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The United Methodist General Conference: an IRD Report Reforming the Church’s Social and Political Witness August 2008 The United Methodist General Conference: an IRD Report ALSO INsiDE: u California Same-Sex “Marriage” u New Efforts for Beleaguered Middle Eastern Minorities AUGUST 2008 | FAITH & FREEDOM 1 VOLUME 27 NUMBER 3 Contents Features 8 New Efforts for Beleaguered The Institute on Religion & Democracy Middle Eastern Minorities by Faith J. H. McDonnell 1023 15th Street NW, Suite 601 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202.682.4131 You made not hear much about it in the media, Fax: 202.682.4136 but Christians in the Middle East face rising Web: www.TheIRD.org E-mail: [email protected] levels of persecution. PRESIDENT Dr. James W. Tonkowich 17 Pentecost, Mother’s Day & Pluralism Sunday EDITORIAL by Dr. James W. Tonkowich and Alan F.H. Wisdom Alan F. H. Wisdom Executive Editor, What’s more important than celebrating mothers? Vice President for Research and Programs Hint: it’s not celebrating “pluralism.” Jennifer Zambone Editor Loralei G. Coyle Director of Communications Stephan Hilbelink Programs Designer STAFF Presbyterian Action . James D. Berkley James D. Berkley 14 How Many Presbyterians Does It Take? Director of Presbyterian Action 16 Top Presbyterian Court Mumbles Mixed Message Nalani E. Hilderman Senior Executive Assistant John S. A. Lomperis Anglican Action . George Conger Research Associate 18 Proposed Anglican Covenant: “The Only Game in Town” Faith J. H. McDonnell Director of Religious Liberty Programs Steve R. Rempe UMAction . Mark D. Tooley Website Coordinator 20 United Methodists Affirm Biblical Standards on Marriage and Sex David P. Sheaffer Director of Development 21 General Conference Backs Radical Political Causes Rebekah M. Sharpe 22 ”A Snake that Sunk its Fangs into the Paw . of the Big Dog” Administrative Assistant Mark D. Tooley Director of UMAction Articles Jerald H. Walz Vice President for Operations 3 From the President: I am an evangelical . What does this mean? . Dr. James W. Tonkowich Jeffrey H. Walton 10 California Same-Sex ‘Marriage’ . .Dr. James W. Tonkowich and Alan F. H. Wisdom Communications Manager 12 Mixed Messages on Israel Anniversary . Alan F. H. Wisdom 13 One-Part Harmony . Alan. F. H. Wisdom 23 IRD Diary: Four-and-a-Half Incredible Years . John. Lomperis COVer Congolese Methodist delegate on stage in front of the main altar during the 2008 General Conference. (Loralei Coyle) 2 FAITH & FREEDOM | AUGUST 2008 FROM THE PRESIDENT I am an evangelical . What does this mean? by Dr. James W. Tonkowich n the past thirty years, I have read countless articles about evan- Columbia University comments in Uneasy Allies?: Evangelical and gelical identity – and the tricky, slippery question : “What does it Jewish Relations: Imean to be an evangelical?” And this question is never trickier Today the term “Evangelical” is so widely treasured that and slipperier than when “evangelical” comes in with “political.” it lacks a common point of reference. There is no golden The document “An Evangelical Manifesto,” released this past thread that unites the unwieldy profusion of Calvinists, May;,begins with an affirmation of identity. Wesleyans, Pentecostals, fundamentalists, neo-Barthians, Evangelicals are Christians who define themselves, their nondenominationalists, Emergent Church followers, and faith, and their lives according to the Good News of Jesus of others who claim the name. Nazareth. (The Greek word for good news was euangelion, While these are real concerns, theologians J.I. Packer and which translates into English as evangel.) This Evangelical Thomas Oden point out in their book, One Faith: The Evangelical principle is the heart of who we are as followers of Jesus. It Consensus, that there is theological and spiritual agreement among is not unique to us. We assert it not to attack or to exclude, those who claim the term evangelical. but to remind and reaffirm, and so to rally and to reform. Evangelical Christians... are those who read the Bible as It then goes on to state categorically, “We Evangelicals are de- God’s own Word, addressed personally to each of them fined theologically, and not politically, socially, or culturally.” here and now; and who live out a personal trust in, and love Evangelicals are not defined politically. The media and others, for, Jesus Christ as the world’s only Lord and Savior. They however, give the impression that evangelical is a political designa- are people who see themselves as sinners saved by grace tion. Elliott Abrams, for example, referred to “what is variously through faith for glory; who practice loyal obedience to called the ‘Christian right,’ the ‘evangelicals,’ or Christian conser- God; and who are active both in grateful, hopeful commu- vatives.” He uses the three terms as synonyms, a fundamental er- nion with the triune God by prayer, and in neighbor-love, ror that results in a great deal of confusion that can compromise with a lively commitment to disciple-making according to the Gospel by locating redemption in the institutions of this world the Great Commission. – a common error of the religious left. Even