wfn.org | British Methodist Conference

[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 (200
notes).

Note 200 by UMNS on July 3, 1997 at 14:50 Eastern (3632 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                              388(10-71B){200}
          New York (212) 870-3803                     July 3, 1997

EDITORS NOTE: This story is a sidebar to UMNS release #387 {199}.

British Methodists retain policy
limiting interfaith use of facilities

by Kathleen LaCamera*

     LONDON, England (UMNS) -- The British Methodist Church will
retain a 25-year-old policy allowing people of other faiths to use
its buildings for social purposes only.
     The vote came during the June 28-July 5 British Methodist
Conference here.
     The policy allows non-Christian groups to use or rent part of
a Methodist church building for parties, meetings and other social
occasions but denies these groups the possibility of worshipping
in the church's sanctuary. 
     "So I have to say to a Muslim toddler group that meets
regularly in my church, 'Come in and play but don't pray'" said
the Rev. John Vincent, a London-based pastor, reacting to the
report on the floor of the conference.
     "I believe our own faith is made strong by opening up and
welcoming people from other faiths and this report reflects a
hesitant and fearful approach," he declared.
     The Rev. Elizabeth Harris -- who presented recommendations
from the Faith and Order Committee to retain the policy -- said
the committee had struggled with what she described as two
conflicting Christian imperatives:  hospitality and the
acknowledgement of the distinctiveness of differing faith
traditions.
     Delegates from areas with high concentrations of different
faith traditions such as London, Birmingham and Leeds, pleaded
with conference members to consider the consequences of these
limitations.  Many believed the recommendations possessed a
grudging tone and will send the wrong signal to people of other
faiths.  
     The Rev. Gwen Landford of Birmingham told the conference
these policies will do nothing to reassure a young Muslim man she
recently met who confessed to being "frightened of Christians who
were out to get him to convert."
     Sylvine Brown of Birmingham called the report "backward
looking" and challenged the conference to "think big" and "fight
the religious intolerance that threatens world peace with respect
and acceptance of other faith groups".
     Others applauded the "proper ambivalence" of the report
citing the hurt that groups such as Pakistani Christians might
feel in opening up Methodist sanctuaries to members of faith
traditions that have persecuted them or their families in the
past.  Some went even further, calling for interfaith activities
to take place outside church premises entirely.  
     "Prayers for peace between Muslims and Christians should take
place in the local school, not in a church sanctuary" according to
the Rev. Martin Turner of London.  
     The incoming conference president, the Rev. John Taylor,
commented that he hoped the church's policy on the use of its
premises would encourage local Methodists to ask more questions of
people from other faith traditions.
     Taylor, who described himself as "an ecumenist and a
Methodist by conviction," noted in his opening address that the
drive for ecumenism is not optional for Christians. "Jesus'
teaching that we must love our neighbor as ourselves pushes us to
recognize our unity in faith," he said.
                              #  #  #

     * LaCamera is a United Methodist News Service correspondent
based in Europe.    

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

 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

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