wfn.org | United Methodist bishops meet with Soulforce

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

CLEVELAND (UMNS) -- In an unusual move, four United Methodist bishops met
May 8 with the Rev. Mel White, co-founder of Soulforce, to discuss that
group's presence at the 2000 General Conference.

Soulforce came to the denomination's top legislative body, meeting May 2-12,
to "change the hearts and minds of the anti-homosexual delegates." White
said the Soulforce team asked the bishops for two things that, if accepted,
could pre-empt the group's plan for civil disobedience this week. Also
attending the May 8 meeting was Cleveland Mayor Michael White.

The two primary requests were:

·	Every time a homosexual issue is raised, an openly homosexual member
would be allowed to speak to it.
·	Soulforce members would be visible on the floor during discussions
about homosexuality so that delegates aren't just talking about issues but
can see the individuals affected.

Soulforce is a coalition of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of
faith and their heterosexual allies who are dedicated to promoting justice
for sexual minorities. They adhere to rules of nonviolence as taught by
Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., including being arrested for civil
disobedience, White explained.

By the evening of May 8, however, negotiations came to a halt when the group
met again. "The bishops offered to take the matter (of the requests) to the
delegates to suspend the rules, but it would have taken a two-thirds vote,"
White said. "The process would have disrupted the organization and could
have been painful for us."

Instead, he added, Soulforce members will continue with their plan of
nonviolent, civil disobedience on May 10 and plan to be arrested. 

"This policy is killing us," White said, referring to the stand of the
United Methodist Church on homosexuality. While affirming that God's grace
is available to all, the denomination's book of law states "homosexuality is
incompatible with Christian teaching." It also forbids United Methodist
pastors from conducting same sex unions and conducting them in United
Methodist churches, and prohibits self-avowed practicing homosexuals from
being ordained.

Homosexuality has been an issue at every General Conference since 1972. "The
debate is just one way to continue the suffering," White contended.

Soulforce advocates removing all restrictive language regarding
homosexuality from the United Methodist Book of Discipline. The group
targeted General Conference because the United Methodist Church is the third
largest denomination in the United States with 8 million members in the U.S.
and another 1.2 million from other parts of the world.

"The United Methodist Church has traditionally led the way on justice
movements," White noted. "We are hoping and praying the United Methodist
Church will reverse its anti-homosexual position and lead the entire
Christian community to justice, mercy and truth for sexual minorities."

Soulforce has been observing the daily activities of General Conference.
Throughout the second week, Soulforce members, donning t-shirts that say,
"We are God's children too" are conducting daily prayer vigils outside the
Cleveland Convention Center, the site of the meeting of 992 delegates from
around the world.

Soulforce had originally asked to be allowed on the floor where the
delegates sit in order to conduct a prayer vigil in front of the altar on
Wednesday morning, May 10, while the Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey
gives the ecumenical liturgy.

Gary Bowen, business manager of General Conference, turned down the request.
Only voting delegates, a few media persons, and pages are allowed on the
floor while General Conference is in session. 

As a result, Soulforce has planned a "walk for justice" at the time of the
worship service, during which Soulforce members and supporters would be
arrested while trying to enter. "If we don't win the hearts and minds of the
anti-homosexual delegates, we are the ones who will do the redemptive
suffering by being arrested," White said.

He estimated that 250 to 500 persons will participate in the act of civil
disobedience, and approximately half of them will be United Methodist clergy
and laity.

Soulforce first made its presence known among United Methodists in 1999
during the second trial of the Rev. Jimmy Creech in Nebraska for conducting
a same sex union service in a United Methodist church. Soulforce surrounded
the church where the trial was being held in Grand Island, making it
difficult for the presiding bishop and others to enter. 

	--Barbara Nissen

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United Methodist News Service
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