wfn.org | Commission plans new dialogue on homosexuality

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

April 13, 1999 News media contact: Linda Bloom*(212) 870-3803*New York
10-21-28-71B{198}

NOTE:  This report is accompanied by two stories that may be used as
sidebars: UMNS #199 and UMNS #200. Editors may want to use a General
Conference logo with this story.

DENVER (UMNS) - Responding to the divisive atmosphere over the issue of
homosexuality, a United Methodist agency is pushing for frank talk about
differences within the church.

During its April 8-11 meeting, the Commission on Christian Unity and
Interreligious Concerns voted to expand upon an earlier two-part,
theologically diverse dialogue it sponsored by setting up another dialogue
entitled "Caught in the Crossfire: Helping Christians to Debate
Homosexuality." Two previous dialogues were held in November 1997 and
February 1998.

The two-day gathering would include personal stories from those who have
left the denomination because of their opposition to homosexuality and those
suspended or prevented from what they consider a full ministry to
homosexuals. Although a date is not yet set, it would occur before the
denomination's top lawmaking body, the General Conference, meets in May
2000.

Commission members also passed a resolution to General Conference
recommending an amendment of Paragraph 65G in the United Methodist Social
Principles. That paragraph currently affirms homosexual persons as
"individuals of sacred worth" but considers homosexuality "incompatible with
Christian teaching." 

The commission's resolution would change the sentence, "Although we do not
condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice
incompatible with Christian teaching, we affirm that God's grace is
available to all" to "Although faithful Christians disagree on the
compatibility of the practice of homosexuality with Christian teaching, we
affirm that God's grace is available to all persons."

The United Methodist Board of Church and Society is forwarding a similar but
slightly different resolution to General Conference.

Another General Conference resolution approved at the meeting would
incorporate sexual orientation in constitutional language about
inclusiveness. The proposed substitute paragraph for Division One, Article
IV, "Inclusiveness of the Church," reads: "The United Methodist Church is a
part of the church universal, which is one Body in Christ. Therefore, all
persons are welcomed to attend its worship services, encouraged to
participate in its ministries, and, upon taking appropriate vows, received
into membership in any local congregation in the connection. Acknowledging
that all persons are of sacred worth, no local congregation, conference or
other organizational unit of The United Methodist Church shall exclude any
person or any group because of race, color, national origin, age, gender,
disability, sexual orientation, marital status or economic condition."

The commission also established its own welcoming position in a new
statement called "Toward Greater Hospitality." The statement draws upon
mandates in the United Methodist Book of Discipline regarding Christian
unity and ministry to all persons.

Through the statement, the commission "rededicates itself to a message of
universal grace, a ministry of Christ-like hospitality, and a vision of full
Christian unity through continued openness to the full participation of all
people, which includes gay men and lesbians, in its life and work,
encouraging mutual respect, inclusive dialogue and growth in compassion. We
affirm that through baptism God has made us members of one Body of Christ
and this is our basic bond of unity."

Previous commission members had a similar philosophy when they decided to
become a "reconciling commission" in 1990 after making connections with the
Reconciling Congregations Program, an unofficial United Methodist
organization.

However, the Judicial Council, the denomination's highest court, ruled last
October that an official church body cannot identify or label itself as an
unofficial body or movement. The commission's executive committee chose not
to appeal that ruling.

In his general secretary's report, the Rev. Bruce Robbins, the commission's
top staff executive, helped pave the way for discussions about fostering
dialogue on the homosexuality issue.

He noted that sexuality is a personal issue but is seldom discussed on a
personal basis. "It's critical to start sharing how our opinions of
homosexuality have been shaped in our own lives," he said.

Sharing some of his own experiences, Robbins added that the turning point
for him was the hate-filled killing of Matthew Shepherd. He said he is
"increasingly convinced" that a correlation exists between the legal
prohibitions against gays and lesbians established by society's institutions
- including the church - and the attitudes of hate that exist in society.

He is aware of "a new sense of urgency" for dialogue. "My fear is that
positions are hardening," Robbins said. "I look to the 2000 General
Conference with some fright."

In other business, commission members:

*	learned that a consultation on biblical authority, co-sponsored with
the United Methodist Board of Discipleship, has been set for Dec. 7-9 in
Nashville;
*	heard a presentation from Deanell Tacha, a lay member of the
denomination's Connectional Process Team, about the report it is sending to
General Conference (the commission expects to send a formal response to the
team by September);
*	agreed to sponsor a second consultation with churches in the
Wesleyan Holiness Movement in 2001; and
*	heard presentations from participants in the World Council of
Churches' Eighth Assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe, and the Consultation on
Church Union Plenary in St. Louis.
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