wfn.org | California-Nevada evangelicals' proposal to separate rejected

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

May 22, 1998	Contact: Thomas S. McAnally*(615)742-5470*Nashville,
Tenn.         {317}

By United Methodist News Service

The proposal for a separate organizational entity for evangelicals
within the California-Nevada Annual (regional) Conference of the United
Methodist Church has been rejected.

Following a May 20  closed meeting in Sacramento with  representatives
of the Evangelical Renewal Fellowship (ERF), the ministry staff of the
conference said such a separation is unnecessary. 

"The diversity of the United Methodist Church is broad enough to include
all the viewpoints represented around the table of our consultation,"
the leaders said in a statement issued the following day.

The ministry staff includes Bishop Melvin G. Talbert, seven district
superintendents and six staff members.  

"Separation has never been required, nor is it now, in order to engage
in the varied ministries that different local churches seek to fulfill,"
the leaders said.  "A strong commitment to inclusion and tolerance
welcomes a full range of congregational identities and forms of
ministry."

Eighteen clergy and 25 lay people in the conference had asked early in
April to be allowed to separate from the regional body.  Noting that
they were "divided beyond reconciliation," the ERF said separation would
allow both sides to pursue their vision for ministry without the
"distraction and injury of an ongoing war of ideas."

The California-Nevada leaders said United Methodists have struggled with
differences throughout the church's history but stressed that such
differences do not require separation.  

"Any form of separation creates division," they said. "We cannot support
division of the denomination, the annual conference, or the local
church. Nor can we support the creation of a separate district based on
theological differences.  United Methodists honor the decision of any
lay or clergy person to transfer or terminate their own United Methodist
membership.  The Book of Discipline provides the options and
procedures."

In a list of agenda items for the May 20 meeting, the evangelicals asked
the conference leaders if they would cooperate in preparing  a petition
to the next General Conference to form a provisional annual conference
for evangelicals.  The ministry team declined. 

"Any United Methodist member or body is free to petition the General
Conference on any topic directly or through the annual conference
session," they said.  "While the ministry staff will not stand in the
way of the submission of any petition, the ministry staff will not join
in any coordinated effort to prepare legislation for creating a separate
missionary or provisional conference."

The General Conference, the top legislative body of the church, meets
every four years and is the only group which can make official policy
for the denomination.  The next 10-day event is scheduled for the spring
of 2000 in Cleveland.

In their list of proposed agenda items for the May 20 meeting, the
evangelicals asked how the conference leaders would implement and
enforce a statement released late in April by the church's Council of
Bishops.  The bishops voted unanimously to support the church's Book of
Discipline on matters related to homosexuality, including the Social
Principles.

The statement by the bishops was prompted by strong  critical response
to a Nebraska clergy trial, in which Omaha pastor Jimmy Creech was
narrowly acquitted of violating the order and discipline of the church
after he presided over a union ceremony for two women. Responding to a
request by the bishops, the church's nine-member Judicial Council said
it would call a special meeting in August to discuss statements on
homosexuality in the denomination's governing Book of Discipline,
specifically the enforceable status of the section known as the Social
Principles. The Nebraska trial hinged on whether the Social Principles
are church law.

In response to the concern raised by the California-Nevada evangelicals,
the conference's ministry team referred them to a letter issued by
Talbert on May 14, nine days after the Council of Bishops' semi-annual
meeting in Lincoln, Neb.

In his letter, Talbert told clergy and lay members in his conference
that unless the Judicial Council rules otherwise, he does not consider a
pastor's performing a "holy union" to be in violation of church law.  He
acknowledged that performing a  same-sex union does go against the
spirit of the Social Principles, but he said the principles are not law.
Quoting from the preface to the Social Principles, he said they are
"intended to be instructive and persuasive in the best of the prophetic
spirit."

The executive committee of Good News, the denomination's oldest
evangelical caucus, quickly criticized Talbert's interpretation and
asked for him to resign from the episcopal office and take early
retirement.  

"His letter violates both the spirit and substance of the council's (of
bishops) recent pastoral letter and is sure to leave United Methodists
wondering if statements from the Council of Bishops are anything more
than posturing," said the Good News leaders.  "We feel betrayed, and the
council must as well."

In a telephone interview with United Methodist News Service, Talbert
said the concerns expressed by the ERF are being heard by the conference
leaders, "but at the same time we find ourselves in disagreement with
their proposed solutions."

Talbert said the United Methodist Church is large enough and inclusive
enough to have people in it with different views, particularly
theological views.

"We do not believe that it is necessary for all of us to have the same
theological beliefs to remain faithful United Methodists," he said.  "We
think the Wesleyan idea of having right relationships with each other
and with God is what is paramount."

During their May 20 meeting, the California-Nevada evangelicals asked
how disagreements would affect evangelical pastors and candidates for
ministry.  "Do we have assurance that no punitive action will be taken
against those people?" they asked.

In response, the conference leaders said no punitive action would be
taken against any pastor "in the free and creative exchange of ideas,
beliefs, and perspectives," but added,  "advocacy of behavior
destructive of the connectional system is not appropriate."

