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GC-2012, Friday, May 4,
2012:
At the Renewal and Reform breakfast, it was announced that the headlines in
the New York Times read “Methodists Maintain Stand against Homosexuality” –
which was a positive word. With one exception the results of the actions
either passed or defeated at this General Conference tend to move our United
Methodist Church into a more orthodox Christian direction. As we are going
into the “home stretch” toward the end of this session the evangelical
attendees were cautioned to not let their guard down in the area of the
petitions dealing with homosexuality; the “other side” – those who would
overturn the church’s position – are tenacious and very ingenuous in
devising new ways to achieve their goals (or words to that effect).
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While I was leaving the hotel where the
breakfast is hosted, I had a chance to talk to the young lady in Spanish
giving her a Christian tract, and to the doorman at the front door – both
about Jesus. It turns out, he is a Portuguese evangelist and his work at the
hotel was just to “pay the bills” in his ministry. It is gratifying to find
other brothers and sisters engaged in ministry wherever they are.
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During the morning session in which Bishop
Hope Moragan Ward presided, various issues on the budget of the United
Methodist Church. It was pointed out that the budget for the general church
for this next quadrennium (2013-2016) was $603 million – the first time in
the history of the Church that the budget was lower than for the previous
period of time. Various aspects of the budget were then voted before the
assembled people broke for lunch.
The coordinator of the calendar stated that the petitions on sexuality would
be deferred to the end and taken up after all of the others had been voted.
I am glad to see this and hope that time will run out before they are
addressed at all. Almost without exception, they call for revise the Book of
Discipline in its various paragraphs to remove and proscription of
homosexual practice, membership, or ordination; I am hoping that there is
not time to deal with them and that the petitions themselves will die
without action. One of the reasons is that the time in which they would have
been actioned was wasted with the demonstration by the pro-homosexual
activists. It was reported that there would be another demonstration today,
so it will be interesting to see what transpires.
In the debate over the budget (which should be
an item for little controversy), an amendment was offered revising a
relatively trivial matter associated with report on the budget. The formula
specifying the formula for the apportionment (pages 536 – 538 of the ADCA)
was voted and approved. Then before there was a discussion of the amendment
itself, a delegate rose to offer “an amendment to the amendment” – that had
nothing to do with financial implications. The “amendment to the amendment”
brought up dealt with the submission of petitions, specifying who can and
cannot bring issues of concern to the General Conference. This petition is
entitled “Petition Submission” and is calendar item #507, petition # 20318
authored by Randall Miller (an individual who is active in the homosexual
advocacy movement), that revises paragraph ¶507-G of the Book of Discipline
of the United Methodist Church, it provides that only entities of the
denomination can submit petitions to be considered by the General Conference
and takes away from non-United Methodist organizations, individual – both
lay and clergy – this right. First of all, anything submitted by this
individual would raise suspicions in my mind as to the thrust of the
petition. Secondly, upon analysis this action is a subtle but significant
shift of power upward and taking away from individual laymembers and clergy
the right to bring to the attention their concerns and recommendations.
This, in turn, engenders control to devolve upward and making it more
difficult to correct perceived injustices; in short, it contributes to the
“calcification” of the United Methodist Church. It remains to be seen how
this will play out against the other, more positive actions that were
passed.
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In the afternoon, Bishop Jeremiah J. Park (New
York) presided over the plenary session. Petitions addressed elections to
the general boards and agencies, clergy health, lawsuits, distribution of
resolutions, time-dating and removal of resolutions from the Book of
Resolutions, etc. In the discussion, one clergy delegate from Texas observed
that “The Book of Resolutions is becoming increasingly irrelevant – which
was his voicing what many of us think.
Then late in the afternoon around 3:30 P.M.,
the plenary session was hit with a bombshell: a decision by the UM Judicial
Council (the UM equivalent of the U.S. Supreme Court) that “Plan UMC is
deemed as unconstitutional” – which is monumental. This means that – when we
came to Tampa for the General Conference it was widely understood that the
present system of organization in the United Methodist Church is unwieldy,
top-heavy, and unworkable in the long term. Four years of work had gone into
the “CT/IOT” Plan which we in Concerned Methodists vigorously opposed,
despite all of the work that had gone into it; we supported Plan B – that
was opposed by a great part of the delegates. The pro-homosexual? MFSA
faction had their own plan and opposed both of the other plans. A team of
well-qualified people to include the Treasurer from my own North Carolina
Conference Christine Dodson got together Joe Whittemore (North Georgia
Conference, a very intelligent, astute person) and worked long and hard last
Saturday night and Sunday to come up with Plan UMC – which I believe is a
good plan and even better than Plan B.
With that having been said, I believe that
this Judicial Council “bombshell” will have an overall positive effect on
the outcome of the General Conference. The key issue is that of sexuality
and preventing the normalization of homosexuality; if we ever lost that
battle, we would lose the United Methodist Church as a Christian church. The
organizational and streamlining issues will have a resolution; even if we
did nothing else in that area and completed it here at Tampa, it would work
itself out. If nothing else, the problems of our bloated bureaucracy would
be downsized by financial necessity through a lack funds coming in from the
local
churches and their being forced to operate with fewer staff – similar to
when a company downsizes because of reduced income. As it is now, I believe
that this becomes issue #1 that the plenary must deal with. It is fully
expected that this will take up all of the time between now and when the
General Conference must adjourn. If my analysis is correct (4:30 P.M. on
Friday) then that means that we will not have time to take up any of the
petitions dealing with sexuality issues; it is better to let all of the
petitions die without being discussed than take a chance on some of them
being passed in any of their implications for the church. I am very much in
prayer about this at this time. With all of its negative connotations, I see
the potential of a lot of good to come from this. The session was adjourned for supper.
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Bishop D. Max Whitfield of the Northwest Texas
Conference and New Mexico presided at the evening plenary session. The full
focus of the first order of business of the evening session was to deal with
the structural and financial implications of the consequences of the
Judicial Council’s decision. By the energy and passion that the rainbow-clad
group put into opposing Plan UMC I know that the revised structure that
would result would tend to move the United Methodist Church in a direction
as to make it more evangelical and orthodox Christian. Motions to refer the
Plan UMC for revision, amendments to motions, amendments to amendments were
made to move the process forward.
During the speech that one man made that
repeated a question Bishop Whitfield had answered over and over and over,
another delegate seated behind the speaker and clearly visible on the camera
held up a sign that said, “John 11:35.” When I looked up that scripture in
the Bible and found that it read, “Jesus Wept.” I and other folks in the
Press Section where I was seated laughed.
Another humorous moment occurred when a
delegate from West Virginia raised the same issue yet again. Bishop
Whitfield told him that he had decided the matter was in appropriate, but
that if the delegate had wanted to he could appeal the decision of the
chair. The delegate then said, “How do I do that?” There was laughter in the
plenary to include Bishop Whitfield. Then Bishop Whitfield had to coach him
through the process of how to do that. Even then the delegate stumbled
through it.
At 9:14 P.M. the proceedings are such that
debate has been limited to 2 speakers for each side, 1 minute limit in
speeches, and approving petitions in groups. I am praying that nothing
harmful will slip through such as happened four years ago at the General
Conference in Ft. Worth. That was when all of the Constitutional Amendments
slipped through. With each successive vote, the numbers of people voting
decreases and the percentages of “Yes” votes creeps higher and higher. This
concerns me in that if the plenary session goes on long enough, they will
put up the petitions that seek to normalize homosexuality and whereas during
the normal sessions when the delegates are not tired, these would have been
voted down. I pray that my concerns are not supported – but I fear that they
are. The plenary adjourned for a break to work out the differences and to
reconcile the legislation that had been passed.
At 10:00 P.M. the plenary re-convened and then moved to pass the petitions
that made the financial decisions official. The session then went into
filling the positions that had been created by the legislation and in
negating the filling of positions that had been filled under the Plan UMC
legislation. At 10:27 P.M. Kathy Connolly recommended that the petition
withdrawing the Women’s Division and the GBCS from RCRC; when she did, the
rainbow-clad people stood at the side of the plenary for the vote. The
plenary voted it down; the rainbow-clad people then walked out of the hall.
Then Morris Matthes from the Texas Conference moved that the Plan UMC that
had earlier been tabled (upon the parliamentary move by Bruce Robbins) until
after the discussion of all other actions; it failed the vote – effectively
killing Plan UMC. This was a very clever move by Bruce, a very effective
leader for the other side.
