United Methodist General Conference
Looks to End of Century, Start of 21st

DENVER (UMNS) -- Challenged at the outset by their spiritual leaders to shun standing rigidly in tradition or running mindlessly ahead, 998 United Methodist General Conference delegates gathered April 16-26 here embraced new ecumenical affirmations; adopted fresh concepts of baptism and ministry; stepped up concern for children and minorities; and prepared for the reality and prospect of new administrative structures.

At the same time, the conference meeting at the edge of snow- covered Rocky Mountains reaffirmed long standing controversial positions on homosexuality and abortion, adopted a close to the bone 1997-2000 budget for the 9.7-million-member denomination and left its missions arm headquartered in New York City.

By the time the delegates from around the globe had cleared their desks of almost 3,000 legislative items they also had spent unprecedented amounts of time in prayer and "discernment," and experienced new evidence of international ties.

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, a life-long United Methodist, was welcomed with warm and prolonged applause. Bishop Arthur Kulah, who was able to maneuver his way out of war-torn Liberia where his life is at risk daily, arrived to an outpouring of joyful song and emotion.

"We have watched with alarm tensions that rise out of good desire to protect the Church from harm," Bishop Judith Craig of Columbus, Ohio, said in the "state of the church" Episcopal Address delivered on behalf of the church's 130 active and retired bishops. "We fear the desire to protect may turn to desire to control."

Two days later, 15 bishops, including Bishop Craig, dropped a bombshell on the conference by releasing a statement expressing their personal "pain" at "proscriptions ... against gay and lesbian persons" in official United Methodist church policy.

"We believe it is time to break the silence and state where we are on this issue that is hurting and silencing countless faithful Christians," the bishops' statement asserted. At the same time, the 11 active and four retired bishops affirmed their commitment to "continue our responsibility" to the church's order and Book of Discipline.

The statement was a major topic of conversation in hallways and refreshment centers of the Colorado Convention Center for the next four days. On April 23 the Council of Bishops released a 250-word statement saying "Our life together is not based upon uniformity of mind or conscience."

The statement by the more than 90 bishops present in Denver, including the 15, said the "Council understands the present language in the Book of Discipline to be a faithful expression of faith and discipleship and we are committed, collectively and individually, to teach and uphold our church's doctrine and discipline."

The Rev. J. Philip Wogaman, pastor of Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, told United Methodist News Service he believes the "prophetic" statement of the 15 "will, in the long run, do much good."

Jim Holsinger, Lexington, Ky., said "the careful orchestration" of the conference by the 15 bishops "cast a gray pall across the" conference, "which did not lift, even after its adjournment."

When voting was completed, delegates had retained the church's statement that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. The ban on ordination or appointment of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" was continued with a sentence added defining "self avowal."

The footnote, added during the final hours of the conference, reads: "Self-avowal practicing homosexual is understood to mean that a person openly acknowledges to a bishop, district

The vote to retain the "incompatible" language was 577 to 37; Four years ago the comparable vote was 710 to 238.

A statement added to the homosexual statements would prohibit clergy from officiating at same-sex marriage-like ceremonies.

The church's conditional pro-choice stance on abortion, in place since 1970, was reaffirmed. An attempt to add a "rights of the unborn" statement was turned back 497 to 399. Support for the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice will be continued.

An initiative designed to increase and enhance the involvement of youth and young people in the church during the next four years was approved. Delegates approved asking Hillary Rodham Clinton to serve as honorary chair of a "Shared Focus on Young People."

In her 30-minute address to the conference, the First Lady spoke with appreciation of her growing up in First United Methodist Church in Park Ridge, Ill. "I am equally grateful that my daughter has had the same (opportunity), both at her church in Little Rock, and now ... in Washington." The First Family

Mrs. Clinton's statements on youth and children were interrupted several times by applause from the 998 delegates and approximately 2,700 visitors.

Another emphasis on specialized ministries will include programs designed to serve racial and ethnic minorities. There are approximately 425,000 ethnic minority United Methodists in the United States.

The conference approved support for a commission to develop a possible plan of union for the United Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion and Christian Methodist Episcopal churches. Any plan developed will be considered by three of the four churches in 2000, and the fourth in 2002.

By a margin of 70 percent, delegates approved United Methodism becoming the sixth denomination to adopt the covenanting proposal of the Consultation on Church Union. The plan is under study in the remaining three participants in the Consultation.

Bishop William Boyd Grove, Albany, N.Y., called the covenanting proposal the "most significant ecumenical challenge" to come before a United Methodist General Conference in the past half-century. Grove, president of the church's chief ecumenical agency, said the covenanting plan creates a "spiritual, covenental union," not an organizational or structural one. Member denominations of the covenant will recognize each other's baptism and ordained ministry and celebrate the eucharist together.

After 30 years discussion, a reordering of the church's ministry was approved. The adopted plan calls for two separate offices of ordained ministry: deacon, one who pledges to serve God and the church through "word and service" to the community; and elder, who serves through "service, word, sacrament and order."

Deacon no longer will be a first step on the way to full ordination as an elder. As with the present diaconal ministers, the new deacons will not itinerate, but will be considered clergy.

