wfn.org | Same-sex Unions Challenged at Emory

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"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 (164
notes).

Note 160 by UMNS on June 17, 1997 at 15:49 Eastern (9145 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:  Joretta Purdue                    348(10-21-28-71B){160}
          Washington, D.C.  (202) 546-8722           June 17, 1997

Conference disagrees with Emory president
about same-sex union ceremonies on campus

by Alice M. Smith*

     DALTON, Ga. (UMNS) -- North Georgia United Methodists have
expressed their "strong disagreement" with the decision of Emory
University President William M. Chace to allow same-sex union
ceremonies on campus and vowed to take the matter to the
university's Board of Trustees if Chace does not reverse his
original decision.
     Those actions were expressed in a resolution adopted June 12
at the annual meeting of North Georgia United Methodists here,
following Chace's decision that disallowing same-sex ceremonies on
campus would violate Emory's non-discrimination policy.
     Chace's action reversed the decision of Dean William Murdy at
Oxford College, who would not allow a gay marriage in the chapel
at Oxford. At that time Chace was out of the country, and Murdy
had sought the advice of Emory attorney, Joe Crooks, who wrote
Emory's Equal Opportunity Policy. Crooks said in his legal opinion
the "use of facilities" part of the statement refers only to
employment-related use of facilities and would not apply to
personal use of the facilities.
     Oxford is a branch of Emory, and both are United Methodist-
related schools. Emory originally was located at Oxford, Ga., and
was moved to Atlanta in the early part of the century by the
Methodist Church. The university-church relationship always has
been close, and today five United Methodist bishops are members of
the school's board of trustees. 
     In answer to a question at the North Georgia United Methodist
Conference, Bishop G. Lindsey Davis said his understanding was the
nine-state Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist
Church owns Emory University.
     Davis said he will meet privately with Chace and Brad Curry,
a prominent Atlanta businessman and president of the board of
trustees, "to discuss our deep concern for the action that has
been taken and share with them the resolution passed this week at
our annual conference session."
     All five of the United Methodist bishops -- Davis, Robert
Morgan of Kentucky, vice chair of the trustees board; Marshall L.
(Jack) Meadors of Mississippi; Robert Fannin of North Alabama; and
Cornelius Henderson of Florida -- will meet privately with Chace
on June 18 prior to the start of the board of trustees meeting
that night. The matter will be discussed by the full board in an
executive session the next morning.
     The official policies of the United Methodist Church, adopted
every four years by the General Conference, appear in the Book of
Discipline and Book of Resolutions. 
     United Methodist policy specifically states that "ceremonies
that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our
ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches."
     The practice of homosexuality is described as "incompatible
with Christian teaching" and the ordination and appointment of
"self-avowed practicing homosexuals" as clergy is banned. However,
the church affirms the sacred worth of homosexuals, who like "all
persons need the ministry and guidance of the church." Human and
civil liberties for gay and lesbian people are also affirmed.
     "Trust agreements entered into between Emory University and
the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church,
which have recently been affirmed by the Board of Emory, would
seem to affirm a commitment by Emory University to respect and
comply with the law of the United Methodist Church, and this would
include churches located on the Emory campus," said the Rev. John
Cromartie, an associate pastor at Peachtree United Methodist
Church. 
     Cromartie serves as chair of the North Georgia Conference's
Committee on Resolutions, which reviewed the resolution before it
was presented to the full body. The resolution originated with the
"cabinet" of the North Georgia Conference, including the bishop,
12 district superintendents and several other high officials in
the conference.
     The meeting of the resolutions committee, as well as the
discussion on the conference floor, reflected strong feelings on
both sides of the issue, although the resolution passed easily by
a show of hands.
     The Rev. Tom Laney, pastor of Druid Hills United Methodist
Church and son of the Rev. James T. Laney, former president of
Emory, predicted there would be "consequences for the action
called for by this resolution that I'm not sure we have considered
fully." Also, he said, the issues are complicated and complex, and
"we're plopped down in the middle of debate and argument ...
(without being) fully informed of all the parts of that debate."
     Another delegate, the Rev. Wesley Allen, director of the
Wesley Foundation at Georgia Tech, said he objected to the strong
language in the resolution and "going over the president's head to
the board of trustees."
     The tone of the resolution, he said, was not reflective of a
church whose membership is diverse in nature but "still in love
with one another in the midst of our disagreement. I don't see
this resolution as calling for us to be in love and disagreement
and in dialogue. This is an example of you talking at someone,
instead of talking with someone. ... It's a battle that's going to
be lost on all sides."
     However, the majority of the delegates favored the viewpoint
of the Rev. Walter Pledger, pastor of Johnson-Rays United
Methodist Church in Bogart, Ga.  "We don't need to argue about
what the repercussions might mean. Sometimes we have to take a
bold stand and just say no."
     A lay delegate, Joe Wittemore, noted that gay marriages in
Georgia are illegal and "they certainly are in indirect and direct
violation" of the law and polity of the United Methodist Church.

                              #  #  #

     * Smith is executive director of the Georgia United Methodist
Communications Council.
     

EDITORS NOTE:  Full text of the resolution follows.

     Resolution Regarding Use of Emory University Chapels and
  Other Facilities for Same Sex Marriages or Covenant Ceremonies

     Whereas the United Methodist General Conference, which is the
law-making and policy-forming body of The United Methodist Church,
has repeatedly and consistently declared the practice of
homosexuality incompatible with Christian teaching, while at the
same time affirming the sacred worth of both homosexual and
heterosexual persons; and 

     Whereas the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church,
reviewed every four years by the General Conference, state that
"sexual relations are only clearly affirmed in the marriage bond;"
and 

     Whereas the Social Principles likewise mandate that
"ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be
conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our
churches;" and

     Whereas Emory University is a United Methodist university
owned by the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist
Church, and has a long history of close association with The
United Methodist Church; and

     Whereas the President of Emory University, Dr. William M.
Chace, has recently announced that ceremonies celebrating
homosexual unions may be conducted in any of the chapels or other
facilities of Emory University, including Oxford College of Emory
University;

     Therefore, now be it resolved that the North Georgia Annual
Conference of The United Methodist Church take the following
actions:

     First, express to President Chace and the Trustees of Emory
University our strong disagreement and extreme displeasure with
this decision;

     Second, call President Chace to reverse the decision to allow
same sex marriages or covenants to be conducted in Emory
University chapels or other facilities, including the chapel of
Oxford College of Emory University, so that the rites and
ceremonies which take place in these sacred places may be in
keeping with what The United Methodist Church has determined to be
appropriate and suitable;

     Third, in the event that President Chace refused to reverse
his decision and the policy he has recently enacted, petition the
Board of Trustees of Emory University to take decisive action to
ensure that this policy is changed so that the consecrated sacred
places on the campuses of Emory University may not be used in ways
the United Methodist Church has declared to be inappropriate,
unsuitable and unacceptable.

     Be it further resolved that Bishop Lindsey Davis deliver this
resolution to the President and Trustees of Emory University at he
earliest time possible.

     Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent
to each active and retired bishop of the Southeastern Jurisdiction
of The United Methodist Church.
                                 
                                 

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