This ends the parliamentary action for General Conference 2012 at about
10:44 P.M.
A short worship followed. The plenary session of General Conference 2012 was
dismissed at 10:55 P.M.
We shall see what the future holds for the United Methodist Church.
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Although I am optimistic about what was passed – and what was not passed in
reference to the sexuality areas, I would ask that you continue to pray for
the future of the United Methodist Church
Allen O. Morris
Executive Director
Concerned Methodists
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I allow no other rule, whether of faith or practice, than the Holy
Scriptures.
– John Wesley
GC-2012,
Thursday, May 3, 2012:
At the Renewal
and Reform breakfast, I joined some of our supporters from Tennessee but
also with a couple who are delegates from the Lukoshi Conference who come
from Katanga in Congo. Later, I had a chance to join “Isaiah” from Nigeria,
who was under Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, also from Nigeria.
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At the General
Conference, a delegate from the Iowa Delegation spoke to the plenary session
to update the people on her injuries suffered when she was hit by a car
driven by a man who is also a delegate to the conference. One of the
delegates from Africa also suffered injuries but is waiting until he gets
back to his own country to receive medical care. The Reverend Jerry Kulah
from Liberia raised the question as to whether or not the man had health
care coverage to cover medical treatment and expressed concern as to whether
or not delegates here have healthcare coverage should they be injured.
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A bit of time
was used debating a constitutional amendment changing the name “Lay Speaker”
to “Lay Servant”. Lynn Powell, lay leader of the North Georgia Conference
spoke against it pointing out that if a person is a lay member of the UMC,
that person should be a lay servant. In subsequent debate ensued – and the
petition passed by a vote of 66.88%. A second petition #20437, page 1080 of
the DCA Advance and calendar item #171 on p. 2186 of the DCA dealing with
“Consideration of Schedules of Young People”; it passed by a vote of 682
for, or 73.81% - exceeding the 2/3 vote required for a constitutional
amendment. When we dwell on these issues knowing that the subject of
homosexuality is the key issue that will be addressed today. The Scripture
verse that comes to mind, is in Matthew, chapter 23 where Jesus talks about
“straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel” in dealing with trivialities.
The first one
to hit the floor was petition #21032 entitled “Human Sexuality” on pages 270
and 271 of the Advance DCA 2.1, calendar item #513, page 2367. It was
reported out of committee with a resolution of to not support the petition,
but a minority report (recommending the petition) brought it to the floor.
Rev. Adam
Hamilton rose to offer an amendment that would make the intent of the
petition more palatable and seem like a “middle of the road” approach that
would say that “we are not of one mind” and purports to offer only two
choices: either schism (separation) or “respectful co-existence” with no
other alternatives. This was extremely disappointing because both Hamilton
and Rev. Mike Slaughter are two who I had thought were evangelical; I had
heard Hamilton when I was at a conference in Kansas and purchased some of
his books.
Those arguing
the other side contended that they “were born that way” and that they are
suffering persecution for “who they are” with no mention of moral absolutes
and sin. [In getting information for a book I had authored (On the Brink)
one man argued tongue-in-cheek that he was “born” to be heterosexually
promiscuous – but, obviously, did not act on his human nature.]
After
defeating all of the “amendments” which were cleverly disguised as a “middle
road” that we had talked about in one of our earlier General Conference
Updates, sometimes with as little of a majority vote as 53.48% and getting
to the main petition itself, the vote was presented to the plenary body. Dr.
Eddie Fox stood up to make a point of order. He observed that the result of
the committee vote – to reject the petition – was not reported out to
the plenary body. He was almost called out of order by the presiding bishop
when Dr. Fox did this, but he had it right – it was not reported to
the body as it should have been. When he did so, the presenter stumbled when
she affirmed that fact. This was apparent manipulation of the process. The
petition itself was defeated – with 940 delegates voting, 368 (39.15%) voted
to support the petition and 570 (60.85%) opposed it – meaning that this was
the first one dealing with this area to be acted on by the plenary session.
From my experience at past General Conferences starting with the one in
Denver (1996) that the first petition is an indicator of how the others will
go. Subsequent petitions tend to garner ever larger percentages of votes
against them. The 60.85% is a positive sign.
There were
many eloquent speeches against this whole action that were offered by not
only American delegates but especially by the ones from Africa – a Reverend
Elitos (sp.) from South West Katanga Conference in Congo. I would like to
include the text of his speech but will have to wait until tomorrow to see
the transcript of his arguments.
In all of the
talk there was no discussion by the “rainbow-clad” people whether or not
they believe that the practice of homosexuality is sinful.
After the
vote, the “rainbow-clad” supporters of homosexuality who were standing
around the General Conference floor then pushed their way onto the floor,
went to the center of the plenary floor, sang, and then some rainbow-clad
persons, evidently clergy, offered crackers to others as a sign of
communion. Bishop Bickerton, who had done a masterful job of leading the
plenary delegates through the difficult debates, then declared a recess.
During the
recess, the rainbow-clad group continued to stand in the middle singing.
After the
recess, the rainbow-clad group continued to stand in the middle singing.
The presiding bishop Mike Coyner then reconvened the plenary session and
ignore the group in the middle. Garlinda Burton was called to the podium to
give a presentation that was blatantly supportive of homosexuality. She
offered the premise that “all of us are children of God” with the idea that
all who are black, white, gay, etc. are included.
Since the
rainbow-clad group continued to stand in the middle singing, Bishop Coyner
then adjourned the plenary conference and informed the assembled people that
after lunch, the plenary would reconvene in this room with all visitors and
non-delegate guests being excluded.
Bishop Scott
Jones presided in the afternoon when the demonstrators refused to leave the
plenary floor and offered conciliatory words calling all people “brothers
and sisters” and talking about the “hurt” experienced by some (meaning the
LGBT people whose cause was defeated in the legislation). The term “we are
all children of God” was repeated multiple times, along with the reference
to the “hurt” experienced without reference to sin. Then he called on the
President of the Council of Bishops, Rosemary Wenner.
She stated in
her speech that “we are all God’s Children – that is what holds us
together…” Phrases such as “our words are being used to harm people” or to
“harm people because of their sexual orientation”…etc. One would wonder what
she had to say about sin and the broken relationship with God when we
persist in unconfessed sin in the lives of people which results in broken
relationship with God. Could it be that Bishop Wenner has confused the fact
that we are “creations” of God as opposed to being children of God? One also
could ask where she would put Jesus Christ in the connectional process? Then
she called on Rev. Frank Wolf to lead the plenary session in prayer.
When he walked
up to the podium, he was wearing a rainbow-colored stole draped around his
shoulders. I am sorry but the way he was dressed – partisan to the
pro-homosexual cause – led me to question the propriety of his prayer.
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Since all of
this took up a great deal of time and the normal business was not conducted
that would have been completed during the lost time, the Coordinator of the
schedule and calendar was asked what the plenary session would do. The
response was that the plenary would go with its schedule as it was
originally planned, deal with the afternoon’s agenda on pensions, and the
business scheduled for the morning that had not been completed (which
included the other petitions dealing with various aspects of homosexual
normalization within the United Methodist Church and the petition calling
for the withdrawal of the UM General Board of Church and Society and the
Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries) would be
examined to see if it could be worked in later.
The pension
plan was presented with a minority report offered for debate. The
denominational-crafted pension plan relied on growing numbers members in the
church; the minority report pointed out and then talked about our declining
numbers calling it a “death tsunami” in his objection to it. Despite the
apparently flawed financial and actuarial basis on which the
denominational-crafted pension plan rested, it prevailed and was adopted.
The evening
session began with Bishop James Swanson (Holston Conference) presiding. One
of the bishops sitting behind him to the right (I believe it is Jack Tuell)
was wearing a rainbow-colored stole draped over his shoulders. Only one
piece of legislation was passed – presented by the Committee on Episcopacy
having to do with retirement, etc. and other aspects of the office of
bishop.
The evening worship service
was led by Marcia McFee, who is known to support the homosexual agenda; she
along with admitted homosexual Mark Miller had led the worship during the
2008 General Conference in Ft. Worth. When MeFee started out, she told the
plenary people that “God is a good God. Even when life doesn’t treat you
right; even when people don’t treat you right; even when the church doesn’t
treat you right. She appeared to be on the verge of crying and to be
emotionally upset. Again, one would wonder why she was asked to lead worship
for two General Conferences in a row, and especially if she is going to be
upset over a vote that maintains the United Methodist Church’s stance on
homosexuality. I can only wonder how much of this emotional upset,
protestations, and rhetoric by those involved in this lifestyle is genuine –
and how much is designed to tug at the heartstrings of others in an attempt
to garner sympathy. In any event, the singing for the worship service
continued to include a video of a group from Haiti, the Junaluska Singers,
and other musical groups to include lively Latin gospel music.
