wfn.org | Issues That Unite, Divide

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (476
notes).

Note 472 by UMNS on Nov. 24, 1997 at 16:11 Eastern (4775 characters).

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally			 	660(10-21-28-30-71B){472}
		Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470	 		 Nov. 24, 1997

NOTE:  This story may be used as a sidebar to UMNS story #659 {471}

Dialogue participants share views
on what unites, divides the church

	NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) --  First on the agenda of a dialogue on theological
perspectives in the United Methodist Church here Nov. 20-21 was identification
of factors that have created and preserved unity in the denomination and
points of tension and difference that threaten to undermine that unity.
	Points of unity, in no order of importance and with no approval by the entire
group, included the following:
	* connectionalism, including  itineracy, episcopacy, institutional life,
conferencing and common worship resources and sacraments;
	* shared doctrinal and theological heritages;
	* loyalty to denomination;
	* personal piety and social holiness;
	* Wesleyan distinctives or emphases;
	* love of God;
	* catholic spirit;
	* evangelism and missions;
	* Bible and role of scripture;
	* inclusiveness;
	* affirmation of laity;
	* work of the Holy Spirit.
	Points of disunity  fell generally into categories related to the authority
of scripture, essential doctrines, matters of conscience and an understanding
of mission.  Specific items listed, again in no order of importance, 
included:
	* doctrine, dogma and essentials of the faith;
	* lack of agreement about how doctrine interacts with theology;
	* different views about source of religious authority, specifically
scripture;
	* how sin is understood and dealt with;
	* differences in theology;
	* scripture and biblical authority;
	* reasons given for loss in membership;
	* authority of Social Principles;
	* sexuality, including homosexuality;
	* stereotyping, misrepresentations, name-calling;
	* community vs. individual conscience as illustrated by responses to actions
taken by the General Conference;
	*  alienation of people who feel disenfranchised, including evangelicals and
homosexual people;
	*  "non-negotiable" essentials of the faith including the divinity of Jesus
Christ;
	*  mission and how it is done around the world;
	*  role of bishops and understanding of the episcopal office;
	*  language, particularly the traditional reference to the trinity (Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost);
	*  relationship of church to culture;
	*  role and authority of General Conference.
	Several items fell in both categories of issues that unite and threaten
unity.  They included the relationship between personal piety and social
holiness and what often is referred to as the Wesleyan quadrilateral.  The
latter is found in the "Our Theological Task" portion of the church's Book of
Discipline.  It encourages United Methodists to do theology, keeping in
tension Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason.  The most significant
issue surfaced here related to the primacy of scripture within the
quadrilateral formulation.
	Before the close of their first meeting, participants began to discuss what
would be necessary for the unity of the church to be sustained and disunity
avoided.
	Suggestions from individual participants, included:
	* accountability of general agencies to General Conference;
	* accountability of bishops to support General Conference actions;
	* consensus on central doctrines of the church;
	* celebration of differences without compromising basic theological
foundations;
	*  openness to the Holy Spirit as old truths are formulated in new metaphors
and language;
	* greater trust and mutual respect;
	* toned down rhetoric and stereotyping;
	* willingness to listen;
	* membership of General Conference related to population of church;
	* acceptance of the authority of scripture;
	* cessation of press conferences and reports that seem to take isolated
occurrences and make them look like widespread happenings;
	* development of consensus on mission and work of the church as a whole;
	* genuine compassion for people who may be hurt by the positions taken by the
church, specifically gay and lesbian Christians;
	* meaning of the lordship of Jesus Christ;
	* trusted, credible forum to discuss differing theological issues;
	* willingness to coexist;
	* discipleship that reflects a desire for shared standards of beliefs, not
just description of some thoughts and feelings;
	* bishop and district superintendents cease punitive actions against
congregations and pastors who can't,  because of conscience support giving to
apportionments which support some church agencies;
	* renewal of the office of bishop as crucial agent for unity of the whole
church;
* restraint in the use of inflammatory rhetoric and institutional power to
silence and stigmatize individuals who disagree.
#  #  #

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