UMR Communications is offering the latest headlines in the RSS format.
News
Church’s anti-gay policies called ‘sinful’ Robin Russell, May 9, 2008
UMNS PHOTO BY PAUL JEFFREY
Hundreds of United Methodists participate on May 1 in a witness in favor of full inclusion of gays and lesbians within the denomination.
By Robin Russell Managing Editor
FORT WORTH, Texas—Several hundred demonstrators peacefully entered the legislative floor May 1 during the United Methodist 2008 General Conference to declare that the church’s policies on homosexuality are “sinful.”
The protest was a mediated effort between the Council of Bishops, General Conference officers and gay-rights advocates upset by the April 30 decision to uphold the church’s stance that homosexual practice is “incompatible with Christian teaching.”
Delegates voted 501-417 to keep that language in the denomination’s Book of Discipline, yet also passed a resolution against homophobia and heterosexism, saying the church opposes “all forms of violence or discrimination based on gender, gender identity, sexual practice or sexual orientation.”
A coalition of gay advocacy groups had considered staging acts of civil disobedience in response, but a mediation team arranged for them to instead present the 15-minute “silent witness.”
Presiding officer Bishop Lawrence McCleskey called a recess to allow protesters to enter the legislative floor. He invited delegates and visitors to “receive it in the spirit of Christian hospitality and holy conferencing.”
Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, newly installed president of the Council of Bishops, said that some decisions made during the General Conference “have been more wrenching than others to all the members of this body and the whole church, including your bishops.” Bishops agreed, he said, to pursue conversation and offer a pastoral presence to those who were hurting.
Hundreds of gay-rights advocates dressed in black then silently walked onto the legislative floor of the Fort Worth Convention Center, spilling out along the center and side aisles to form a cross.
Some held large photographs of loved ones who are gay or lesbian. Many walked with hands lifted in prayer.
Approaching the communion table in the center of the convention floor, several began shrouding it in black to symbolize that “the body is broken.”
When all protesters were in place, they turned outward to face the delegates and began singing, “Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)?”
Bishops Palmer, Janice Riggle Huie and Larry Goodpaster, standing behind the altar table, lifted their hands and prayed, “not to put a stamp on this issue but to recognize that these are people,” Bishop Palmer said afterward.
Some delegates stood in solidarity with the protesters, a few with their arms around each other. Other delegates remained seated; some turning away from the demonstrators.
Spokesperson Audrey Krumbach, a member of the young adult gay caucus MOSAIC and a student at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, read a statement on behalf of the protesters.
“We have heard Jesus say to all persons—without exception—to follow me,” she said. “We are part of God’s living body, but our United Methodist Church has refused to accept what God has already done... it refuses to do no harm... it refuses to open its hearts, minds and doors.”
Those outside the church, she said, have noticed “the church denying, the church refusing, the church closeting the LGBTQ people who faithfully serve the church.”
Ms. Krumbach, who is not a homosexual but says she is an ally of LBGT persons, declared that the “anti-gay policies of the United Methodist Church are wrong and sinful in the sight of God.”
In the act of witnessing, she said, “We reject the lie that homosexuality is a sin, and that by standing, we affirm that sexuality is a good gift of God.”
She then read a litany of how the witnesses vowed to “radically obey the gospel of Jesus Christ,” including welcoming LGBTQ laity and clergy in their pulpits and inviting all to receive membership.
Several dozen United Methodist bishops left their seats to begin engaging in holy conferencing with the protesters.
Retired Bishop Melvin Talbert offered a statement of his own. He compared the church’s stance against gays and lesbians to the 1939 Methodist Church action that segregated blacks into the Central Jurisdiction.
“That action was wrong—a sin against God,” he said, adding the church had moved through that.
“But my brothers and sisters, here we are again. In the name of Jesus Christ we have taken an action that is wrong.... I can only say what is in my heart. General Conference, General Conference, this is wrong. I invite you to reconsider.”
Though the live feed over the Internet was cut off during the protest, the Rev. Gail Murphy-Geiss, chair of the Commission on General Conference, said “the plug was not pulled.” The event was recorded and later uploaded to the General Conference Web site, www.gc2008.umc.org.
Many of those who were present on the floor said the silent witness brought comfort to those upset by the decisions on homosexuality.
“I found it helpful, because I felt so broken,” said delegate Marjorie Suchocki, California-Pacific Conference. “I just couldn’t sleep last night. I’m not a gay person, but I felt like something in the church had died.”
Eunice Musa, a delegate from Nigeria and a student at Claremont School of Theology, said she was chastised by her fellow delegates for standing during the witness.
“They’re not happy with what I did,” she said afterward. “There was yelling and shouting. They told me, ‘You have become an American.’ That’s their business, not mine.”
“The fact that they are gay and lesbian doesn’t mean they are a curse on the house of God. We should stand with them.”
Retired Bishop Judith Craig said the witness was “more powerful and better heard than it’s ever been. Folks were touched and deeply moved, regardless of which side they’re on.”
But the Rev. Tom Lambrecht, chair of the Renewal and Reform Coalition, said it was a pointless demonstration.
“I thought it was sad that we had to go through this kind of exercise,” Mr. Lambrecht said. “I can certainly recognize the pain, but this is furthering the division and causing hard feelings.”
He said the Council of Bishops and other church leaders should find “more positive and constructive ways” to lead those who have differing opinions. “There’s no other issue that gets this kind of special treatment,” he said.
Young adults who advocate full inclusion of gays in the church found the General Conference decisions particularly hard to accept, said Monica Swink, chair of the Reconciling Ministries Network.
“Some of our young people were just openly sobbing,” she said. “We feel the church has broken covenant.”
The silent witness, she added, showed God’s grace, “but it was also a witness that so many people were hurt, and the church is standing in the way of God’s grace.”
“I think the bishops showed good faith,” she said. “I felt heard, because delegates did stand up.”
At a press conference, Bishop Palmer expressed a “deep sense of gratitude” at how the delegates and protesters handled the event, and said 16 bishops had created a “table for Christian conferencing” with gay-rights advocates.
Participating bishops, he said, represented a theologically diverse group who were “not of one mind” on homosexuality but added “they are of one heart—to engage people in sensitive conversations.”
Bishop Sally Dyck said participants were “speaking from our hearts as much as our heads,” and wanted to continue building trust over the next four years.
The Rev. Troy Plummer, executive director of the Reconciling Ministries Network, said the mediation team “helped us overcome some sticking points” and prevented acts of civil disobedience.
“Today was a better day than yesterday,” he said of his initial response to the April 30 decisions. “We were in shock that the votes went the way they did.”
But he said there were a few “Holy Spirit moments” during the silent witness, including Bishop Talbert’s statement of solidarity. “My heart was warmed to hear that strong, strong message of support,” Mr. Plummer said.
Bishop Palmer said the holy conferencing would continue over the next four years and that he expected it would eventually help in “seeding these conversations in other parts of the church.
“I am hopeful for the church. I am abounding in hope,” Bishop Palmer said. “How we handled today is in line with how we opened this conference.”
UMNS PHOTO BY PAUL JEFFREY
“They’re not happy with what I did,” she said afterward. “There was yelling and shouting. They told me, ‘You have become an American.’ That’s their business, not mine.” 
