United Methodist General Conference April 2008

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

Here's the link:
http://www.generalconference2008.org...itutional.html

This was a real turn around and a surprise! I heard one of our allies say that we should have done yesterday's witness earlier in the Conference rather than wait until after the bad votes that occurred on Wednesday. It really appears that yesterday's direct action/witness had a major impact.

(see the video of that witness here: http://www.generalconference2008.org/)

The LGBTQ & allies coalition at the General Conference believe that the passage of this amendment to the United Methodist Constitution will supercede Decision 1032 and any other legislation that might be used to exclude LGBTQ from membership in any local congregation in the United Methodist Church.

However, we need to get the votes of two thirds of all voting members of all of the Annual Conferences to ratify this amendment before it becomes church law. So we've got a big job ahead of us. Every vote counts! Even if we don't get a majority in an individual Annual Conference, the "yes" votes count towards the "aggregate total" (What I'm saying is that it takes 2/3 of the annual conference members of all the conferences, NOT two thirds of the annual conferences). I'll write more on this topic later.

Steven Webster (writing from Fort Worth).

[Zerbie]

Waita minute -- I'm completely confused (wasn't following this closely, so please forgive) -- does the condemnatory language still stand? Or not?

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

More good news from the United Methodist General Conference. A broader definition of family now also includes "same-sex couples."

Here's the link:

http://www.generalconference2008.org...on-on-car.html

Steven Webster

[Steven E. Webster]

Originally Posted by Zerbie

Waita minute -- I'm completely confused (wasn't following this closely, so please forgive) -- does the condemnatory language still stand? Or not?

Zerbie,

It's way complicated, I guess. The "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching" language is still there. However this "teaching" is only some Methodists' opinion--it won't be able to stop LGBTQ people from joining the church if this new constitional amendment is ratified. Nobody in my home church believes this so-called "Christian teaching" on homosexuality! Eventually we will get rid of this language.

The United Methodist Book of Discipline does not claim to be perfect. It is, after all, the creation of an elected committee of 1000 imperfect individuals getting together for two weeks every four years. It contains inconsistencies all over the place.

When you look at the votes, it is clear that U.S. United Methodists would get rid of all the anti-gay stuff if it was just up to them. What is happening is that a right wing faction led by the Institute on Religion and Democracy, Good News, and the Confessing Movement are using the votes of delegates from the African Conferences to block progress. Eventually we will overcome that. Delegates who stood up to support our witness yesterday included one Nigerian woman who stood up in defiance of the rest of the Nigerian delegation. She will be the first of more to come. When the Africans eventually understand what is going on (and they will), they will no longer do the bidding of right-wing white men in America.

Steven Webster (still in Fort Worth)

[Zerbie]

Thanks.

So, is this new amendment functioning as a sort of functional barrier to any practical effect of the toxic language?

[Steven E. Webster]

Originally Posted by Zerbie

Thanks.

So, is this new amendment functioning as a sort of functional barrier to any practical effect of the toxic language?

Don't get me wrong---this toxic language is bad and still needs to be removed. We have to live with it for four more years, at least. We will need to go to the next General Conference and witness against this awful language until it is finally gone.

But in the meantime, United Methodist ministers will not be able to claim the right to deny LGBTQ people membership in the church.

Just previously I posted a link to a petition that was adopted by General Conference that recognizes that same-sex couples with children and couples without children (and alot of other family configurations) are all family. This is major!!! It adds to the contradictions in the Book of Discipline. Eventually they will recognize our marriages, it is inevitable!

Steven Webster

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

Here's the link:

http://www.generalconference2008.org...ists-atte.html

This was a wonderful, wonderful celebration!

It will drive the right-wing nuts!!!

The ceremony was beautiful. They used the liturgy of the United Methodist Church for Marriage. It was really wonderful for me to hear the words of that service--the very same that Jim and I used when we were married in City Hall in Toronto!

Steven Webster

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

Conference ended last night. One report I've seen described it as a mixture of highs and lows, good and bad, disappointment and hope. It's going to take time to see how the many language changes in the Book of Discipline play out. I will be writing more analysis in coming days and studying what other knowledgable analysts think.

Zerbie is certainly right, "incompatible with Christian teaching" is not an acceptable judgment on LGBTQ people. Nor is it right to continue the ban on ordination of lesbian and gay people.

Please note, however, that Drew Phoenix, the Baltimore United Methodist Pastor who is transgender, is safe. The General Conference was unable to add any negative language about transgender persons, even though such language was proposed by the Institute on Religion and Democracy and the Transforming Congregations ("ex-gay") organization. There still is no basis in our United Methodist Discipline to defrock a pastor simply for being transgender, or undertaking a transition from one gender to another. I was really concerned that the United Methodist Church might become the first to introduce negative language on transgender folks and set a precedent for other churches to follow--this did not happen.

