wfn.org | Bishop Talbert: Holy unions don't violate church law

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

May 14, 1998     Contact: Tim Tanton*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
{302}

By Charley Lerrigo*

SACRAMENTO (UMNS) -- Bishop Melvin G. Talbert of the San Francisco Area
has told clergy and lay members of the California-Nevada Annual
Conference that unless the denomination's Judicial Council rules
otherwise, he does not consider a pastor's performing a "holy union" to
violate church law.

Talbert leads a conference in which at least two congregations have
publicly said they have long performed such ceremonies for same-sex
couples. The bishop has maintained that he and his district
superintendents have adhered to the law of the church contained in the
denomination's Book of Discipline.

In a May 14 letter to the conference, Talbert acknowledged that
performing such a same-sex union "does go against the spirit" of the
United Methodist Social Principles (where it is specifically forbidden).
But the Social Principles, he said, "are not law."

"As stated in (the document's) preface, 'They are intended to be
instructive and persuasive in the best of the prophetic spirit,'"
Talbert said.

He noted that the recent pastoral letter from the Council of Bishops was
a unanimous statement, and one with which he agreed.  But achieving such
a consensus, he reported, was "a very painful effort" and "there is
disagreement within the council as to how various parts of the Book of
Discipline are interpreted."

The council's pastoral letter stated the bishops' commitment to uphold
the variety of General Conference actions 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."  But the council's letter also "affirms (the
bishops') pastoral responsibility to all peoples, including those who
feel excluded from the church."

The California bishop also observed that the Discipline is unchanged by
the verdict of the Jimmy Creech trail, in which an ecclesiastical court
fell one vote short of convicting the Omaha pastor of violating church
law by performing a covenantal union between two women. The church's law
book "remains the same and reflects the stance of the United Methodist
Church on many issues, including homosexuality and holy unions." But
those rules and positions need to be interpreted, the bishop wrote.

"As one bishop," Talbert wrote, "I will hold to the principle that the
Social Principles are not law, until instructed otherwise by our
Judicial Council, which meets in August to deal with the issue of holy
unions."

Talbert's letter echoed a theme struck in the bishop's pastoral
statement: that a furor over the Creech trial and disagreements about
homosexuality should not distract the denomination from the rest of its
mission -- and should not result in a church split.

"Homosexuality is not the first controversial issue faced by our
church," Talbert wrote.  "There have been many others. As we have
debated and will continue debating such issues, we must never forget
that we all belong to the family of God."

Turning to an upcoming conversation with some evangelical pastors in the
California- Nevada Annual Conference who have said they wish to take
their congregations and withdraw from the Conference, Talbert said he
approached that dialogue "with the spirit that we are all part of God's
family. We belong together."

Talbert began and ended his letter with Scriptural affirmations.

"Our denomination is inclusive and tolerant enough to accept, embrace
and welcome all persons, irrespective of their age, gender, political or
theological differences.  For you see, such differences matter very
little when faced with what is required to be around God's table."

As Talbert issued his pastoral letter to the whole conference, Delta
District Superintendent Dave Bennett revealed in a district newspaper
column that the cabinet had gone on record to support the decision by
Bethany United Methodist Church, San Francisco, to allow same-sex unions
in their facility.

However, that was "not a blanket policy statement," Bennett wrote. "This
was an individual church using its facilities to perform a ministry
important to that congregation within its community."

The Delta District, with offices in West Sacramento, includes many
churches within the state's central valley. Those include Oakdale
Community United Methodist Church, where conservative evangelical laity
and clergy issued their plea to discuss withdrawal from the conference.

The Rev. Cecil Williams, pastor of Glide Memorial United Methodist in
San Francisco, has also publicly stated that his 6,000-member
congregation has long been celebrating holy unions. And at last count,
there are 27 Cal-Nevada clergy among the 178 clergy nationally who have
signed the "Statement of Conscience" declaring that they will perform
such holy unions as a protest of the Social Principles' ban -- which was
added at the 1996 General Conference.