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I ask that you continue to
pray for us and for the delegates as they go into tomorrow’s session which
will be the last day that will deal with the budget. I will be curious to
see if the plenary will have time to take up the various petitions dealing
with homosexuality and the withdrawal from the Religious Coalition for
Reproductive Choice, which was reported out of committee with a
recommendation of concurrence (that the voting delegates would approve it).
We are on the verge of some significant victories at this General
Conference. It would be a shame to let our guard down, vote the wrong way on
some of the petitions – and snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. Please
pray that the delegates would keep a clear mind and focus on what the Lord
would have them do – with nothing else to cloud their judgment. Again, I
would ask you – please pray.
More later.
Allen O. Morris
Executive Director
Concerned Methodists
I felt I
did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation;
and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins,
even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.
–
John Wesley
GC-2012,
Wednesday, May 2, 2012:
At the Renewal
and Reform breakfast, we heard from The Reverend Werlein, whois a
Spirit-filled UM pastor from the Texas conference. After graduating from
seminary he started a church in 1999 – and today it has over 3,000 members.
In his morning address, he talked to us about bringing people to the Lord –
for those who are unchurched he approached in a diplomatic, patient way. He
told about
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There were
various actions dealing with the complaint process that were brought up,
debated, and passed or defeated.
A little after
9:00 A.M. the plenary edged their way into an alternative restructuring
proposal named “Plan C” as a compromise between the bishop-supported CT/IOT
Plan and Plan B, the latter was the one which we had preferred and
recommended in the last issue of The Christian Methodist Newsletter.
A motion was made to introduce the substitute plan in place of the CT/IOT
Plan, debated, passed by a greater than 2/3rds majority (petition #20980
dealing with ¶263 of the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church
entitled “Implementation of Call to Action Proposals, calendar item #526,
page 2369 of the DCA). Then the substitute motion became the main motion to
be acted upon. At that point one person rose to ask who the persons were who
served on the committee that worked on Plan C. The presiding bishop (who is
the resident bishop of the North Georgia Conference Bishop B. Michael
Watson) referred him to 2312 of the DCS. Another person rose to ask what the
ethnic makeup of the people were, to ensure that there were “people of
color” or ethnic minorities represented; he was ruled out of order. A second
person rose to ask if the members of the revision committee could stand so
that he “could see who they were”; he also was ruled out of order. Then a
young man rose with an impassioned speech that “as a person of color” he
wanted to be assured that among the members of the revision committee were
some who could “understand the minority perspective” (not his exact words)
so he wanted the people to stand so he could see who they were; Bishop
Watson ruled him out of order. Then someone rose to ask if anyone from the
Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) was included; the answer was,
“No.” [MFSA is a far-left advocacy group that supports homosexual
normalization, abortion, and a plethora of far-left political causes.] After
that had been established (that no MFSA member had been included, I leaned
over to Dwight Cribb who is also here from Concerned Methodists covering the
General Conference, “There was no one from Concerned Methodists included
either.” The point being that there was no need to include every advocacy
group in the revision committee.
Then Bishop
Watson ignored the implications of that last issue and asked, “Is there
anyone who can tell us what the ethnic makeup, gender, age, and
qualifications are of each member of the committee that worked on Plan C?”
He was being facetious at the requests being made. He then moved the process
back to an attempt to refer the motion and not deal with it during this
General Conference. The motion to refer (meaning that it would not be dealt
with at this General Conference) was defeated by a vote of 395 (for
referral) to 555 (against referral), or 58.5%. Then Bishop Watson thanked
the assembly, stated that it was time for the break, and then pointed out
with an evident note of relief that when they came back from break, Bishop
Janice Riggle Huie of the Texas Conference would be presiding.
After the
break the alternative Plan C was presented with a various presenters.
Christine Dodson, Treasurer from the North Carolina Conference, gave a
summary of the plan, with explanatory clarifications offered by Rev. Greg
Stover of the West Ohio Conference and Betty Spiwe Katiyo from Zimbabwe
(there is a chart on page 2312). The revised plan was presented with most of
the General Boards and Agencies that will continue to exist.
Members of the
ad hoc revision committee were: Steven E. Zekoff, Ed Tomlinson, Tim
McClendon, Jay Brim, Christine Dodson, Deborah A. McLeod, Brian Milford,
Lonnie Brooks, Joseph Whittemore, Andy Langford, Don Underwood, Gregory
Stover, Robert Sparkman, Forbes Matonga, Daniel Ivey-Soto, Sandy Ferguson,
Ron Enns, and Betty Spiwe Katiyo. As I had told some associates when we were
opposing the elimination of elder tenure, “Some of the issues make for
strange bed-fellows” in that we are allied with some of the people that we
oppose on other issues such as abortion and homosexuality.
The present
number of directors from all of the General Boards and Agencies is 634;
under the Plan C will be 312.
There was an
immediate amendment to the plan, which called for the merging of the General
Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) and the General Commission on the
Status and Role of Women (GCSRW), to maintain them as separate entities.
After being fully-discussed, the amendment failed with a total voting
delegates of 952, 459 voted against and 493 voted for, with only 48.21%
voting to pass the amendment – so the amendment failed.
There was a
second amendment to the plan offered by a delegate from Julius A------ from
the Liberian delegation, which called for the increase of the number of
representative membership from the Central Conferences. The Rev. Greg Stover
from the revision committee accepted the recommendation as a friendly
amendment. After being discussed, the amendment passed with a total voting
delegates of 946, 608 voted for and 338 voted against, with 64.27% voting to
pass the amendment. This will have the effect of giving a greater percentage
of the members and representatives of the General Boards and Agencies to the
people from the Central Conferences. This, in turn, will move the General
Boards and Agencies into a more conservative direction.
After there
being a “more-than-full” discussion (with amendments and amendments to
amendments being offered), the main motion passed with a total voting
delegates of 951, 567 voted for and 384 voted against, with 59.62% voting to
pass the amendment. Petition #20980 dealing with ¶263 of the Book of
Discipline of the United Methodist Church entitled “Implementation of Call
to Action Proposals, calendar item #526, page 2369 of the DCA – passed. We
see this as being beneficial in reducing the size of the General Boards and
Agencies and in moving the United Methodist Church in a more conservative
direction.
In the
afternoon, Petition #20138 dealing with the “Opposition to Israeli
Settlements in Palestinian Land”, calendar item #439, page 2187 passed with
a vote of 558 to 367. This is seen as detrimental to Israel.
In a related
Petition #21071 dealing with “Aligning UMC Investments with Resolutions on
Israel/Palestine was fully debated. In this, the original petition was
defeated in committee by a vote of 37 to 36; it had called for divestment
from three companies who deal with Israel: Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions,
and Hewlett Packard. This is seen as a second action that is harmful to
Israel. In this we were joined in active debate by African delegates who
recognized clearly that the actions of Israel are to defend themselves.
Different actions and amendments were offered by those who supported
divestment to derail the petition reported out of committee. This petition
ultimately the main motion passed with 59.62% voting to pass the amendment.
At the end of
the afternoon session, the “rainbow-clad” people supporting the “LBGT”
agenda were very vocal in making their presence known. Please remember that
money funding for these types of activities in all probability is coming
from sources from outside of the United Methodist Church.
Bishop
Hoshibata presided at the evening session. Various petitions addressing
“secondary” issues were addressed such as revision of the wording of the
Social Principles to make the church more world relevant (petition was
referred for later action), changing the name of “Lay Speakers” – and so
forth.
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In reviewing
the day, I cannot help but be enthused by what has happened so far at this
General Conference. With the one exception of the action ending elder
tenure, I am extremely positive that this General Conference may be a
pivotal one in modern Methodism. With the increased numbers of delegates
from Africa, the processes and actions passed have moved in a more orthodox
Christian direction. As one of the members of Concerned Methodists and I had
discussed, there is definitely hope for the future of the United Methodist
Church.
