McHenry County Blog

From the Staff-Parish Committee of Wheatland Salem Church in Naperville comes this news:

Pastoral Transition for our Congregation

Bishop Sally Dyck, Regional Bishop of the United Methodist Church in Northern Illinois, after consultation with the Staff-Parish Relations Committee of Wheatland Salem Church, our District Superintendent, Rev. Diana Facemyer, and our pastors, has announced the appointment of Rev. Dr. Scott N. Field, our pastor since 1980, to become Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Crystal Lake, Illinois as of July 1st.

While this leaving is bittersweet in many ways, we anticipate new seasons of ministry together for Wheatland Salem Church, for First UMC in Crystal Lake, for Pastor Scott, and for our new Senior Pastor who will be appointed to begin serving our congregation and community beginning on July 1st. Presently the Staff-Parish Relations Committee is actively working with our District Superintendent and Bishop to select and appoint our new Senior Pastor.

You will receive a letter in the next few days with some additional detail on this transition. In addition, next Sunday, February 24th, members of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and the pastoral staff will be available at both campuses for an informal and open opportunity to give an overview our process of transition and respond to questions, concerns, and suggestions. Through the next 3-4 months before Pastor Scott’s departure, we will have opportunities to celebrate the past, engage the present, and prepare for the future. We have not experienced a change in our Senior Pastor position in a very long time, but we believe we have the capacity to make the transition and move into a new chapter of mission and ministry together.

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee

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The current minister at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake is Steve Bullmer. He is retiring.

Field has been a leader in the evangelical organization called “Good News.”  It describes itself as “an orthodox renewal and reform ministry within The United Methodist Church.”  You can find the organization’s web site here.

Under Field’s leadership, the church grew from 18 at services in 1980 to 650 today. The Naperville church started a church in Oswego, where 150 now worship worship.

A press release from a lay group of the Methodist Church in Northern Illinois:

Bishop’s statement does not represent Church on Gay Marriage

In response to United Methodist Bishop Sally Dyck’s endorsement of gay marriage, the Northern Illinois Conference Evangelical Association (NICEA) Chairman, James Blue, issued the following statement:

“What Bishop Dyck has expressed is her personal opinion.

“It does not reflect the official position of the United Methodist Church in which the definition of marriage as ‘the union of one man and one woman’ was first articulated in 1972.

“A separate but related action in 2004 called upon the church to ‘support laws in civil society that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.’

Unfortunately, the general public will assume that Bishop Dyck speaks for our entire Church.

“She does not.

“Support for traditional marriage has received overwhelming majority support at all recent quadrennial General Conferences where all United Methodists are represented.

“Support of traditional marriage is the one issue, among all sexually-related issues, that garners the broadest support within the Church.

“We regret the disunity that Bishop Dyck’s statement will inevitably bring to local congregations and we encourage the Illinois General Assembly to find another way to ensure the civil rights of gay couples without redefining marriage which has for millennia, been the foundational unit of human society.”

In a complete contradiction of church policy, Sally Dyck, the new Bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church has called on the Illinois Legislature to pass a bill authorizing same sex marriage.

I would note there was a time when a Methodist Bishop issued a statement that unified local church members. That was in about 1990 when Bishop R. Sheldon Duecker led the fight against casino gambling in Illinois.

Dyck has decided to take a divisive, rather than unifying path in her stewardship of local Methodists.

Her statement follows:

Bishop’s statement on Illinois Marriage Equality Bill

01/10/2013

To the Clergy and Members of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference.

Today the new General Assembly of the State of Illinois is expected to discuss and soon vote on the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. It is expected that it will pass into law. I want to express my views on it and my support of it as law.

I believe in the institution of marriage as the source of emotional and legal stability and security for families and communities.

In May I will have been married for 37 years. I have many friends who are not presently married and have never married, but I believe most of them have wanted to find a lifelong relationship to which they are committed for spiritual, physical and emotional comfort and support.

And I have friends, acquaintances and former parishioners who have been in lifelong relationships with someone but have not been able to have their relationships recognized by the state or the church because they are in a same-sex relationship. In spite of all the same pressures and stresses that heterosexual couples face, they have managed to stay faithful and true to each other, providing stability and strength not only for their families but for their communities and churches.

Marriage also provides stability and security for me in a way that I usually take for granted especially as both my husband and I grow older. We just assume that we can be with each other in the emergency room or that if, God forbid, something happens to the other that we will be provided for through our combined resources. After all, we’ve built those resources together over the last almost 37 years.

