There are four things you can do in your local area to bring home a connection to the 2008 General Conference:
1. Make the announcement in church this Sunday:
Wear your rainbow stoles or something colorful next week! Pray for all those who will be attending the General Conference in Fort Worth, April 23 - May 2. This is the legislative body that speaks for the United Methodist Church and meets every four years.
Reconciling people will be in attendance as church officials, delegates, staff and volunteers. We encourage you to wear the stoles, pins, or rainbows in solidarity with all who hope and act for an inclusive United Methodist Church.
Create a One Family Tree at your church. Here are the instructions for this transformative experience:
2. Follow the events at General Conference:
View the video that is posted there. Read the blog postings of invited authors. Pray with others using the Daily Devotions beginning April 16. Watch for daily updates once General Conference begins. http://www.generalconference2008.org/
GC 2008--Unity: Six United Methodist Bishops Discuss Unity
Six United Methodist Bishops discussed unity in The United Methodist Church at Hearts on Fire in 2005. The Bishop's Plenary included the following Bishops: John Schol, Minerva Carcaño, Scott Jones, Melvin Talbert,Susan Morrison and Sally Dyck. We review Bishop Scott Jones book below.
GC 2008--Unity: Book Review of Staying At The Table by Bishop Scott Jones
Bishop Scott Jones recently published a new book: Staying at the Table: The Gift of Unity for United Methodists.
Here is a book review from Susan Laurie, M.Div.:
In this new book, Bishop Jones addresses stressors, past and present, on the cohesion of the United Methodist Church. He observes that the UMC has come through social issues in the past toward a greater understanding of full inclusion for all people. He points out that there is still work to do and believes we are capable enough in our discipleship to stay together in the Church as we continue to mature in Christian faith.
However, when the topic is homosexuality, he makes his case that the current language in The Book of Discipline is balanced and allows for differences of opinion. With our current stance on homosexuality being a “non-essential doctrine”, Jones contends that we continue with the way things are.
Interestingly, he then invited sixteen United Methodists to respond and he deserves credit for allowing authentic debate.
Perhaps the collection of the remarkably varied positions, as they sit side-by-side, will reveal strengths and weaknesses of current thought and help readers discern a course for an honest unity within our UMC.
Responders include: RMN’s Sue Laurie, William J. Abraham, Lonnie D. Brooks, Mary Brooke Casad, Amy DeLong, Sudarshana Devadhar, Sally Dyck, James A. Harnish, Carolyn E. Johnson, Bill McAlilly, Patricia L. Miller, John R. Schol, Joe M. Whittemore, Gerald “Jay” Williams, William H. Willimon, and David K. Yemba.
Here are some quotes from the book:
"People who "believe" homosexuality is a sin have been misled. Wrong teaching about homosexuality will one day disappear with the old teaching against left-handedness. The phrase "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching" needs to be flipped. It is not the homosexuality that must be eradicated, rather it is the "Christian teaching" that alienates gay and lesbian sisters and brothers that must be stopped. Reread Bishop Jones's essay and let every "All" mean "all." As in the children's play, "Here is the church, here is the steeple. Open the doors. See ALL the people." Susan Laurie
"Unity will never be achieved in the presence of silence and in the absence of truth...Unity will never be achieved in the presence of spiritual violence...Unity will never be achieved when bigotry is disguised as intellectual debate." Amy DeLong
Purchase:
Staying At The Table @ Amazon.com Click here
Dr. Bruce Robbins presented the paper, "Methodists in Search of Unity amidst Division: Considering the Values and Costs of Unity and Separation in the Face of Two Moral Crises: Slavery and Sexual Orientation", at the Oxford Institute for Methodist Studies in August 2007.
For the last decade and more, The United Methodist Church (UMC) has been facing conflict caused by contrasting views of a moral issue: whether or not persons who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT) should be welcomed as others into the UMC as lay members or as clergy. The debate has been distressing to all in the church, for many because it has prevented debate and action on many of the other issues associated with Christian ministry. During the last four years, the debate has evolved into intense discussion of ecclesiological issues and has led some members to question the value of maintaining unity within the UMC, or to wonder whether it would be better and, perhaps, more faithful to separate into different institutional structures.
Nearly two centuries ago, the church faced another major divide over a moral issue- slavery. Alongside many differences between the two historical contexts, there are also similarities that church members faced, similarities that can be seen through the debates and actions within the annual and general conferences of the church. The slavery debates in the 1830s and 40s culminated in several splits in Methodism, the largest of which, in 1844, saw no reunion until ninety-five years had passed. Another split that emerged from that moral crisis has never found reunion.
Today’s crisis regarding LGBT persons is theological, moral and civil. The issue has been explosive in Christian and other faith communities. Some Christian communions have welcomed the full inclusion of LGBT persons into the life of the church. Other communions have set restrictions and have condemned LGBT persons theologically and have categorized them as living in sin. Churches based in the United States with international memberships (or with strong relationships to wider communions) have been challenged especially because of the polarities and complexities of perspective. The Anglican Communion and the Episcopal Church, USA, have been particularly divided by the crisis.
