NEWS STORY: United Methodists Prepare for Stormy General Conference in Cleveland

c. 2000 Religion News Service (UNDATED) In what could be the most significant meeting ever for the nation’s largest mainline Protestant body, the upcoming General Conference of the United Methodist Church is likely to show just how united _ or splintered _ United Methodists really are. With 8.4 million members, the denomination has become ground […]

c. 2000 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) In what could be the most significant meeting ever for the nation’s largest mainline Protestant body, the upcoming General Conference of the United Methodist Church is likely to show just how united _ or splintered _ United Methodists really are.

With 8.4 million members, the denomination has become ground zero for the debate on homosexuality in American church life. Those urging greater acceptance say if the church doesn’t budge, they might lead a progressive exodus. Conservatives and evangelicals say that is fine with them, but they might walk, too, if the church moves more liberal.


The church will meet from May 2-12 in Cleveland for its quadrennial convention to vote on official church policy, law and doctrine. There are other significant issues facing the church, but the debate on homosexuality is likely to dominate the meeting.

Talk of an inevitable schism has been simmering for years as the gay issue has forced the church into two distinct camps. Most church observers, however, doubt this convention will split the church.

“I would be surprised if we take a dramatic turn one way or the other,” said the Rev. Alvin J. Horton, a delegate to the meeting and editor of the Virginia United Methodist Advocate, a church newsletter. “If we took a major turn to the right or left, I think it could very well open the door to a major schism in the church, but I just don’t see that happening.”

On the homosexuality question, the church faces three major issues: the blessing of same-sex unions, the use of church property and clergy for such ceremonies and the ordination of homosexuals.

The United Methodists are far from alone in this controversy. Last month, Reform rabbis affirmed the right of individual rabbis to determine whether to conduct same-sex unions in “appropriate Jewish ritual.” This summer, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Episcopal Church will also tackle the gay issue.

In 1980, the Methodists had banned open homosexuals from serving as clergy.In 1984, the they added a statement to their Book of Discipline _ the church’s governing manual _ calling the practice of homosexuality “incompatible with Christian teaching.” In 1996, the church prohibited same-sex unions from taking place on United Methodist property.

Since the church last spoke officially on the subject in 1996, the issue has repeatedly erupted. In 1997, the Rev. Jimmy Creech performed a commitment ceremony for two women at his Nebraska church and was suspended. He was tried and acquitted by one vote in 1998.


Later in 1998, the Rev. Gregory Dell of Chicago performed a similar ceremony for two men and was tried, convicted and suspended for violating church law. In January 1999, 69 United Methodist clergy participated in a lesbian commitment ceremony in San Francisco, but a church committee declined to bring charges.

Dell, who now runs an organization urging greater acceptance for gays and lesbians within the church, will be a delegate in Cleveland and said progressives want the church to stop using discipline to silence opposing viewpoints.

“We’re hoping the church will back off its rigid position,” Dell said. “It’s not about to reverse 28 years (of statements on the subject), but we want to stay in dialogue.”

Dell said he would be satisfied if the church could only agree to disagree, at least for now, and doesn’t want to see the church lose more members over the issue.

But the time for such pleasantries has past, say some pro-gay activists who vow to protest the convention with civil disobedience and mass arrests, if necessary.

The Rev. Mel White is an outspoken gay activist who, before coming out, was a ghostwriter for Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. White now leads “Soulforce,” a gay Christian organization urging nonviolence in changing the attitude of church leaders.


White, who is not a United Methodist, plans on bringing hundreds of protesters to Cleveland _ including Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter and Gandhi’s grandson _ to protest the “unjust laws” that discriminate against gays and lesbians.

“We come in peace, but at the same time we’ve decided this debate must end,” White said. “It’s gone on for almost three decades in United Methodism.”

White says he loves the church enough to “cause it pain.” White said if things don’t change, he will lead a financial and “talent” boycott against the church. “We’ve been polite for three decades on this, and that’s over.”

That’s exactly the attitude that angers many conservatives and evangelicals within the church. For them, the gay question is really a non-issue because, they say, the church has spoken against the issue repeatedly since 1972.

The Rev. James V. Heidinger II, president and publisher of the Good News evangelical movement, called White’s protests “counterproductive.” Heidinger, who urges full prosecution of clergy who disobey the church’s policy, said he does not expect the church to take any dramatic turns.

“I think it’s unfortunate that those of us who have the audacity to affirm what the church has affirmed for 2,000 years, what … the ecumenical community of Christendom has affirmed, that it somehow makes us hatemongers,” Heidinger said.


(OPTIONAL TRIM FOLLOWS)

Other issues confronting the church in Cleveland include:

_ A major restructuring proposal that would make the 66 U.S. “annual conferences” into a larger, single body. Currently, the geographic conferences each send delegates to the quadrennial meeting. A proposal would make the entire United States into a single conference, which would bring the country in line with other national United Methodist conferences around the world.

Evangelicals, including Heidinger, oppose the proposal because it would dilute the U.S. influence in decision-making, even though the U.S. church contributes most of the money. “I don’t think it will pass,” said Ken Kinghorn, a professor of church history at the evangelical-oriented Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky. “It’s so convoluted it would take at least (12 years) to implement, and it would add needless bureaucracy.”

_ The church will be asked to fund a $526 million budget for the next four years, including a glitzy _ and expensive _ advertising campaign similar to the television ads produced by the Mormons.

_ The church will also tackle social policy questions on everything from the environment to Social Security. There may be some attempt to rein in the more liberal General Board of Church and Society and urge that the board _ the church’s social policy arm _ not wade into controversial matters like the Elian Gonzalez custody battle. Evangelicals want to remind board leaders they speak only for themselves, not the entire church.

_ Delegates will also have to decide how to fund so-called “emerging ministries” which are geared toward minorities. Several Asian, Hispanic and African-American segments of the church say a proposed funding system puts them in competition with each other for church funds.

DEA END ECKSTROM

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