But same-sex couples can’t assume the same benefits, not even the benefit of being with each other should there be an emergency or in critical last moments to hold the other’s hand…no one should have to be getting permission to be by a loved one’s side at a time like that but that is the reality for same-sex couples.

I believe in marriage because it also is the institution that best provides for the well-being of children. I believe that children need to have parents who have the emotional and legal benefits of marriage as well as parents who are active in their lives.

In addition to the benefits of marriage that I have described above, I also believe that the State of Illinois needs to be on the forefront (if #10 of 50 is the forefront) of providing for marriage equality in order to promote economic growth. People look for places to work and start businesses that will attract as many good workers, entrepreneurs and business people as possible and a marriage equality state can provide that added edge to the competitive economic market.

While the United Methodist Church holds that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, it also holds the teaching and a long tradition (albeit a struggle every inch of the way) of civil rights. Marriage equality is a civil rights issue; it provides for all what is afforded to some.

The marriage equality act in Illinois does not bind anyone who is licensed by the state to perform marriages to perform a marriage for a same-sex couple (as no one can bind us to perform a marriage for a heterosexual couple). In fact, even though I support this legislation, I can’t perform a same-sex marriage as a United Methodist clergy person and as the bishop I can’t give permission to any other clergy to do the same. But just because I can’t provide the service of marriage to same-sex couples doesn’t mean that I should prevent people from being able to commit their lives to each other in the State of Illinois.

Therefore, I believe it is to the benefit of our families, communities and the state of Illinois for the Marriage Equality Bill to become law in our state. Not all United Methodists will agree with my belief on marriage and they are entitled to their own belief. Because I believe in marriage, it’s my belief it will be a benefit for this law to pass.

Bishop Sally Dyck

A reply from a group in the evangelical wing of the Methodist Church called Good News:

Bishop Sally Dyck has issued a public statement of support for a same-sex marriage measure in Illinois. In a statement to members of the Northern Illinois Conference, she writes: “While the United Methodist Church holds that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, it also holds the teaching and a long tradition (albeit a struggle every inch of the way) of civil rights. Marriage equality is a civil rights issue; it provides for all what is afforded to some. … Because I believe in marriage, it’s my belief it will be a benefit for this law to pass.”

The Rev. Rob Renfroe, president and publisher of Good News, issued the following statement in response to Bishop Dyck’s public campaigning for same-sex marriage.

“Good News is disappointed that Bishop Sally Dyck has chosen to advocate for the legislative approval of same-sex marriage in the state of Illinois.

“Since 2004, our church has said that we ‘support laws in civil society that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.’

“Indeed, our definition of marriage as a covenant ‘between a man and a woman’ dates back to 1972.

“This position received a 77 percent vote at General Conference in 2004 and still represents the one issue among all the sexuality-related issues that garners the broadest support across the church.

“We respect Bishop Dyck and have worked well with her in the past in relating to the Unity Task Force of the Council of Bishops which she led.

“However, we believe that for Bishop Dyck to advocate a minority position that is at odds with the stated position of the church fosters disunity and deepens the sense of disconnect felt by many United Methodist members.

“In 2011, more than 14,000 United Methodists signed a letter to the Council of Bishops asking them to support the denomination’s position on same sex marriage. The Council issued a statement of support.

“Bishop Dyck’s advocacy flies in the face of the Council’s statement.

“We share Bishop Dyck’s commitment to ensure the protection of the civil rights of all persons.

“However, there are other ways to ensure the civil rights of gay and lesbian persons without redefining the bedrock institution of marriage.

“We see no reason why the church should allow a secular, anthropocentric, hyper-sexualized Western culture to tell us what marriage is, rather than looking to the Scriptures and, with real concern for the rights of all, maintaining what God has revealed.”

Good News has been an independent, evangelical voice within The United Methodist Church since 1967. As a renewal and reform movement, Good News has been a beacon of hope to traditional United Methodists by urging the church to be faithful to the biblically-based principles of its historic Wesleyan heritage.

In our desire to see The United Methodist Church centered on Jesus Christ, we want to see our church engaged in vital ministry, growing disciples of Jesus Christ, and transforming the world.

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The poster of this article has been a member of the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake since 1958.

If you feel that tug to be with people on Christmas Eve for a church service, may I suggest the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.

