[Dialogue] A Pastoral Letter to the People of The United Methodist Church from the Council of Bishops

[Harry Wainwright]

Today is
<javascript:monthSelected=monthNow;yearSelected=yearNow;constructCalendar();
> Fri, 4 Nov 2005

A Pastoral Letter to the People of The United Methodist Church 
from the Council of Bishops

Nov. 2, 2005

By grace you have been saved through faith. (Ephesians 2:8)

Grace to you from Jesus Christ who calls his church to welcome all people
into the community of faith as it proclaims the Gospel.

The Judicial Council, our denomination's highest judicial authority,
recently issued a decision regarding a pastor's refusing a gay man's request
for membership in the church. In the case, this man was invited to join the
choir at the United Methodist Church in the community. As he became more
active in the choir and the church, he asked to transfer his membership from
another denomination to The United Methodist Church. Because he is a
practicing homosexual, the pastor refused to receive him into church
membership. The Judicial Council upheld the pastor's refusal of membership.

While pastors have the responsibility to discern readiness for membership,
homosexuality is not a barrier. With the Social Principles of The United
Methodist Church we affirm: 

"that God's grace is available to all, and we will seek to live together in
Christian community. We implore families and churches not to reject or
condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in
ministry for and with all persons."  (Para. 161g, 2004 Book of Discipline of
The United Methodist Church)

We also affirm our Wesleyan practice that pastors are accountable to the
bishop, superintendent, and the clergy on matters of ministry and
membership.

The United Methodist Church is committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ
with all people. We, the bishops of the Church, uphold and affirm that the
General Conference has clearly spoken through the denomination's
Constitution on inclusiveness and justice for all as it relates to church
membership: 

"The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred
worth.  All persons without regard to race, color, national origin, status,
or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its worship services,
participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be
admitted as baptized members, and upon taking the vows declaring the
Christian faith, become professing members in any local church in the
connection." (Article IV, Constitution of The United Methodist Church)

We believe the ministry of the local church, under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, is to help people accept and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior. We call upon all United Methodist pastors and laity to make every
congregation a community of hospitality.

 

 <http://umcom.umc.org> UMC.org is the official online ministry of The
United Methodist Church.
C 2005 United Methodist Communications

 

 

Peace,

Harry

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://wedgeblade.net/pipermail/dialogue_wedgeblade.net/attachments/20051104/208489c1/attachment.htm