wfn.org | Christian Unity directors explore church's global nature

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Sept. 30, 2002	      News media contact: Linda Bloom7(212) 870-38037New
York	 10-21-71B{437}

NOTE: This report is accompanied by a sidebar, UMNS story #438.
Head-and-shoulders photographs of the people quoted in this story are
available at http://umns.umc.org/photos/headshots.html.

By Linda Bloom*

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (UMNS) - The challenge of what it means to be a global
denomination has become part of a continuing discussion within the United
Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.

During its Sept. 26-29 annual meeting in Daytona Beach, the commission
considered its connections with United Methodists elsewhere, other Methodist
bodies, and ecumenical and interfaith partners.

As part of its effort to reach out internationally, the commission is
dispatching directors to visit United Methodists outside the United States.
A small group of directors met in September with United Methodists and
members of the ecumenical community in Norway. Other directors will visit
Nigeria, Russia, Switzerland and the Philippines within the next year. 

In a draft version of a paper on the global nature of the church given to
directors, the Rev. Bruce Robbins, the commission's chief executive,
provided an outline for the discussion. He noted that between 1 and 3
million United Methodists live outside the United States, and that Methodism
worldwide is about four times greater in membership than United Methodism.
In addition, partner church arrangements with other denominations have
existed in various countries around the world.

As U.S. United Methodists increase their contact with those in the church's
central conferences (regional units) elsewhere, they find differences.
"Nearly everyone in the church believes that the present structure is
inadequate. It assumes an equality and justice among all United Methodists
and it does not exist," Robbins wrote. "For reasons of history, geography
and social context, the central conferences - and their place and role
within the UMC - shall be a significant focus of the 2004 General
Conference."

Other challenges arise when the circle is widened to include other Methodist
bodies and ecumenical partners from, say, the World Council of Churches.
"Historically, it is difficult to draw a doctrinal or theological line
firmly around United Methodists," he continued. "However, it may be more
theologically sound to draw the line around Methodists worldwide. There, the
'distinctives' of the tradition are more obvious; that which sets us apart
from other families of the Christian community is simpler to articulate."

As part of a response to Robbins' paper, Bishop Walter Klaiber of Germany
told directors he sees two compelling issues forcing the church into being
as "catholic" - meaning universal - as possible. One issue is to express the
universality of the church and the other issue is to function ecumenically
at the local level.

He noted that the Roman Catholic Church is the most impressive example of
how a church can be truly global but also connected locally. A Protestant
model, he added, is the Lutheran World Federation, in which national
churches come together in a global organization.

A current problem among Methodists is the separation of bodies emerging from
the British Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church. "Methodists
are competing in some regions more than some (different) denominations do,"
Klaiber said.

Acting on behalf of the European Methodist Council, Klaiber raised that
concern at the 2001 World Methodist Conference in Brighton, England, asking
that a "manual of etiquette" among Methodist bodies be developed. When the
World Methodist Council Executive Committee met in Norway in September, it
unanimously adopted a resolution offering "Guidelines for the Mission and
Ministry of Member Churches of the World Methodist Council Working in the
Same Area."

According to the guidelines, Methodist churches planning new work in a
region should notify other council members and try to minimize or prevent
duplication of resources. Where member churches already work alongside each
other, they should "be encouraged to join together or at least to work in a
spirit of consultation and cooperation." The different Methodist traditions
also should communicate fully, sharing their "resources and experiences for
the furtherance of God's kingdom."

Klaiber, who serves on the presidium of the World Methodist Council,
believes the council could be strengthened to become "a real connection" for
Methodist bodies on a global level.

Within the United Methodist Church, other agencies, such as the General
Council on Ministries, continue to explore the "global nature" concept. A
major issue, according to Don Hayashi, a council staff executive, is whether
the denomination is willing to be transformed into a "servant body" rather
than hold on to its power base.

Bishop Melvin Talbert reminded commission directors that the denomination's
Council of Bishops had taken up the "global nature" issue during the 1988-92
quadrennium and added that the bishops' report had stressed the importance
of discussing the concept with Methodists worldwide "before we start putting
something on paper."

Talbert, who serves as the bishops' ecumenical officer, said he thinks the
council and Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns should
continue to pursue the issue together.

In other business, commission members received a report from a newly formed
search committee charged with finding a successor to Robbins, who will
complete a 12-year tenure as general secretary this year. Bishop Fritz
Mutti, commission president, had written last fall to the General Council on
Ministries - which elects general secretaries - asking that Robbins be
allowed to continue in his post until July 2004. In his Sept. 20, 2001,
letter, Mutti, who also leads the search committee, cited the commission's
demanding responsibilities from General Conference, touching on the issues
of racism and homosexuality, as reasons for the extension.

Mutti reported that he expects the General Council on Ministries to act on
the request at its meeting this October. The search committee will proceed
in its work once a response is given.

The commission is continuing to schedule "listening events" as part of its
mandate from the 2000 General Conference to encourage broader participation
on issues related to homosexuality and the unity of the church.

So far, such events have been held in the North Central, South Central and
Northeast jurisdictions; within one central conference (Northern Europe);
with one general church body, the Council of Bishops; and with
representatives of unofficial caucuses of United Methodists.

The Rev. Greg Stover, who leads the commission's task force on homosexuality
and unity with Jan Love, reported that the next listening event is set with
the General Council on Ministries on Oct. 25, and another will follow Dec.
11-12 in the Western Jurisdiction. The team designing an event with ethnic
groups will meet Dec. 5. Still to be scheduled are listening events with
youth and church members in the Southeast.

"We're making significant progress on a rather ambitious agenda for this
quadrennium," Stover said.

Offering personal observations about the process, he noted a "reticence" on
the part of many United Methodists to speak publicly on the issue of
homosexuality. Some bishops, for example, are reluctant to make comments for
fear of being "labeled" or seen as "divisive" within the church.

Another issue is whether the discussions should even continue. "There are a
number of persons that think the dialogue is over," Stover explained, either
because they believe General Conference already has settled the matter or
because they believe that dialogue just delays any real change in the
church.

The task force will make an analysis of the listening events once all are
complete, and it hopes to prepare resource materials eventually.

Directors adopted program priorities for 2003-2006, setting goals for the
areas of interreligious concerns, the nature of the church, Christian unity,
Christian/ecumenical formation, the Wesleyan tradition and emerging
opportunities. 

Top priorities within those categories include:

7	Exploring relations with people of other faith traditions.

7	Recognizing the church's common humanity with Muslim people while
exploring a deeper understanding of Islam.

7	Working toward eradicating racism in the church.

7	Continuing to develop opportunities for dialogue around issues
related to theological diversity in the church.

7	Examining the ecumenical and interreligious dimensions "of what it
means to make disciples of Christ."

7	Providing leadership to the denomination in understanding relations
with other Christian denominations and bodies.

7	Continuing existing bilateral dialogues and responding to new
opportunities for dialogue.

7	Strengthening the commission's communications with annual
conferences, districts and local congregations.

7	Making training and resources available.

7	Promoting understanding among seminary students of the
Wesleyan-United Methodist heritage.

7	Continuing pan-Methodist discussion through the Commission on Pan
Methodist Cooperation and Union, which includes members of the historically
black African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion and
Christian Methodist Episcopal denominations in addition to United
Methodists.

7	Continuing to address the impact of racism and seek avenues for
healing, reconciliation and justice for "those who left" the church and
"those who stayed" - African Americans who belong to one of the historically
black denominations as well as those in United Methodism. 
# # #
*Bloom is news director in United Methodist News Service's New York office.

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United Methodist News Service
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