In a separate interview, Bennett reported that when he met with more
than 150 persons from the Oakdale church, he found a variety of opinions
regarding withdrawal. Bennett's experience reflects remarks by a variety
of "evangelical" pastors in the conference, who clearly have deep
disagreements with the generally liberal conference leadership but
differ widely on which strategy best expresses their dissatisfactions.

# # #

*Lerrigo is editor of the California Nevada United Methodist Review.

The entire text of Bishop Talbert's letter follows:

May 14, 1998

To: 	Clergy and Lay Members
	California-Nevada Conference

Dear Friends:

In this post Easter season, I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, our
risen Savior. As hymn #318 proclaims, "Christ is Alive! Let Christians
sing. His cross stands empty to the sky. Let streets and homes with
praises ring. His love in death shall never die." In response I say,
Alleluia! Praise God!

As you know, the verdict in the Jimmy Creech trial in Nebraska has
caused mixed responses. Some people are deeply pained and hurt, while
others are rejoicing. One such response has been the expressed desire of
some associated with the Evangelical Renewal Fellowship to separate from
this Annual Conference. Your Council of Bishops, meeting in Nebraska,
April 26-May 1, spent considerable time struggling with how best to
respond to the many requests for action. By now, you should have seen
the pastoral statement from the Council. It was a very painful effort to
get a unanimous consensus on the statement as released.

Having been in that council meeting and given my approval to the
statement, I feel the need to say an additional word.

First, the verdict of the Jimmy Creech trial does not change the Book of
Discipline. It remains the same and reflects the stance of The United
Methodist Church on many issues, including homosexuality and holy
unions. Bishops do not have legislative authority. Our role is to
interpret and to implement the Book of Discipline. We shall continue
doing that as one of many responsibilities.

Second, while I agreed with the statement as released from the Council
of Bishops, I want you to know that there is disagreement within the
Council as to how various parts of the Book of Discipline are
interpreted. Let me speak for myself. While the Book of Discipline is
commonly referred to as "the book of law" for our denomination, all
sections are not understood to be law. In the case at point, the
statement regarding holy unions is found in the "Social Principles." My
understanding is that the "Social Principles" are not law. As stated in
the preface, "They are intended to be instructive and persuasive in the
best of the prophetic spirit." Also, I can recall during debate at
General Conferences that the "Social Principles" were referred to time
and time again as not being law. Rather, they are guides to faithful
living. So, while we may agree or disagree with much of what is in the
"Social Principles," they are not law. Thus, one performing a holy union
does not violate the law of the Church, even though such an act does go
against the spirit of the "Social Principles."

So, as one bishop, I will hold to the principle that the "Social
Principles" are not law, until instructed otherwise by our Judicial
Council, which meets in August to deal with the issue of holy unions.

Third, allow me to say a pastoral word to all in the California-Nevada
Conference. My sisters and brothers, homosexuality is not the first
controversial issue faced by our Church. There have been many others. As
we have debated, and will continue debating such issues, we must never
forget that we all belong to the family of God. As such, we are all
invited to the Table of the Lord. Historically, our denomination has
taken great pride in affirming our tolerance and inclusiveness. This
means we bring with us our cultural and theological differences.

As I completed my two-year term as President of the National Council of
the Churches of Christ in the USA, I reminded the 34 member communions
that we are not one in Christ until all of us can be around the one
Table of the Lord. I say the same to us as we continue our struggle to
be faithful to the Gospel of our Lord.

In a few days, the Ministry Staff will be in dialogue with
representatives of the Evangelical Renewal Fellowship. I shall approach
that dialogue with the spirit that we are all part of God's family. We
belong together. Our denomination is inclusive and tolerant enough to
accept, embrace and welcome all persons, irrespective of their age,
gender, political or theological differences. For you see, such
differences matter very little when faced with what is required to be
around God's Table. Please pray for us as we come together guided by
Christ's Spirit.

By God's Grace, through Jesus Christ we are invited to God's Table and
are members of God's family. As those granted the privilege to be
representatives of Christ, we are called to extend God's invitation to
all. It is not for us to judge. God, alone, judges.
 
In the meantime, let us seek to be examples of Christ as we continue in
our efforts to be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- doing
justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God.

