The Committee recommends concurrence as amended as follows:
(Additions added by the Legislative Committee are underlined)
Add a new sub-paragraph after ¶71E:
Women and Men.----We affirm with scripture the basic similarity of
the sexes and assert that it is human similarities and not differences that
allow persons to find intimacy and partnership in accordance with God's
intention. We reject the ancient dualism between male and female which
has led to the erroneous notion that one gender is superior to
another, and that one gender must strive against another, and that members of
one gender may receive love, power and esteem only at the expense of another.
We especially reject the idea that God made individuals as incomplete fragments
made whole only in relationship to union with another.
We call upon women and men alike to share power and control, to learn to give
freely and to receive freely, to be complete and to respect the wholeness of
others. We seek for every individual opportunities and freedom to love and be
loved, and to seek and receive justice and to practice
moral ethical self-determination. We understand our
gender diversity to be a gift from God, intended to add to the rich variety of
human experience and perspective; and we guard against attitudes and traditions
that would use this good gift to leave members of one sex more vulnerable in
relationships than members of another.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Calendar Item Text: 103-711996 United Methodist General Conference