wfn.org | Delegates rank CPT, homosexuality top issues for conference

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Jan. 31, 2000 News media contact: Thomas S. McAnally*Nashville, Tenn.*(615)
742-5470*10-21-28-71B{037}

NOTE TO EDITORS:  You may wish to use the General Conference logo with this
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By United Methodist News Service

The two most important issues facing the United Methodist General Conference
May 2-12 in Cleveland are expected to be a proposed "transformational
direction" for the denomination, with implications for a major
reorganization, and homosexuality.

Ranked next, in a survey of U.S. delegates to the international gathering,
are church finances, evangelism and missions, and issues related to
diversity and inclusiveness within the church.

The survey was conducted by the Office of Research of the church's General
Council on Ministry (GCOM), based in Dayton, Ohio. Of the 831 U.S.
delegates, 648 returned the survey, which was mailed in October. More lay
respondents than clergy listed homosexuality as the primary issue.
Nevertheless, both lay and clergy delegates cited the same top five issues.
The 161 delegates outside the United States did not receive the survey
because a complete and official mailing list was not available.

In addition to issues considered most important for the General Conference,
the respondents were asked to identify the most important issues facing the
denomination as a whole and the larger society.

The respondents - 341 clergy and 307 laity -- ranked homosexuality first
among issues facing the denomination as a whole. The next most frequently
cited issues were church finances, evangelism and restructuring, and the
"church's mission."  

Church structure, homosexuality and church finances have been among the top
five issues cited among respondents to GCOM surveys conducted before every
General Conference since 1992. Homosexuality has been among the top five
issues since 1984, when it was the third most frequently cited issue.

Regarding issues facing the entire society, respondents listed poverty,
homosexuality, racism, and abortion, in that order. 

The General Conference, held every four years, is the top legislative body
of the denomination and is the only group that can speak officially for the
church as a whole. An equal number of clergy and lay delegates will make
decisions on ministry and missional directions for the denomination during
the 2001-2004 quadrennium and beyond. Statements for inclusion in the
church's Social Principles and positions on other religious and societal
issues will be adopted. The financial support for churchwide programs and
administrative ministries will also be established.

A 38-member Connectional Process Team (CPT) will present recommendations for
transformational changes in how the denomination functions. The team,
authorized by the 1996 conference, was created to "manage, guide and promote
a transforming direction" for the church, continuing work done during the
previous four years by a GCOM Connectional Issues Study and a Global Nature
of the Church Study of the Council of Bishops. Serving as chairwoman of the
team has been Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher of the church's (southern and
central) Illinois Area, based in Springfield.

The team's proposals will include creation of "covenant councils" at every
level of church life. Such a council is defined as "a table of spiritual and
prophetic lay and clergy leaders who will gather for discernment,
discussion, decision-making and disciple-making."  

The CPT is recommending dissolution of the GCOM and creation of a Covenant
Council that would, among other things, guide the church "in discerning
God's vision for its ministry and mission by providing a holistic process
that focuses the work of all the parts." This vision would enable the
council to "clarify responsibilities, call for accountability to the vision
and mission goals, and provide for focused, shared resourcing for ministry
and mission in a changing, complex environment."

CPT members are recommending that churches in the United States become a
Central Conference, like those in other countries, and that the General
Conference be reconstituted as a United Methodist Global Conference. The
initial session of the new 500-member body would meet for six days in 2008,
followed by a six-day session of the U.S. Central Conference. The U.S. body
would have no more than 1,000 delegates.  

The five U.S. jurisdictional conferences and all central conferences outside
the United States would be held before the Global Conference to elect
bishops. All bishops would be consecrated at the Global Conference. 

Between 2001 and 2004, the covenant council would prepare legislation to
implement the Global Conference and central conferences as proposed in the
CPT report. A draft of that legislation is requested by July 1, 2002, with a
final draft going to the 2004 General Conference. The council would also
redesign and align the work of the churchwide (general) agencies.