This will be my last post from Fort Worth, Texas. Jim, my husband, and I will begin our long drive back to Madison, Wisconsin later today. I'll check back in when I get home.

Steven Webster (writing from Fort Worth, TX)

[Kelli Busey]

Dear Jim and Steven,
Safe journey to Wisconsin please. Your love, friendship and leadership in Ft Worth made me a very spiritually wealthy woman!! I am so looking forward to the next General Conference!! I am attending Sunday service at the Northhaven Methodist Church this Sunday. I need to be with a Methodist Congregation.
I will share to the best of my abilities the grandness and richness of my experience at General Conference with my home Church, Agape FT Worth and Transgender Advocates of Central Texas (TACT).
God Bless you,
Love Kelli

[BenL]

Originally Posted by Steven E. Webster

When you look at the votes, it is clear that U.S. United Methodists would get rid of all the anti-gay stuff if it was just up to them. What is happening is that a right wing faction led by the Institute on Religion and Democracy, Good News, and the Confessing Movement are using the votes of delegates from the African Conferences to block progress. Eventually we will overcome that. Delegates who stood up to support our witness yesterday included one Nigerian woman who stood up in defiance of the rest of the Nigerian delegation. She will be the first of more to come. When the Africans eventually understand what is going on (and they will), they will no longer do the bidding of right-wing white men in America.

Steven, PLEASE export some of this spirit to Lambeth at the beginning of July so that the Anglican bishops from Africa can see their way more clearly to affirming communion with the Episcopal Church USA. Unfortunately, Lambeth is a "bishops only" conference, unlike most Anglican synods, which by tradition include the laity as voting members. Lambeth has never carried canonical jurisdiction over the independent provinces of the Anglican Communion, but many conservatives, who are a vocal majority right now, would like to impose a more Vatican-like hierarchical structure on the Communion. Oh, how the Anglican reformers must be spinning in their graves!

[Steven E. Webster]

Originally Posted by BenL

Steven, PLEASE export some of this spirit to Lambeth at the beginning of July so that the Anglican bishops from Africa can see their way more clearly to affirming communion with the Episcopal Church USA. Unfortunately, Lambeth is a "bishops only" conference, unlike most Anglican synods, which by tradition include the laity as voting members. Lambeth has never carried canonical jurisdiction over the independent provinces of the Anglican Communion, but many conservatives, who are a vocal majority right now, would like to impose a more Vatican-like hierarchical structure on the Communion. Oh, how the Anglican reformers must be spinning in their graves!

Ben,
There would be a lot of benefit to cooperation among United Methodist and Episcopalian progressives. We have similar problems with the African branches of our communions. (And we both have the neoconservative Institute for Religion and Democracy meddling in our internal affairs!) There are different polities (organizational structure) but similar problems. And, as you probably know, Methodists come out of the Anglican tradition.

I follow Episcopalian news with some interest.

Steven Webster

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

I believe that the online video of the LGBTQ witness on the floor of the General Conference (see above in post #40 of this thread) did not include the opening remarks by Bishop McClesky and Bishop Gregory Palmer. I also here transcribe Bishop McClesky's description of the "Twelve Plus Twelve" conversation between bishops and LGBTQ people.

I transcribed this from the DVD which was made available by United Methodist Communications at the end of General Conference.

I really believe these remarks represent a small, but significant, turning point in our dialogue with the church. Notice that Bishop McClesky calls it a "dialogue towards reconciliation and justice."

Steven Webster

The following are transcripts of remarks by the presiding bishop and the President of the Council of Bishops during the LGBTQ and allies witness on the floor of the General Conference.

Bishop J. Lawrence McClesky presiding:

In recent hours this body has engaged in holy conferencing regarding issues on which there is a diversity of perspective. There are members of our United Methodist family present who have not been active participants in our process, and who wish to share a witness. Rule 3.3 of your rules of order states, “the presiding officer shall have the right to recess a session of the body at any time at the presiding officer’s discretion and to reconvene at such time as the presiding officer shall announce.”

In conversation involving representatives of the commission of the general conference, the council of bishops and persons present who wish to make a witness, it appears to be in the best interest of our process of holy conferencing to provide a means for such a witness, therefore I intend to recess this plenary session to allow for this witness. In a few moments the witnesses will enter the hall by the center aisle and when I announce it the body will be in recess for 15 minutes for the purpose of receiving this witness.

You are invited to receive it in a gracious spirit of Christian hospitality and holy conferencing. At the conclusion of 15 minutes I will call the body to order for the resumption of the morning agenda.

Before we begin the recess, I will ask that Bishop Gregory Palmer, President of the Council of the Bishops come and share a statement with us, and I trust that you will grant him your permission for him to do so. Bishop Palmer.

Bishop Gregory Palmer, President of the Council of Bishops speaking:

Thank you delegates, and Bishop McClesky and friends.