The crisis over slavery was also theological, moral and civil. It also carried some international dimensions because of the appeal of the delegates of the British Methodist Conference to the Methodist Episcopal Church’s general conferences. It also caused divisions in other U.S. churches such as among Baptists and Presbyterians.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the two crises and to assess the differences and similarities with regard to the processes of addressing and seeking to resolve the seemingly intractable conflict. First, I will review the challenges to unity at the time of the conflicts and the failure to achieve it. Second, I will seek to define the moral crises facing the churches and use a schema for describing different points of view within the debate. Finally, I will suggest some insights that can be helpful to those in the UMC as they approach the 2008 General Conference.
Complete Paper:
Methodists in Search of Unity amidst Division: Considering the Values and Costs of Unity and Separation in the Face of Two Moral Crises: Slavery and Sexual Orientation.
GC 2008--Unity: Conservative Methodists Propose Schism at 2004 General Conference
According to a May 7, 2004 New York Times article titled, "Conservative Methodists Propose Schism Over Gay Rights":
Frustrated by years of rancor between the left and the right in the United Methodist Church, conservative members proposed Thursday that the denomination dissolve itself and split into separate churches.
The call for separation came on the 10th day of the church's quadrennial general conference, a marathon policy-setting meeting that has only highlighted the church's gridlock over homosexuality and scriptural infallibility.
After losing several critical votes this week, hundreds of gay clergy members and lay people and their supporters paraded through the convention hall on Thursday singing the Methodist hymn, ''We Are the Church.'' Their leaders insisted that they had no plans to leave the church because they expected the gay rights cause would inevitably prevail.
Although a schism is far from imminent, the proposal is part of a long-term strategy and an indication that Methodist conservatives intend to use the gay issue as a wedge to precipitate a fracture -- just as conservatives have in the Episcopal Church USA, in which some churches are forming a rival network. Methodist conservatives do not plan to advance the proposal here but to build support for it among church members in advance of the next convention in 2008.
Full story:
Conservative Methodists Propose Schism Over Gay Rights Click here
GC 2008--Unity: 2004 General Conference Affirms Unity
The lead United Methodist News Service article about the 2004 General Conference covers the General Conference's resolution to affirm the unity of the church.
United Methodist delegates to 2004 General Conference stood, joined hands and sang the hymn “Blest Be The Tie That Binds” before approving a resolution affirming the unity of the church.
The May 7 action was in response to the circulation of a document the day before suggesting the formation of a task force to study splitting the church. The statement, crafted by conservatives, was never introduced on the floor of the conference.
In a May 7 newsletter for conference attendees, the Rev. James V. Heidinger II, president of Good News, wrote that “no such resolution will be brought before this General Conference.” But he added that “the matter of amicable separation is now on the table for discussion by United Methodists.” Good News is an unofficial United Methodist evangelical group.
The unity resolution adopted May 7 read: “As United Methodists we remain in covenant with one another, even in the midst of disagreement, and affirm our commitment to work together for our common mission of making disciples throughout the world.” It was introduced by the Rev. John Schol of the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual (regional) Conference and approved by a vote of 869-41, with 8 abstentions.
GC 2008--Unity: Conservative Methodists Respond to 2004 Unity Affirmation
In response to the General Conference's affirmation to remain in covenant amid disagreement, the Confessing Movement wrote the 2005 Unity Resolution. This resolution states that unity is only possible if all United Methodists adopt their particular approach to the Christian tradition.
Genuine unity in the church is not secured by religious sentiment, sincere piety, tight property clauses, or appeals to institutional authority and loyalty. Not all opinions are compatible with our Doctrinal Standards. False understandings of inclusivism demand acceptance apart from repentance and obedience to the good news of God’s grace for all sinners. This ideology has become a substitute gospel that confuses the church and fractures its unity.
The film, Renewal or Ruin? is now viewable online. The film documents The Institute on Religion and Democracy's attempt to create disunity in the United Methodist Church.
Since its beginning in 1982, the Institute on Religion and Democracy has continuously undermined the United Methodist Church and other mainline Protestant denominations by attacking the character of church leaders. This organization, funded by some of the world's most powerful foundations, undermines the witness of the church by fueling controversy to its own benefit.
Renewal or Ruin? looks into the IRD's claim that it exists to renew the spiritual life of the church. Researchers, church leaders, and others talk about their findings and experiences with this well funded Washington, DC organization that foments dissention in the body of Christ.
Please let us be part of your support and let us know how we might help. One way is to let us pray for you. We invite you to send your prayer requests to us and be counted in the weekly offering of joys and concerns. You may call (773-736-5526), write (RMN 3801 N. Keeler Ave. Chicago, IL 60641) or email these requests to prayer@rmnetwork.org.
Pray for all church officials, delegates, staff and volunteers attending the 2008 General Conference.
Reconciling Ministries Network mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love. Founded in 1984, RMN consists of 295 congregations, 36 campus ministries, 84 reconciling communities. Extension ministries include the Parents' Reconciling Network, Reconciling Ministries Clergy, United Methodists of Color for a Fully Inclusive Church, and RMN's student movement, MOSAIC.
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Chicago, IL 60641
Phone: 773-736-5526
Fax: 773-736-5475
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The 2008 General Conference Begins in Two Weeks
There are four things you can do in your local area to bring home a connection to the 2008 General Conference:
Bishop Scott Jones recently published a new book: Staying at the Table: The Gift of Unity for United Methodists.
