GAF: Group defers gay issue to 2012

In many United Methodist circles, debate over the role of gays and lesbians in the church sparks controversy and creates bitter divisions.

In order to avoid having their work overshadowed, the committee asked to craft a worldwide vision for The United Methodist Church decided to leave issues of ordination of gay and lesbian ministers to General Conference. At present, self-professed practicing homosexuals are not eligible for ordination.

“While some will view this as a victory for one side in the debate, the committee believes it best to advance the worldwide nature of the church and leave this process as it is,” said Kansas Area Bishop Scott Jones, chair of the committee that met April 19-22 in Manila.

In other actions, the Committee to Study the Worldwide Nature of The United Methodist Church also agreed to ask the 2012 General Conference to:

• Grant more autonomy to regional United Methodist bodies while retaining the denomination’s unique connectional nature. That includes allowing regional bodies to determine if bishops are elected for life, or to shorter terms.
• Shorten and simplify the Book of Discipline, now mainly North American in focus, so it can be used effectively around the world.
• Continue the Council of Bishops as the key unifying force in the denomination.
• Retain the Social Principles, which have guided the denomination’s Wesleyan commitment to social justice, in the Book of Discipline.
• Retain doctrinal standards such as the Articles of Religion, Confession of Faith and General Rules as binding for the worldwide church.

Despite varying views on the emotional issue of the ordination of non-celibate homosexuals, the hour-long conversation among the members of the Committee to Study the Worldwide Nature of The United Methodist Church remained civil and respectful.

The Rev. Kathy Stengel of the Western New York Annual (regional) Conference said taking ordination standards away from the General Conference would guarantee defeat of all committee recommendation at the 2012 General Conference.

“I am not willing to sacrifice the work of the committee over the issue of homosexuality,” said an emotional Marjorie Suchocki, a California theologian who supports ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians.

The Rev. Timothy McClendon of the South Carolina Annual Conference said committee members struggled with the issue, but decided “this was a core principle that needed to be held with the General Conference,” the church’s top legislative body.

---by Stephen Drachler is communications consultant for the study committee.

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