There are three services, as you can see below:

As you can see, se4rvices will be held at 6, 9 and 11.

The church is at the corner of West Crystal Lake Avenue and Dole Avenue.

Great place to find reasonably priced gifts, so I’ll just re-run last year’s article below. This is where I buy my $15 gifts for our Crystal Lake Kiwanis Christmas grab bag. I’ve even found items for $10.

The items are on sale after the 5 PM Saturday service and the ones at 8, 9:30 and 11 on Sunday morning.

This weekend the Scrappy Quilters of the United Methodist Women of the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake will offer the results of their efforts after all four services.

For those of you who just want a chance to buy quilts priced from $15 to about $65, come to the church at the corner of West Crystal Lake and Dole Avenues 5:30 to 6ish Saturday night or from 9 to 12:30 on Sunday.

The quilts will be displayed on the second floor above the narthex outside the main sanctuary toward the back of the church.

Here are some from last year’s sale.

First take a look at some of the table runners:

Below are some square ones that could become wall hangings:

Finally, there’s the one that Mitten liked the best. It has jungle animals. It could be given to a baby.

The one below could be put on a natural wooden table:

If you are not doing anything Sunday morning, the First Methodist Church of Crystal Lake is hosting a meal packing morning for Haiti.

Two years ago the Salvation Army hosted a massive event at the old Cub Food Store in the failed shopping center behind Colonial Cafe.

Over 750,000 meals were packed.

The Methodists’ goals are more modest.  I’ve heard the figure 30,000 at church.

There is room for 288 volunteers, who will start about 9 to 9:30 Sunday morning on August 19th.

Whenever homosexuals win a victory, it is trumpeted all over the media.

At the world convention of the United Methodist Church in Tampa this week, the homosexual agenda took a beating, however, and I couldn’t find a line of type in the Chicago Tribune today.

That, even though there was a major article on which religions were growing and which were declining in Illinois, complete with county-by-county maps for (in descending order of Illinois membership) Roman Catholics, Evangelicals, Muslim, Methodists and Southern Baptists.

The Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline “does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching” and does not allow “a self-avowed practicing homosexual” to be a pastor.

However, as a commentator for Good News puts it, the church “affirms the ‘sacred worth’ of all persons even while acknowledging that as Christians we cannot affirm every expression of human sexuality.”

Two days ago (Wednesday) a resolution supported by the Love Your Neighbor Coalition to dilute Methodist policy was defeated 53%-47%.

Another resolution to eliminate the statement that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching” failed 61%-39%.

Moderates offered a compromise similar to one defeated four years ago which would state Methodists agreed to disagree on the issue, but that was defeated by a similar margin.

Afterwards the homosexuals took over the convention floor to demonstrate their frustrations (or “Temper Tantrum,” as the Institute for Religion and Democracy puts it.)

Although neither the Chicago Tribune or Sun-Times could find space.

Neither could the Northwest Herald or the Daily Herald.

The New York Times, however, ran an article:

Methodists Keep Stricture on Homosexualitys

USA Today also ran an article, written by Associated Press:

Methodists vote to keep stand against same-sex relationships

In other mainline Protestant denominations, The Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the homosexual agenda has held sway of the position of theological conservatives.

One of the groups in the winning, Good News, issued the following statement:

Pain and Protest

For ten previous General Conferences (1972-2008), the issue of homosexuality has absorbed increased time and energy and caused deep division in the church.

This General Conference was the tenth such time.

Veterans of previous General Conferences come prepared for the drumbeats of protest, the rainbow stoles designating us vs. them, and the tears that accompany the vote of the General Conference.

Although we do not agree with those who would change United Methodism’s stance on homosexuality, we do not take their tears lightly.

It is grevious that General Conference has become a place of such pain and protest. The sorrow is profound and will not be healed easily.

We know that the protesters and their supporters are hurt and upset at the direction, once again, that our denomination has taken.

We do not celebrate in their pain.

Most would agree that the orchestrated protest is not what John Wesley had in mind when he spoke of holy conferencing.

For first-time visitors, the experience can be overwhelming and dramatic.

For many of the Central Conference delegates, it is difficult to comprehend.

There were ceremonial arrests in Cleveland and a broken African communion chalice in Pittsburgh.

In Fort Worth, it was

• the chalk outlines,
• a lesbian wedding in the park, and
• a funeral shroud over the communion table.

