__________________ CONFEERENCE RESOLUTON
Resolved, that the 2011 ___________ Conference of The United Methodist Church
endorse the following resolution and forward it to the 2012 General Conference for its
consideration:
Total Number of Pages: 2
Suggested Title: "General Conference to Meet in Places That Oppose Capital
Punishment"
New Resolution
General Church Budget Implications: None
Global Implications: Yes
WHEREAS,
The Methodist Church from 1956 to 1968, and The United Methodist Church,
since its beginning in 1968, have steadfastly opposed capital punishment; and
WHEREAS,
the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church state that "the death
penalty denies the power of Christ to redeem, restore and transform all human beings"
and that "we oppose the death penalty (capital punishment) and urge its elimination from
all criminal codes" (¶ 164 G, The Book of Discipline, 2008); and
WHEREAS,
the General Conference of 2000 called for "an immediate moratorium on
carrying out of the death penalty sentence," and this request was renewed by the General
Conference of 2008 (Resolution 5036) ; and
WHEREAS,
the General Conference of 2004 established a clear policy that the process of
selecting places for United Methodist meetings should reflect our social witness
(Resolution 3327), and the General Conference of 2012 was changed from Richmond to
Tampa as a way of bearing this witness (UM Office of Public Information), and
WHEREAS,
over 150 municipalities in the United States with a total population of over
28,000,000 have called for a moratorium on executions (Equal Justice, USA), including
large cities in all five jurisdictions of The United Methodist Church in the USA, a few
examples of which are San Francisco (Western), Detroit (North Central), Pittsburgh
(Northeastern), St. Louis (South Central), and Nashville (Southeastern);
Therefore, be it resolved that

It is the policy of The United Methodist Church to hold all of its General
Conference sessions only in a state, territory, district, municipality, or nation that
either has no death penalty or has made an official statement opposing it or
calling for a moratorium on it.

If for extraordinary reasons the Commission on the General Conferences must
select a meeting site that does not comply with this policy, the Commission shall
state the reasons for the exception in its announcement of its choice.

The Commission on the General Conference shall inform the appropriate
governing bodies, such as city councils or county commissioners, of sites that
have already been chosen to host General Conference about this policy and
encourage them to achieve compliance.

The 2012 General Conference of The United Methodist Church call on its other
conferences, on its boards, commissions, agencies, and institutions, and on
caucuses and unofficial groups related to the Church a) to hold their meetings in
places that either have no death penalty or have made an official statement
opposing it or calling for a moratorium on it; and b) when this is not possible, to
encourage their host municipalities to take a stand opposing capital punishment
in some way.
References:
Equal Justice, USA, Quixote Center, Hyattsville, MD, "Municipalities that have called for a Moratorium on
Executions" (http://ejusa.org/act/resolutions/tally-municipal).
Resolution 3327, "Respecting the Native American Legacy and Tradition," The Book of Resolutions of The
United Methodist Church, 2004, 360-61; 2008, 442.
Resolution 5036, "Seek Moratorium on Capital Punishment," The Book of Resolutions of The United
Methodist Church, 2008, 686-87.
United Methodist Communications, "2012 United Methodist General Conference Moved to Tampa;
Richmond Removed Because of Sports Team's Indian Name," February16, 2006
(http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2041977&ct=3287445).
[DATE, SIGNATURE, IDENTIFICATION, PHONE]
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