An Internet friend sends along the following note, with the text of a
statement drafted by 100 clergy members of the Texas Annual Conference. I
am
posting it here with his knowledge and permission.
--
The following is the text of a statement drafted by over 100 clergy
members
of the Texas Annual Conference. The clergy meeting was held Wednesday
March
31st. Pretty good attendance for 3 days notice.
The meeting was held at First Church Houston and the attendance represents
a
significant majority of the clergy in the Houston area. The distances in
the
Texas Annual Conference can be prohibitive for a one day meeting. Most of
the clergy members are more than two and some as much as six hours drive
away. My personal opinion is that the majority of those who would support
this were not able to attend the meeting. A copy of the draft has been
sent
to all clergy members by e-mail so that they may attach their names in
support.
The text follows:
--
To the Bishops and 2004 General Conference Delegates of The United
Methodist
Church:
We are deeply grieved and profoundly disappointed by the recent not guilty
verdict rendered at the church trial of The Reverend Karen T. Dammann. As
Bishop Timothy Whitaker rightly stated: "The verdict in the
Pacific-Northwest Conference is a violation of the covenant that exists
among United Methodists."
For over thirty years the General Conferences of the Church prayerfully
and
in good faith have struggled with the issue of homosexuality. In each
instance, the will of the Conference unmistakably has been to align itself
with nearly two thousand years of church tradition by affirming the clear
and consistent message of the Scriptures that the practice of
homosexuality
is incompatible with Christian teaching. More than a misinterpretation of
The Discipline was involved in the Dammann verdict. Bishops Lindsey Davis
and Mike Watson are correct in stating: "It is a clear sign of rebellion
when a group chooses to flagrantly ignore The Discipline, substituting
their
own perspective for the corporate wisdom of the General Conference."
Nothing less than the unity of the Church is at stake. Unless the Church
determines how it can enforce the covenant that guides and governs our
life
together, more breaches will occur and severe deterioration, if not
destruction, of our connectional system seems likely.
Because we love The United Methodist Church:
1. We call upon our Bishops to speak with one voice to condemn the Dammann
verdict and to declare that the United Methodist Church's position is that
the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. We
have entrusted you with the highest office of the Church. In the name of
God, we ask that you enforce our church's standards and provide the bold
leadership that a time such as this requires.
2. We call upon the delegates to General Conference to strengthen the
authority of Church law as stated in The Book of Discipline and to create
structures that will allow for redress when juries, Conferences, or
Bishops
breach our covenant by failing to enforce the clear intent of The Book of
Discipline on significant issues.
It is possible that this document will become the model for other
statements
of this sort in other Conferences.
--
Craig L. Adams
Weidman United Methodist Church
http://www.gbgm-umc.org/weidman/
Some Old Books from My Library
http://homepage.mac.com/craigadams1/