Especially
with the passage of the “Plan C” method for reorganization of the
denomination. This was little short of a miracle. As you know we in
Concerned Methodists were diametrically opposed to the “CT/IOT” Plan. As we
were monitoring its progress, we were gratified when we realized that it did
not garner enough support in the legislative committee to be approved out of
it. We had reasoned that it is better to do nothing at this point and to
adopt no plan than to adopt a bad plan. As it happened, delegates from the
North Carolina Conference to include Christine Dodson and Patricia Archer
joined with other proponents of Plan B such as Joe Whittemore to work with
proponents of the CT/IOT Plan to work on a compromise. Of interest was the
fact that the proponents of a third plan from the Methodist Federation for
Social Action (MFSA) were not included. As a matter of fact, one of the
workers on the compromise plan confided that some of the MFSA worked to
obstruct a meaningful compromise. The workers for a compromise plan did so
late into Saturday night and on Sunday afternoon. The product that resulted
is, I believe, a good plan. That was one miracle – the quality of the plan
itself. The second miracle was that it was passed yesterday, even though the
obstructionism from some of the MFSA-types was palpably obvious. All of the
amendments and “amendments to the amendments” designed to change the nature
of the new plan were systematically addressed – and defeated. I am
cautiously optimistic that this plan, along with other actions that have
been passed, will help move our United Methodist Church into a more positive
direction.
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Tomorrow –
Thursday – will in all probability be the day that the homosexual petitions
will come to the floor and be both argued and voted. We can in all
probability “look forward” to some sort of demonstration from the MFSA/pro-homosexual-types.
Please, please be in prayer for us as we get through tomorrow’s legislation.
I fully believe that if we so while holding the line on the attempts to
overturn our church’s opposition to all of the aspects of homosexual
behavior and normalization. Again, please pray for the delegates – and for
us as we try to influence and report what will be going on.
More later.
Allen O.
Morris
Executive Director
Concerned Methodists
+ + + +
“I do not fear
that the people called Methodists shall ever cease to exist in Europe or
America. I only fear that they shall exist as a dead sect, having the form
of religion, but not the power thereof. And that undoubtedly will be the
case unless they hold fast to the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with
which they first set out.”
– John Wesley
GC-2012,
Tuesday, May 1st:
At the Renewal
and Reform breakfast, we were able to talk with and join in fellowship
others who are in the forefront of the renewal movement. We have both Sharon
and Dwight Cribb, active members of Concerned Methodists, are helping gather
the voluminous amount of information, process it, and put it into news
format and reported to you. We three sat at the table with two active
laymembers and strong supporters of our ministry from Tennessee who are also
deeply concerned about the directions of the United Methodist Church. They
are very helpful in consolidating information and forwarding it to us in
addition to spreading what we send to those in their network. We are of a
common mind in our activism for the “heart and soul” of the United Methodist
Church. It so refreshing to know that we are joined in this with such
heart-warming, enthusiastic people as this.
There was a
summary of the petitions that are on the table for action. In the next four
days are going to be extremely important.
+ + + +
Especially
incisive was the presentation by The Reverend Karen Booth, an ordained UM
elder, head of Transforming Congregations, and author of the book
Forgetting how to Blush (available from Bristol House Publishers) which
deals with the homosexual issue. In her oral presentation she pointed out
and analyzed the arguments being put forth by those who would water down our
church’s Biblical stance against homosexual practice. These are why not
adopt:
1. A “third way” to address the issue by adopting a “middle road” between
the two beliefs.
2. “Let’s give each annual conference a local option to decide they will
address this issue.”
3. “Can’t we agree to disagree?”
Karen
responded by pointing out that:
The “third
way” adopting a “middle road” between the two beliefs leads to theological
compromise. Theological compromise severs the church from her doctrine. This
has the potential to hurt rather than to heal [as pointing out that when we
fail to confront a person’s sin, we are doing him/her no favors, but rather
do more damage than good]. This stems from “situational moral reasoning”
that lets a person define morality based on his behavior. [We have more than
once used the perspective that, if one wishes to normalize behavior because
two “same-sex couples love” each other, what is to keep a 14-year old girl
wants to live with her 40-year old “boyfriend” – what is to keep her from
doing it. Or, we in the book On the Brink we point out other possible
couples to include polygamy, a mother and her teenaged son, etc. We know
that the Bible does have standards – and those are morality issues; what
falls outside of this is “sin” – whether or not one acknowledges it. – AOM]
In short, if we sever the church from her doctrine, it will be very
difficult to maintain any kind of moral clarity.
The second
argument “Let’s give each annual conference a local option to decide they
will address this issue” is also fraught with problems. Karen pointed out
that we in the United Methodist Church are a connectional church. The second
argument is simply not an option. Since we are a connectional church, the
apportionments given by trusting laity in the local church support
denomination-wide actions. How then can we expect a Bible-believing
layperson to give in good conscience her tithes that support the
apportionment that would make its way into the general church to support
leaders in other conferences to pursue an agenda of homosexual
normalization? This second argument is fraught with problems.
The third
argument “Can’t we agree to disagree?” – the answer, simply put, is “No”!
The other mainline denominations are living testimonies to adopting this
approach: The Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA),
and now the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA). [In some issues there is room for
discussion and reaching a middle ground; in others, there is no room for
discussion.] Karen then cited Al Moehler (sic.), president of the Southern
Baptist Church, who said, “If someone comes to a Baptist Church and wants it
to bless the covenant [of a same-sex couple], there can be no
multiple-choice answers.”
Speaking to
the same issue in the Tuesday edition of “General Conference Focus” Karen
very incisively pointed out the following analysis:
“As an unofficial observer of the General Conference proceedings, I sat in
on an extended session that was added to the Church and Society B
subcommittee discussion on homosexuality. Four openly gay lay delegates had
self-selected this particular subgroup, and the personal stories they shared
were powerful and emotionally moving.
By the end of the session I was somewhat surprised to find myself wondering
if there was a common way forward that might accommodate all of our
perspectives while remaining faithful to a traditional scriptural
understanding of human sexuality and marriage.
The feeling – and that is all it really was – did not last. Primarily
because I am convinced that our current teachings and policies are filled
with both truth and grace. I’m sure that many of the delegates who
participated in the “holy conversations” shared their stories authentically
and with great sincerity. But I couldn’t help but believe that something
more was going on.
Shortly after General Conference 2008, ten pro-gay mainline denominational
caucuses joined together to develop and launch what they called the “Believe
Out Loud” (BOL) Campaign. The purpose is to change the beliefs and practices
of mainline denominations like the UM Church.
The Common Witness Coaliiton’s “Love Your Neighbor” initiative is the latest
stage of the United Methodist version of BOL. According to the online
training manual of the Reconciling Ministries Network, the key strategy of
the BOL/LYN campaign is to win hearts and minds through a process called
public narrative: “the art of translating values into action through
stories.” (www.loveyourneighbor2012.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07Training-Manual.pdf)
Employing the teachings of Harvard public policy expert Marshall Ganz, Love
Your Neighbor volunteers and delegates have been specially trained to share
their personal experiences in a highly moving manner. “Stories should pull
at the heartstrings of the listener,” the Reconciling training manual
advises. “Help the listener understand the values you are describing through
the language of emotion.”
While the discussion about homosexuality that I observed in subcommittee may
have qualified as “holy conversation,” it fell far short of the “holy
conferencing” that our founder John Wesley recommended. Though delegates
listened respectfully (in most cases) to each other’s personal opinions and
stories, there was no attempt to discern the voice or will of God by
reflecting on Scripture and tradition. In fact, the one evangelical delegate
who attempted to do so was silently “dissed” by the rainbow-clad observers
and cut off by the moderator before he was finished. Consequently, stories
and emotion ruled the day.
But there is even more to the “back story” than what is readily apparent.
Believe Out Loud was developed and continues to be underwritten financially
by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, a non-United Methodist and secular
family foundation that has donated over a million dollars to the effort. (By
extension, the Love Thy Neighbor campaign has also benefited through almost
$250,000 given to the Reconciling Ministries Network.)
The Hass Fund’s Senior Program Officer for their Gay and Lesbian Program is
United Methodist layman Randall Miller. Miller preached at the Believe Out
Loud “Power Summit” this past winter in Orlando. He is a three-time delegate
to General Conference, participating this year on the Church and Society B
legislative committee and the homosexuality subcommittee. And this year he
also had the distinction of serving as Chairperson of the Commission on
General Conference in charge of arrangements, program, and agenda.
Is it just a coincidence that our “holy conversations” about homosexuality
bore the stamp of the Believe Out Loud and Love Your Neighbor campaigns?