In many ways this has been an extraordinary General Conference. Among other things we have been blessed by powerful worship, keen missional focus and holy conferencing.
And we have bound ourselves together in covenant to do no harm, do good and to stay in love with God.

As we have worked our way through the legislative material some decisions have been more wrenching than others to all the members of this body and the whole church including your bishops.

As your bishops, we want you to know that we have been in deep conversation, holy conferencing and sensitive listening to you and to one another.

This has led us to reaffirm our covenant to do the following four things:

To love, serve and lead all United Methodists.

To continue to prayerfully remain in robust conversation with one another, and to lead the church in doing the same, especially about difficult matters.

To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to teach and live the three simple rules

And finally, to lead the church in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

This covenant informs our role as your chief shepherds.

During this time of witness you will see bishops serving the body in a variety of ways:

All of us will be in prayer. Some bishops will remain in their places, and some will be in other parts of the auditorium.
Some bishops will demonstrably live out our pastoral role among this body
Some will give expression to the presidential role that the church has asked us to fulfill.

But all of us will be laboring with all of you to do no harm, to do good and to stay in love with God.

[The recess and witness begin. At the end of the witness the Bishop McClesky called the body to order with the following words]

Bishop McClesky:

We are now at the conclusion of our 15 minutes allotted for this witness and as these members of our United Methodist family who have shared their witness are departing, I’m going to ask our music leaders to lead us in singing some hymns

Let me say as we sing, that as these witnesses leave, twelve of our bishops will join twelve of these witnesses for the purpose of ongoing holy conversation towards the end of reconciling and justices.

We thank you for sharing this time with us, Will the music leaders now lead us in the singing of some hymns.

[There followed the singing of “Jesus, Remember Me” and “His Eye is on the Sparrow”]

[BruceChris]

It will drive the right-wing wing-nuts nuts!

It's all in the punctuation

Peace and Love, and some fun now and then, Bruce Chris

[antonyh]

Originally Posted by Steven E. Webster

Friends,

I believe that the online video of the LGBTQ witness on the floor of the General Conference (see above in post #40 of this thread) did not include the opening remarks by Bishop McClesky and Bishop Gregory Palmer. I also here transcribe Bishop McClesky's description of the "Twelve Plus Twelve" conversation between bishops and LGBTQ people.

I transcribed this from the DVD which was made available by United Methodist Communications at the end of General Conference.

I really believe these remarks represent a small, but significant, turning point in our dialogue with the church. Notice that Bishop McClesky calls it a "dialogue towards reconciliation and justice."

Steven Webster

The full video is now up at:
http://www.generalconference2008.org

[antonyh]

One of the joys of General Conference for me was meeting Steven. He is really an amazing guy. He worked with us in all our negotiations with the Bishops. Wowza!

[Daniel]

Truly....

I've been out of touch for awhile. Read through this thread and just want to note that I have the utmost admiration for the time and energy that has been put into the conference by Steven, his partner Jim and Soulforce. There aren't words to express to how reading through this thread has made me feel.

All I can say is that I bow to the light within you- Steven and Jim, Anthony, Zerbie, BruceChris, Kelli and SF and all those who's energy, presence and commitment has made a difference- for that is what I read here- a difference has been made- toxic language or no. The day will come when that will change too: and the hearts and minds that will change it have aready been touched with the warmth and love that bring it about.

I bow to the light within you....I bow to the light within you....I bow to the light within you....

[antonyh]

Daniel, it is nice to hear from you. I've been rather scarce on the forum since I started at RMN three months ago. It is only because all of us at RMN have been putting in long hours to get ready for General Conference. At General Conference, I was working from 6am to 2am some days for 10 days solid. It felt like basic training. Even though LGBT people were crushed by the legislation at General Conference, I believe the preparation of RMN, Soulforce, MFSA and Affirmation paid off in non-violent witness.

There are no words for how I feel right now. Numb, heartbroken, tearful, crushed, overwhelmed. I spent most of General Conference looking through a camera at the pain and heartache of people I love being torn apart by the heterosexism and homophobia in The United Methodist Church. I had to work so hard on communications that I am only now starting to grieve myself. But mostly I am concerned for the wellbeing of those I love.

I've already started to receive letters in my inbox from people who are going to leave the United Methodist Church over what happened at General Conference. I have had the opposite experience. I have witnessed hundreds of people live out the United Methodist membership vows to resist evil, oppression, sin and injustice in the world. We put our bodies on the pavement and made the delegates walk over the wounded. We walked on the Plenary floor and declared at the center of one of the largest protestant denominations in the world, "Homosexuality is not a sin." We let our tears and our pain show. It felt like a new stonewall.

What I saw at General Conference was Methodism at it's finest....people who live out their membership vows to resist oppression. Soulforce was a quiet and powerful presence through all of it for which I am eternally grateful.

