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| Hoosier United Methodist News |
December 2001 |
Church conflict on homosexuality
focus of DePauw forum
At this point in the history of the UMC, what do we do about the division?
By Matthew Carlisle
Indiana News Editor
GREENCASTLE -- No other topic facing debate within The United Methodist Church is more divisive than its stance on homosexuality. As part of their Fall 2001 Mendenhall Lecture, UMC-related DePauw University confronted the issue, inviting five panelists representing the various sides of the debate to discuss which direction the denomination should move.
Meeting Nov. 13 in the University's Memorial Student Union, more than 90 predominantly United Methodist laity and clergy gathered. With the events of the 2000 General Conference fresh in the minds of most, the moderator, Wes Allen, explained that the focus of the debate was "not" to ask if homosexuality was a sin, or if practicing homosexual pastors should be ordained, but rather, "At this point in the history of the UMC, what do we do about the division?"
Following the traditional introductions, Allen provided each panelist five minutes to answer the question. Sitting in alphabetical order, Marilyn Alexander, executive director of the Reconciling Ministries Network, opened by requesting those in attendance to ask, "Who is the Church? … Are the 8.3 million United Methodists living in the United States the Church? … Are General Conference delegates the Church? … Or, is the Igniting Ministry campaign the Church?"
According to Alexander, the best hope for dealing with the issue of homosexuality and the Church in the future is through Christian conferencing. Using Wesley's quadrilateral (Scripture, reason, experience and tradition), focusing specifically on reason, the UMC should discuss the subject and call a moratorium at the local church level.
Homosexuality task force to hold 'listening sessions'A United Methodist task force plans to hold "listening sessions" on homosexuality and church unity in each of the five US jurisdictions. The Task Force on Homosexuality and the Unity of The United Methodist Church, as well as the Council of Bishops, will each nominate participants for the listening sessions, scheduled to conclude next spring. The task force presented its guidelines to the recent meeting of the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. "We want some illustration of how people at the local level have been willing or not willing to engage in dialogue," said Jan Love, task force co-chairperson. Steve Smith, UMR Communications |
'Amiable separation'?
In reference to Wes Allen's introduction of the topic, the Rev. Riley Case, a retired North Indiana Conference clergyman and staff member of the Indianapolis-based Confessing Movement, admitted that "This is the first time I've heard the 'S' (separation) word used," in this type of forum. Case went on to explain, "It may be that we need to discuss amiable separation." He doesn't believe the UMC has faced the seriousness of this issue in its churches. "We need to do something serious," according to Case. He believes that a plan could be laid out at General Conference for amiable separation.
Noting Marilyn Alexander's earlier question, Case detailed four categories of United Methodists in the U.S.: 35 percent are "dead wood," or those that are not active; 3 percent are "ideological," or highly educated liberals; 30 percent are "establishment types," representing the bishops and agencies of the church, the "mediating elite;" and 30 percent represent the conservative or evangelical, which he points out are not linked. Case did not indicate who the remaining 2 percent were. He did point out that there's a gap between the laity and the mediating elite, which brings to light the question, "How do we bridge the gap?"
Unlike his counterpart (Case), the Rev. Phil Granger, former pastor of Muncie's College Ave. UMC and, most recently director of Good News' Mission Society, doesn't believe it's time for separation yet, but does see it on the horizon. "We have reached a point where we must call a moratorium on the debate," explained Granger. "We can't find a solution … . We've demonized each other, due to the debate … . We are at a serious impasse… . It's time we realize there are deep theological differences in Methodism."
Granger explained that both groups have integrity, with well thought out beliefs, and through Christian conferencing both sides need to find common ground. He further suggested that each side not come to the debate with answers, but with a concern. "It's time for the open debate," Granger said. He included that, before the denomination splits, there might be some way to look at the differences.
Debating theology, not homosexuality
Pastor of Illinois' Wheaton UMC, the Rev. Andrew Ulman, representing a Clergy Alliance for a Professing Church, suggested that both sides should come together to form a policy. Ulman wasn't interested in a split within the denomination, he had not seen it done successfully before, and he noted that the legal battles would be overwhelming. "By separating, we are abandoning those newly baptized, who will grow up to be gay, lesbian or transgender," said Ulman.
Ulman doesn't believe that by shelving the debate the Church will end the dispute. He stated that there is a serious difference in theology; he would like to see each side debate theology, not homosexuality. "The more we limit the debate, the more we limit the discussion to find a resolution. . Debate and discussion need to be focused on the differences."
From discussions he conducted following the 2000 General Conference in Cleveland, Dr. James Wood, author of "Where the Spirit Leads: The Evolving View of United Methodists on Homosexuality," found that most United Methodists wanted to continue the debate on homosexuality. He concluded that 90 percent of the delegates felt they had cordial conversation with those who disagreed with them on the subject of homosexuality.
According to Wood, "The United Methodist Church should stay together, because God has called us to be a distinctive church." He explained that the debate has gone too far and the UMC should have considered a moratorium at the 1984 General Conference. "It's too late for a moratorium." Wood believes that each side should meet to conduct biblically based discussions on the subject of homosexuality.
Last updated on 01/14/2004