Again, most of those who told their stories did so with complete sincerity.
But, there was indeed much more going on than meets the eye.”
“Well put, Karen. Thank you
for all that you are doing.”
+ + + +
The petition
dealing with the elimination of elder tenure was the first petition of
substance (petition #20203 changing ¶337-G of the Book of Discipline of the
United Methodist Church, authored by Bishop Al Gwinn of the North Carolina
Conference and appearing on p. 1428 of the Daily Christian Advocate (DCA),
vol. 2, section 2). This is the one area that we deeply opposed that was
supported by the other renewal groups with “safeguards” implemented, and
which we simply could not convince them of the danger inherent in passing
this action. It was voted out of committee with 68 for, 7 against, and 8 not
voting. It went onto Consent Calendar #A05 and appeared as calendar item
#355 on page 2178 in the DCA for Monday, April 30th. An attempt
was made to take it off the consent calendar with the required number of
signatures supporting it – but the Committee for the General Conference
ruled that one of the people was not eligible to do it. So when it remained
on the consent calendar and was voted, it was approved by an overwhelming
majority vote. A motion was made to reconsider that one petition – and there
was spirited debate on this. For once, we were supported in this desire by
some on the “other side” of the homosexual issue who also did not want to
see this petition enacted. But in the floor vote, the motion to reconsider
(which is always a tough vote to achieve) garnered a little over 32% with a
clear majority rejecting the motion. Since it was not reconsidered, and it
remained on Consent Calendar #A05 which was passed by a majority of General
Conference 2012 voting in the plenary session, it now becomes the policy of
the United Methodist Church. I am still very concerned since it gives the
bishops, who have up until now not been accountable, a very great power over
the local clergy and the district superintendents. We need to be very much
in prayer about this.
+ + + +
During the
morning of this Tuesday session after it was announced that the General
Board of Church and Society Committee report would be examined (this deals
with the homosexual issues), the pro-homosexual lobby had a demonstration
march where a variety of people with their multi-colored stoles walked up
and down the side of the general conference holding up their signs that talk
about “LGBT” people, a woman carrying a baby with a sign saying “Will you
throw out my gay baby with the trash?”, etc. Normally this happens on
Thursday of the second week but appears to have been moved up to today. This
group would periodically silently walk up and down the side of the general
conference plenary floor during the proceedings. The assembly wisely ignored
their actions. The tent they have erected across the street from the
convention center is very evident with the multi-colored ribbons festooning
the chain-link fence. We shall see what the next few days hold with what
these folks will do.
+ + + +
Petition
#20544 addressing paragraph ¶159 of the Book of Discipline with a very
subtle issue of “acknowledging differences in some of our beliefs” would
detract away from later petitions that address the fact that the practice of
homosexuality is a sin. A “minority report” was offered by evangelicals and
succeeded in being accepted as a substitute motion by a vote of 407
delegates (52%). Then an amendment to that was offered that would have
changed the tenor somewhat. The Reverend Jerry Kulah of Liberia spoke out
against the amendment followed by an assortment of those who spoke out for
it. Other African delegates spoke out opposing any amendments to include one
delegate (his name was hard to understand) from South Congo Conference and
another man John (last name was hard to understand) from the Nigeria
Conference. There was good discussion citing the Bible and scripture verses
making the case for a sound position. One amendment to the amendment was
accepted by a vote of 53.13% with the amendment being supported by 532-414
(56.24%). The Reverend Alice Wolfe from the West Ohio Conference spoke for
the minority report. The vote on the minority report was approved by a vote
of 632 approving (67.67%). This was seen as the first petition dealing with
the issue of homosexuality and, from my experience, is significant since it
is an indicator of how the votes will go on the other petitions dealing with
this area. In my experience since the Denver General Conference in 1996,
subsequent actions will garner ever increasing percentages against this
practice. I am thankful for the African delegates who are rock-solid against
this practice.
+ + + +
Several years
ago one of our supporters in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United
Methodist Church criticized us for “spending too much time on this issues”
and thought that we needed to ignore it and examine “other issues more
important to the future” of the church. As we had tried to explain to him
then, both homosexual and lesbian practice strike at the heart of who we are
as Christians. Every “reference to it in the Bible is negative or
condemning” (Professor David Seamands). In addition I believe that sexual
sin is in a way more serious than many other sins since it involves a
Christian’s body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Homosexual/lesbian
practice goes even further saying to God in effect, “We have a better way to
use the physical bodies that you have created.” In addition since we as
humans are created in the image of God, this is taking that image and
degrading in a way that He never intended.
Finally, we
must consider the effect that passage of any measure of homosexual
normalization would have on the United Methodist Church. When I have spoken
to groups of people or in churches from Florida to Alaska, one thing I have
heard from not only laity but also clergy is that if this issues passes,
“I’m out of here” as far as leaving the church. This is a key battle that we
fight in contending for the faith in the United Methodist Church; if we ever
lose this battle, we will lose the denomination. An added consequence to
that is that we would have an estimated 3,000,000+ Africans leave. Even
though this is not the fundamental problem in question here (the authority
of Scripture and the Person and work of Jesus Christ are), homosexual
normalization is a visible issue that people understand.
Don’t
misunderstand me. We address all of the issues that we deem key to the life
of the United Methodist Church, and in so doing we have examined literally
thousands of pages of financial data believing that “if you follow the
money” you will know what the true priorities are. We also believe that key
to denominational revival is individual spiritual renewal. Our most
heartfelt prayer is still – that there would be such a move of the Holy
Spirit across the United Methodist Church that every person would be changed
into a John Wesley or a Susannah Wesley. Then not only would we recognize
and deal with our internal problems and our church start to grow again, that
the effects would spill over into our society and around the world. That is
my most heartfelt wish. We look at all of the problems: spiritual renewal is
fundamental to revival in the United Methodist Church – but homosexual
normalization is the key battle that we must not lose.
+ + + +
There were
multiple other issues such as the addition of another episcopal area in
Central Congo because of the growing membership of the Methodist Church in
that area; call for a bank to help the poorer Methodists in some of the
Third World; and wording in the Social Principals. What was especially
gripping was that one of the delegates from Nigeria received word that his
uncle was one of the people killed by the bombing in Nigeria yesterday. Time
was taken during the plenary session of the General Conference to pray for
the family.
+ + + +
I would ask
that you continue to pray for what is happening this week at General
Conference and for us in Concerned Methodists as we “contend for the faith”
for the future of the United Methodist Church.
More later.
Allen O. Morris
Executive Director
Concerned Methodists
+ + + +
I am a
creature of the day,
passing through life as an arrow through the air...
I am a spirit from God, returning to God.
–
John Wesley
GC-2012,
Monday, April 30, 2012:
At the Renewal and Reform breakfast, the briefing was encouraging. Of the
committee actions during this past week, almost all of the petitions that we
had wanted to be approved were, with only two that we could identify as
being unfavorable passed, in one case with only a 1-vote majority. This is
extremely encouraging since at past general conferences, the actions at this
level would be for the most part unfavorable with their having to bee fought
out on the floor of the plenary (big) session. Virtually all of the
petitions dealing with various aspects of homosexual normalization were
defeated and will be reported out that way. The two that we deem unfavorable
were those of term limits and benefits for “partners” as opposed to
providing for “husband/wife” or “spouse” – which more clearly defines the
relationship as being heterosexual marriage.
As far as all of the petitions dealing with “same-sex” relationships such
as “marriage” and related issues to this practice, they were defeated in
committee. Inexplicably, the one dealing with the benefits issue was
narrowly passed by the committee that had voted to defeat the more openly
pro-homosexual petitions.
