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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
October 2005 |
Several bishops speak to Reconciling Ministries Network during Labor Day weekend
By Darren Klein and Shawn Wietstock
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. - Seven United Methodist bishops spoke to the issue of the acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered people within the life of the church during the biennial meeting of a national network with a goal to enable full participation of all people in the life of the church.
More than 600 United Methodists from across the country participated in the Reconciling Ministries Network "Hearts on Fire" Convocation at Lake Junaluska during the Labor Day weekend. Twenty-three participants of the North and South Indiana Conferences traveled from Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Bloomington, Muncie, Franklin, New Albany and South Bend. This was the eighth biennial RMN Convocation held since 1987.
The convocation provided a time of renewal, fellowship, and worship for United Methodists who are working at a grassroots level to enable full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the life of The United Methodist Church, both in policy and practice, according to RMN goals.
One of the most significant parts of the convocation was the Bishops' Plenary session, the first such event at a RMN Convocation. In a keynote address prior to the plenary, Bishop Richard Wilke, retired, stated, "I'm so frustrated with people who take a prejudice and then find a Bible quote to support it."
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"I'm so frustrated with people who take a prejudice and then find a Bible quote to support it." - Bishop Richard Wilke |
Wilke's address consisted of a "conversation" with Paul, Peter, Luke and James (the brother of Jesus) about Christians of differing sexual orientations. He examined their writings regarding the inclusion of Gentiles in the early church and compared them to the current situation of the acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered Christians within today's church.
Following the keynote, Bishops Sally Dyck of Minnesota, Scott Jones of Kansas, Susan Morrison of Albany, John Schol of Washington, D.C., Minerva Carca? of the Desert Southwest, and Melvin Talbert (retired) participated in a panel discussion, answering questions that had been posed by convocation participants. The bishops were asked why they agreed to participate in the Convocation.
Bishop Talbert responded that he was there to offer words of hope to those in attendance to not allow anyone to drive people away from the church, even the powers that write the laws of the church.
Bishop Carca? stated that only three times have the bishops broken covenant with each other - around race and segregation, the ordination of woman, and issues of gay and lesbian inclusion.
When the bishops were asked how unity within The United Methodist Church can be built and remain faithful when there are so many divisions, Bishop Schol said that the biggest fear within the church is conflict. He said we should not avoid conflict, as it will always be present. We need to be able to work through it better. We also need to be clear about our central mission and move away from focusing on membership and towards discipleship, he said.
Bishops Carca? and Morrison acknowledged their struggle with the concept of unity in that it is often used as a tool to prevent people from speaking out. Bishop Talbert suggested that unity is not analogous to uniformity and that we need good people not to hide behind unity but be willing to speak out. He referred to a "conspiracy of silence" and that silence on controversial issues will never result in unity.
The panel also spoke about how the bishops of the Council of Bishops deal with their differences. Bishop Schol stated that the new class of bishops is working on forging relationship and trust in order to be available to the whole church, working with all people and all groups. There is a movement within the Council of Bishops to begin this new journey.
Bishop Jones agreed and added that the bishops are intentional about community building within the Council and that they are finding new ways of working together. Bishop Talbert said that bishops not only have a responsibility to enforce The United Methodist Book of Discipline, but they also need to speak to the church about what they feel God and the Gospel are saying to them.
Finally, the bishops were asked to describe the prophetic role of the Council of Bishops in today's church. Bishop Morrison said that the key for her is first listening to others before speaking, but that she also has felt silenced when she has wanted to say more.
Bishop Schol indicated that to be prophetic one must first build trust and that through trust one can bring many more people on the journey. Bishop Dyck responded that bishops need to be prophets of hope in order to help reduce the fear that is so infused throughout our lives. Bishop Talbert stated that he wants the church to become a safe place where everyone can express himself or herself without feeling hurt; that is what it means to be truly prophetic.
In addition to the Bishops' Plenary, daily worship services were held. The story of Elijah was used by Beth Stroud during opening worship. Her sermon challenged those gathered to hear God like Elijah, not in fire, wind or earthquake but in silence. She said The United Methodist Church needs to listen for God in silence instead of the wind and earthquake that are the ongoing debate over "homosexuality."
Bishop Carca?/font>o preached on Saturday, reminding participants that when Jesus' disciples wanted to send the crowds away, He insisted that they be fed with loaves and fishes. In her affirmation that all people should be fed and allowed to participate in the life and ministry of the UMC she said, "What is most important is not whether we are liberal, conservative or moderate, but whether we share Jesus' view of the world which includes everyone - people of all races, cultures, economic conditions, sexual orientations."
The Rev. Darren. Klein, serves as pastor of Central UMC in South Bend, Ind. Shawn Wietstock is a member of Central UMC.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008