One need not be a sacramentalist to find it exasperating to see the elements of the Lord’s Supper once again used as political theater.

When well-known, inspirational hymns are sung as a means of promoting a gay-rights agenda, delegates and observers are placed in the undeniably strange position of singing along with a protest that they may not have supported or observing in silence.

Yet after

• numerous dialogues,
• at least two General Church study commissions,
• official study resources,
• dozens of convocations,
• piles of books,
• demonstrations and
• disruptions of the General Conference business, and
• extended impassioned debate,

our denomination has consistently affirmed a holistic position that is pastoral and biblical, compassionate and redemptive.

United Methodism’s statement is a balanced and nuanced position that affirms the “sacred worth” of all persons even while acknowledging that as Christians we cannot affirm every expression of human sexuality.

After all, there are certain sexual practices that contradict biblical standards and as faithful disciples we must be willing to declare them to be incompatible with Christian teachings.

The United Methodist position does that with mercy and grace.

To a watching world and local churches at home, it is a statement of ethical stability in an age of murky morality.

It is a statement of theological honesty in an age of religious ambiguity.

It is a prophetic statement to a world that offers no boundaries to sexual expression.

To young people, our statement may provide a necessary guardrail to protect them from sexual brokenness.

The biblically prophetic message has always been more interested in truth and transformation than in consensus and conformity to mob-rule morality.

What the world often finds excusable and acceptable, the church does not and cannot.

In the interest of reaffirming our stance on human sexuality, we must admit that we have not always shown love for those who struggle with same-sex attraction.

In far too many of these highly-charged denominational gatherings, the temptation has been to view one another in the “us vs. them” mentality.

Sometimes our words and actions weighed heavier on “incompatible with Christian teaching” than on “persons of sacred worth.”

That was never our intent.

Despite that, we apologize.

This is not to paper over legitimate differences of opinion that we have regarding

• sexual ethics,
• the authority of Scripture, and
• the role of boundaries in the UM Church.

We probably will not change one another’s minds.

Nevertheless, we are grieved that what has been lost in the debate over homosexuality since 1972 is the potential for ministry to those who struggle with sexual brokenness.

Even though our denominational debates usually focus exclusively on homosexuality, United Methodism must begin to learn how to provide effective and compassionate ministry to all persons who struggle with their sexuality-whether it be heterosexual or homosexual.

We live in a hypersexualized culture and United Methodism must deal seriously-and here we are speaking to conservatives as well as liberals and moderates-with the crippling spiritual devastation that sexual brokenness brings into our local congregations.

Many who sit next to us in our pews have been victimized by sexual abuse or by an unfaithful spouse.

Others in our congregations

• struggle with promiscuity,
• are addicted to pornography,
• suffer with sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS,
• are confused about their sexual identity, or
• wrestle with same-sex attractions.

They all need to know that the United Methodist Church is prepared to minister to their needs. Right now, we are woefully ill-prepared.

In the midst of our sexual brokenness, the Bible says,

“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear!” (Isaiah 59:1)

The United Methodist Church was birthed as a Holy Spirit movement that believed in the power of God to transform the lives of all those who struggle with sin–homosexual or heterosexual.

Through a biblical ministry of mercy and grace, we must be a church that welcomes the sexually broken and confused.

We must be a church that stands with those who seek

• healing,
• wholeness, and
• holiness

in their sexuality.

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Other articles that may be of interest:

• 4/24/12 Methodist Convention This Week in Tampa – Unity Not on the Agenda
• 4/27/12 The Disconnect Between American Liberals and Africans in Tampa’s Methodist Convention
• 4/28/12 Conservative Methodists Making Headway in World Conference, Big Fight on Homosexuality in Offing
• 4/29/12 Update from United Methodist Church General Conference in Tampa – Conservatives Winning Most Votes, Setbacks for Abortion & Israeli Divestment Supporters
• 4/30/12 Good News Reports Most Endorsed Candidates for Methodist “Supreme Court,” University Senate Win
• 4/30/12 Conservatives Take Three of Four Vacancies on Methodist Judicial Council, Vote on Homosexuality Imminent
• 5/2/12 Methodists Vote Almost 3-1 Against Ending Investments (Divestment) in Motorola and CAT, Proportional Representation for Africans on Ruling Bodies, Preacher Tenure Ended
• 5/3/12 53% Reject Homosexual Liberalization at Tampa World Methodist Conference
• 5/3/12 Homosexuals Take over Methodist Tampa Convention Floor after Losing Vote
• 5/4/12 Coverage of Conservative Methodists’ Victory over Homosexual Activists Missing in Newspapers

Shortly after noon, the following email arrived from the United Methodist Church group Good News:

After a very emotional morning of debate on the General Conference floor regarding homosexuality, hundreds of onlooking demonstrators crossed the bar of the conference right before the morning break in order to occupy the middle of the convention center.

