wfn.org | United Methodist name, logo removed from controversial campground

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

Nov. 29, 1999  News media contact: Tim Tanton·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn.
10-21-28-71B{637}

By Linda S. Rhodes*

CHICAGO (UMNS) -- After a four-month investigation, a committee of the
Northern Illinois Conference Board of Church and Society reported that there
has been "a pattern of discrimination" against homosexuals at the Historic
Methodist Campground in Des Plaines.

The investigating committee recommended that Bishop C. Joseph Sprague
appoint a committee to work with campground trustees to "establish a working
relationship and covenant" between the conference and the campground,
"provided that appropriate precautions be taken" to protect both the
conference and the campground from liability by the other party.

The investigating committee also recommended that the United Methodist name,
logo and insignia be removed from campground property "until such time that
a working relationship and covenant with the Northern Illinois Conference is
clarified and established" and the campground complies with the Social
Principles of the United Methodist Church.

The findings were in a report presented to a Nov. 13 special session of the
Northern Illinois Conference in Rockford. Conference members took no action
because the issue was not listed among items of business to be conducted in
the original "call" for the session issued by Sprague several months ago.
The primary reason for the special session was to adopt a budget for 2000.

Sprague said the report will be dealt with at the next regular session of
annual conference in June, but he noted that receipt of the report "does not
in any way preclude activity on this matter between now and June." 

The campground, operated by the Chicago District Campground Association, was
investigated by the conference Board of Church and Society following a
resolution approved at the June 8 session of annual conference in DeKalb.
The resolution called for an investigation into allegations that campground
trustees discriminated against a homosexual couple in violation of the
United Methodist Church's Social Principles by refusing to rent a cottage to
Robert Carroll and Russell Elenz because of their sexual orientation.
Campground trustees also were accused of trying to evict Bill and Nanette
Graham and their two children when they befriended Carroll and Elenz.

"While there has been no overt or official policy of discrimination against
persons based upon sexual orientation, or the perception and assumption of a
homosexual orientation, by the Chicago District Campground Association,
there exists a pervasive atmosphere of intolerance and inhospitality to
persons who are, or are perceived to be, homosexual in orientation," the
report said. "It is distressing that Chicago District Campground Association
has taken so little action to address the atmosphere of intolerance and
inhospitality, and to foster the creation of a more inclusive community."

The report also found that there was "clearly a violation of the spirit" of
the church's Social Principles and said there "may have been a violation of
the letter of the Social Principles because of an inconsistent application
of the charter, by-laws, rules and regulations" of the Chicago District
Campground Association.
 

Despite insistence from campground trustees that they are an independent
body not required to report to the conference, the investigating committee
found that the campground's original charter "gives a very direct
relationship" between the conference and the campground. The committee
indicated that the campground is "an agency of the Northern Illinois
Conference and, as such, is responsible to the Discipline of this general
church body as well as its directions and beliefs, theological, moral,
ethical and social."

The report noted that for many years, the conference and the campground
"have operated with little or nor connection with one another." However, the
report said, "the absence of a vital relationship does not preclude the
existence of such a relationship." It said both the campground and the
conference "have been lacking in the maintenance of a viable relationship."

After the report was issued, Marjorie Cilley, president of the campground
trustees, released a statement indicating that the investigating committee
never heard the campground trustees' side of the story.

"The campground has not been given due process by the Board of Church and
Society, which has never listened to our side of the story," Cilley said.
"They have formed their own opinions and do not have all the facts."

The Rev. Todd Singley, co-chair of the investigating team, said the
campground trustees were offered "ample opportunity" to tell their side of
the story. "We actually met with them on two occasions," Singley said.

The investigating committee held two daylong hearings. On July 2, the
committee heard from Carroll, Elenz, the Grahams, other parties complaining
about practices at the campground, and John E. Juergensmeyer, campground
attorney. On July 14, the committee met in closed session with several
campground trustees, including Cilley; Martha Matson, vice president; the
Rev. Ramon Nieves, secretary; and Robert Matson, Martha Matson's husband.

"We provided any number of opportunities for the campground association
trustees to present all the facts and to make their case," Singley said. "We
were eager for them to do exactly that. But they chose not to." 

The seven-member investigating team was led by co-chairs of the conference
Board of Church and Society: Singley, pastor of Irving Park United Methodist
Church; and Cecelia Long, co-chair of the United Methodist Commission on the
Status and Role of Women. Other members were Jackie Hinaber, secretary of
the conference Board of Church and Society; the Rev. Martha Schmidt, pastor
of Chemung United Methodist Church; the Rev. Harry Wainwright, pastor of
Trinity United Methodist Church in Bristol; the Rev. Erica Robinson-Johnson,
pastor of Jesse Walker United Methodist Church in Joliet; and Nancy Duel,
conference lay leader.

In the meantime, three complaints of discrimination have been filed with the
Cook County Commission on Human Rights against the Chicago District
Campground Association. Carroll and Elenz each filed a complaint, both also
naming the Northern Illinois Conference as a co-defendant. The Grahams also
filed a complaint against the campground.

# # #

*Rhodes is communications director of the United Methodist Church's Northern
Illinois Annual Conference.

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://www.umc.org/umns