though evangelical is a theological designation, it is Evangelicals are not defined socially. Evangelical includes nonetheless the case that certain political positions – as well as so- those who are typically thought of as evangelicals: members of cial and cultural forms – are more compatible with an evangelical Bible churches, independent churches, the Southern Baptist Con- faith than others. vention, and other theologically conservative denominations. But Some have recently argued that since evangelical Christians the IRD works in large part with evangelicals who are members are defined theologically, we need to be less political. Nothing of the Protestant mainline denominations: the Episcopal Church, could be further from the truth. Politics are a subset of “neigh- the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the United Methodist Church, bor love,” and so evangelicals cannot in good conscience sidestep and so on. Some theological conservatives in these churches may politics. No person or entity can create the requirements of that not like being called evangelicals, but evangelicals are what they “neighbor-love.” Instead, thoughtful reflection on biblical stan- are nonetheless. In addition, most African-American churches are dards must inform politics. evangelical, as are most Asian churches and most non-Catholic This is not a political commitment; it is a critical theological Hispanic churches. commitment that all evangelical Christians should share. Work- Evangelicals are not defined culturally. The social diversity is ing out that commitment in order to contribute to the just order- vast – so is the cultural diversity. Evangelicalism is a global phe- ing of society is no small task. Yet it is an inescapable part of the nomenon. Christian life and is central to the mission and vision of the IRD Henry Luke Orombi, Anglican archbishop of Uganda, wrote as we seek to think about politics from a distinct theological point an article in the journal First Things entitled “What is Anglican- of view. ism?” In it he highlighted the need for “a commitment to the au- thority of the Word of God, a confidence in a God who acts in the world, and a conviction of the necessity of repentance and of a per- sonal relationship with Jesus Christ.” Bishop Orombi’s description Dr . James W . Tonkowich is the President of the of Anglicanism is thoroughly evangelical. And, aside from his em- Institute on Religion & Democracy. phasis on bishops, African United Methodists, Mexican Pentecos- tals, Korean Presbyterians and U.S. Baptists share his convictions. Evangelicals are defined theologically. Saying that evan- gelicals must be defined theologically, however, does not solve all problems. As Gary Dorrian of Union Theological Seminary and AUGUST 2008 | FAITH & FREEDOM 3 International Briefs Noted Evangelical Theologian instead affiliate with the more conserva- bishop to controversial Anglican bishops Leaves Anglican Church of tive Province of the Southern Cone in John Shelby Spong in the United States Canada South America. and Richard Holloway of the Church of Theologian James Innell (J. I.) Packer, “While it is always sad when anyone England. best known as the author of the 1973 best- leaves the Anglican Church of Canada, I “I’m simply being an old-fashioned, selling book Knowing God, has joined appreciate that they have made their posi- mainstream Anglican,” said Packer. 10 other clergy in the relinquishing of tion clear,” said the Rt. Rev. Michael Ing- their ministerial licenses in the Anglican ham, bishop of the Diocese of New West- Christian Bookstore Owner Church of Canada. minster, in an official statement. Charged ‘Dangerous Religious Claiming that a “poisonous liberal- Ingham has received much criticism Element’ in China ism” has overtaken the 640,000-member from traditional Anglicans for his liberal In March, Chinese authorities arrest- denomination, the 81 year-old Packer has positions and policies, highlighted by his ed Shi Weihan, a 37 year-old bookstore announced he will leave the Diocese of 2002 decision to sanction same-sex bless- owner and travel agent, in Beijing. First New Westminster in British Columbia. ing services. “He is a bishop who appears charged with the publication of Bibles and Packer and the other dissident clergy will heretical,” said Packer, comparing the Christian literature, Shi was later charged Zimbabwean Churches Appealed for Help during Post-Election Violence Church leaders in Zimbabwe sought the help of neighboring African NDE nations and the United Nations to stem the violence resulting from the KWA disputed presidential election results in that country. On March 29, Zimbabweans participated in local, parliamentary OND SM and presidential elections. Initial results indicated a shift in power from DE / the ruling ZANU-PF party to the opposition Movement for Democratic O T O Change (MDC) party. The ruling party, however, did not release the elec- tion results until May 2. It declared that opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai had received more votes than President Robert Mugabe, but AFP PH not enough votes to avoid a runoff election between the two candidates.
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