The demonstrators – delegates and non-delegates – began singing and serving communion to one another.

When the morning plenary session was called back to order, the demonstrators refused to leave the General Conference floor. Presiding Bishop Michael Coyner politely asked the group several times to disperse. They ignored his pleas and continued singing while reports were given from the stage.

Finally, Bishop Coyner closed the session because the demonstrators refused to leave the space marked off for delegates.

The session will resume at 2 p.m.

We are asking for you to pray that God would grant our leaders wisdom in dealing with this issue and that a spirit of peace would reside over the Tampa Convention Center and that the Holy Spirit would lead the General Conference.

If you would like to receive an introductory issue of Good News free of charge, please request it at info@goodnewsmag.org.  

 Thank You  

If you would like to be a part of Good News’ prayer ministry and receive monthly prayer updates, please email Ginny@goodnewsmag.org

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Good News has an article by Karen Booth about the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force targeted the Methodist and other mainline churches with democratic ruling structures because they were “the backbone of American religion.”

These “denominations’ general assemblies and conferences were identified as the best settings to introduce and foster proposals for the revision of Christian sexual ethics.”

There’s much more but these two paragraphs might proved instructive:

“The Common Witness Coalition’s Love Thy Neighbor emphasis is the latest stage of the United Methodist version of BOL. According to the Reconciling Ministries Network’s online program manual, BOL trained volunteers hoped to meet with all 600+ United States delegates to General Conference to tell their stories and advocate for full inclusion of LGBT persons.

“Many of these same volunteers are onsite here in Tampa engaging in protest and distributing a multi-page daily paper that is published by former GLAAD staffer, Ann Craig. (GLAAD’s web site has also announced that staffers are onsite to coordinate the Common Witness Coalition’s media campaign.)”

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Other articles that may be of interest:

• 4/24/12 Methodist Convention This Week in Tampa – Unity Not on the Agenda
• 4/27/12 The Disconnect Between American Liberals and Africans in Tampa’s Methodist Convention
• 4/28/12 Conservative Methodists Making Headway in World Conference, Big Fight on Homosexuality in Offing
• 4/29/12 Update from United Methodist Church General Conference in Tampa – Conservatives Winning Most Votes, Setbacks for Abortion & Israeli Divestment Supporters
• 4/30/12 Good News Reports Most Endorsed Candidates for Methodist “Supreme Court,” University Senate Win
• 4/30/12 Conservatives Take Three of Four Vacancies on Methodist Judicial Council, Vote on Homosexuality Imminent
• 5/2/12 Methodists Vote Almost 3-1 Against Ending Investments (Divestment) in Motorola and CAT, Proportional Representation for Africans on Ruling Bodies, Preacher Tenure Ended
• 5/3/12 53% Reject Homosexual Liberalization at Tampa World Methodist Conference
• 5/3/12 Homosexuals Take over Methodist Tampa Convention Floor after Losing Vote
• 5/4/12 Coverage of Conservative Methodists’ Victory over Homosexual Activists Missing

Just in from the Confessing Movement web site:

Thursday, May 3 – Day 9 of General Conference

Update, 10:45 am:

The full petition regarding human sexuality has been defeated with 368 votes in favor and 572 votes against.  As delegates prepared to take a brief break, once again the supporters of GLBT entered the restricted area.

Update, 9:56 am:

Adam Hamilton’s amendment was defeated with 439 votes in favor and 531 votes against.

UPDATE, 9:20 am:

At 9:20 am the debate on homosexuality began.

A number of people wearing rainbow stoles representing gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual individuals are standing around the area just outside the area restricted for delegates and officials.

Adam Hamilton has presented his motion to add language to the Discipline to indicate United Methodists agree to disagree on issues related to homosexuality.

Dr. Maxie Dunnam, Confessing Movement board member, has spoken against the motion  The debate continues.

6:45 am.  - Today is a very important day at General Conference.

All of the sexuality issues are on the agenda.

The first petition to be considered deals with homosexuality.