Sincerely, 

Melvin G. Talbert

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

May 14, 1998     Contact: Tim Tanton*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
{302}

By Charley Lerrigo*

SACRAMENTO (UMNS) -- Bishop Melvin G. Talbert of the San Francisco Area
has told clergy and lay members of the California-Nevada Annual
Conference that unless the denomination's Judicial Council rules
otherwise, he does not consider a pastor's performing a "holy union" to
violate church law.

Talbert leads a conference in which at least two congregations have
publicly said they have long performed such ceremonies for same-sex
couples. The bishop has maintained that he and his district
superintendents have adhered to the law of the church contained in the
denomination's Book of Discipline.

In a May 14 letter to the conference, Talbert acknowledged that
performing such a same-sex union "does go against the spirit" of the
United Methodist Social Principles (where it is specifically forbidden).
But the Social Principles, he said, "are not law."

"As stated in (the document's) preface, 'They are intended to be
instructive and persuasive in the best of the prophetic spirit,'"
Talbert said.

He noted that the recent pastoral letter from the Council of Bishops was
a unanimous statement, and one with which he agreed.  But achieving such
a consensus, he reported, was "a very painful effort" and "there is
disagreement within the council as to how various parts of the Book of
Discipline are interpreted."

The council's pastoral letter stated the bishops' commitment to uphold
the variety of General Conference actions 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."  But the council's letter also "affirms (the
bishops') pastoral responsibility to all peoples, including those who
feel excluded from the church."

The California bishop also observed that the Discipline is unchanged by
the verdict of the Jimmy Creech trail, in which an ecclesiastical court
fell one vote short of convicting the Omaha pastor of violating church
law by performing a covenantal union between two women. The church's law
book "remains the same and reflects the stance of the United Methodist
Church on many issues, including homosexuality and holy unions." But
those rules and positions need to be interpreted, the bishop wrote.

"As one bishop," Talbert wrote, "I will hold to the principle that the
Social Principles are not law, until instructed otherwise by our
Judicial Council, which meets in August to deal with the issue of holy
unions."

Talbert's letter echoed a theme struck in the bishop's pastoral
statement: that a furor over the Creech trial and disagreements about
homosexuality should not distract the denomination from the rest of its
mission -- and should not result in a church split.

"Homosexuality is not the first controversial issue faced by our
church," Talbert wrote.  "There have been many others. As we have
debated and will continue debating such issues, we must never forget
that we all belong to the family of God."

Turning to an upcoming conversation with some evangelical pastors in the
California- Nevada Annual Conference who have said they wish to take
their congregations and withdraw from the Conference, Talbert said he
approached that dialogue "with the spirit that we are all part of God's
family. We belong together."

Talbert began and ended his letter with Scriptural affirmations.

"Our denomination is inclusive and tolerant enough to accept, embrace
and welcome all persons, irrespective of their age, gender, political or
theological differences.  For you see, such differences matter very
little when faced with what is required to be around God's table."

As Talbert issued his pastoral letter to the whole conference, Delta
District Superintendent Dave Bennett revealed in a district newspaper
column that the cabinet had gone on record to support the decision by
Bethany United Methodist Church, San Francisco, to allow same-sex unions
in their facility.

However, that was "not a blanket policy statement," Bennett wrote. "This
was an individual church using its facilities to perform a ministry
important to that congregation within its community."

The Delta District, with offices in West Sacramento, includes many
churches within the state's central valley. Those include Oakdale
Community United Methodist Church, where conservative evangelical laity
and clergy issued their plea to discuss withdrawal from the conference.

The Rev. Cecil Williams, pastor of Glide Memorial United Methodist in
San Francisco, has also publicly stated that his 6,000-member
congregation has long been celebrating holy unions. And at last count,
there are 27 Cal-Nevada clergy among the 178 clergy nationally who have
signed the "Statement of Conscience" declaring that they will perform
such holy unions as a protest of the Social Principles' ban -- which was
added at the 1996 General Conference.

