Reforming the ’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 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 ‘,’ 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 by locating redemption in the institutions of this world the . – 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. 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 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. 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 and Packer and the other dissident clergy will heretical,” said Packer, comparing the , 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 disputed presidential election results in that country. On March 29, Zimbabweans participated in local, parliamentary OND KWA

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. Opposition leaders disputed the final results, claiming Tsvangirai had received enough votes to be named the winner. In the months following the presidential election, there were numer- ous reported attacks on MDC supporters, presumably carried out by government-supported militias. MDC officials claimed over 40 members were killed since the election and over 1,000 homes destroyed. “As shepherds of the people, we … express our deep concern over the deteriorating political, security, economic, and human rights situation in Zimbabwe,” said a joint statement of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and the Evangelical Fel- lowship of Zimbabwe. “We appeal to the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, and the United Nations to work towards arresting the deteriorating political and security situation in Zimbabwe.” Church leaders warned that if left unchecked, the violence could President of the Zimbabwean opposition Movement for escalate to “genocide similar to that experienced in Kenya, Rwanda, and Democratic Change (MDC) Morgan Tsvangirai prays holding Anoziva Janhi at the burial of Anoziva’s father, on May 28, Burundi.” They charged that Mugabe supporters have targeted churches 2008. and church hospitals, forcing several of these institutions to close.

4 FAITH & FREEDOM | AUGUST 2008 for being a “dangerous religious element,” discovered her the next morning. audience left, protestors beat drums and according to reports from China Aid As- “There was no family vendetta or called for the prosecution of Blair as a war sociation and Compass Direct. personal clash or enmity of Motilal with criminal. This was the second arrest for Shi, the local people for which his daughter whom authorities had originally arrested would be raped,” said Hossen. “There was Palestinian Christians Hint at on November 28, 2007, for “illegal busi- even no land dispute between him and the Conflicts with Muslims ness practices.” Authorities released him neighbors, because he does not have any Despite claims by church leaders on January 4 due to insufficient evidence. land.” in the Holy Land that tensions between Ray Sharpe, a U.S. businessman and Police have arrested one suspect. An- Christians and Muslims there have been friend of Shi, has suggested that Shi’s other identified suspect remains at large. exaggerated, some Christians are claim- close contact with foreigners through his The Das family has since relocated to a ing that persecution and discrimination travel agency business may have aroused family friend’s house in Dhaka. are a reality in the region. the suspicion of Chinese officials. Despite “On the official level you don’t find the charges, Sharpe describes Shi as a pa- Former British Prime Minister any discrimination,” an unnamed promi- triot who has been actively promoting the Talks about Religion nent Christian from the West Bank told upcoming Olympic Games. “I know him Speaking publicly on the subject of Ecumenical News International. “But the to be a man that has been promoting the religion for the first time since convert- problem is with those who enforce the Olympics at a time when many tourists ing to Roman Catholicism, former British laws. Many of them are racists. … If there from around the globe would be able to Prime Minister Tony Blair addressed an is a fight, immediately they will be against see China, whom he loves so dearly, at her audience of 1,600 people at Westminster the Christian.” best,” said Sharpe. “He dislikes foreign- Cathedral in London, announcing the Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the ers who are critical of China, often say- launch of the Tony Blair Faith Founda- senior Roman Catholic leader in Jerusa- ing that they do so out of ignorance of the tion. lem, noted delicately in a March 1 pasto- tremendous strides that have already been “For religion to be a force for good, it ral letter that “relations between Muslims made.” must be rescued not simply from extrem- and Christians have not yet reached their ism – faith as a means of exclusion; but perfect equilibrium.” Lasting peace be- Bangladeshi Pastor’s Daughter also from irrelevance – an interesting part tween the two groups is a “long and slow Raped as Intimidation of our history but not of our future,” said path that must be perfected every day.” Muslim villagers in the Mymensingh Blair. Both extremes, he said, can result in Lutheran Bishop Munib Younan district of Bangladesh gang raped the 13 the reduction of religion to “strange con- dismissed much of the talk of tension year-old daughter of Pastor Motilal Das. victions and actions” with little perceived between Palestinian Christians and Mus- According to Compass Direct, the rape relevance to people’s everyday lives. “It is lims. “Of course there are some cases [of was an apparent attempt to force the pas- this face that gives militant secularism an conflict], but people exaggerate them – es- tor to leave the region. easy target,” he said. pecially on the Christian right,” he said. The pastor of United Bethany Church According to its website, “The pur- Younan blamed increased Islamic ex- in Laksmipur, Das said he has long been pose of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation tremism on the Israeli authorities’ treat- subject to acts of intimidation by local is to promote respect, friendship and un- ment of Palestinians. Only justice, educa- residents. “I did not pay attention to any derstanding between the major religious tion and interfaith dialogue can curtail of the threats or hindrances – I continued faiths; and to make the case for faith itself such extremism, he said. evangelical and pastoral activities with as relevant, positive and a force for good prayer,” said Das. in the modern world.” Investigating officer Sanwar Hossen Blair did not mention the ongoing said that five men attacked Das’ daugh- war in Iraq during his remarks. Prior to ter, Elina, as she ventured from the family his speech, the liberal Roman Catholic or- house to an outdoor latrine. After the men ganization Pax Christi held a silent vigil raped her, they left the unconscious Elina to protest his support for the war dur- in the Das’ front yard, where Pastor Das ing his tenure as prime minister. As the

