Release #035 {2899} April 23, 1996
DENVER (UMNS) -- The president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops said, the council "does not speak for the United Methodist Church, only the General Conference does," responding to an earlier statement by 15 bishops who expressed "pain" at the church's stand on homosexuality.
Bishop Woodie W. White of Indianapolis, council president, addressed a news conference held after release of a statement to the denomination's General Conference here April 23. "Once the church has spoken, then as bishops our responsibility is to uphold what the church has spoken," said White.
The denomination's Book of Discipline prohibits the ordination of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" and states, " ... we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching, ... "
"Once the General Conference has said what the church's position is on homosexuality, then the bishops will teach it and speak it," White said.
To days were given to discussions and writing the report by the 130-member council, he said. Although 10 or 12 bishops wrote the final document, all the bishops had an opportunity to give input to it.
He said it is difficult to get a consensus that is relevant to as many and diverse cultures as those in the denomination. There are United Methodist churches and bishops throughout the United States, Europe, Africa and the Philippines.
Through the response to the 15 bishops' statement council members attempted to "say a word to ourselves and to the church on what we believe the role of bishops to be," White said. "The council doesn't operate on feeling or opinion, but on consensus."
According to White, the council had divided into randomly assigned discussion groups that allow each bishop more input to the body's deliberations. That was done before the General Conference or the 15 bishops' statement, White stressed.
-- Ralph E. Baker
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