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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
October 2005 |
Confessing Movement welcomes attention to unity
By Daniel R. Gangler
CINCINNATI - The Confessing Movement within The United Methodist Church created a new proclamation welcoming "serious attention to the denomination's unity and the basis of that unity."
The proclamation was approved Sept. 24 by the more than 300 participants at the Confessing Movement's conference held here Sept. 22-24. Conference organizers said more participants from the Gulf States were expected but were unable to attend due to the hurricanes.
According to the two-page document, the proclamation came as a reaction to discussion at the 2004 General Conference and the appointment of the Unity Task Force by the United Methodist Council of Bishops.
The document "Unity in Christ, That the World May Believe," was introduced by the Rev. Maxie Dunnam, chancellor of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. and vice president of the Confessing Movement, on behalf of the organization's board of directors.
The document rests on three convictions held by the movement:
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"There is no authentic unity in the Church apart from agreement on the truth of the gospel,
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"Our (United Methodist) constitutionally protected Doctrinal Standards are foundational to our agreement in the gospel,
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"There are inadequate proposals for unity to be named and critiqued."
Doctrine is central to the document, according to Dunnam. "We don't want this to be a strident doctrine," he told the conference.
Dunnam said the proclamation is "not an action plan but a platform for action." He said the Confessing Movement board members are preparing a letter to the Council of Bishops asking for the integrity of the United Methodist episcopal leaders. He said a commentary would be written which might suggest actions to be taken.
The document states, "Genuine unity in the church is not secured by religious sentiment, sincere piety, dead orthodoxy, tight property clauses, or appeals to institutional authority and loyalty." It defines genuine unity "as a precious gift of the Holy Spirit," rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ, witnessed to in Holy Scripture, summarized in ecumenical creeds, celebrated in worship and sacraments, demonstrated in common mission, articulated in our teaching, lived out in love, and contended by the faithful.
The document proclaims that unity requires: official doctrine, careful teaching of the apostolic faith by the leaders of the church and the maintaining of The Book of Discipline as a covenant of trust.
The document also sites "practices that contribute to disunity" including: neglect of Scripture, disobedience to Doctrinal Standards, claims of new sources of revelation that set aside the authority of Scripture and the tested morality of the church, and "capitulation of lifestyles that are inconsistent with Christian discipleship."
The proclamation says that dissent is inevitable and states, "Principled dissent is to be tested in Christian conferencing by it congruence with Scripture and the church's Doctrinal Standards."
The document affirms the Confessing Movement's mission to reform and renew The United Methodist Church by advocating doctrinal unity in Christ and the church's mission of making disciples.
The document closes by stating that the movement prays for all United Methodists to "join in this holy work of recovering our unity in Christ."
Following Dunnam's presentation, several participants voiced their views on the document shortly before it was approved. Several felt the section on dissent needed strengthening. Dunnam said those drafting the final statement "did not want to send any kind of a warning or threat to the church."
One participant appreciated "the sweet spirit" and said it's important to keep a sweet spirit since "we have a tradition of being painful."
Another participant said, "we need a goal-line stance. I'm tired of being on the defensive. I'm not afraid to talk about 'amicable separation'" (a term used during the 2004 United Methodist General Conference in Pittsburgh).
Some questioned, "What if it (the current status quo of the church) just goes on and on and on? What if?"
Dunnam reminded the group of its vision of unity. "We are not divided from the church," he said. "We are living the Book. We will deal with the 'what ifs' when the 'what ifs' come along... We will bear that cross."
Following a standing affirmation that confirmed the proclamation, the Rev. Robert Renfroe, associate minister at The Woodlands United Methodist Church north of Houston, Texas and a member of the movement's board, addressed the conference saying, "We need to listen as first steps toward unity. Listen to others; listen to God."
He said, no one was told what to say as conference participants formed the proclamation. "We are part of the Confessing Movement because we love the church." He said the Wesleyan core of beliefs "needs to be protected, defended, nurtured and renewed.
"Homosexuality is not the issue," he said. There are deeper problems," which he outlined as the nature of moral truth, authority of Scripture, revelatory words of Scripture, and the uniqueness of Christ as supreme Lord and Savior of the world.
"These are the issues that divide The United Methodist Church. They must be addressed," said Renfroe.
"We cannot save a hurting institution by saying what is right, but by saying what is wrong," he said. Speaking truth to the church is what he called "costly leadership." Renfroe told the conference to listen, pray for a new breed of bishops, proclaim the truth and pay the price, and sacrifice. War is costly. Pay the price for being a witness of Jesus Christ."
During the three-day conference, 14 workshops were offered. Plenary sessions featured the Rev. J.D. Walt, vice-president of community life at Asbury Theological Seminary, who led Bibles studies; Dr. William Abraham of Dallas; the Rev. George Hunter III of Wilmore, Ky.; Bishop Scott Jones of the Kansas Area; Bishop George Bashore, retired, of Pittsburgh; Bishop Linda Lee of the Wisconsin Area and Bishop James Swanson of the Holston Area in Knoxville, Tenn. Patricia Miller, executive secretary of the Confessing Movement based in Indianapolis, coordinated the conference.
According to Confessing Movement statistics, the group is supported nationally by 1,526 congregations, 5,025 clergy and 661,804 laity.
For the complete text of "Unity in Christ, That the World May Believe," log on to the Confessing Movement Web site at www.confessingumc.org.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008