I'm in awe in my pain.

[Daniel]

So goes the Sufi saying....

Anthony- I don't know exactly what wisdom that lies within this moment, but your pictures bring me to tears.....

I send you much love and hugs and hold you close....thank you for bearing witness to the sorrow and pain of what you and others have gone through this past week.

A light shines bright there.....

[antonyh]

Cross Posted from GeneralConference2008.org:

O God of unfathomable depths and mysterious ways, when we think about it, there is really so little that we understand. Whether it's a storm that passes one house and destroys another, a war that seemingly has no end, or a church that sanctions exclusion, we are left shaking our heads and wondering what it all means. Wondering how we can possibly find you in the midst of the mess. How long must we wander in this wilderness, O God? How long must we ask to serve you and be told NO? God who moved over the face of the waters and who hovers still over the chaos of our lives, we are weary of the noise. We are tired of the cacophony of rattling sabers, the endless distractions that shift our gaze to lines drawn in the sand, to distinctions of mine and yours, and to legal language of right and wrong instead of words of love and grace and justice and mercy. God who breathed life into fashioned clay, breathe into us now that we may be formed into your people once again. Quiet the storm within our denomination that the wave of your grace may roll over us. Heal us and all those who suffer from oppressive measures that we may find hope in this despair, pride in the shame of it all, courage in our fear, and resolution in defeat. Shift our eyes from a downward glance to stars outshining the darkest nights. Let us find water in the rock and life in dry bones. Raise us once more to new life and make of us something strong and full of grace. Free within us the courage to be vulnerable enough to offer a hand to clasp. Heal us that we may be bread to eat, wine to share, and mortal fools for your kin-dom. Fill us that we might be bold enough to take a stand, or speak a word, or shed a tear, or to make again the decision to follow you and, in so doing, that we will, by grace, come to life abundant and come to dare, and come to hope and love your future in.
Amen.

[antonyh]

Cross Posted from GeneralConference2008.org
an essay by Steven Dry, New England Conference

Christians, we are the children of whispered centuries, of fearful times and worried minds. Our minds have been molded in the womb of Christian authority. We were born into a rigid architecture, baptized by unquestioned lies and confirmed by poisonous precedents, all teaching us the consequences of being different. Restrictive doctrines have shattered our love with shame and have taken our pride with pleasure. The worst part is, the church has done so with no mercy and not a touch of regret within its airy buildings, buildings that are no longer places to worship, but places to worry. Light saturates the pews with fearful luminescence and stabbing shadows, while parishioners quiver behind a silent tradition, afraid that they might be the next to go. And so those mute mouths, once able to speak, have become a second Tower of Babel, collapsing to build borders, not made of language, but of fear.

White steeples loom high with condemnation as they seeks out difference and paint over it with white, using an amalgam of scriptural texts and a particular religious understanding of those texts in order to create an artificial unity, or, more appropriately, uniformity. These scriptures became a means of maintaining purity and absoluteness, a purity that heretics threaten to undermine. This tradition began with early Christian leaders who fought against the Marcions and Gnostics as a means of maintaining order in the church. Even today, despite all the supposed tolerance and liberalism in the United Methodist Church, influential leaders continue to read the Bible strictly. Rather than using it as a narrative of Christ enacting Christian compassion, leaders handle the Bible as if it were a book of answers and a means of condemning those who fall outside of the status quo. Ironically, it is within the very texts that Christian leaders use to condemn the marginalized that Jesus sought out the social outcasts, the lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, and foreigners, and showed them compassion.

In order to return to Jesus’ calling, we must transform Christianity from a condemning, absolute orthodoxy into a welcoming, compassionate orthopraxi. Only then can the marginalized find room in its rigid infrastructure. The Bible must become a means to an end, rather than an end in itself. It must be valued as a repository of wisdom and an aid to living a Christian life, rather than simply a moral answer book. Instead of venerating the texts of Christ and using them to degrade others, we must use those texts as guides for showing Christian compassion to the entire World. By doing this, the concrete walls of the Church loosen, opening a space for all Christians, not just those who fit into the mold. Only then, can the sun can break through the foggy windows and shine a new, accepting light into the shadows where the marginalized hide. This reconciling glow will travel mystically throughout the sanctuary, seeking out the least and the lost, finally arriving at the altar. There, as the bread and the cup collide, sweet, reassuring drops of future will touch mouths once burdened with the bitter taste of tradition.

Unfortunately, this is but a distant vision. Nevertheless, in a world where hate has fettered hope and love has gone into hiding, we must arise from the shadows of this oppressive church and shine our own colorful reflections, staining the silence of this sterile, oppressive church and showing it our beautiful palette of diversity. This is the first step, and we must not be afraid. We can bear this crown of silence and cross of injustice no longer. We must have our own Easter Sunday.