Petition Text: 20896-IC-NonDis-O

Understanding Petition Numbers

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In 1988 the General Conference adopted a resolution "Ecumenical Decade: Churches in Solidarity With Women."

We affirm that prophetic declaration and call particular attention to our United Methodist affirmation that

--women's experiences, their struggles for life and for nurturing life are crucial perspectives for safeguarding and liberating the creation; and

--the Spirit imparts a diversity of gifts upon persons in the human family and challenges us to enable all persons to utilize those gifts for justice and reconciliation in the world.

We also reaffirm our support for participation in the Ecumenical Decade: "The Ecumenical Decade--Churches in Solidarity with Women" (1988-1998), including, in particular, support

--for women doing theology and sharing their spirituality in "an integrated process of study, sharing, acting and celebrating"; and

--for production of educational resources and programs on the marginalization and oppression of women, their struggle for human dignity and their creative contribution in theology, spirituality, and ministry.

Finally, we urge all constituents of The United Methodist Church, young and old, female and male, to view the present ferment in theology as a creative opening for the Holy Spirit to lead us in further doctrinal and scriptural understandings.

May all sectors of the church join in respectful, loving, and open-minded dialogue about our common Christian faith and witness to the Reign of God, in which there is "no longer male nor female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus" (Colossians 3:28).

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Petition Text: 20896-IC-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference