wfn.org | United Methodist bishops target racism

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

Nov. 9, 1998      Contact: Tim Tanton*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
{648}

NOTE:  This story is accompanied by two sidebars, UMNS #649 and #650.

By Robert Lear*

NORCROSS, Ga. (UMNS) -- United Methodist church members are being called
on to join hands with their bishops in proactive opposition against "the
sin of racism."

"The Council of Bishops is concerned about the growing evidence of
racial and ethnic strife around the world and the continuing expressions
of racism in our church," the bishops said Nov. 5 in introducing their
program.

"We believe racism, prejudice and ethnic strife rip the fabric of
creation and demand immediate attention by the whole church. We invite
the whole church to join us as we give priority to addressing these
issues."

The bishops unanimously adopted a multipronged effort at their autumn
meeting, held Oct. 31-Nov. 6 at Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat
Center. During the meeting, the bishops sent a proposed pastoral letter
back to a task force for strengthening.

"We're dealing with a system in place 170 years before we were a
nation," said retired Bishop James S. Thomas of Atlanta, in reaction to
the pastoral letter draft. "We must have something stronger."

Among other things, the bishops will focus attention at their spring
l999 meeting on "white privilege." Later, they will divide up into
multicultural teams and visit each annual conference to meet with local
leaders.

The traditional "state of the church" Episcopal Address opening the 2000
General Conference will contain "a significant statement on the sin of
racism." The event also will include acts of repentance. The conference,
which will meet in Cleveland, is the top lawmaking body of the United
Methodist Church.

In an address during the council meeting, Bishop McKinley Young of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church called for his counterparts in the
United Methodist Church and the three historically black Methodist
churches to work together in combating racism and other crucial issues
of the day.

The church, he said, must "preach truth" to the power-holders wherever
they are found. 

"Jesus was not afraid to be in the world in a radical way," the
Atlanta-based bishop said.

Racism and human sexuality issues were topics that claimed the attention
of the approximately 120 active and retired bishops gathered from the
United States, Africa, Europe and the Philippines.  The theme of the
meeting was "Mission ... Authority ... Unity in the United Methodist
Church."

In his president's address opening the sessions, Bishop George W.
Bashore of Pittsburgh, noted that "much energy is being spent on
homosexuality, and it continues to cause a divisive spirit."  The
controversy has resulted in words such as "transforming," "reconciling"
and "diversity" being used in ways that bring both joy and fear in the
church, he said.

"We cannot be fear-driven," Bashore said. "We dare not allow the fears
and frustrations to choke out the life that has been won for us in Jesus
Christ through costly grace."

On another day, the bishops had no more settled into their chairs at
Simpsonwood when they received a two-page letter from the Confessing
Movement in the United Methodist Church calling on them to uphold church
law banning use of church property for same-sex "holy union" ceremonies.
Incidents involving possible violation of the church's stance have been
reported
recently from Chicago and California.

"If the conscience of any bishop, or ordained elder, does not allow them
to support the will of the church...they might question whether they can
function effectively and with integrity within the connection of United
Methodism," the letter said.  There was no public reaction to the letter
by the bishops.

In one of three major addresses on the theme of the meeting, Bishop Roy
I. Sano of Los Angeles offered issues related to homosexuality as a test
case for unity within the denomination.

"We are creatures who will never know everything there is to know, even
in single aspects of God's word and work," Sano said. "When it comes to
issues related to homosexuality ... only those who have closed their
mind or have grown complacent in their conclusions feel they know
everything they need to know."

Distinctive perspectives can contribute to a fuller picture, Sano said.
"However, when we are careless and overlook our partiality in knowledge
and perspective, we turn our differences into
polarities ... and are tempted simply to defend our current positions
and discredit other viewpoints."

Practices governing ritual circumcision in the early church suggest
"that all homosexuals are not required to become heterosexuals in
orientation and practice before they are fully Christians," Sano
asserted. These practices, he said, included an option but not a
requirement of circumcision for Gentiles to become Christians.

Most of the reaction to the issue in open session came in table group
discussion on how bishops can strengthen support for each other when
their assignments are scattered across the globe.
  
There is a difference, one group said, between disagreeing with the law
of the church and disobeying the law. Communication by telephone,
electronic mail and the Internet can help build trust, it was agreed,
and pressures must not be permitted to "divide us against each other."
   
One bishop said he was holding his breath to see what may happen in the
next few months. Two bishops voiced appreciation that Sano's paper had
opened the issue.
   
In another major address on the meeting's theme, the Rev. David Lowes
Watson of Nashville, Tenn., said that many Christians  in the Western
world are in the throes of a major identity crisis.  "The Holy Spirit is
calling the churches back to God's mission" which is "nothing less than
God's redemption of planet earth."  Watson is director of the Nashville
Area office of pastoral formation.
   
Speaking on the theme of authority, the Rev. Rebecca S. Chopp, provost
of United Methodist-related Emory University in Atlanta, said: "The
world wants neat rules and laws, easy decisions and quick fixes. ... All
authority (in the Christian church) comes from God and not from human
institutions."

# # #

*Lear is a retired staff member of United Methodist News Service
residing in Wernersville, Pa. 

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