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May 8, 2000	GC-033

Church must emphasize inclusiveness in its message, bishop says

CLEVELAND (UMNS) - Inclusiveness and diversity make the church's message
more effective, a Filipino bishop told delegates attending the United
Methodist General Conference May 8.

"Because God accepts us, we should accept one another," said Bishop Daniel
Arichea Jr., Baguio City, Philippines. "There is room for diversity as long
as we hold onto the center of our faith - Jesus Christ."

Arichea delivered his sermon during opening worship, as delegates to General
Conference began their second week of work. The legislative assembly is
meeting through May 12 at Cleveland Convention Center.

Paraphrasing a popular bus company's slogan, the bishop said it is up to
Christians to love people "and leave the judging to God." (Greyhound bus
lines used for years the slogan "take the bus and leave the driving to us.")

The church can use all the languages of the world as a means of proclaiming
the gospel, the bishop asserted. Too often, he said, diversity is used to
define "who is in and who is out." 

Arichea stressed repeatedly the need to include women in the church's
proclamations. "There is diversity in the Council of Bishops -- a little,"
he said, noting the council has seven women.  "There is diversity in the
message, but there is one thing we are sure of - we love the church."

Citing the theme of the General Conference, "We who are many are one body,"
the bishop said he wished "all this unity could be found in the church, but
as you Americans say, 'It ain't so.'"

The church, he said, must never let differences stand in the way of its
message and ministry.
# # #
           -- Robert Lear 

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United Methodist News Service
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