wfn.org | Affirmation group sends message to bishops

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

April 30, 1998	Contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York    {268}

By United Methodist News Service

A prayer that the United Methodist bishops and pastors continue to
shepherd the whole flock was dispatched April 26 to the denomination's
Council of Bishops.

The message came from Affirmation, an unofficial United Methodist caucus
supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and "transgendered" concerns.
Affirmation's national council met April 24-26 in Minneapolis.

In its greeting to the Council of Bishops, meeting through May 1 in
Lincoln, Neb., the caucus said, "We pray that the Holy Spirit will
continue to guide and inspire your deliberations in the coming days,
that you may lead and nurture a church in which all God's people are
truly welcome and all pastors continue to shepherd all one hundred of
the flock."

Morris Floyd, Affirmation spokesperson, said the council welcomes any
effort of the bishops "to find a path all United Methodists can walk
together, despite important differences in understanding God's will."

United Methodists have been divided over a ruling from a recent Nebraska
church trial that absolved the Rev. Jimmy Creech, who had performed a
same-sex union ceremony. More than 150 United Methodist clergy have
signed a statement supporting such ceremonies, Floyd said.  
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United Methodist News Service
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