AUGUST 2008 | FAITH & FREEDOM 5 Church News

Southern Baptist Membership Down Slightly For the first time in recent memory, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Courtesy CBF has reported a drop in membership. Life- Way Christian Resources, the official publishing arm of the SBC, announced a 0.24 percent decrease in membership during 2007 to 16,266,920, down from 16,306,246 in 2006. Southern Baptists had already re- ported a decline in for seven of the last eight years. In 1950 Southern Baptists recorded one for every 19 church members. Today the ratio of baptisms to total membership is 1:47. While the SBC drop is minor com- pared to the large drops seen in the main- A Reading from the Book of Nancy: “To minister to the line Presbyterian, Episcopal, Lutheran needs of God’s creation is an act of worship. To ignore those and United Methodist denominations, it needs is to dishonor the God who made us.” is consistent with a plateau trend that has been forming for the past several years. Thom Rainer, president of Life Way, or less attendees are four times more with a conscientious objection to contra- said declining baptisms point to “a de- likely to plant a church than churches ceptives, but the state Pharmacy Exam- nomination that, for the most part, has with over 1000 attendees. Churches ining Board reprimanded Mr. Noesen. lost its evangelistic passion.” with an attendance of 200–500 are twice It fined him thousands of dollars and Southern Baptists remain the larg- as likely to plant a church than bigger placed restrictions on his license. Noesen est Protestant group in the United States, churches. claimed religious discrimination, but the with about 10 million members added According to the study, most de- State Circuit and Appellate Courts upheld since 1950. nominations report that only 15 percent the charges, ruling that he “abandoned of their churches are actually planting even the steps necessary to perform in a Church Planting Source of Growth other churches, but that a large number minimally competent manner under any for U .S . Churches of new converts to are ar- standard of care,” according to the Asso- A new study has revealed an in- riving through those churches. ciated Press. creased emphasis and interest in church Noesen’s legal counsel, the Thomas planting in American Christianity. Re- Pharmacist Takes Case to Moore Society, says that Noesen has a leased by the Leadership Network, the Wisconsin Supreme Court strong case before the State Supreme study surveyed over 200 church-planting A devout Roman Catholic pharma- Court, describing it as a clear case of reli- congregations, more than 100 denomina- cist is appealing his case to the Wiscon- gious discrimination. tional leaders from dozens of denomina- sin State Supreme Court. “The Pharmacy Examining Board’s tions, and 45 church planting networks. The pharmacist, Neil Noesen, re- action violates his rights of conscience, It found all but two groups expressed a fused to fill or refer a prescription for clearly protected by the Wisconsin Con- growing interest in church planting and contraceptives in 2002. He told his em- stitution (Article I, Section 18). We hope that there is an unprecedented number ployer, K-Mart, that it was against his the Wisconsin Supreme Court will re- of books on the subject. religious beliefs to “aid, abet, encourage, store Mr. Noesen’s right to express his Once relegated to denominational refer, transfer, or participate in any way deeply held beliefs.” agencies, church planting now stems with something that I feel would be im- from the churches themselves, particu- pairing the fertility of a human being.” Are Going Pagan? larly small churches. Churches with 200 K-Mart accommodates employees A small but growing trend – pagan-