Delegates unanimously approved a new core statement of baptism. The statement upholds the legitimacy of infant baptism, rejects any re-baptism, and explains the relationship between baptism as an infant and confirmation.

The action also creates new designations for church membership, "baptized members" and "professing members." Only professing members will be counted for determining financial apportionments and for most statistical purposes.

Also new is an independent, churchwide Commission on United Methodist Men. Accountable to the General Council on Ministries, the new commission will oversee coordination and resources for men's ministries within the church.

The United Methodist Men's organization currently is a unit of the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tenn. Backers of the move said creation of the new commission would not require additional funding since funds currently for men's work in the Discipleship budget will be transferred to the new agency.

In the Laity Address to the conference, James Lane, Sherwood, Ark., said that if the church is going to enter the 21st Century effectively laity "must thrust open the doors of our churches ... (and) quit sitting around in meetings talking about what we ought to do. ... "

Broad implications for general church structure are implicit in the approval of a framework around which a major study will be fashioned by a "Connectional Process Team" of 31 people. The result of their work is expected to be a major agenda item in 2000.

Included in the process are findings of the Council of Bishops on the global nature of the United Methodist Church.

The Rev. Gordon C. Goodgame, Lake Junaluska, N.C., said it is time for the denomination to plan for a "relevant transition" toward the future "while holding fast to the core of religious values." The Rev. Charlie O. Dundas, Rosemount, Minn., called the action "one small step for the United Methodist Church, putting into place a process that will lead us into the 21st Century.

As a prelude to action in 2000, legislation was approved here reducing the number of lay and clergy directors of national agencies from about 950 to 650.

The present configuration of conference agencies has been in place since 1972.

In another action related to these national/international agencies, the conference ended eight years of debate and study by agreeing to leave the headquarters of the Board of Global

After three hours of debate, a budget of almost $508.3 million to underwrite worldwide ministries of their church for the next four years was approved. The total reflects an increase for 1997 of 1 percent above 1996, then no increase for 1998, and a 2 percent increase for 1999 and 2000.

International aspects of United Methodism were more visible here than in any previous General Conference. More of the 998 lay and clergy delegates were from Europe, Africa and the Philippines than ever before, and there was more participation in debate.

For the first time in 40 years delegates were present from Bulgaria. Cuban Methodist Bishop Gustavo Cruz, in a press interview, said the U.S. embargo of his country has hit hardest the poor.

Responding to Israeli bombs falling on a refugee camp and a U.N. peacekeeping area in Lebanon, and a related statement by Bishop Judith Craig, delegates agreed to send a delegation to meet with President Clinton and Vice President Gore, as well as diplomatic officials of the United States and Israel.

In another action, delegates voiced concern about the condition of brothers and sisters in Brazil as a result of reported overt actions by the military police.

In other conference happenings, delegates:

* Apologized for the deaths of more than 200 Native Americans caused by a Methodist lay preacher more than 13 decades ago.

* Heard that the "Shalom Zones" approved by the l992 General

Conference as a mission effort in troubled cities are doing well.

* Re-elected Carolyn Marshall, Veedersburg, Ind., secretary.

* Approved a new voluntary pension plan that backers say will

provide more flexibility and investment options for individual participants.

* Paused to remember the first anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. The convention center lobby featured a special display of memorial quilts for the children who were killed.

* Agreed to continue a special program on substance abuse and related violence.

* Remembered the 10th anniversary of the tragic Chernobyl nuclear power accident and its heavy death toll.

* Adopted a new Spanish-language hymnal.

* Said that a lay person must be vice-chair of the local church nominating committee.

An informal survey of several delegates by United Methodist News Service found mixed reactions to the ten days in Denver.

The Rev. Riley Case, Kokomo, Ind., said the conference "was not particularly friendly to the causes of evangelicals, but that is no different from previous General Conferences and reflects the moderate to liberal make-up of the delegates. ... The public statement by some bishops that they do not believe that which they are called upon to teach and uphold, and the Council of Bishops' innocuous response, is distressing. The morale in the trenches is not good."

The Rev. John Ed Mathison, Montgomery, Ala., said the sessions were marked by an "obviously orchestrated program to promote a specific agenda." A similar thought was voiced by Jim Holsinger of Kentucky.

The Rev. George D. McClain, Staten Island, N.Y., said that "for the most part reason, moderation and graciousness prevailed, ... but this conference was demonstrably mean-spirited toward lesbians and gay men and their pastors. All attempts to moderate their exclusion from the church were rejected. A remarkable chance for evangelization and reconciliation was rejected."

The Rev. J. Phillip Wogaman, Washington, voiced "disappointment that we could not achieve a healing compromise on the over-heated issue of homosexuality, so that debate will simply continue."

Shirley Parris, Brooklyn, N.Y., called the "rich multi- racial, multi-cultural fabric of the tapestry into which we are woven" a "serendipitous by-product of our heritage. I wish every United Methodist could be exposed to the process. ... "

The next opportunity for at least 1,000 United Methodists from around the world will be May 2-12, 2000, in Cleveland, Ohio.

-- Robert Lear

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