Home > Stay Connected > Global Youth Convocation > Legislative Assembly

Global Young People's Convocation and Legislative AssemblyDecember 28, 2006 - January 1, 2007
Johannesburg, South Africa

Legislative Assembly

During the convocation there were opportunities for Jurisdiction and Central Conference delegations and individuals to propose, discuss, and vote on legislation in a forum known as the United Methodist Young People's Legislative Assembly. The goal for the Legislative Assembly of the Global Young People's Convocation was that voices of young people around the world would be heard in the life of The United Methodist Church. The legislation that came forth reflected the purpose of gathering young people from all over the world to recognize and respond to the needs of young people across the globe. It shall help the Church gain a greater cultural understanding of young people and the issues they face and provide a way to capture the voice of young people raising their joys, concerns, hopes and dreams for the Church.

Anyone could submit resolutions. Legislation was grouped by topic and all legislation, petitions, and programming were in accordance with ¶806.9 and ¶806.10 of the 2004 Book of Discipline of The UMC. Legislation was translated into 3-5 languages at the event.

The Legislative Assembly of the Global Young People's Convocation hoped for a process of discernment, in which the ultimate aim was to reach consensus through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Ten "Guidelines for Civility," produced by 23 participants in the second and final United Methodist "Dialogue on Theological Diversity" in February, 1998, served as important ground rules for each individual attending the Legislative Assembly of the Global Young People's Convocation. They are:

•  Respect the personhood of others, while engaging their ideas.

•  Carefully represent the views of those with whom we are in disagreement.

•  Be careful in defining terms, avoiding needless use of inflammatory words.

•  Be careful in the use of generalizations; where appropriate, offer specific evidence.

•  Seek to understand the experience out of which others have arrived at their views.

•  Exercise care that expressions of personal offense at the differing opinions of others not be used as a means of inhibiting dialogue.

•  Be a patient listener before formulating responses.

•  Be open to change in your own position and patient with the process of change in the thinking and behavior of others.

•  Make use of facilitators and mediators.

•  Always remember that people are defined, ultimately, by their relationship with God--not by the flaws we discover, or think we discover, in their views and actions.

Attempting to discuss complex issues without advance preparation can work against the primary goal of "unity of the spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). However, we believe that Christians may discuss important issues without acrimonious debate and traditional parliamentary maneuvering which can divide a group into contending factions. We want to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit in all things, and avoid making decisions in a fashion that leaves some feeling like winners, and others like losers.

An information session was provided at the Legislative Assembly of the Global Young People's Convocation before the first Legislative session for the purpose of providing background and understanding of the legislative process.

During the Global Young People's Convocation, there were several times for all participants to discuss every resolution based on the topics of the resolutions. The purpose of these times was to provide a setting in which each various points of view on the resolutions can be expressed and heard. The ultimate goal was to provide everyone with insight on how the proposed resolutions could reflect the issues, perspectives and wisdom of young people around the world. During these times, groups remained mindful of including all voices present (age, race, status, country of origin, delegates, non-delegates, etc.). Staff representatives of the Global Young People's Convocation served as facilitators for each discussion time.

Throughout this process, each delegate prayerfully considered each resolution submitted with an intent to discern the leading of the Holy Spirit at the Legislative Assembly of the Global Young People's Convocation.

Voting occurred at the final legislative session on Sunday afternoon. Only delegates of the Legislative Assembly voted although non-delegates had voice. This practice maintains the continuity and equal representation by jurisdictions and central conferences that existed at the Legislative Assembly of the Global Young People's Convocation. Robert's Rules of Order was implemented for the final decision voting on the legislation.

Bishop Warner Brown and co-chairs of the Division on Ministries with Young People, Violet Mango and Theon Johnson, III, convened the resolution process of the Legislative Assembly.

To become an official position of the Legislative Assembly of the Global Young People's Convocation, two thirds of the votes cast at the Legislative Assembly of the Global Young People's Convocation must be in support of the resolution.

Legislation adopted by the Legislative Assembly was either referred to the Division on Ministries with Young People or sent to the General Conference of The United Methodist Church carrying the name "United Methodist Young People's Legislative Assembly."

Legislative Results - English

Download the Guide to Legislation, including the legislation number, the title of the legislation, the voting result, and the action.

Need a different language?