Dear Bishop Jones,

We, the undersigned faithful members and constituents of the Texas Annual Conference, ask that you honor the moratorium set forth in the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation, commencing immediately, in an effort to avoid further harm to LGBTQ United Methodists and their families, as well as the larger LGBTQ community. We ask that you state publicly your agreement to do so.

As you are aware, the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation (the “Protocol”) which you stated “deserves our support as the least bad way forward,” includes a moratorium on the complaint process for violations of the Book of Discipline relating to LGBTQ matters. The Protocol legislation, once adopted, dictates that the moratorium begin at the adjournment of General Conference. In addition, the Protocol agreement includes a current call to action, a commitment in good faith by all who support it that “all administrative or judicial processes addressing restrictions in the Book of Discipline related to self-avowed practicing homosexuals or same-sex weddings should be held in abeyance beginning January 1, 2020.”

The Protocol Mediation Team, along with additional bishops and annual conferences have agreed to this voluntary advance moratorium and began this practice at the first of this calendar year. We support the moratorium as the best way to avoid adding harm during this in-between-time, now extended by a global pandemic. Given your support of the Protocol, we invite and urge you to join this effort - to stop adding harm, by means of the voluntary moratorium outlined in the Protocol until General Conference is able to meet and take next steps.