6 FAITH & FREEDOM | AUGUST 2008 it very susceptible to outside influences. Biblical Scholars Challenge Pelosi’s Use of Supposed OT Quotation “But Quakerism has become, on the lib- eral end, an indefinable refuge for people Fox News reports that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s oft-used quote about who regard themselves as mystics or ex- environmental care is not from the as she has claimed. In fact, according perientially religious and have problems to biblical scholars, it is not even in the Bible. with sources of authority.” Pelosi said in her Earth Day press release, “The Bible tells us in the Old Testament, ‘To minister to the needs of God’s creation is an act of worship. To ignore those needs is Evangelical Official Makes to dishonor the God who made us.’” “Time 100” List of World’s Most Pelosi has quoted the same passage several times to support her push for global Influential warming legislation. But Cybercast News reports several experts say the passage does National Association of Evangelicals not exist and does not appear to be a paraphrase. Vice President for Government Affairs Claude Mariottini, professor of Old Testament at Northern Baptist Theologial Richard Cizik is one of only three reli- Seminary, calls it “fictional.” Mariottini insists, “It is not in the Bible. There is nothing gious figures to appear on Time maga- that even approximates that.” zine’s list of the world’s most influential The Rev. Andreas Hock from St. John Vianney Seminary says, “The quote does people. not exist in the Old Testament, neither in the . Even in pieces or bits, [it] Cizik joined Bartholomew I, the Ec- cannot be found in the Old Testament.” umenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Pelosi’s office did not respond to a request for a comment by Fox News. and the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. Time credits Cizik for his emphasis on “creation care.” It commended his ism – is emerging within the Religious explicitly Quaker-pagan congregations. advocacy for “a brand of pro-life politics Society of Friends, commonly known as According to the article, liberal that extends well beyond human concep- the Quakers. Quakers identify more with Quaker prac- tion, up through the care of God’s cre- Modern day pagans, who worship tices, such as unprogrammed, pastor-less ation itself.” nature and earth as “the Goddess,” are meetings, rather than with Christianity. Pope Benedict XVI was not on this finding a home in the most liberal of As a result, many liberal Quakers no lon- year’s list but, according to USA Today, Quakerism’s four branches, the Friends ger see Jesus as divine. Some do not be- the Vatican did not object. General Conference, which counts lieve in God at all. “I’m very happy that the pope isn’t 30,000 members in North America. Marshall Massey, a conservative on the list, because they have used cri- Christianity Today reports that the Quaker in Omaha, Neb., says removing teria that have absolutely nothing to do two traditions share many similarities. Christianity undermines the stability of with the evaluation of the pope’s reli- Both are non-hierarchical and place a the Quaker faith. gious and moral authority,” said the Rev. strong emphasis on internal divinity. “We are an easily acculturated move- Federico Lombardi, papal spokesman. That commonality has sparked Internet ment,” he says, explaining that Quakers’ discussion forums, seminars, and even egalitarian, non-creedal tradition makes Outrageous Quotes

“I’m not a member . . . . I’m Jewish, but I am just very touched by [the Rev . Jim St . John’s] willingness to open his con- gregation to people of all faiths ”.

—Ellen Goldberg, parish board member at St. Miriam Church, a Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch in Roxborough, PA. Goldberg serves on the church board with a Baptist, a Buddhist, a Methodist, a Lutheran, and three Catholics. Parish pastor St. John joined the liberal offshoot of the Roman after leaving the Episcopal Church because the local diocese would not ordain him as an openly gay man.

