Whereas, the ecumenical event "Re-Imagining" (Minneapolis, November 1993) has been the only national event in the United States in response to the World Council of Churches "Ecumenical Decade: Churches in Solidarity with Women" during the decade and was one of the largest church gatherings of women theologians in history; and
Whereas, some United Methodists used the event to attack church women who attended the event with accusations of "heresy, neo-paganism and blasphemy" ("Good News," Jan./Feb. 1994, page 35); and
Whereas, writers, editors, and Church members had access to the grievance procedures of The United Methodist Church that deal with such accusations, yet instead used publications in which to make their views known; and
Whereas, central to the early church theologians' understanding of Jesus was his identification with the personified female wisdom, as found in John 1:1-4 and Proverbs 8:22-31; and
Whereas, for the liturgists and planners of the "Re-Imagining" conference, the Bible, church creeds and traditions were the sources for the understanding of wisdom as being of one substance with the Trinity ("Report of the Task Force on the Study of Wisdom," The Council of Bishops, October 31-November 4, 1994, Circuit Rider, March 1995, page 37); and
Whereas, a milk and honey service was condemned even though it was in keeping with "the groaning of creation" in Romans 8:3; the promised land of Exodus; the United Methodist love feast; and the first recorded eucharist, which included three cups (water, wine, milk and honey); and
Whereas, the organization of United Methodist Women was singled out for attack, disregarding over 100 years of faithful service; and
Whereas, some members of the "Re-Imagining" planning team lost their jobs and all suffered accusations and attacks;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the General Conference of The United Methodist Church issue a statement of support to the Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church, and United Methodist Women to include an affirmation of their historic leadership in mission, ecumenism, theology, and the right to participate in ecumenical events; and
Be it further resolved, that the entire United Methodist Church be involved in a prayerful and thorough study of the bishops' paper "A Report of the Task Force on the Study of Wisdom."
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 22527-IC-R242-U
1996 United Methodist General Conference