The other dealt with the ending of elder tenure. As I had stated in a
paper I sent out to leaders of the other renewal groups, we in Concerned
Methodists opposed this measure at this point in time. The argument is that
this would give the bishops more power to deal with “under-performing
clergy” – and eliminate them from the ministry. What we are concerned about
is that bishops, who have generally taken a supportive attitude toward those
in the pro-homosexual movement, either openly or passively, will use this to
systematically eliminate those pastors who support the UM position, but more
importantly, the Bible’s position that this practice is a sin and therefore
incompatible with true Christianity. Unfortunately, some of the other
renewal groups did not have our view – and decided to support this measure
along with the passage of a petition that would provide for term limits for
bishops. This latter is something that we fully support – and I had
introduced a petition at the 2008 General Conference in Ft. Worth to do just
that. The petition to do this at GC-2012 was petition #20983 dealing with
paragraph #50 of the Book of Discipline introduced by a friend Dr. Tom
Thomas of the Virginia Annual Conference. This latter came to a floor vote
today and was defeated; the vote was 50.05% for and 49.95% against. The
reason that it did not pass is because it would be a constitutional
amendment and would require a 2/3 majority vote to pass. At this juncture,
it leaves the petition eliminating elder tenure before GC-2012 to be decided
– and evangelical clergy in a very tenuous position if it is passed. As I
had told a leader in one of the other renewal groups several months ago when
I had pointed out the dangers of this position, “It looks as if the ‘window
of opportunity’ will have passed for those who support the homosexual agenda
if they do not succeed at this next general conference, since I do not
believe they will get another chance to do so. It would be a shame to
‘snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory’ but supporting the elimination of
elder tenure at this juncture.” I had sent a letter out to the other renewal
group leaders and to some influential members of GC-2012 as to the dangers
in this (along with our opposition to the CT-IOT Plan). Let us pray that we
can defeat this inimical measure, since it may nullify all of the work that
has been done in opposing the homosexual agenda up until now.
In other actions, Petition #20314 dealing with paragraph #49 of the Book
of Discipline that would have provided for a fulltime president of the
Council of Bishops received a vote of 55% for, 45% against. Since it also
needed a 2/3 vote, it also failed. This is something that we had opposed. It
was argued with some merit that this would have provided a leader only for
the Council of Bishops and not the whole church. Be we maintained that “this
was the camel getting its nose under the tent” in that it would have been a
first step in elevating such a “president of the Council of Bishops” to just
that position of greater power. In addition, since the bishops have not
demonstrated a level of leadership that we deemed responsible in exercising
the power they already have, we did not see adding this position as
necessary – not to speak of the added financial burden to an already
over-“taxed” laity.
In yet another action that we see as significant is that the much-touted
and supported CT/IOT plan that the bishops had supported in the
“reorganizing” of the United Methodist Church has received only about 33% of
the support in committee; it was not even enough to be reported out to the
plenary session for recommendation. This is seen as “dead in the water” as
far as its prospects being passed as it is. At this time, the proponents of
this are in much conversation with those who support the “Plan B” that we
deem as more feasible and would not result in so much being concentrated in
the Council of Bishops.
In further developments, the elections to the Judicial Council were for
the most part favorable. 3 out of 4 we see as being favorable. N. Oswald
Tweh, Sr. from Liberia was the first layperson elected on the first ballot.
Beth Capen from New York (someone seen as being theologically liberal) was
elected as the second layperson; the fact that she is now serving on the
Judicial Council yet was elected second to Mr. Tweh is significant. Of the
two clergy, both are seen as evangelical: The Reverend Dennis Blackwell from
the Greater New Jersey is an Asbury Seminary graduate, Dr. J. Kabamba Kiboko
is a clergywoman from the Southern Congo Conference with an impressive
record of accomplishments and achievements. As an aside, it should be noted
that at GC-2008 in Ft. Worth, the “other side” – those who would impose a
liberal face on the UMC had so planned their strategy and with the
cooperation from those who ran that general conference had maneuvered the
elections so that all of their candidates were swept into office.
The University Senate is actively engaged in the work of spiritual
education in the UMC, so its work is important the quality and nature of the
education of future clergy of our denomination. In this area, three out of
four people elected to these positions were seen as favorable. Dr. Janice
Love was elected first; she comes with a long record of supporting what is
seen as a far-left liberal agenda. The next, Dr. Kasap Owan is a member of
the North Katanga Annual Conference and president of Katanga United
Methodist University. Dr. William J. Abraham is a member of the Southwest
Annual Conference and is the Albert Outler Professor of Wesley Studies at
Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. The
last elected is Dr. William Arnold is a member of the Kentucky Annual
Conference, a former Provost of Asbury Theological Seminary and coeditor of
The Wesley Study Bible (which is one of my favorite study Bibles).
All in all, these are seen as good results in the elections. We can thank
the Lord for what He is doing.
On the negative side are issues such as the all-out assault to pass a
resolution to divest from companies that are supporting Israel. The
organization that is pushing this issue is very visible in front of the
general conference here at the Tampa Convention Center. In addition to this
group, is a letter from “Archbishop-Emeritus” Desmond Tutu in South Africa
who uses a plethora of scripture and then leads into his last paragraph of
substance that says in part, “I therefore wholeheartedly support your action
to disinvest from companies who benefit from the Occupation of Palestine.
This is a moral position that I have not choice but to support…” It is
interesting that he would express this as a “moral position” when I do not
ever remember his taking a “moral position” or speaking out of the practice
of “necklacing” (burning alive) those who opposed the African National
Congress (ANC) by ANC members. The second letter took me aback – until I
read it headlined: “Chairman of Coca-Cola Palestine Endorses United
Methodist Divestment Motion”! It was not until I read that it is a position
taken by Zahi Khouri, a “Palestinian Christian” who had taken this position
of opposing “three companies (Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard, and Motorola
Solutions) that profit from Israel’s occupation and colonization of
Palestinian land.” What is not stated is that this was land taken by the
Israeli Defense force in the 1967 War that saw Israel fight off Egypt,
Syria, and Jordan who were determined to wipe Israel from the face of the
earth, or that if Israel accedes to the “Palestinian” demands, the country
itself would be virtually indefensible – as it was before the 1967 War. This
is an action that works to the grave disadvantage of Israel – and that
should be opposed by all clear-thinking Christians. As we are reminded from
the Bible, God has said, “I will bless those who bless Israel, and I will
curse those who curse Israel.” We as a denomination would do well to heed
that advice – and to not go along with political initiative that work for
her destruction.
A second issue is that of the continued assault on the United Methodist
Church by those espousing various aspects of homosexual practice. I am
convinced that this is a deliberate attack by the Accuser on this
denomination. In yesterday’s report, I had mentioned about the press
conference and the laywoman who stated at the beginning of her address that
she was proud to be a spokesperson for the “GLBT” community and “came out”
as a lesbian. Since I had wanted to give the evangelical Steve Furr from the
Alabama-West Florida Conference and opportunity to speak in response to my
question, I did not have the opportunity to confront her at the press
conference itself. However, afterwards, I went up and asked her, “In view of
the accelerated decline of the Western Jurisdiction (that has fewer United
Methodists than does the state of Georgia, how does she reconcile her
position with relation to membership decline.” I noticed that she became
very nervous, her mouth became dry, and she had trouble responding to my
question. Since I had identified myself as the Editor of The Christian
Methodist Newsletter (that everyone here knows is a publication of Concerned
Methodists) when I stepped to the microphone to ask Mr. Furr my question,
she knew who I was. I believe that she knew what the truth was – and she
knew that I knew what the truth was.
Other members of the “rainbow movement” are visible out front and hand
information to people as they enter the convention center, in addition to
the tent that is across the street erected by this group. In addition Mark
Miller, a lay delegate from the Greater New Jersey Area stood to speak
saying in part, “Yesterday the church did us harm…We were bullied
emotionally, spiritually, and physically [although he did not specify what
that ‘bullying’ was.]and it didn’t seem like anyone did anything….It is time
for our church to live our resurrection faith and I know that there are
other delegates who are gay or lesbian or bi- or transgendered, and
delegates who have family members and colleagues who are GLBT. We invite
them to stand with us at this moment.” Fortunately Bishop Hayes who was
presiding at that point in time of the General Conference ruled him out of
order stating, “Mr. Miller, this is not the time or the place….yesterday
there were a lot of things that were not right…however, at this particular
point, I will have to rule what your are doing is out order. Please be
seated.” I appreciate Bishop Hayes’ taking control of that disruptive
interruption of the plenary session at that point in time.
Within all of the events, actions, and activities – one term that is
heard frequently is “holy conferencing” – and is used to try to get people
to talk with each other in more civil terms. But all too often, that idea is
left behind by those who would force their agenda on the assembled delegates
here. If the experience at the general conferences I have attended in the
past starting with the 1996 General Conference in Denver, on Thursday of the
second week (which is this week) we can expect a demonstration from this
group that will force themselves onto the floor of the general conference
(with tacit support from the presiding bishop) to protest the biblical
position of the United Methodist Church against the normalization of any
aspect of homosexual practice. Let us pray that we will do so again this
quadrennium.
I would ask that you continue to pray for what will happen this week at
General Conference here in Tampa as we “contend for the faith” with those
others who love the Lord Jesus Christ, respect and strive to follow His
word, and care deeply for the future of the United Methodist Church.
Tomorrow afternoon we can look forward to the next press briefing
regarding Pan-Methodist Full Communion with: Bishop Alfred Norris, Bishop
Sharon Rader, Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, Bishop Thomas Hoyt, Bishop John
White, Dr. Robert Johnson, and Dr. Stephen Sidorak. It will be interesting
to see what comes from this.
More later.
Allen O. Morris
Executive Director
Concerned Methodists
+ + + +
GC-2012 Day 2, Wednesday, April 25, 2012:
Brothers and Sisters,
As a pre-cursor to the first report from General Conference 2012
(GC-2012), I am going to forward to you the report from one of the renewal
group leaders of one of our sister groups – RENEW. We so much appreciate
what Liza Kittle and the other evangelical ladies do because they stay up to
date and are advocates for evangelical women in the United Methodist Church
– providing a forum that gives them voices where they can be heard. + + + +
Dear Concerned Methodists, I arrived in Tampa this morning...what a
beautiful place to hold this meeting of worldwide United Methodists"
Delegates, translators, volunteers, and visitors are gathering from all over
the world to contemplate our church law for the next four years. I will
write daily columns on interesting happenings, important decisions, and
inspirational encounters as the Lord guides our team through the week.
RENEW is here with a 4 person team: Myself, Katy Kiser, Marget Sikes, and
Nancy Johnson. We are part of a larger group, the Renewal and Reform
Coalition, here to uplift a theologically orthodox, biblical perspective on
the issues we are facing as a denomination.
We ask for your daily prayers.
In His precious Holy name,
Liza Kittle President, RENEW Network
Women's Division to Brief Female Delegates Before Start of Conference
The leadership of United Methodist Women will have an extended morning
pre-conference briefing on Tuesday morning with all female delegates. In the
GC handbook, the Commission on the General Conference has clearly stated
that this event is "unofficial" and defines the difference between a
briefing and an orientation (which is official). An "orientation" is an
act/process of acquainting delegates with the processes/procedures of how
the GC functions and the role of participants within the work of GC. A
"briefing" is an act/instance of giving instruction or preparatory
information to delegates and other participants relating to legislative
matters coming before the GC. In other words, at this briefing, the Women's
Division will tell the delegates their positions on a variety of legislative
pieces. Undoubtedly, they will also tell the delegates their feelings about
legislation RENEW is bringing forth on the acceptance of other women's
ministry options. Over 85% of women in the UMC currently do not participate
in UMW.
Harriet Olson, deputy general secretary of the WD, made their position
clear in her address before the Board of Director's meeting this past March.
She said,
"We are inherently suspicious of enterprises built on the
personality/single individual such as a church, top-selling video-based
study series, or a ministry enterprise. We know our diversity is
challenging, but we believe that it is part of our identity---to stay
together at the table. This is why we oppose fragmenting women in
congregations into other women's organizations."
If the Women's Division believes that diversity is a part of their
identity, why isn't diversity with other women's ministry options
encouraged? Women are already fragmented in our congregations due to
frustration at being hindered in their walk with Jesus. More options leads
to more involvement of women which leads to more vital congregations. Women
want freedom to pursue ministry however God calls them without
discouragement or resistance. As UMW continues to lose tens of thousands of
members yearly, it seems that the time for this freedom is now.
Hopefully most of the female delegates who attend tomorrow's briefing
will understand this and support our legislation calling for freedom of
choice for women's ministry. + + + + Thank you, Liza.
Today started off the right way. A room full of evangelical United
Methodists had breakfast and took the opportunity to meet other members of
each of the legislative groups of which they were members. I talked with
several folks at a renewal group breakfast. I sat next to Steve Furr, who is
the lay leader of the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference. He left early
because he was giving one of the laity addresses.
It is reassuring to look around at the evangelicals and know that they
are “contending for the faith” as earnestly and effectively as is humanly
possible. They know the true heritage of the United Methodist Church, what
it will take to get it back on track, and are not distracted by peripheral
issues.
In the morning worship service, there was animated singing and
participatory worship. In the sermon, the bishop mentioned, among other
things, the terms “sexual orientation” and “all God’s children,” along with
the immigration issue. His theme was “Eastertide” that he kept mentioning,
he made some good points. He urged the people in the gathering to, “Do
everything as in the immediate presence of God.” This in and of itself is
good advice. But as another renewal group leader and I had discussed, if
one’s actions don’t match what you say, there is a lack of confidence in
your credibility. “The walk has to match the talk” in order to be
believable.
In Steve Furr’s laity address, he compared life and the ability to be
transformed with what he went through in losing weight. He quoted, “You can
preach a better sermon with your life than you can with your lips.” He spoke
about his being overweight, 5’5” and weighed 236 pounds, the weight of a
6’4” professional athlete. He now weighs 174 pounds. He talked about
transforming our lives. He made the point that we need transformation in our
church – starting with each one of us. If you are not willing to exercise
discipline in your own lives, how can you expect to experience
transformation….If you leave here thinking that you are going to transform
the church by transforming the structure – you are in denial. My life was
transformed by Jesus. Truly Jesus Christ is the best, personal trainer ever.
Truly we can change. “I’ll see you in the gym of life. Oh, by the way, offer
somebody else a membership in the gym.”
Later at a news conference, the four people who had given addresses
formed a panel to answer questions. From the left were Betty Katiyo from
Harare, Zimbabwe, Steve Furr, Amory Peek from the Pacific Northwest
Conference, and last was Krin Ali from the Rocky Mountain Conference. Ms.
Peek used her introductory remarks to inform us that she was a symbol for
“all LBGT people” – that is “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered
community” – and came out of the closet mentioning that she is in a lesbian
relationship. She mentioned that she is “The first lesbian lay person to
speak at a general conference” and “opposed the discriminatory practices
that were oppressing who you are and who you love.” It was disappointing
that she would have used this as a platform to push this issue to the
forefront. It is an indication of the aggressiveness of those who would
force this issue in the denomination.
Betty Katiyo talked about how in Zimbabwe they focused on the Holy Spirit
and not on problems. They would go from door to door about Jesus Christ. She
said, “We have 3 weeks of singing, praising, and evangelizing. Then after a
few weeks, they would have a big convention, and then would have a plan to
evangelize an area. She mentioned that they “never stop to build” the
physical structure of the church because if they did, in a few years there
would be more people who were members than could fit into the church
building.
Krin Ali, a young fellow from the Rocky Mountain Conference, talked about
how religion created boundaries, that it was a chief problem. He emphasized
that we should not “push religion on others” – a sad commentary on his
perspective of the Christian faith.
Below are reports from other news sources that are included for your
information.
Please, please pray for this General Conference – that the delegates
would keep their minds clear and focused on what are the true, core issues.
And please pray for those of us in Concerned Methodists who will be working
during this time trying to get the delegates to make decisions that would
reinforce our orthodox Wesleyan faith.
Allen O. Morris Executive Director Concerned Methodists + + + + KOREAN
CAUCUS CONCERNED ABOUT GUARANTEED APPOINTMENTS The National Association of
Korean UM Churches recently issued a statement expressing concern over
General Conference legislation that would eliminate security of appointment
for clergy. "We . . . have reservations and concerns that racial-ethnic
clergy and women pastors might become vulnerable to arbitrary decisions on
the part of bishops and cabinets due to their English accent, cultural
differences and theological positions. . . . Furthermore, some of our
bishops in the Church might not have the sensitivity or depth of knowledge
to fully understand the cultural underpinnings of racial ethnic clergy,
especially women in ministry." The UMC has 300 Korean congregations and more
than 660 Korean pastors. About 300 Korean-American pastors serve Korean
immigrant churches and about 250 Korean-American clergy serve cross-racial
and cross-cultural appointments. – UMNS, as reported in NewScope, April 25
2012 + + + + AFRICA TO PRAY NONSTOP FOR GENERAL CONFERENCE Three Central
Conferences in Africa launched a 24-hour prayer chain beginning Apr. 21 to
ask God for a successful General Conference. The prayer-chain commitment
came out of an unprecedented prayer summit held last month at the Stephen
Trowen Nagbe UMC in Monrovia. Delegates from more than two dozen annual
conferences were at the meeting. Along with implementing the prayer chain,
the delegates affirmed the position of African UM churches on social issues
and ordination. – UMNS, as reported in NewScope, April 25 2012 + + + +
Accountability takes center stage TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) — If there’s a keyword
for General Conference 2012, it would be accountability. Delegates to
General Conference, the global church’s legislative body, are being asked to
take action on proposals to restructure and revitalize the denomination. And
bishops would be made responsible “for establishing a new culture of
accountability throughout the church.”