Adam Hamilton, pastor at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, asked yesterday to have his amendment printed for today’s agenda.

His petition would add language to the Discipline that would say we agree to disagree on homosexuality.

That language makes other church language essentially void.

Maxie Dunnam, Eddie Fox, and others will oppose the Hamilton amendment.

However, the presiding bishop must recognize an individual before they can speak.

Please pray for General Conference on this National Day of Prayer.

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Mark Tooley of the Institute for Religion and Democracy has this to say about the debate and vote:

“This morning at about 10 am the United Methodist General Conference defeated a motion from Kansas minister Adam Hamilton to acknowledge that United Methodists disagree on homosexuality.

“The motion, co-originated with Ohio minister Mike Slaughter, was defeated by about 53 percent to 47 percent.

“Nearly 30 percent of delegates are from Africa, where United Methodism is solidly conservative theologically.

“Nearly 10 percent come from elsewhere overseas, mostly Europe and the Philippines.

“Of the 60 percent of delegates who are from the U.S., about one-third are believed to be evangelical.

“The vote revealed a majority coalition of Africans, U.S. evangelicals, and some other overseas delegates.

“The Adam Hamilton motion was considered the strongest attempt to dilute the United Methodist Church’s current stance that homosexual practice is “incompatible with Christian teaching.”

“The church prohibits same-sex unions and precludes actively homosexual clergy, expecting all clergy to be celibate if single and monogamous if in a marriage between man and woman. Legislative committees last week recommended retaining these current stances.

“Almost certainly, after the defeat of Hamilton’s motion, the full General Conference will reaffirm its current teachings on

• marriage,
• sexual ethics and
• homosexuality.

“The growth of United Methodism in Africa, where there are now over 4 million church members, has helped to ensure that the denomination has not followed other U.S. denominations in liberalizing their sexual standards.”

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Other articles that may be of interest:

• 4/24/12 Methodist Convention This Week in Tampa – Unity Not on the Agenda
• 4/27/12 The Disconnect Between American Liberals and Africans in Tampa’s Methodist Convention
• 4/28/12 Conservative Methodists Making Headway in World Conference, Big Fight on Homosexuality in Offing
• 4/29/12 Update from United Methodist Church General Conference in Tampa – Conservatives Winning Most Votes, Setbacks for Abortion & Israeli Divestment Supporters
• 4/30/12 Good News Reports Most Endorsed Candidates for Methodist “Supreme Court,” University Senate Win
• 4/30/12 Conservatives Take Three of Four Vacancies on Methodist Judicial Council, Vote on Homosexuality Imminent
• 5/2/12 Methodists Vote Almost 3-1 Against Ending Investments (Divestment) in Motorola and CAT, Proportional Representation for Africans on Ruling Bodies, Preacher Tenure Ended
• 5/2/12 Homosexuals Take over Methodist Tampa Convention Floor after Losing Vote
• 5/3/12 53% Reject Homosexual Liberalization at Tampa World Methodist Conference
• 5/3/12 Homosexuals Take over Methodist Tampa Convention Floor after Losing Vote
• 5/4/12 Coverage of Conservative Methodists’ Victory over Homosexual Activists Missing

The big news out of the Tampa’s Methodist convention

• for friends of Israel and
• for those who know the impact of Motorola and Caterpillar on the Illinois economy

is the overwhelming defeat of liberal efforts to force Methodist investments out of those and other companies doing business with Israel.

The Institute of Religion and Democracy leads with that outcome of the meeting in its May 2nd report:

Good News! Despite massive lobbying by dozens of yellow shirted anti-Israel activists, the United Methodist General Conference decisively rejected anti-Israel divestment today by 685 to 246.

Sometimes the debate language was ugly.

One Western [West Coast U.S.] Jurisdiction delegate likened United Methodist policy to supporting firms helping Nazi Germany conduct the Holocaust.

So much for temperate argument.

But good sense prevailed in the final vote.

Here’s Jeff Walton’s report on yesterday’s rally for anti-Israel divestment featuring a United Methodist missionary claim he was more “conservative” than Billy Graham even as he speechified in the gay advocacy rally tent.

Debates over marriage, sexual ethics and homosexuality are expected tomorrow. Here’s Bart Gingerich’s report on a speech touting “queer people” here by radical theologian James Cone of Union Seminary.

And here’s a report from Jeff Walton about a “Church Within a Church” event for gay clergy who have unofficial ordinations.

