wfn.org | Bishops Express Pain Over Gay Issue

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (2875 notes).

Note 2874 by SUSAN PEEK on April 18, 1996 at 20:44 Eastern (3180 characters).

SEARCH: homosexuality, gay, lesbian, ordination,

010 {2974}                                          April 18, 1996

General Conference '96

Fifteen bishops express 'pain' over
church policy on gay, lesbian issues

     DENVER (UMNS) -- Fifteen United Methodist bishops -- 11
active, four retired -- released a statement here April 18
expressing "pain ... over our personal convictions that are
contradicted by the proscriptions in the (Book of) Discipline
against gay and lesbians within our church and within our ordained
and diaconal ministers."
     
     Nevertheless, they affirmed their commitment to uphold the
Discipline of the church.

     "We believe it is time to break the silence and state where
we are on this issue that is hurting and silencing countless
faithful Christians," the bishops say.  "We will continue our
responsibility to the order and discipline of the church but urge
United Methodist churches to open the doors in gracious
hospitality to all brothers and sisters in the faith."

     Portions of the Disciplinary paragraphs to which the bishops
refer say:
     -- the church does not condone the practice ofhomosexuality
and considers the practice "incompatible with Christian teaching";
     -- "self-avowed practicinng homosexuals are not to be
accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to
serve The United Methodist Church";
     -- no churchwide money may be given to any "gay caucus or
group" or be used to "promote the acceptance of homosexuality."
     
     The 11 active bishops signing the statement were: Judith
Craig, Ohio West Area;  William W. Dew Jr., Portland (Ore.) Area;
Calvin D. McConnell, Seattle Area;  Susan M. Morrison,
Philadelphia Area; Fritz Mutti, Kansas Area; Donald A. Ott,
Michigan Area; Sharon Zimmerman Rader, Wisconsin Area;  Roy I.
Sano, Los Angeles Area; Mary Ann Swenson, Denver Area;  Melvin G.
Talbert, San Francisco Area; and Joseph H. Yeakel, Washington
Area.
     
     Retired bishops signing the statement were: C. Dale White,
Newport, R.I.; Jesse R. DeWitt, Naperville, Ill.; Leontine T.C.
Kelly, San Mateo, Calif.; and Melvin G. Wheatley Jr., Laguna
Hills, Calif.
                              #  #  #

     Full text of the bishops' statement: 
     
     We the undersigned bishops wish to affirm the commitment made
at our consecration to the vows to uphold the Discipline of the
church.  However, we must confess the pain we feel over our
personal convictions that are contradicted by the proscriptions in
the Discipline against gay and lesbian persons within our church
and within our ordained and diaconal ministers.  Those sections
are paragraphs 71F (last paragraph); 402.2; 906.12; and footnote,
p. 205.

     We believe it is time to break the silence and state where we
are on this issue that is hurting and silencing countless faithful
Christians.  We will continue our responsibility to order and
discipline of the church but urge our United Methodist churches to
open the doors in gracioius hospitality to all our brothers and
sisters in the faith.

                                                   -- Tom McAnally
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