Working toward an AIDS-free world TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) — Since its creation
in 2004, the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund has raised more than $3
million. But there is more to be done. “Over the past 30 years … 30 million
have died (from HIV/AIDS),” the Rev. Donald Messer told a one-day conference
that preceded General Conference. “Yet many of our churches won’t devote 30
minutes to speak about it.”
Only bishops can set conference dates TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) — The Judicial
Council, The United Methodist Church’s top court, has ruled that bishops
have the “sole authority” to determine the time when an annual (regional)
conference will meet.
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) — Choirs from the
West Coast to the Ivory Coast will be featured during worship services at
General Conference. But the worship experiences also will include a
sophisticated array of symbols — from bread, water and light to the healing
power of salt.
Reframing the ‘Call to Action’ TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) — Is The United
Methodist Church’s campaign to establish goals for renewed vitality a reason
for hope or an example of mindless exercise? The answer, writes Pittsburgh
Area Bishop Thomas Bickerton, has to do with “…disconnects within our
church.”
TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) — With nearly 1,000 delegates gathered to “resolve
some of the most complex social and ethical problems in less than two
weeks,” longtime United Methodist Paul McCleary warns of the danger of
making hasty decisions — and suggests a solution. Look at ‘governance,’ not
programs.
+ + + + Last week, over 100 of the African delegates gathered in Atlanta
for prayer and preparation. One delegate announced that at least 3 million
Africans would leave United Methodism if it surrendered on homosexuality.
Another African member asked why they must tone down their rhetoric when
Americans liberals are unrestrained in their rhetoric. Good question. But
these Africans, who now compromise almost 40 percent of our church and will
soon become the majority, represent our future. Praise God for their
strength and witness!
With appreciation,
Mark Tooley IRD President Director, UMAction + + + + Local Church
Committee Passes RENEW's Petition Allowing For Other Women's Ministries
In a historic and decidedly strong majority vote, the Local Church
committee has accepted a petition submitted by Liza Kittle, President of
RENEW Network, that will allow for other women's ministry options for women
in the local church in addition to United Methodist Women.
For the past 5 General Conferences, RENEW and other women have been
trying to get the UMC to officially recognize other women's ministries. The
Women's Division, the leadership organization of United Methodist Women, has
fought efforts to allow for diversity in women's ministry options,
advocating that UMW was all the local church needed.
Over the past 40 years, the membership of UMW has fallen at a steady
rate, losing thousands of members annually. As the needs of women have
changed over time, having a variety of options for women has become
essential for reaching new generations of women for Jesus Christ.
In the committee today, the petition submitted by RENEW had to be merged
with one submitted by the Women's Division because they both dealt with the
same paragraph in the Book of Discipline. According to rule 31-2,
legislation that deals with the same paragraph must be merged before being
presented for adoption in the full plenary session.
Now, the paragraph allowing for other women's ministry options will be
added to the end of the UMW paragraphs and given a sub-division letter (b).
This is an exciting day for women across the UMC, as so many have been
seeking the support of the United Methodist Church to officially recognize
other women's ministries in the local church. It is a historic victory.
We pray that the full plenary will see the importance of this added
paragraph to the Book of Discipline and vote to formally adopt next week.
RENEW would so appreciate your prayers for this outcome. + + + + As a
note, the United Methodist Women (UMW) have had a virtual monopoly on being
the “only official” group that “speaks” for women in the denomination.
Several years ago, a group of evangelical women who objected to the
far-left, political stance taken by the UMW formed a group called “The
Evangelical Coalition for United Methodist Women” later changed to RENEW. We
in Concerned Methodists appreciate so much what RENEW does in monitoring
what the UMW does and making reasoned information countering or clarifying
the reality. It should also be noted that, whereas we in Concerned
Methodists track the over-40-year decline of our denomination, RENEW has
tracked the same in the UMW – and determined that the women’s group is
declining at the rate of about 2˝ times the rate of our denominational
decline.
More later. Allen O. Morris Executive Director Concerned Methodists + + +
+ When I pray, coincidences happen. When I don’t pray, they don’t. -William
Temple
GC-2012 Day 1, Tuesday, April 24, 2012:
Brothers and Sisters,
I arrived at the Tampa Convention Center for the opening service. It
started with a testimony by a “Native American” Indian, who talked about
their being the “first ones” in the area. He then led in a ceremony
celebrating the essence of water to life, then had a chant in his native
tongue that was evidently a prayer for the conference. During his message
Afterwards were a service, sermon, then the celebration of Holy Communion
available for all participants.
Jonathan Carlsen, one of our supporters who was there and had picked up
on something I did and that bothered me, offered this observation: One
phrase in Bishop Goodpaster's otherwise inspiring sermon grated: When Jesus
called Peter, Andrew, James, and John, "he didn't ask them to assent to a
set of theological propositions." Somehow a faulty premise was smuggled in
there.
I realize that here, I'm preaching to the choir (or the choirmasters),
but I beg to go on: When Jesus called the four, He wasn't at that time
receiving them into the church. At that time there was no church. What He
was doing was the equivalent of our inviting a neighbor to worship, Sunday
School, or a weekday Bible study. Later, after a period of instruction, He
renamed them and 8 others as "apostles." What did He include in that period
of instruction? Among other things: "Beware of false prophets" (Mt. 7:15 ESV),
and, by inference, false teaching. On another occasion, he warned them to
"beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees" (Mt. 16:6),
meaning their teaching (Mt. 16:12). Still later He warned, "Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to
make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice
as much a child of hell as yourselves" (Mt. 23:15).
In Acts 5:14, members of the church are described as "believers." Belief
contains, necessarily, an intellectual or verbal component. That component
is a "theological proposition."
Well said, Jonathan.
At the conclusion of the communion service, the song “Down by the
Riverside” was sung with the refrain “…ain’t going to study war no more,…”
repeated over and over and over. While still singing this and with the band
playing, the session adjourned. At 6:00 P.M.
One can only speculate as to whether or not this was reflective of a
pacifistic view of wanting to disarm our armed forces.
+ + + +
General Conference 2012 opening worship TAMPA, Fla. In the opening
worship service of General Conference 2012, Charlotte (N.C.) Area Bishop
Larry M. Goodpaster recalled how the sons of Zebedee left their nets to
follow an itinerant rabbi. He noted that James and John used nets that would
capture all sorts of creatures of the sea. They were invited to fish for
people. Goodpaster, who serves as president of the Council of Bishops, said
most churches do not use nets; they only try to fish for “a certain kind of
person — namely those who are like us — whoever ‘us’ is. — The United
Methodist News Service (UMNS)
+ + + +
One observation – the first week is taken up with work being done in
committees and sub-committees. As far as the legislative process, since
there are too many petitions for the whole plenary session to deal with,
each petition (and similar ones can be combined together and considered as a
group) is routed to the committee that can best deal with it – dealing with
the nature of the recommendation. Each committee itself may be composed of
as many as 100 or 110 members; it in turn can be subdivided into 2, 3 or 4
sub- committees to deal with each petition. Then as action is taken on each
petition, whether voted up or down or referred for another action, then it
goes to the whole committee where it is voted. Whether it passes or fails,
it is then put on a “consent calendar” with other petitions and presented to
the plenary session of all of the delegates (up to 1,000). If it is a
high-visibility petition, it will be discussed and debated individually. At
some point in the proceedings, the consent calendar will be brought up for a
vote and passed. At that point, if a petition has been either passed or
defeated in committee, that action receives the official approval of the
whole General Conference and becomes a completed action.
Also, from time to time, if we receive a report from one of the other
reporters or renewal groups that has information we believe you should know,
then we will pass it on to you accrediting the source. There is an
overwhelming amount of information here, so we will try to be judicious in
what we report.
There will be many issues as “divestment” from countries such as
Caterpillar that are doing business with Israel, different pro-Palestinian
resolutions, procedural issues, and a plethora of petitions coming to the
General Conference. The two that concern us the most are the ones dealing
with the reorganization of the United Methodist Church and those being put
forth trying to normalize some aspect of homosexuality. We will be
especially attentive to those issues.
More later.
Allen O. Morris
Executive Director
Concerned Methodists
+ + + +
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