Bart Gingerich blogged about hyper political correctness at General Conference.

But overall, the news here is mostly good.

United Methodism is slowly moving away from dying North American liberal Protestantism and towards growing, biblical Global South Christianity.

In the church restructuring approved today, overseas churches’ representation on church agency boards will increase from 10 percent to over 30 percent, more in line with their membership.

Long overdue!

Please keep praying, especially tomorrow.

With appreciation,

Mark Tooley
IRD President
Director, UMAction

P.S.: Please stand with us with a special online donation today, easily made here. We rely on you!

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Below is what the group Good News is reporting:

The 2012 General Conference of The United Methodist Church has been slowly dealing with legislative issues under the watchful eye of silent protesters.

As time is quickly slipping away, delegates are feeling the pressure to make the next several days really count since so many of the big-ticket issues have not been dealt with.

We have been hosting our Briefing Breakfasts every morning this week for the delegates, monitoring the legislation on the floor of the General Conference, and distributing our daily newsletter [newsletters are here] outside the convention center.

If you are watching the General Conference via live streaming and want to see a legislation tracking guide of issues of interest to the Renewal and Reform Coalition, click HERE.

The big agenda today is supposed to be the new Restructure Proposal called PlanUMC. You can read it HERE

Some of the actions that warrant your attention:

• Delegates voted to end the guaranteed appointment of United Methodist elders. To learn more, click HERE.
• Delegates decided not to approve a petition that would have created a new full-time role for the president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops. To learn more, click HERE.
• Delegates revised the Social Principles statement on abortion to say, “We mourn and are committed to the diminishment of high abortion rates.”
• Churches are encouraged to provide “age-appropriate sexuality education, advocacy in regard to contraception, and support of initiatives that enhance the quality of life for all women and girls around the globe.”
• Churches are also encouraged to support “crisis pregnancy centers and pregnancy resource centers that compassionately help women explore all options related to unplanned pregnancy.”
• Delegates opposed, 407 to 383, a longer preamble proposed for the Social Principles by a legislative committee. They agreed with a minority report that affirms “our unity in Jesus Christ while acknowledging differences in applying our faith in different cultural contexts as we live out the gospel.”
• Voting 532 to 414, delegates in a May 1 plenary session added a clause, “We stand united in declaring our faith that God’s grace is available to all — that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”
• Delegates created an additional episcopal area in the Congo Central Conference, increasing the number of bishops in the area from three to four.
• Delegates celebrated an April 30 decision to enter into full communion with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Union Methodist Protestant Church and the Union American Methodist Episcopal Church. To learn more, click HERE.

We covet your prayers for our United Methodist Church.

If you would like to receive an introductory issue of Good News free of charge, please request it at info@goodnewsmag.org.

Thank You

Thank you for your prayers and the financial support that sustain this ministry. Your support and participation make it possible for Good News to be your advocate for Scriptural Christianity within the United Methodist Church and beyond.

If you would like to subscribe to Perspective, click HERE.

If you would like to support the work of Good News with an online gift, click HERE

If you would like to be a part of Good News’ prayer ministry and receive monthly prayer updates, please email Ginny@goodnewsmag.org

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The Confessing Movement reports some of the same information, but with a different viewpoint, as well as additional happenings on May 2nd:

Wednesday, May 2 – Day 8 of General Conference

Update (9:30 pm):

The gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual groups and their supporters have been here from the beginning of General Conference.

They have engaged in numerous actions such as walking around the area designated for delegates and conference officials only holding signs, handing out pro gay materials and lining up so delegates must walk through their silence demonstrations but they had not violated the General Conference rules.

At about 5:30 today as the delegates were going to break for dinner, the demonstrators entered the restricted area violating General Conference rules.

The conference agenda for tomorrow morning is scheduled to deal with sexuality issues including the practice of homosexuality.

JUST IN (12:35 pm) After 3 hours of debate, restructuring for The United Methodist Church has passed with a vote of 567 in favor (59.6%) to 384 against.

The pace of General Conference thus far has been very slow.

The agenda includes many items and activities that keep petitions from getting considered.

At previous General Conferences this has also occurred, forcing many important issues to the end when there is little time for discussion and debate. 
The proposal to require restructuring of the general church is scheduled to occur today. After hours of committee discussion and work outside of the committee a compromise has been reached with one proposal being presented rather than a major and minor report.