AUGUST 2008 | FAITH & FREEDOM 7 New Efforts for Beleaguered

Middle Eastern Minorities by Faith J . H . McDonnell

Middlectober 11, 2006: Father Paulos Iskander, priest Druze, a splinter group from Islam. And since the 1995 EasT at St. Ephrem Orthodox Church in Mosul, empowerment of the Palestinian Authority, the most Onorthern Iraq, is found decapitated and horrific human rights violations against Palestinians dismembered, three days after his kidnapping by the have been by Islamists torturing and killing Arab “Lions of Islam.” Christians. August 14, 2007: Five explosive-filled trucks kill Now, however, a new congressional caucus on re- over 700 people, mostly Yazidis – adherents of an an- ligious minorities in the Middle East offers hope to the cient Middle Eastern religion – in four villages outside beleaguered. Through briefings, hearings, and legisla- Mosul. tion, the caucus will highlight and address the needs of March 13, 2008: Weeks Christians and other persecuted groups in the Middle after his kidnapping, the body East, with a special focus on Iraq. of the Chaldean Catholic “We have done nothing Archbishop of Mosul, Paulos Focusing on the Forgotten Fahraj Rahho, is found in a to support the Christian shallow grave. As the United States sacrifices much to bring de- community or the increased Christians and other non- mocracy, freedom and a better life to the people of Iraq, Muslims in Iraq face violence the focus is on winning the hearts and minds of Sun- Christian suffering.” and persecution, but they nis, Shiites and Kurds. Christians and other minorities are not alone. Similar acts by feel forgotten. The U.S. Commission on International extremist groups and govern- Religious Freedom (USCIRF) says these minorities ments stain the entire Middle face “widespread violence from Sunni insurgents East with the blood of vulnerable minorities. and foreign extremists, as well as pervasive violence, In Egypt, Copts and other Christians suffer dis- discrimination, and marginalization at the hands of crimination and outright persecution. In Iran, mem- the national government, regional governments, and bers of the Baha’i faith, the country’s largest minority para-state militias, including those in Kurdish areas.” religion, have no legal rights; thousands are in prison Since 2007, USCIRF has had Iraq on its watch list of for their beliefs. In Lebanon, Hezbollah targets the countries with severe violations of religious freedom. Early in 2008, IRD’s Religious Liberty Program

Iraqi American Christians (above) protesting joined with other human rights and religious organi- in front of the White House. (Photo: Faith McDonnell) zations and with Iraqi-American groups, such as the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac Council of America (CAS-

8 FAITH & FREEDOM | AUGUST 2008 CA) and the Iraq Sustainable Democracy Christians,” said White, the Vicar of St. vulnerable communities. As Canon An- Project, to form the Coalition to Save George’s Anglican Church, Baghdad. drew White quipped in a recent British Iraq’s Christians and Other Defenseless White, who expressed support for the television special, “God can even come to Minorities. This new voice urges the U.S. war, still grieved that the Coalition had the State Department.” government to help Iraq’s defenseless “failed the Christians.” He mourned, Iraqi-Americans and the broader groups. “We have done nothing to support the coalition will monitor closely U.S. policy Christian community or the increased regarding the establishment of a refuge Disappearing Minorities Christian suffering.” for Christians and other minorities in White voices similar distress about the Nineveh Plain. They hope concerned Iraq’s 1987 census showed 1.4 million Iraq’s Jews. “There are very few of them,” citizens will join this movement to en- Christians according to British-based he said. “They have been killed as well. courage U.S. policy and challenge their Help Iraqi Christians. At the fall of They have been murdered. They have members of Congress to join the ranks of Saddam Hussein in 2003, there were ap- been kidnapped. And everybody, includ- the new congressional caucus. proximately one million Christians. At ing the Christians, is too scared to talk “Should I not be concerned about present, Christians only number in the about them or their needs.” that great city?” God asked Jonah about 600,000s. The Baha’i are disappearing. Nina Shea, director of the Center Nineveh. Today as we look at the situa- And the once-thriving Iraqi Jewish com- for Religious Freedom at the Hudson tion of the descendents of Nineveh and munity is now all but non-existent. Other Institute, said in National Review Online at other persecuted minorities in the little-known religious minorities, such as that the minority communities “have Middle East, we can look with new hope. the Mandeans, Shabaks and Yazidis, also been seen as inconsequential.” Ironically, God is still concerned about that great suffer. (The Mandeans are followers of because Iraq’s minorities pose no threat city and its counterparts in this troubled a Gnostic religion with roots in ancient and embrace democracy, the United region. Babylon. Shabaks and Yazidis follow States has no policy to protect them or to Middle EMiddle EasternasT religions with Indo- advance their development as it has done European roots. ) for Muslim populations. Although Christians comprise only four percent of Iraq’s total population, New Hope in Nineveh more than 40 percent of all Iraqi refugees are Christians. Refugees often flee their In a last attempt to stay in their homes with no possessions. In some homeland, many Christians and other places such as Jordan they are considered minorities are moving north to Iraq’s illegal and not allowed to work. They Nineveh Plain, the traditional home to depend on the mercy of local churches Assyrian Christians. Their ancestors and others until they can reach a country first encountered God there through the of refuge. preaching of Jonah. Later the apostle Thomas preached the Gospel en route to The Forgotten Faithful his missionary work in India. However, a sustainable community But this suffering cannot compare to in the Nineveh Plain requires security to the suffering of minorities who remain in stand against the terrorists the military Iraq. The U.S. advocacy movement Save “surge” has driven northward. The new Iraqi Christians gives several examples of Congressional Caucus on Religious families targeted solely because they are Minorities in the Middle East addressed Christian. In May 2006, gunmen broke this need at its inaugural celebration on into a home and killed two little boys. In April 15, 2008. February 2007, Ansar Islam (God’s War- Another sign of hope for Iraq’s riors) kidnapped a pastor in Baghdad minorities is the U.S. government’s

