wfn.org | Bishops Do Not Set Church Stance

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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 (2898 notes).

Note 2897 by SUSAN PEEK on April 23, 1996 at 17:32 Eastern (2339 characters).

SEARCH: General Conference, homosexuality, bishops

035 {2899}                                          April 23, 1996

General Conference '96

White: 'Bishops do not create church's stand
on homosexuality, only the General Conference does'

     DENVER (UMNS) -- The president of the United Methodist
Council of Bishops said, the council "does not speak for the
United Methodist Church, only the General Conference does,"
responding to an earlier statement by 15 bishops who expressed
"pain" at the church's stand on homosexuality.

     Bishop Woodie W. White of Indianapolis, council president,
addressed a news conference held after release of a statement to
the denomination's General Conference here April 23. "Once the
church has spoken, then as bishops our responsibility is to uphold
what the church has spoken," said White.

     The denomination's Book of Discipline prohibits the
ordination of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" and states, "
 ... we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider
this practice incompatible with Christian teaching, ... "

     "Once the General Conference has said what the church's
position is on homosexuality, then the bishops will teach it and
speak it," White said.

     To days were given to discussions and writing the report by
the 130-member council, he said.  Although 10 or 12 bishops wrote
the final document, all the bishops had an opportunity to give
input to it.

     He said it is difficult to get a consensus that is relevant
to as many and diverse cultures as those in the denomination. 
There are United Methodist churches and bishops throughout the
United States, Europe, Africa and the Philippines.

     Through the response to the 15 bishops' statement council
members attempted to "say a word to ourselves and to the church on
what we believe the role of bishops to be," White said.  "The
council doesn't operate on feeling or opinion, but on consensus."

     According to White, the council had divided into randomly
assigned discussion groups that allow each bishop more input to
the body's deliberations.  That was done before the General
Conference or the 15 bishops' statement, White stressed.

                              #  #  #
                                                 -- Ralph E. Baker
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