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DENVER (UMNS)-- Major decisions affecting the future of the United Methodist Church were made by substantial majorities during an April 23 session of the denomination's chief legislative assembly

In one decision, the delegates voted by a 70 percent margin to become a part of the Consultation on Church Union covenanting community. The action makes the United Methodist Church the largest of the six denominations in the Consultation to approve the covenanting plan so far.

According to Bishop William Boyd Grove, Albany, N.Y., president of United Methodism's chief ecumenical agency, the covenanting proposal provides for each of the participating churches to recognize each other's congregations, baptism and ordained ministry. The eucharist will be celebrated together and covenanting councils will be formed.

Begun in l962, the Consultation on Church Union initially worked toward organic union of the member churches, but later changed its direction to promoting a spiritual rather than structural unity. A United Methodist, the Rev. Gerald F. Moede, a Wisconsin pastor, was instrumental in developing the covenanting plan while he was general secretary of the Consultation.

The five other Consultation members that have committed themselves to covenanting are the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), United Church of Christ, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church USA and the International Council of Community Churches. Presbyterians still must approve some necessary constitutional amendments, the African Methodist Episcopal and African Methodist Episcopal Zion churches are expected to approve covenanting this summer, and the Episcopal Church has not yet voted.

In the other major action relating to the future, the 998 delegates from around the globe approved by 720 to 230 a framework around which a major study of domestic and international structures of the United Methodist Church will be fashioned. A report will be made by a 3l-member "Connectional Process Team" to the General Conference meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2000.

The present denominational structure of 13 national/international agencies dates from 1972. The four-year study approved here grows out of work by the General Council on Ministries since l992. It is being coordinated with a statement by the bishops on the global nature of the church.

Supporters of the proposal say it will lead to greater flexibility in organization and ministry for local churches and annual conferences, while at the same time reducing the size and cost of general church agencies. As a beginning, the number of lay and clergy directors of the 13 general agencies is scheduled to be cut from about 950 to 630.

The Rev. Gordon C. Goodgame, Lake Junaluska, N.C., introducing the proposal, said it is time for the 9.7-million-member church to plan for a "relevant transition" toward the future "while holding fast to the core of religious values."

When delegates arrived at their desks April 23 they found awaiting them in the Daily Christian Advocate the anxiously awaited work by the entire Council of Bishops relative to a statement by 15 bishops earlier in the sessions here that the church's stance on homosexuality caused them "pain."

The 245-word statement from the Council of Bishops acknowledged that "serious differences" exist among United Methodists and the bishops on issues related to homosexuality.

"The Council understands the present language in the Book of Discipline to be a faithful expression of faith and discipleship and are committed, collectively and individually, to teach and uphold our church's doctrine and discipline," the statement said.

"Our life together is not based upon uniformity of mind or conscience. We are a community of grace centered in Jesus Christ who makes us one."

In another action, delegates voiced concern about the condition of their brothers and sisters in Brazil as a result of what was called overt actions by the military police. Bishop Adriel de Souza Maia of Brazil, speaking through an interpreter, said that on April 18 families of the "landless movement" were fired on by 200 military policemen.

The conference voted to send letters to Brazil's president, minister of justice and the president of the national conference

As the delegates broke at the end of a wearing, debate-filled day they were sent off to dinner with the spirited singing of the choir from Africa University, arguably the church's proudest mission venture of recent years. The choir also welcomed the conference back from dinner to a business session that would last well into the evening

--Robert Lear

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