Methodist Conference

Our Conference stall again proved to be an important focus for conversations, particularly with representatives to Conference and visitors who did not know of Outcome’s existence. All three Methodist ministers who are members of the House of Lords (Baroness Richardson, Lords Griffiths website: www.outcomeonline.org.uk & Roberts) came by for a chat. It was at this time that the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) E-mail: [email protected] Bill was going through Parliament. METHODIST CONFERENCE Our grateful thanks to all who volunteered to keep the stall staffed throughout. LONDON – July 2013 Some seventy people attended our Conference meeting. The theme was "Twenty Years On From Derby - Looking Back and Looking Forward", marking the fact that it was in 1993 that the Conference Resolutions on Human Sexuality were formulated. A panel of four speakers helped us to reflect on the journey since. The Rev Dr Brian Beck, President of that Conference, led us expertly through the historical journey of how our Church has grappled with the issues and powerfully described the stress and tensions Looking of the Conference debate twenty years ago. Ruby Beech, a former Vice-President, movingly related how the gospel imperatives of justice and ahead...... inclusion took her to a deeper understanding of biblical texts and her powerful support for gays and lesbians. OUTCOME RESIDENTIAL 2014: The Rev Barbara Routley, chair of the Sexual After several years at Whaley Hall we are moving to a Orientation Forum of our church’s Equalities and new venue for our residential next year in the hope that Diversity Project, recalled the horrifying events and easier transport links will make it possible for new the viciousness towards gays and lesbians she had people to attend. It will be held at Luther King House, witnessed at the General Conference of the United Manchester from Friday tea- Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio in 2000. It was time, February 7th to 4pm on an experience that made her determined to work for Saturday, February 8th. The full inclusion for all. cost will be £99 and the The Rev Paul Wood, superintendent minister of booking form will be sent out the Coventry and Nuneaton Circuit, powerfully shared by e-mail shortly. Our leader his own testimony of the assurance of God’s love will be Nick Palfreyman and whatever our sexual orientation. his theme will be “Multiple Identities in the Twenty Many in the audience powerfully expressed First Century”. The Residential will also include our their determination to work towards that end. Annual General Meeting.

OUTCOME PUBLIC MEETING 2014: The President of the Methodist Conference, the Rev Ruth Gee, will join us and lead our worship on Saturday, May 31st at Cross Gates Methodist Church, Leeds. During the day (11.30am to 4.30pm) there will be workshops on the Theology of Sexuality; Issues around Same Sex Marriage; Is the Church a Safe Place for Gays and Lesbians?

METHODIST CONFERENCE 2014 - BIRMINGHAM (June 26th – July 3rd) Again we will have a stall at Conference and nearer the time we will be appealing to Outcome supporters to help staff it. On the evening of Monday, June 30th we will have a Conference fringe meeting. Any suggestions for Paul C Smith; Revd Samuel E McBratney; Advisor – theme and content would be welcome. Please e-mail Ms Rachel Lampard ideas to [email protected] Outcome will certainly want to make its own And looking even further submissions during the year, and until the Working Group publicises the channels for people to submit ahead...... their comments to them, we will be happy to forward to the Group any comments and concerns that OUTCOME RESIDENTIAL 2015: Outcome supporters have. Please send them to We are looking for a London area venue for our [email protected] residential in 2015 (provisionally February 6th / 7th). Please contact us if you of a gay-friendly retreat Copies of our latest centre/conference centre that could accommodate and feed up to about twenty people for that twenty-four publication “Bold I hour period. Approach – A Worship Anthology for an PUBLIC MEETING 2015: Inclusive Church” The Vice-President Designate of Conference, Gill can be purchased Dascombe has accepted an invitation to join us on a date yet to be determined in May/June 2015 in from Amazon in book format for Manchester. Update on this when the arrangements £4.92 and in Kindle format for have been finalised. £1.53.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We already have in mind our next publication “No Condemnation” which CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS AND THE LEGAL we anticipate being ready in 2015. DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE: It will explore theological issues The Methodist Conference this year appointed a relating to human sexuality. working group with the following terms of reference: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  to consider the implications for the Methodist Church of a change in legislation covering GAY FRIENDLY CHURCHES: same-sex marriage; Changing Attitudes, our sister organisation within the Church of England, has conducted a survey in the  to consider whether the Methodist Church’s position on marriage needs revising in the Brighton area to elicit the gay-friendliness or otherwise light of changes in society; of Anglican churches. An exploratory meeting has taken place to see how or whether this might be  to undertake the work directed by the reply to extended to Methodist churches within that area of the Memorial 29 (2012) on the blessing of civil south-east. partnerships; From time to time Outcome receives enquiries about gay-friendly Methodist churches in different  to make recommendations for any change in areas of the country. We have decided, in due course, practice or polity. to contact Chairs of District seeking their help in The group is charged to undertake its work with discerning these. reference to scripture, tradition, reason and experience and make an initial report to the 2014 Conference. The ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ group was directed “to operate in ways that are open and inclusive so as to ensure that all voices are heard”

The following were appointed to serve on the working group:

Mrs Susan R Howdle (chair); Dr Joselyn M Bryan; Mr Gerry Davis; Mrs Louise Wilkins; The Revd Dr PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS GAY MEN Stephen Mosedale; The Revd Colin A Smith; Revd D AND WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE PERSECUTED OR EVEN KILLED BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE.