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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
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April 2004 |
Welcome
Experience new life in the midst of struggles
We affirm again that Christ has risen as we realize the work of His redeeming love among us in the midst of our struggles.
Our United Methodist Church will make decisions this month that will lead the entire Church for the next four years, as 998 delegates head for Pittsburgh for the 2004 General Conference, the top legislative body of our global 10 million member church. Indiana's North and South Conferences are sending 12 delegates each to represent Indiana's 1,300 congregations and 230,000 lay and clergy members.
The events of this past month surrounding the trial and acquittal of the Rev. Karen Dammann, a lesbian pastor in Washington who was allowed to return to her appointment as pastor of The United Methodist Church in Ellensburg, Wash., will give added attention, especially at General Conference, to the continuing debate around homosexuality in the life of the church. Read the story of Dammann's trial and an analysis of how her acquittal came to be.
Dammann's acquittal has upset many Hoosier United Methodists. They have called and e-mailed the Indiana Area office daily since the Pacific Northwest Conference jury of 13 Ordained Elders found her NOT guilty of a lifestyle "incompatible with Christian teaching" as described by The United Methodist Book of Discipline. The overriding question I hear is if she is a self-avowed practicing homosexual how can she be appointed to a pastoral charge when The Book of Discipline forbids gays and lesbians from holding appointments?
The answer lies in the Pacific Northwest Conference jury member's decision that a homosexual lifestyle is not a declared chargeable offense for Ordained Elders and that The Book of Disciple is not decisive enough on whether or not homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching." Although the jury said it found "passages that contain the phrasing 'incompatible with Christian teaching . we did not find that any of them constitute a declaration."
Unfortunately, the decision has the explosive emotional characteristic to cause schism if we permit it to do so. I pray schism will not occur, but that we, as United Methodists, will continue to discern God's will on this issue and keep lines of communication open.
In the meantime, we, as United Methodists, need to remember that this decision in the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference has no bearing upon the North or South Annual Conferences of The United Methodist. The Book of Discipline remains the same. No language has changed in its pages. According to the Discipline, whether vague or not, homosexuality remains "incompatible with Christian teaching" in The United Methodist Church. The decision has no effect on any pastoral appointment in the Indiana Area. In other words, what has happened in Washington has happened in Washington. The only decision made was that Dammann was found not guilty by a jury of her peers for a life style "incompatible with Christian teaching."
A question in the minds of many is the credibility of The United Methodist Church. How can the church say homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching then allow one of its bishops to appoint a self-avowed lesbian to a pulpit? Which way is it? Why do we have a Discipline when it is disregarded? Can we have it both ways?
Confusion fosters a questioning of credibility. Hopefully, the delegates of General Conference will come to an agreement later this month in Pittsburgh that will add credibility to the church by agreeing upon a course of action acceptable to United Methodists. With public debate concerning the civil covenants between lesbian and gay couples and new definitions of marriage being considered in the public arena, the church experiences a challenging time in its life.
Continue to pray for the guidance of God's Holy Spirit for the unity of the church, justice for all United Methodists and honesty about our theological task as followers of the risen Christ. Make your voice heard by contacting the delegates from both North Indiana and the South Indiana Conferences expressing your viewpoints and letting them know that you are praying for them and the rest of the General Conference delegates.
Also pray for Bishop White and the other 50 active bishops of the church, as they collectively preside over this 11-day quadrennial meeting of the Church. Proceedings of General Conference will be posted online at www.gc2004.org.
As you read through this issue, you will soon discover that we are not a one-issue church, but a vital people of God who are in active ministry both here in Indiana, across the United States and around the world - summer camps are seeking volunteers, mission work continues to rebuild Liberia and Sierra Leone, new churches are moving forward, Bill Schwein adds humor to General Conference and Easter brings new life through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome,
Daniel R. Gangler
Last updated on 04/19/2004