Answer #1 (Stay UMC)
Only the General Conference speaks for the United Methodist Church. Bishops do not have a vote at General Conference and lose their ability to vote at any Conference level when they become a Bishop. District Superintendents serve for a temporary time and are not authorized to change the BOD. Like any member of the United Methodist Church a District Superintendent can submit proposals to be considered and voted upon at General Conference. Only at GC can changes be made to the BOD by a majority vote of the delegates present.
Over the past 10 years there have been very few changes to the BOD and none of them have to do with human sexuality. In the past 10 years our BOD has become more conservative.
The General Conference will convene in 2024 and will consider changes in language regarding human sexuality. This issue has been addressed in every General Conference since the 1972 General Conference. There is no way to speculate or know what or if any changes will be made.
For a copy of the online version of the current 2016 Book of Discipline please follow this link: https://www.ctcumc.org/files/fileshare/2016-book-of-discipline.pdf
Answer #2 (Pro-Disaffiliation)
Bishops and District Superintendents cannot make changes to the BOD. They can submit proposals to be considered and voted upon at General Conference. Only at GC can changes be made to the BOD by a majority vote of the delegates present.
Over the past 10 years there have been many changes to the BOD but none of them have to do with human sexuality. There is likely to be legislation presented at the 2024 GC that will challenge the UMC’s current position, added in 1972, on human sexuality.