, visit gc2019.umc.org.