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| Hoosier United Methodists together |
November/December 2005 |
Letters to the Editor
Make Indiana conferences stronger
A couple of hours ago I got the Hoosier United Methodists Together, Oct. 2005 issue in the mail. I have just finished reading every word.
I have never met Bishop Michael J. Coyner, but I am told he is "well liked" and that he is "working hard" to have good things happen in the two Indiana area's conferences. So, I would like to make a few suggestions.
First, instead of a merger of the two conferences, think of making the two conferences stronger. Challenge every pastor of every church to go from house to house, or do whatever is necessary to win persons to Christ. I would dare to say every pastor of a church of 25 to 50 members ought to determine to win at least five persons, by profession of faith, to Christ each year; and pastors of churches of 50 to 100 members ought to set a goal of winning eight to ten persons to Christ and His church on profession of faith; and pastors of larger churches should set higher goals.
Second, the bishop and the conference leaders should take to heart what the Rev. Brian McLaren shared with 550 clergy and laity at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Indianapolis - especially about the growth and attendance at worship in evangelical congregations compared to "mainline" denominational congregations. Plus the cry of those who in this post-modern era who are saying: "Help me find God."
While we need to plant new churches we need to seek out the lost and fill our existing churches.
I became a member of the South Indiana Conference in November 1959 and retired in November 1986. Almost every congregation I was sent to had one ore more serious problem, but there was never a year in all that time that we failed to show an increase in membership and/or failed to meet our budget, including the Conference Claims (apportionments).
I think of the fact that I did not grow up as a Methodist and that the only pastor I ever knew, the Rev. Paul Leeds, visited our home, read Scripture and prayed for my family two or three times each year for 14 years before we started attending his church. It is that kind of commitment that will bring people to Christ and to His Church. It is this kind of commitment that will bring "new life" to both of the conferences in Indiana. Of course the Rev. Paul Leeds believed we, all my family, were lost sinners and that only Christ could save us.
This requires long hours and hard work but it is worth it if we really believe the Gospel - This is the message of St. Luke chapter 15.
Raymond E. Pierson
Crossville, Tenn.
Judicial Council requested to reverse
The United Methodist Church advertises itself as a church community with "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors." The United Methodist Church has always fundamentally defined itself as a community which welcomed all persons who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior into the fellowship and membership of our congregations.
However, a recent decision of the Judicial Council (the denomination's highest court) negates these fundamental affirmations of The United Methodist Church. Our Judicial Council affirmed the right of a local pastor in Virginia to exclude a gay man from the membership of a United Methodist Church simply because he is gay. This gay man had been attending the church for some time, singing in the church choir and requested to transfer his membership from another denomination to The United Methodist Church, when the pastor refused to accept him as a member.
The bishop and pastors of the Virginia Annual Conference voted to place this pastor on involuntary leave of absence, apparently because they believe that pastors do not have the right to refuse membership to someone simply on the basis of their own personal prejudices.
Our United Methodist Council of Bishops responded to this Judicial Council decision by reminding all pastors that the Discipline specifically states:
"We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons." (2004 Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, paragraph 161g)
On the one hand, we have the Judicial Council telling pastors that we can exclude members we feel are not ready to be members of our congregation, and on the other hand the Council of Bishops reminds us of our commitment to be in ministry for and with ALL persons and specifically mentions lesbian and gay members and friends.
If the decision of the Judicial Council is allowed to stand, pastors could refuse membership to divorced people, people of color or any other people whom they believe are not "ready" to become a part of The United Methodist Church.
Even if one believes that homosexuality is a sin, if we were to say that anyone who is a sinner cannot be a member of a United Methodist church, then none of us would be allowed to join the church since "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
On the Sunday Nov. 6 after the Judicial Council decision about 800 members of Saint Luke's United Methodist Church in Indianapolis signed a petition to the Judicial Council requesting that they reverse decision 1032, which allows a pastor to refuse membership to anyone whom they do not deem ready for membership.
These petitions will be sent to the President of the Judicial Council, James Holsinger whose address and phone number are listed in the 2005 Cokesbury Daily Suggester as 4705 Waterside Court, Lexington, KY 40513.
If this Judicial Council decision is allowed to stand we will no longer be a church with Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors because each local pastor will be able to close those doors at their own discretion.
Kent Millard, Lead Pastor,
St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Indianapolis
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008