wfn.org | Wrap-up: Bishops support Discipline regarding homosexuality,

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same-sex unions

May 5, 1998	Contact: Linda Green*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
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By United Methodist News Service

LINCOLN, Neb.-  United Methodist bishops issued a pastoral letter here
April 30 declaring their intention to support the church's Book of
Discipline,  including a statement from the Social Principles
prohibiting "ceremonies celebrating homosexual unions by our ministers
and in our churches."

 Although a  recent clergy trial in Nebraska heightened concerns about
the United Methodist Church's position on homosexuality and same-sex
unions, the Council of Bishops, meeting here April 25-May 1, declared
the church's stance on homosexuality unchanged.

In their letter, the bishops  unanimously affirmed the church's position
as defined in the Book of Discipline and voted to continue "to guard the
faith, 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."

The  letter was an attempt to respond to the concern of  church members
as a result of the March 13 acquittal of an Omaha clergyman who was
found not guilty of disobeying church law after he performed a same-sex
covenanting ceremony.  The council includes 50 active bishops from the
United States, 17 from outside the United States, and about 60 retired
bishops who participate but have no vote.  About 57 of the 67 active
bishops were present during the vote

In covenant with one another, the bishops said they "are committed to
uphold the General Conference's actions on the theological, ethical and
polity matters defined in the Book of Disciple, including the statements
on homosexuality and all specified issues contained in the Social
Principles. . ."

The Discipline  states that homosexual persons, no less than
heterosexual persons, are individuals of sacred worth  and affirms that
God's grace is available to all.  At the same time it says the practice
of homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching."

 The narrow acquittal of  the Rev. Jimmy Creech  in the March 11-13
trial hinged on the legal status of  a statement inserted in the
church's Social Principles by the 1996  General Conference : "Ceremonies
that celebrate homosexual union shall not be conducted by our ministers
and shall not be conducted in our churches."

The Council of Bishops had been requested by several groups to call a
special session of the General Conference, top legislative body of the
church, to deal with the same-sex union  issue.  In their pastoral
letter, the bishops said they prayerfully considered the requests but
concluded that a special session would be "not seem wise at this time."
Instead,  they will await a ruling by the denomination's Judicial
Council scheduled to consider the matter at a special session in Dallas
August 7-8. 

The bishops said that a special called session may distract  the church
from its central mission of responding to the world's crises, especially
as those crises relate to children and the impoverished.

The  stated emphases of the semi-annual meeting here were "connecting
with one another and God, growing in discipleship, resourcing one
another for our ministry and giving direction to the church."  

Among other issues addressed by the bishops was whether lay persons
should participate in the "laying on of hands" portion of annual
conference ordination ceremonies.  In 1993 the bishops made a covenant
among themselves against such a practice. 

A 1996 General Conference resolution directed the bishops to rescind its
1993 "consensus," saying it is contrary to portions of the  1998 and
1992 Book of Discipline.  A report from a task force on the laying on of
hands, approved by the bishops, notes that the previous decision of the
council made in 1993 is no longer binding for the present quadrennium.

It further recommends that:

*	the permissive language, "the ordaining bishop may invite other
elders and laity to be a part of the laying on of hands" be instructive
for each bishop and that each bishops make a decision consistent with
his or her own understanding of the matter;
*	deacons in full connection be invited to join in laying on of
hands at the ordination of deacons in full connection;
*	elders be invited to join in the laying on of hands at the
ordination of elders;
*	ecumenical representatives with ordaining authority be invited
to participate at the discretion of the bishop;
*	each bishop decide if he or she will invite lay persons to join
in the laying on of hands.

The bishops also took action related to the School of the Americas, a
military training installation in Fort Benning, Ga. The school has been
under intense criticism for several years because its graduates have
reportedly perpetuated some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin
America.

Various entities, including the United Methodist Church, have joined the
debate over whether the school should be closed.  At least seven annual
conferences, in their spring and summer sessions, considered resolutions
on the school.

Opponents of the school - which trains up to 2,000 soldiers a year from
Latin America and the Caribbean - have dubbed it "the School of
Assassins." They claim it teaches techniques that promote military abuse
and human right violations in those countries.

Advocates of the school say opponents have distorted facts and claim the
school offers opportunity to acquire professional skills and exposure to
American values.

The council of bishops was presented with a resolution regarding the
school at its spring meeting last May but deferred action until more
information could be obtained.  The bishops called for dialogue on the
issue and requested the United Methodist Board of Church and Society
gather information and  make a report at a subsequent meeting. 

Following discussion here, the bishops adopted a resolution urging
President Clinton and Congress to close the School of the Americas as an
act of solidarity with the poor and marginalized of Latin America.

After hearing testimony from "the lips of our Latino constituents," the
bishops concluded that the school is "perceived by the marginalized to
be a source of oppression and a symbol of violence."

They urged that all United Methodists in the United States  "work
prayerfully to support the resolution as an act of solidarity with our
Latino brothers and sisters."

In another resolution dealing with the military, the bishops responded
to a resolution adopted by the 1996 General Conference on military
occupation in the East Timor region of Indonesia. That resolution,
calls on United Methodists to  make efforts in mission, education and
advocacy to alleviate the plight of the East Timorese. It urged the
United States government and other governments to take legislative and
administrative action to pressure Indonesia to comply with the United
Nations, withdraw its military occupation forces from East Timor and
cooperate with the United Nations in a process of bringing about
self-determination for the people.

The council plans to have the draft of a pastoral letter on racism ready
for consideration at its next meeting Nov. 2-6 at Simpsonwood, north of
Atlanta. 

The bishops also voted to join with members of a  General Conference
Task Force on Concern for Workers to issue a Labor Day message to the
church in the United States in 1998.   The statement calls for "just
treatment of working people"  and declares that " all economic systems
are under the judgment of God." 

In another resolution, the bishops opposed efforts in California to
eliminate bilingual education in the public school system. 

As part of its churchwide initiative on children and poverty, the
council agreed to cooperate with the three historic black Methodist
denominations to promote and observe a Children's Sabbath in October.

The observance  by the African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist
Episcopal Zion, the Christian Methodist Episcopal and the United
Methodist churches, will "show our commitment to children endangered by
poverty," said Bishop William Grove, the council's ecumenical officer
and a member of the commission.

In March, l999, the bishops of all four churches will meet in Atlanta to
focus on "Requirements for Union -- Repentance, Forgiveness,
Reconciliation." The United Methodist bishops will be asked  by the
church's General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious
Concerns to endorse an "Act of Repentance for Racism" for consideration
by delegates to  the 2000 General Conference in Cleveland. 
	
Grove also reported that a formal dialogue involving the Episcopal
Church in the United States and the United Methodist Church is about to
begin.  The Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the world Anglican
communion, has agreed tentatively to visit the Council of Bishops and
the General Conference in 2000.

Bishop Emerito P. Nacpil of the Philippines, was chosen by the council
to give the traditional Episcopal Address for the opening session of the
2000 General Conference.  He will be the first bishop outside the United
States ever to give the "state of the church" address.  

Nacpil completed his one-year term as president of the council at the
close of the sessions here.  Succeeding him is Bishop George W. Bashore
of Pittsburgh.  Bishop Robert C. Morgan, Louisville, Ky., was elected
president-designate to assume office at the close of the spring 1999
meeting.  Serving a four-year term as secretary of the council is Bishop
Sharon Rader of Sun Prairie, Wis.

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
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