wfn.org | Confessing Movement issues message to United Methodist Church

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

April 21, 1998	Contact: Joretta Purdue*(202)546-8722*Washington
10-21-28-71B{238}  

TULSA, Okla.  (UMNS) - A movement within the United Methodist Church is
sending a message to the denomination and its bishops calling for
renewal and a return to Wesleyan standards.  A special session of the
denomination's top legislative body is also being called for to deal
with matters related to same-sex unions. 

The message was approved with considerable discussion but few dissenting
votes at the Confessing  Movement's April 16-18 meeting here.
Approximately 1,000 people were in attendance.

The movement of evangelicals, which began four years ago, emphasizes
confessing Jesus as the sole route to salvation, Scripture as the
written word of God, and a return to Wesleyan devotional and doctrinal
tradition.

The message from the conference was produced by a writing team using
recommendations of 19 small group sessions. In presenting the material
for a vote, the Rev. Bill Hinson, pastor of First United Methodist
Church in Houston,  observed that some points represented general
agreement but that recommendations from the groups were at odds on some
of the nine items.

Six points addressed to the whole church ranged from a call for fasting
and prayer for renewal of the denomination to a demand that the United
Methodist Board of Global Ministries and other agencies rid themselves
of "exorbitant reserves." 

Although at least one small group of evangelicals has expressed its
intention to leave the denomination, the message includes a declaration
of the movement's intention to stay while calling for certain changes.

Three items addressed specifically to the bishops expressed support for
evangelicals in the California-Nevada and the Nebraska annual (regional)
conferences, endorsed a call for a special session of  the church's
highest legislative body to deal with issues around same-sex unions, and
asked the bishops to hold each other accountable in teaching and
defending the doctrinal and ethical standards of the denomination.

Participants in the Tulsa meeting said they wanted to make sure the
bishops receive the Confessing Movement's message before the Council of
Bishops convenes  for its semi-annual meeting April 25-May 1 in Lincoln,
Neb.  A cover letter will inform the bishops of the Confessing
Movement's intention to pray and fast for the council.

The movement's statement asks the bishops "to hear carefully and respond
compassionately to the agony experienced by evangelical pastors and
laity" particularly in the California-Nevada Annual Conference, where a
small group have indicated an intention to separate from the
denomination, and the Nebraska Annual Conference, where a recent church
trial acquitted the Rev. Jimmy Creech for disobeying the order and
discipline of the church when he performed a same-sex union ceremony.
"We are embarrassed and shaken that some in those conferences feel they
can no longer in conscience remain within the connection," the message
says.

In its second point addressed to the bishops, the movement expressed
support for the calls by  Bishops Marion Edwards of  the North Carolina
Annual Conference and G. Lindsey Davis of  the North Georgia Annual
Conference and their respective cabinets seeking a special session of
General Conference, the church's highest legislative body "to deal with
the current crisis regarding same-sex unions." 

"To postpone resolution of this crisis until the year 2000 is completely
unacceptable," the group said.

Its third point begged the Council of Bishops to hold each other
accountable in teaching and defending the doctrinal and ethical
standards in The Book of Discipline, the denomination's book of history,
doctrinal statements, rules and regulations of organization,
administration and conduct. This statement also urged the bishops to
exercise their role as teachers as specified in the Discipline.

First in the six items addressed to the whole church is a statement that
God alone can heal the rifts in the denomination. This statement is
accompanied by an invitation to all United Methodists to join in fasting
and  regular prayer for renewal of the church.

The second general item is a call to all United Methodists to be
faithful to Scripture and loyal to the doctrinal standards and ethical
teachings of The Book of Discipline. This point also contains a
declaration that the Confessing Movement is within the United Methodist
Church and intends to stay there.

"We who affirm the classical Wesleyan standards far outnumber those who
oppose them," the document asserts. "Our mission is to enable the United
Methodist Church to retrieve its classical, doctrinal identity and to
live it out as disciples of Jesus Christ."

The next point declares, "We are convinced that both Scripture and The
Book of Discipline are quite clear in rejecting the practice of
homosexuality and the [performance] of same-sex unions." Weakening of
these biblical and disciplinary standards would force members of the
movement to reconsider their commitments to the denomination, the
message says, adding that their first loyalty is to scriptural holiness
and divine revelation in Jesus Christ.

A fourth point asks the General Conference to provide relief for those
who are unwilling to live under the doctrinal and ethical standards of
the Discipline. The message supports amicable exits for clergy and
congregations, including equitable settlement of pension, property and
institutional resource questions.

One of the remaining points accuses churchwide and annual conference
boards and agencies of expending funds "in ways that are sometimes
contrary to Scripture, disciplinary standards and good stewardship" and
concluding that local congregations have reason to reconsider their
commitment to apportionments - the church's present system of allocating
the cost of administration and ministry beyond the local church. 

"We believe the present exorbitant reserves of the General Board of
Global Ministries and other agencies effectively isolates them from
accountability and is an affront to the financial faithfulness of the
local churches," says the remaining item. "This is unacceptable and must
be corrected."

The full text of the message can be found at
http://www.iquest.net/~confessingumc which is the Confessing Movement's
web site.

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
Releases and photos also available at
http://www.umc.org/umns/