Wrap-up: Bishops support Discipline regarding homosexuality, same-sex unions
5/5/1998 News media contact: Linda Green · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn by United Methodist News Service LINCOLN, Neb.- United Methodist bishops issued a pastoral letter here April 30 declaring their intention to support the church's Book of Discipline, including a statement from the Social Principles prohibiting "ceremonies celebrating homosexual unions by our ministers and in our churches."
Although a recent clergy trial in Nebraska heightened concerns about the United Methodist Church's position on homosexuality and same-sex unions, the Council of Bishops, meeting here April 25-May 1, declared the church's stance on homosexuality unchanged.
In their letter, the bishops unanimously affirmed the church's position as defined in the Book of Discipline and voted to continue "to guard the faith, seek unity, and to exercise the discipline of the whole church; and to supervise and support the Church's life, work, and mission throughout the world."
The letter was an attempt to respond to the concern of church members as a result of the March 13 acquittal of an Omaha clergyman who was found not guilty of disobeying church law after he performed a same-sex covenanting ceremony. The council includes 50 active bishops from the United States, 17 from outside the United States, and about 60 retired bishops who participate but have no vote. About 57 of the 67 active bishops were present during the vote
In covenant with one another, the bishops said they "are committed to uphold the General Conference's actions on the theological, ethical and polity matters defined in the Book of Disciple, including the statements on homosexuality and all specified issues contained in the Social Principles. . ."
The Discipline states that homosexual persons, no less than heterosexual persons, are individuals of sacred worth and affirms that God's grace is available to all. At the same time it says the practice of homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching."
The narrow acquittal of the Rev. Jimmy Creech in the March 11-13 trial hinged on the legal status of a statement inserted in the church's Social Principles by the 1996 General Conference : "Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual union shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches."
The Council of Bishops had been requested by several groups to call a special session of the General Conference, top legislative body of the church, to deal with the same-sex union issue. In their pastoral letter, the bishops said they prayerfully considered the requests but concluded that a special session would be "not seem wise at this time." Instead, they will await a ruling by the denomination's Judicial Council scheduled to consider the matter at a special session in Dallas August 7-8.
The bishops said that a special called session may distract the church from its central mission of responding to the world's crises, especially as those crises relate to children and the impoverished.
The stated emphases of the semi-annual meeting here were "connecting with one another and God, growing in discipleship, resourcing one another for our ministry and giving direction to the church."
Among other issues addressed by the bishops was whether lay persons should participate in the "laying on of hands" portion of annual conference ordination ceremonies. In 1993 the bishops made a covenant among themselves against such a practice.
A 1996 General Conference resolution directed the bishops to rescind its 1993 "consensus," saying it is contrary to portions of the 1998 and 1992 Book of Discipline. A report from a task force on the laying on of hands, approved by the bishops, notes that the previous decision of the council made in 1993 is no longer binding for the present quadrennium.
It further recommends that:
¨ the permissive language, "the ordaining bishop may invite other elders and laity to be a part of the laying on of hands" be instructive for each bishop and that each bishops make a decision consistent with his or her own understanding of the matter;
¨ deacons in full connection be invited to join in laying on of hands at the ordination of deacons in full connection;
¨ elders be invited to join in the laying on of hands at the ordination of elders;
¨ ecumenical representatives with ordaining authority be invited to participate at the discretion of the bishop;
¨ each bishop decide if he or she will invite lay persons to join in the laying on of hands.
The bishops also took action related to the School of the Americas, a military training installation in Fort Benning, Ga. The school has been under intense criticism for several years because its graduates have reportedly perpetuated some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America.
Various entities, including the United Methodist Church, have joined the debate over whether the school should be closed. At least seven annual conferences, in their spring and summer sessions, considered resolutions on the school.
Opponents of the school - which trains up to 2,000 soldiers a year from Latin America and the Caribbean - have dubbed it "the School of Assassins." They claim it teaches techniques that promote military abuse and human right violations in those countries.
Advocates of the school say opponents have distorted facts and claim the school offers opportunity to acquire professional skills and exposure to American values.
The council of bishops was presented with a resolution regarding the school at its spring meeting last May but deferred action until more information could be obtained. The bishops called for dialogue on the issue and requested the United Methodist Board of Church and Society gather information and make a report at a subsequent meeting.
Following discussion here, the bishops adopted a resolution urging President Clinton and Congress to close the School of the Americas as an act of solidarity with the poor and marginalized of Latin America.
After hearing testimony from "the lips of our Latino constituents," the bishops concluded that the school is "perceived by the marginalized to be a source of oppression and a symbol of violence."
They urged that all United Methodists in the United States "work prayerfully to support the resolution as an act of solidarity with our Latino brothers and sisters."
In another resolution dealing with the military, the bishops responded to a resolution adopted by the 1996 General Conference on military occupation in the East Timor region of Indonesia. That resolution, calls on United Methodists to make efforts in mission, education and advocacy to alleviate the plight of the East Timorese. It urged the United States government and other governments to take legislative and administrative action to pressure Indonesia to comply with the United Nations, withdraw its military occupation forces from East Timor and cooperate with the United Nations in a process of bringing about self-determination for the people.
The council plans to have the draft of a pastoral letter on racism ready for consideration at its next meeting Nov. 2-6 at Simpsonwood, north of Atlanta.
The bishops also voted to join with members of a General Conference Task Force on Concern for Workers to issue a Labor Day message to the church in the United States in 1998. The statement calls for "just treatment of working people" and declares that " all economic systems are under the judgment of God."
In another resolution, the bishops opposed efforts in California to eliminate bilingual education in the public school system.
As part of its churchwide initiative on children and poverty, the council agreed to cooperate with the three historic black Methodist denominations to promote and observe a Children's Sabbath in October.
The observance by the African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, the Christian Methodist Episcopal and the United Methodist churches, will "show our commitment to children endangered by poverty," said Bishop William Grove, the council's ecumenical officer and a member of the commission.
In March, l999, the bishops of all four churches will meet in Atlanta to focus on "Requirements for Union -- Repentance, Forgiveness, Reconciliation." The United Methodist bishops will be asked by the church's General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns to endorse an "Act of Repentance for Racism" for consideration by delegates to the 2000 General Conference in Cleveland.
Grove also reported that a formal dialogue involving the Episcopal Church in the United States and the United Methodist Church is about to begin. The Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the world Anglican communion, has agreed tentatively to visit the Council of Bishops and the General Conference in 2000.
Bishop Emerito P. Nacpil of the Philippines, was chosen by the council to give the traditional Episcopal Address for the opening session of the 2000 General Conference. He will be the first bishop outside the United States ever to give the "state of the church" address.
Nacpil completed his one-year term as president of the council at the close of the sessions here. Succeeding him is Bishop George W. Bashore of Pittsburgh. Bishop Robert C. Morgan, Louisville, Ky., was elected president-designate to assume office at the close of the spring 1999 meeting. Serving a four-year term as secretary of the council is Bishop Sharon Rader of Sun Prairie, Wis.
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