and then imprisoned, tortured and beat new willingness to admit to the specific Faith J .H . McDonnell is him for fifteen days. targeting of minorities for their religious the Director of Religious “There’s no comparison between beliefs. The administration is also begin- Liberty Programs at the Institute on Religion & Iraq now and then [before Saddam],” ning to address humanitarian relief, Democracy. the Rev. Canon Andrew White declared economic development, security require- on CBS’ 60 Minutes. “Things are the ments, and adequate political represen- most difficult they have ever been for tation for these previously overlooked,

AUGUST 2008 | FAITH & FREEDOM 9 California Same-Sex ‘Marriage’: The Arrogance of Judges and the Silence of Churches

by Dr. James W. Tonkowich and Alan F. H. Wisdom

1 MAN,ccording to news media reports, on May 15, 2008, ated such relationships, but none so far has1 equated them WOMAN the California Supreme Court “overturned the with the union of man and woman. Yet the court over- Agay marriage ban.” What the court really did was threw all of this accumulated human experience in order command a radical redefinition of marriage, the most to force California to conform its laws to the demands of basic institution of any society. The arrogance of this ju- a social movement that is barely one generation old. dicial fiat cannot be overstated. By the barest 4-3 margin, the court overruled the Marginalizing the Many to Elevate the Few will of the people of California expressed in a 2000 refer- The decision disregarded the unanimous teaching endum, when 61.4 percent voted that “[o]nly a marriage of all major religions. Each religion has its own pecu- between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in liar provisions governing marriage, but all recognize the California.” The justices same basic relationship. All understand that marriage The decision disregarded seemed to have forgot- involves the union of the two complementary sexes in a ten that they are merely sexual relationship that ordinarily serves as the locus for the unanimous teaching of interpreters of the law, procreation and childrearing. not Plato’s philosopher In fact the decision placed mainstream followers of all major religions . kings stooping to undo all major religions (and the vast majority of Californians) the will of those they in the legal position of being regarded as bigots who defy deem less enlightened than they. state policy on a matter of fundamental human rights. Such decisions compromise the courts and the rule The majority opinion stressed that the view that “same- of law. The U.S. Supreme Court squashed the will of the sex couples are in some respects second-class citizens people and their representatives in Roe v. Wade, and it has who may, under the law, be treated differently from, and poisoned American politics for over 30 years. As the Wall less favorably than… opposite-sex couples” was “now Street Journal’s editorial about the California decision emphatically rejected by this state.” They repeatedly com- noted, “Judges invent wedge issues. Always have.” pared the traditional understanding of marriage to the The decision waved aside tradition, which has been racial prejudices of earlier generations. called “the democracy of the dead.” Over thousands of The implications of this line of thinking are clear and years, no civilization has treated same-sex relationships frightening. The court has elevated a small minority to a as the equivalent of marriage. Some societies have toler- specially protected class because of its professed “sexual

