wfn.org | Board charged with promoting homosexuality in magazine

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Dec. 6, 2000  News media contact: Thomas S.
McAnally·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn.     10-21-28-71B{548}

By United Methodist News Service

Leaders of three unofficial United Methodist groups have filed complaints
with the denomination's financial agency charging that a Board of Church and
Society magazine has violated church policy by using church funds to
"promote the acceptance of homosexuality."

In a Nov. 28 letter to Sandra Kelley Lackore, staff executive for the
General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) in Evanston, Ill., the
three charge that at least 10 articles in the November/December issue of
Christian Social Action urge "in some form the acceptance of homosexual
behavior." While the United Methodist Church's opposition to homosexual
practice is included, the three say the magazine has no articles "defending
or explaining the church's position."

Signing the letter were the Rev. James Heidinger, Good News; Patricia
Miller, Confessing Movement; and Mark Tooley, UMAction.

The Rev. Erik Alsgaard, a Board of Church and Society staff member, is
editor of the bimonthly magazine, but guest editor for the November/December
issue was the Rev. Harry C. Kiely, a retired United Methodist pastor who
resides in Silver Spring, Md. 

"Which church honors Jesus?" is the question on the cover of the magazine.
On one side of a scale, a large number of people surround a table of Holy
Communion with the sign, "All welcome." On the other side of the scale, a
few people stand outside a church flying the banner "Some are welcome."

The lead article is written by the Rev. Greg Dell, suspended for a year as
pastor of Broadway United Methodist Church in Chicago after a clergy trial
in which he was convicted of violating the church's Book of Discipline. Dell
had performed a same-sex union ceremony in the church, contrary to
denomination policy. The book states: "Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual
unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in
our churches."

Writers of other articles include Dan Vera, Chicago, co-convener of United
Methodists of Color for a Fully Inclusive Church; Floyd Starnes, an
elementary school teacher who lives with his partner and their two sons in
Silver Spring, Md.; the parents of a gay son; the Rev. James M. Lawson of
Los Angeles, a retired United Methodist clergyman and outspoken leader in
the civil rights and human rights movements; Marilyn Alexander of Chicago,
interim executive director of the Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly
the Reconciling Congregations Program); and the Rev. Kathryn Johnson,
executive director of the Methodist Federation for Social Action.  

While the November/December issue had a guest editor, Alsgaard said all
manuscripts came across his desk and were approved by him. "I edited the
magazine with 806.12 (Book of Discipline paragraph) glasses on," he said. "I
don't think we violated the policy." The paragraph commands GCFA to ensure
that no agency or other group uses church funds "to promote the acceptance
of homosexuality."

In an introductory statement to the magazine, Alsgaard said no attempt was
made to offer theological weight or a balance of opinions in the special
issue. "While that may seem unfair, fairness and justice are not the same
matter, and one of the ministries of justice in our journey with Christ is
to quiet the prevailing voices for a moment and allow those without voice to
be heard," he wrote.

No attempt was made to edit out the anger of writers, Alsgaard said. "It is
but a small snapshot of the range of reactions of those who experienced
judgment in the church that they claim as their own."

The Rev. Steve Zekoff, GCFA communications staff member, told United
Methodist News Service that the request from Heidinger, Miller and Tooley
had been referred to a standing review team of the agency, which is charged
with reviewing Paragraph 806.12 complaints to determine whether any general
church funds have been used to promote the acceptance of homosexuality. 

"Following routine procedures, the General Board of Church and Society is
being asked to provide information about this particular issue of Christian
Social Action," he said. "The GCFA review team will carefully review the
facts after the response is received from the board." No time for the
release of a decision was given. 

Alsgaard said he and his staff will cooperate fully with the GCFA
investigative process. The board spends about $62,000 each year to publish
six issues of the magazine. Its circulation is 3,000, including 2,000 paid
subscribers.

The Rev. Jim Winkler, new top staff executive of the board, is out of the
country. In a letter to his governing board members Dec. 1, he also stated
his belief that the Book of Discipline has not been violated. "The
magazine's articles give voice to those people who are experiencing, at this
moment, suffering in the life of our church. The writers are asking for
fuller inclusion of homosexuals in the life of the United Methodist Church."

Delegates to the church's most recent legislative gathering, described as a
"watershed General Conference" by Dell, overwhelmingly held to positions
that declare the practice of homosexuality "incompatible with Christian
teaching," prohibit same-sex unions and bar "self-avowed practicing
homosexuals" from ordination or appointment as clergy. 

On the other hand, the official policies of the church do not bar
homosexuals from membership, and strongly support basic human rights and
civil liberties for all persons. Church policy supports efforts to "stop
violence and other forms of coercion against gays and lesbians."  

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United Methodist News Service
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