wfn.org | Response on Homosexuality

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org]

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (133
notes).

Note 133 by UMNS on June 2, 1997 at 15:29 Eastern (2058 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT:  Linda Bloom                        321(10-21-28-71){133}
          New York (212) 870-3803                     June 2, 1997

Affirmation denies homosexuality
advocacy could split the church

                 by United Methodist News Service

     A leader of Affirmation, unofficial caucus of United
Methodists for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender concerns,
has refuted claims by an evangelical caucus that advocates for
homosexual rights could split the United Methodist Church.
     In a June 1 statement, the Rev. Morris Floyd, Affirmation's
co-spokesperson, questions why such a small movement "could be so
threatening to them."
     In early May, James V. Heidinger II, president of the 30-
year-old Good News, an unofficial evangelical caucus, sent a
letter to thousands of United Methodists, stating that the
"unabashed campaign" to consider homosexuality an acceptable
practice is threatening to split the denomination.
     Floyd said Good News continues to misrepresent the positions
of the Reconciling Congregations Program, which was launched in
1984 by Affirmation and is now a separate organization.
     Although many members associated with Reconciling
Congregations support ordination of homosexuals or same-sex
marriage, the program has no official position on those issues, he
said.
     Floyd, a retired ministerial member of the California-Pacific
Annual (regional) Conference, suggested the use of reasonable
discussion rather than attacks, noting that "time and ongoing
conversation might at least enable people with divergent views on
this matter to live together in the same church community as
brothers and sisters in Christ."
     In his statement, Floyd invited "Mr. Heidinger and his
colleagues to abandon their cries from the roof and join us in the
cool shade of the front porch."
                              #  #  #

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 To make suggestions or give your comments, send a note to 
 umns@ecunet.org or Susan_Peek@ecunet.org

 To unsubscribe, send the single word "unsubscribe" (no quotes)
 in a mail message to umethnews-request@ecunet.org

-----------------------------------------------------------------------