In a separate interview, Bennett reported that when he met with more
than 150 persons from the Oakdale church, he found a variety of opinions
regarding withdrawal. Bennett's experience reflects remarks by a variety
of "evangelical" pastors in the conference, who clearly have deep
disagreements with the generally liberal conference leadership but
differ widely on which strategy best expresses their dissatisfactions.

# # #

*Lerrigo is editor of the California Nevada United Methodist Review.

The entire text of Bishop Talbert's letter follows:

May 14, 1998

To: 	Clergy and Lay Members
	California-Nevada Conference

Dear Friends:

In this post Easter season, I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, our
risen Savior. As hymn #318 proclaims, "Christ is Alive! Let Christians
sing. His cross stands empty to the sky. Let streets and homes with
praises ring. His love in death shall never die." In response I say,
Alleluia! Praise God!

As you know, the verdict in the Jimmy Creech trial in Nebraska has
caused mixed responses. Some people are deeply pained and hurt, while
others are rejoicing. One such response has been the expressed desire of
some associated with the Evangelical Renewal Fellowship to separate from
this Annual Conference. Your Council of Bishops, meeting in Nebraska,
April 26-May 1, spent considerable time struggling with how best to
respond to the many requests for action. By now, you should have seen
the pastoral statement from the Council. It was a very painful effort to
get a unanimous consensus on the statement as released.

Having been in that council meeting and given my approval to the
statement, I feel the need to say an additional word.

First, the verdict of the Jimmy Creech trial does not change the Book of
Discipline. It remains the same and reflects the stance of The United
Methodist Church on many issues, including homosexuality and holy
unions. Bishops do not have legislative authority. Our role is to
interpret and to implement the Book of Discipline. We shall continue
doing that as one of many responsibilities.

Second, while I agreed with the statement as released from the Council
of Bishops, I want you to know that there is disagreement within the
Council as to how various parts of the Book of Discipline are
interpreted. Let me speak for myself. While the Book of Discipline is
commonly referred to as "the book of law" for our denomination, all
sections are not understood to be law. In the case at point, the
statement regarding holy unions is found in the "Social Principles." My
understanding is that the "Social Principles" are not law. As stated in
the preface, "They are intended to be instructive and persuasive in the
best of the prophetic spirit." Also, I can recall during debate at
General Conferences that the "Social Principles" were referred to time
and time again as not being law. Rather, they are guides to faithful
living. So, while we may agree or disagree with much of what is in the
"Social Principles," they are not law. Thus, one performing a holy union
does not violate the law of the Church, even though such an act does go
against the spirit of the "Social Principles."

So, as one bishop, I will hold to the principle that the "Social
Principles" are not law, until instructed otherwise by our Judicial
Council, which meets in August to deal with the issue of holy unions.

Third, allow me to say a pastoral word to all in the California-Nevada
Conference. My sisters and brothers, homosexuality is not the first
controversial issue faced by our Church. There have been many others. As
we have debated, and will continue debating such issues, we must never
forget that we all belong to the family of God. As such, we are all
invited to the Table of the Lord. Historically, our denomination has
taken great pride in affirming our tolerance and inclusiveness. This
means we bring with us our cultural and theological differences.

As I completed my two-year term as President of the National Council of
the Churches of Christ in the USA, I reminded the 34 member communions
that we are not one in Christ until all of us can be around the one
Table of the Lord. I say the same to us as we continue our struggle to
be faithful to the Gospel of our Lord.

In a few days, the Ministry Staff will be in dialogue with
representatives of the Evangelical Renewal Fellowship. I shall approach
that dialogue with the spirit that we are all part of God's family. We
belong together. Our denomination is inclusive and tolerant enough to
accept, embrace and welcome all persons, irrespective of their age,
gender, political or theological differences. For you see, such
differences matter very little when faced with what is required to be
around God's Table. Please pray for us as we come together guided by
Christ's Spirit.

By God's Grace, through Jesus Christ we are invited to God's Table and
are members of God's family. As those granted the privilege to be
representatives of Christ, we are called to extend God's invitation to
all. It is not for us to judge. God, alone, judges.
 
In the meantime, let us seek to be examples of Christ as we continue in
our efforts to be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- doing
justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God.

Sincerely, 

Melvin G. Talbert

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