Homosexuality has been a difficult issue for the church since surfacing at
the 1972 General Conference. Controversy in recent years has focused on the
violation of church policy prohibiting clergy from performing same-sex
unions. Three trials have been held, resulting in the dismissal of Nebraska
clergyman Jimmy Creech and the one-year suspension of Northern Illinois
clergyman Gregory Dell. A committee in the California-Nevada Annual
(regional) Conference is investigating complaints against the Rev. Don Fado
and 67 clergy who were present at a union ceremony for two United Methodist
women in Sacramento in January 1999. The ceremony, conducted by Fado, was
held in a public building.  

Delegates to the1996 General Conference inserted into the church's Social
Principles a sentence saying: "Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions
shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our
churches."  The status of the statement was challenged, but the church's
highest court ruled that it is enforceable under church law.  

United Methodist members on one side of the homosexual issue are pressing
delegates to retain the current language of the Book of Discipline, while
members on the other side are working to have language removed, particularly
the sentence prohibiting same-sex unions and a statement declaring that the
practice of homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching."

The GCOM Office of Research has surveyed delegates before the past six
general conferences. The latest survey reveals that 27.8 percent of the
respondents are clergywomen compared to 23 percent in 1996 and 8.9 percent
in 1984.

The delegates reflect an aging denomination, with 70 percent reporting they
are more than 50 years old. Eight out of 10 respondents have total household
incomes of more than $50,000. Forty-nine percent of the respondents reside
in households with incomes of more than $75,000.

Eighty percent of the respondents have been life-long members of the United
Methodist Church or one of its predecessor denominations. Sixty-five percent
became members before 1970.

The number of respondents attending their first general conference is 38
percent, compared to 43.7 percent of those responding in 1996, 42.5 percent
in 1992, and 33.8 percent in 1988.

The survey indicates that the 2000 General Conference is inclusive and
representative of both the United Methodist Church and the society. The U.S.
Census Bureau estimates that in 1999 the U.S. population included 51.01
percent women and 48.99 percent men.  Fifty-two percent of the survey
respondents are laywomen, 48 percent are laymen, 72.2 percent are male
clergy and 27.8 percent are female clergy.

Summarizing the data, GCOM staff observed: "The under-representation of
youth and young adults may be an issue that needs to be addressed if the
denomination wishes to develop mission and ministry to reach out to this
population of society." 

Slightly more than 12 percent of the respondents are African American; 2.9
percent Asian American; 81.49 percent European American; 2.18 percent
Hispanic American; and .93 percent Native American.  Although the official
statistics of the denomination are incomplete, the ethnic make-up of the
respondents appears to be representative of the denomination as a whole,
according to GCOM staff members conducting the survey. 

In terms of education levels, total household income, and occupations, the
delegates reflect a trend toward a "professional" general conference, GCOM
staff members conclude in their summary.  Nearly nine out of 10 respondents
have a bachelor's degree or more education. As in the past, "retired" is the
most commonly reported "occupation" for lay delegates with 26 percent
reporting this status in 2000.  This represents a continuing increase from
past general conferences: 22 percent in 1996; 18.6 percent in 1992; 15.1
percent in 1988; and 15.2 percent in 1984. The next two most commonly
reported occupations are "business" and "education."

Respondents were asked how they perceived their role as delegates. More than
four out of five agreed with the statement, "I expect to learn more about
the issues at General Conference, which will influence how I vote."
Additionally, 93 percent agreed with the statement, "As a delegate, I will
study the issues during General Conference and vote my conscience."

Only 25 percent of the respondents agreed with the statement, "I feel
obliged to support the resolutions passed by my annual conference."
Additionally, 61 percent agreed with the statement, "Resolutions passed by
my annual conference are only guidelines.  I do not feel I have to support
them."

#  #  #

MOST FREQUENTLY CITED ISSUES FACING THE 2000 GENERAL CONFERENCE
(Based on responses received from 341 U.S. clergy delegates, 307 lay
delegates.)

	ALL				CLERGY			LAY

CPT/Restructuring		CPT/Restructuring
Homosexuality

Homosexuality		Homosexuality		CPT/Restructuring

Church finances		Church finances		Church finances

Evangelism/Missions		Evangelism/Missions
Evangelism/Missions

Diversity/Inclusivity		Diversity/Inclusivity
Diversity/Inclusivity

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United Methodist News Service
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