The debate on restructuring began about 9:30 this morning. A motion to refer this report for action in 2016 was defeated with 555 delegates voting against this proposal to kill restructuring this year.

Other important developments include:

1. The United Methodist Women (UMW) petition to become an autonomous organization passed by an overwhelming vote, 889 to 20. This means the UMW will no longer be a division within the General Board of Global Ministries but will be a stand-alone autonomous agency. There appear to be a number of reasons for the desire to be autonomous. The UMW has been subsidizing the World Division and the National Division for a number of years and this has become more difficult since giving is down for UMW. Furthermore, it was uncertain what restructuring would do with UMW. At the moment UMW selects one third of the board and this would change in restructuring. For its part, many in Board of Global Ministries think the UMW has had too much dominance (since it selects so much of the board) and that the board might be more effective if UMW were independent. As part of the change the Deaconess and Home Missions Program, which were part of the board, will be moved to the jurisdiction of UMW.
2. 

   In Illinois, the Chicago Tribune reports May 2, 2012, there are 314,461 Methodists as of 2010. During the decade, the church lost 50,721 members in Illinois. That's almost 14%. The Northern Illinois Conference is under the control of some of the most liberal Methodists in the world.

   The final budget has not yet been set for the General Church (it is usually the last agenda item) but the General Council of Finance and Administration (GCFA) is recommending a 6.04% reduction [emphasis added]. This is the first General Conference in recent times that has recommended a reduction. The question still to be answered: how will the monies in the budget be divided up? Boards and agencies have already needed to cut back on staff. In 1971 there was a total of 3,139 staff serving general agencies. By 2010 this number had been reduced to 1,384.

3. The General Conference referred to the Commission on the Status and Role of Women a petition that would amend Article IV of the Constitution on “Inclusiveness.” The petition, submitted by the Status and Role of Women would have added “gender” and “age” to the categories that are welcomed into United Methodist Churches. The additional words were unnecessary in the minds of many of the delegates. Referral basically kills the petition. Another petition on the paragraph wanted to add sexual orientation, gender choice, and gender identity to the category of persons needed to be included. This petition failed.
4. By a vote of 879 to 25 the General Conference voted to enter into full communion with five predominately black Methodist denominations: Africans Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, African Union Methodist Protestant, Christian Methodist Episcopal, and Union African Episcopal Church. Each of the denominations will recognize each other as part of the one true apostolic faith, recognize the authenticity of each other’s sacraments, recognize the ordination of each denomination, and enter into cooperative ministry where possible. A service of celebration and recognition was held in the afternoon of May 1. At one time there was some talk of merger but the other denominations would not favor that.
5. Five more resolutions have been passed to bulk up the Book of Resolutions, which is already 1048 pages long. A number of others are recommended for passage but have not yet made it to the floor. One of these is on “Just War” which, if passed, would move the United Methodist from a pacifist position (presently no support for any war). The Publishing House has indicated the Book of Resolutions is so big that it would cost $70,000 to translate it per language and that would not include printing costs. Only 21,000 copies of the book sold after the 2008 General Conference and this is supposed to be a an important book on United Methodist positions. Only 32% of UM pastors feel they understand it.

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Other articles that may be of interest:

• 4/24/12 Methodist Convention This Week in Tampa – Unity Not on the Agenda
• 4/27/12 The Disconnect Between American Liberals and Africans in Tampa’s Methodist Convention
• 4/28/12 Conservative Methodists Making Headway in World Conference, Big Fight on Homosexuality in Offing
• 4/29/12 Update from United Methodist Church General Conference in Tampa – Conservatives Winning Most Votes, Setbacks for Abortion & Israeli Divestment Supporters
• 4/30/12 Good News Reports Most Endorsed Candidates for Methodist “Supreme Court,” University Senate Win
• 4/30/12 Conservatives Take Three of Four Vacancies on Methodist Judicial Council, Vote on Homosexuality Imminent
• 5/2/12 Methodists Vote Almost 3-1 Against Ending Investments (Divestment) in Motorola and CAT, Proportional Representation for Africans on Ruling Bodies, Preacher Tenure Ended
• 5/3/12 53% Reject Homosexual Liberalization at Tampa World Methodist Conference
• 5/3/12 Homosexuals Take over Methodist Tampa Convention Floor after Losing Vote
• 5/4/12 Coverage of Conservative Methodists’ Victory over Homosexual Activists Missing in Newspapers