In the conclusion of their response, the ministry staff said issues were
raised at the meeting that call for further discussion by other groups.

"We believe the covenant among elders and the meaning of membership in
the annual conference - both clergy and lay - are topics that need to be
addressed in other settings," they said.

# # #

Full texts of the proposed agenda for the May 20 meeting and the
response of the ministry team follow:

Evangelical Renewal Fellowship
Consultation with the Ministry Staff May 20, 1998

Proposed Agenda

1. 	Please respond to the Oakdale document's request for a process
of separation.  What sort of time line would be realistic for agreement
in principle for such a plan (Dec. 31st has been suggested as the
outside limit)?

2. 	For some, leaving the United Methodist Church is not the most
desirable path.  We believe that the formation of an evangelical
district in the annual conference as a prelude to legislation for an
evangelical provisional conference is a good option for them.  Please
respond to the request for the immediate formation of an evangelical
district in the California-Nevada Conference.

3. 	Is the conference leadership willing to join a coordinated
effort to prepare legislation for General Conference regarding forming a
provisional annual conference?  Please respond to the legislation form
Santa Clara, re: new denomination.

4. 	We respectfully ask that the conference leadership/Bishop
Talbert respond to questions about how the recent bishops' pastoral
statement will be implemented and enforced in the California-Nevada
Annual Conference.  Specifically, the statement "we are committed to
uphold the General Conference's  action . . . 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 union by our ministers and in our
churches."  How does the bishop balance his commitment to the above
statement with his participation with the other bishops in signing a
letter of disagreement with statements regarding homosexuality in the
Discipline?

5. 	Please tell us how this period of upheaval will affect
evangelical pastors and candidates?  Do we have assurance that no
punitive action will be taken against those people?

---------------------------------------------------------

May 21, 1998

To the Evangelical Renewal Fellowship (ERF)

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace and Peace to you from God through Jesus Christ our Savior and
Redeemer! 

This is our response to your request for a written statement which
addresses the five agenda items prepared by the Evangelical Renewal
Fellowship's representatives for our May 20, 1998 consultation.  As we
work together to fulfill the mission of The United Methodist Church, to
make disciples of Jesus Christ, we celebrate and give thanks that the
grace of Jesus Christ unites us.

The diversity of The United Methodist Church is broad enough to include
all of the viewpoints represented around the table of our consultation.
Therefore, we believe a process of separation is unnecessary.
Separation has never been required, nor is it now, in order to engage in
the varied  ministries that different local churches seek to fulfill.  A
strong commitment to inclusion and tolerance welcomes a full range of
congregational identities and forms of ministry.

Throughout our history, United Methodists have prayed and confessed our
sin, struggled and felt misunderstood, debated and failed to listen,
argued and experienced judgment as we wrestled to discern the will of
God.  With fear and hope, in pain and love, we have questioned the
future of the United Methodist Church. This is our heritage. It has not,
and does not, require separation.

Any form of separation creates division. We cannot support division of
the denomination, the annual conference, or the local church.  Nor can
we support the creation of a separate district based on theological
differences.  United Methodists honor the decision of any lay or clergy
person to transfer or terminate their own United Methodist membership.
The Book of Discipline provides the options and procedures. (See Agenda
Items #1, #2 and #3)

Any United Methodist member or body is free to petition the General
Conference on any topic directly or through the Annual Conference
Session.  While the Ministry Staff would not stand in the way of the
submission of any petition, the Ministry Staff will not join in a
coordinated effort to prepare legislation for creating a separate
missionary or provisional conference. (See Agenda Item #3)

Bishop Talbert addressed the issue of holy unions and the Council of
Bishops' statement in his pastoral letter dated May 14, 1998. (See
Agenda Item #4)

Given our tradition of respecting divergent opinions, punitive action
will not be taken against any pastor in the free and creative exchange
of ideas, beliefs and perspectives.  It is expected that members of
local churches will have the same freedom and not fear reprisal.
Advocacy of behavior destructive of the connectional system is not
appropriate. (See Agenda Item #5)

It was helpful for us to hear your personal stories and histories.  It
is important to remember that hearing and understanding is not the same
as agreeing.  In our consultation many issues were raised apart from
those addressed in your agenda items and the above responses.  The
issues raised and differences noted call for discussion between parties
beyond ERF and the Ministry Staff.  We believe the covenant among elders
and the meaning of membership in the Annual Conference (both clergy and
lay) are topics that need to be addressed in other settings.  We stand
ready to be in continuing conversation with you as we seek the unity
Christ desires for us all.

Your colleagues in ministry,

The Ministry Staff

Melvin Talbert, Bishop				Thomas Kimball
Ardith Allread					Grady Knowles
David Bennett					Diane Knudsen
Colin Kerr-Carpenter				Bruce McSpadden
James Corson					Hankyu Park
Paul Extrum-Fernandez				Richard Plain
John Foster					Linda Wiberg

#  #  #

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
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