wfn.org | United Methodist delegates reject oath against homosexuality

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CLEVELAND (UMNS) -- Delegates attending the 2000 General Conference rejected
a proposal on May 8 that would have required all pastors to sign a statement
professing that homosexuality is not God's will.

By a vote of 705-210, delegates to the denomination's top legislative
meeting declined to add to the church's lawbook a stipulation that before
pastors could be assigned to any church they had to sign a statement: "I do
not believe that homosexuality is God's perfect will for any person. I will
not practice it. I will not promote it. I will not allow its promotion to be
encouraged under my authority."

They also declined to add language to the Book of Discipline that would have
made the performance of a same-sex union a chargeable offense even in states
where such a ceremony is legal. The denomination already has the official
position that same-sex unions shall not be conducted by United Methodist
ministers and shall not be held in United Methodist churches. Violating that
rule could lead to charges against a minister, according to the
denomination's Judicial Council.

General Conference, the top lawmaking body of the United Methodist Church,
is meeting through May 12 in Cleveland. The 992 delegates will adopt
legislation revising the denomination's Book of Discipline, which contains
the church's rules, policies and other items. The assembly meets every four
years.

In May 8 action, the General Conference approved a new resolution on clergy
sexual ethics. This resolution, submitted by the churchwide Commission on
the Status and Role of Women, replaces a 1996 resolution with one that
includes definitions, biblical foundations, reference to the church
constitution and a plan of action.

A proposal that generated controversy on the conference floor would have
made the church finance agency responsible for enforcing a neutral position
on abortion among all the church's many bodies. The delegates rejected the
proposal, siding with those who reported that such a change would be an
impossible burden to the agency and would codify a position that is not in
fact a policy adopted by the church.

Several resolutions on social issues, including one opposed to cloning of
humans, were passed without debate. This group included resolutions favoring
sustainable agriculture, food safety regulations, preservation of old-growth
forests, faithful care of the dying.

More than 92 percent of the delegates rejected a measure that would have
deleted church policy that prohibits annual (regional) conferences or
congregations from reducing their apportionments. Apportionments are the
amounts of money allocated to each annual conference to support churchwide
mission and ministry.

The delegates approved a petition to boycott USA Today to protest the lack
of progress in the 5-year-old labor dispute involving the Detroit News and
Detroit Free Press. USA Today is the flagship newspaper of Gannett Co.,
which owns the Detroit News and has a controlling interest in the joint
operating agreement between the two Detroit newspapers. Some 2,500 workers
at the Detroit papers went on strike on July 13, 1995, and many were later
replaced by management.

The General Conference also authorized a study of communion in the United
Methodist Church. The effort will be aimed at developing a meaningful
understanding of the service of Holy Communion.
 
Several items related to the National Youth Ministry Organization were
passed without debate on May 6 and 8, including one that changes the group's
name to United Methodist Youth Organization.

Delegates also voted for the first time on May 8 in an effort to elect five
people to eight-year terms on the Judicial Council, the church's supreme
court. Earlier in the General Conference, delegates had nominated 20
laypeople for three slots and 15 clergy members for two spots on the
Judicial Council, but no candidate from either field was elected. Balloting
will continue throughout the General Conference. A sixth member of the court
will be elected to fill out the four remaining years of a clergy term.

Elections will also be held this week to elect members to the University
Senate, a peer review organization of United Methodist-related schools.

Carolyn Marshall of Veedersburg, Ind., was re-elected by acclamation as
secretary of the General Conference for the next four years.
# # #
-- Linda Green and Joretta Purdue

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United Methodist News Service
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