wfn.org | Bishops say special session of General Conference unwise

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

April 30, 1998 Contact: Linda Green*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-21-28-71B{269}

 

By United Methodist News Service

LINCOLN, Neb. - The bishops of the United Methodist Church have decided
not to request a special session of the denomination's top lawmaking
body to deal with the issue of same-sex unions.

In a much-awaited pastoral letter issued April 30, the Council of
Bishops addressed the pain United Methodists across the country have
expressed as a result of a recent church trial over a same-sex union in
Nebraska. They also said they will proclaim and defend the doctrine,
order and mission of the church.

The bishops have been working on the statement throughout their weeklong
spring session, which ends May 1. More than 100 active and retired
bishops from around the world are gathered here at the regularly
scheduled meeting to connect with one another, grow in discipleship and
give direction to the church. 

On March 13, Nebraska pastor Jimmy Creech was acquitted by a jury of his
peers of being disobedient to church law after he performed a same-sex
union ceremony at First United Methodist Church in Omaha. A key question
in the trial was whether the Social Principles, which include the
proscription against same-sex unions, were guidelines or church law. The
principles are contained in the denomination's governing Book of
Discipline, but they are in a different section from the main body of
law.

After the verdict, several groups asked the Council of Bishops to
request a special session of  the General Conference to make the
church's policy against same-sex unions enforceable law.  The General
Conference is the highest legislative body of the United Methodist
Church. It meets every four years, and its next gathering will be in the
year 2000.

The bishops said that, in anticipation of a ruling by the denomination's
supreme court, they deemed it unwise to call a special session at this
point. Moreover, they said, "as we respond to the crisis in the world,
especially among children and the impoverished. . .a special session
might further distract us from our central mission.

In the letter, the bishops acknowledged the importance of the issues
surrounding homosexuality and the church's ability to maintain
discipline, order and unity. They also challenged the church "to remain
focused on the mission of God and our unity in Christ and to set
priorities accordingly." The bishops affirmed that the church's
authority and unity are "inextricably bound to our sharing of Christ's
ministry and presence among those whom Jesus called 'the least of
these.'" 

The pain United Methodists are feeling because of the homosexuality and
same-sex issue is a "call" for renewed commitment to doctrinal
foundations, the bishops said. "We solicit your prayers and support as
together we seek to anchor the church more firmly in our biblical and
theological foundations."

The bishops said they will confront matters of tension with patience and
hope. They likewise called on the entire United Methodist Church to deal
with matters concerning homosexuality and same-sex union "with
faithfulness rooted in the love of Christ, as revealed in Holy
Scripture."
 
Because of the divisiveness of the homosexuality issue, the bishops
intend to develop a teaching resource that will identify "critical
doctrinal and ecclesial foundations for addressing current and other
issues."

A complete text of the bishops' statement follows this story.

# # #

A PASTORAL STATEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
We greet you in the name of Jesus Christ who has broken down all
dividing walls of hostility and made us one with Christ, one with each
other, and one in ministry to the world.

Your bishops recognize and hear the pain within our church surrounding
the recent church trial in the Nebraska Conference and the responses to
the verdict.  We acknowledge the concerns regarding the United Methodist
Church's stand on issues, particularly homosexuality and homosexual
unions, and the church's ability to maintain discipline, order, and
unity.
 	 
While recognizing the importance of these issues, we challenge the
church to remain focused on the mission of God and our unity in Christ
and to set its priorities accordingly.  Issues within the church must
not be allowed to distract us from the missional needs of the world and
our call to make disciples of Jesus Christ.  In keeping with the New
Testament and our Wesleyan tradition, we affirm that the church's
authority and unity are inextricably bound to our sharing in Christ's
ministry with and presence among those whom Jesus called "the least of
these" (Matthew 25:45).
   	
Although the church trial in the Nebraska Conference heightened concern
among many regarding our denomination's position on homosexuality and
homosexual unions, the church's position as defined in The Book of
Discipline remains unchanged.  The Book of Discipline states:
"Homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons are individuals of
sacred worth.  All persons need the ministry and guidance of the church
in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and
emotional care of a fellowship that enables reconciling relationships
with God, with others, and with self.  Although we do not condone the
practice of homosexuality and consider the practice incompatible with
Christian teaching, we affirm that God's grace is available to all.  We
commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons."  Further,
the Discipline states, "Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions
shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in
our churches."  Furthermore, the Book of Discipline  states,
"...self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as
candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in the United
Methodist Church."
 	 
We continue the commitment we made in our consecration as bishops "to
guard the faith, to seek unity, and to exercise the discipline of the
whole church; and to supervise and support the Church's life, work, and
mission throughout the world."  In covenant with one another, we are
committed to uphold the General Conference's action on the theological,
ethical, and polity matters defined in The Book of Discipline, including
the statements on homosexuality and all specified issues contained in
the Social Principles including the prohibition of ceremonies
celebrating homosexual unions by our ministers and in our churches.  At
the same time we also affirm our pastoral responsibility to all peoples
including those who feel excluded from the church.  We call upon the
whole church to deal with these matters with faithfulness rooted in the
love of Christ, as revealed in Holy Scripture.  We believe with John
Wesley, "It is the nature of love to unite us together..." and "To
separate ourselves from a body of living Christians with whom we were
before united is a grievous breach of the law of love."
  	 
Issues currently creating concern and pain within the church call for
renewed commitment to our doctrinal foundations as contained in the
Articles of Religion, the Confession of Faith and Wesley's Sermons and
Notes.  We call all United Methodists to the fulfillment of the teaching
office of the church and to ground the church's actions more deeply in
the foundational doctrines and theological task as set forth in The Book
of Discipline.  Moreover, as an exercise of our teaching office, the
Council of Bishops commits itself to engage in further prayerful study
and dialogue and to develop a teaching paper as a means of identifying
critical doctrinal and ecclesial foundations for addressing current and
other issues.  We solicit your prayers and support as together we seek
to anchor the church more firmly in our biblical and theological
foundations.
  	
We acknowledge the desire to resolve current conflicts around issues of
homosexuality.  We have prayerfully considered the appeal to resolve
legislatively the tensions through a called session of the General
Conference.  In anticipation of deliberations by the Judicial Council
and the need for continued discernment and Christian conferencing on
these matters, the calling of a special session does not seem wise at
this time.  Further, as we respond to the crises in the world,
especially among children and the impoverished and those who desperately
need the gospel, a special called session might further distract us from
our central mission.
 
As a sign and instrument of Christ's coming reign over creation, the
church lives with the tension between Christ's final victory and the
present reality of sin.  We do not, however, live with despair or
impatience.  With confidence, we as bishops continue our individual and
corporate commitment to proclaim, defend, and live the doctrines, order,
and mission of the church.  The decisive victory has already been won in
Jesus Christ.  Therefore, we confront tension, conflict, and unresolved
issues with patience, hope, and love.  We know that in Jesus Christ "all
the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was
pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in
heaven, by making peace through the blood of the cross" (Colossians
1:20)
  
"Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 6:23).

.  "Social Principles", Para. 65G, 1996 Book of Discipline.
.  "Social Principles," Para. 65C, 1996 Book of Discipline.
.  "The Ministry of the Ordained," Para. 304.3, 1996 Book of Discipline.
.  "Service of Consecration of Bishops", The United Methodist Book of
Worship.
.  "On Schism", The Works of John Wesley.
.  "Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task", 1996 Book of
Discipline.
# # #