10 FAITH & FREEDOM | AUGUST 2008 orientation.” The court held that anything is the socially recognized means by which, in a different fashion. Society is under no that impinges on the interests of that class ordinarily, children obtain a mother and obligation to grant every sexual is subject to “strict scrutiny.” Just as “strict father who are committed to them and to relationship “the same respect and dig- scrutiny” has properly driven almost all one another for the long haul. nity.” overt expressions of racism out of our pub- The social science data are over- lic life, so now the court will improperly whelming: no other relationship has dem- Will Churches Speak Up? turn the same standard of scrutiny against onstrated the same ability as marriage to Fortunately, Californians can lead us the large numbers of religious people who nurture healthy, well-adjusted children back out of the quicksand. On April 24, see marriage as the union of one man and who are prepared to become productive ProtectMarriage.com announced that it one woman. citizens. If favoring this kind of relation- had collected many more than the 700,000 The California justices promised that ship above all others is not a compelling signatures required to put a constitutional churches would not be forced to perform state interest, what is? amendment on the California ballot in same-sex weddings. But they did not of- The California court decision reflect- November. The first state court to invent a fer any protections against the more ed an arrogant attitude that increasingly right to same-sex marriage was in liberal likely forms of pressure: that defenders of afflicts our society: the apotheosis of the Hawaii. The Hawaii voters slapped that traditional marriage (like racists in an autonomous individual. It treats marriage court down. We can only hope, pray and earlier day) would be shamed and driven as if it were the right of an individual – (if you’re a Californian) work for the same out of the public square, that public em- an entirely private matter. The decision outcome in the Golden State. ployees who express such views would states: Churches, too, should raise their be disciplined or fired, that corporations These core substantive rights in- voices in this debate. They know what to would not want to risk hiring supervisors clude, most fundamentally, the op- say, if they have the courage to speak. They known to hold “bigoted” religious beliefs portunity of an individual to establish all have significant teachings on marriage, about marriage, that parachurch minis- – with the person with whom the indi- going back to the Genesis account of how tries with policies upholding traditional vidual has chosen to share his or her “the two [man and woman] become one marriage would find their tax exemp- life – an officially recognized and pro- flesh.” tions threatened and their government tected family possessing mutual rights In late April, the United Methodist 1 MAN, 1 WOMANrelationships severed. and responsibilities and entitled to the General Conference reaffirmed “the sanc- We have already seen this process same respect and dignity accorded a tity of the marriage covenant that is ex- advance in jurisdictions that treat same- union traditionally designated as mar- pressed in love, mutual support, personal sex couples as if they were married. riage. commitment, and shared fidelity between The Roman Catholic Church has been But marriage is not an act of the au- a man and a woman.” United Methodists driven out of the adoption business in tonomous individual. To begin with, it also “support laws in civil society that de- Massachusetts and Great Britain because takes two to marry. Beyond that, people fine marriage as the union of one man and it prefers to place children with man-wom- have never been able to marry anyone one woman.” Many other denominations an married couples. In Canada, “human they wanted. You can’t marry a minor. have analogous teachings. rights commissions” are busy prosecuting You can’t marry your sister. You can’t have Several weeks after the California Christian broadcasters and schoolteachers more than one spouse. And you can’t mar- decision, we have yet to hear a word from for alleged “hate speech” against homo- ry someone of the same sex. any national or California agencies of the sexuals. Marriage is an institution – compa- United Methodist Church. Indeed, among rable legally to a partnership or corpora- the ten largest U.S. denominations, it ap- Exalting the Individual, Seeing No tion. Institutions have rules determining pears that only the Roman Catholics and ‘Compelling State Interest’ how many persons may be involved and Southern Baptists have issued any official The judicial arrogance also showed how they relate to one another. Marriage comment on the decision. (Both were op- in the unthinking assertion that “the tra- necessarily involves two persons: one from posed.) In the face of such judicial arro- ditional and well-established definition of each of the two complementary sexes. gance, the silence of so many church lead- marriage cannot properly be viewed as a Anything that does not fit that defini- ers is deafening. compelling state interest.” It is as though tion is not marriage. It is a different sort the justices were willfully ignoring the of relationship, and it is properly treated state’s crucial interest in the most basic institution of society. Marriage is society’s Dr . James W . Tonkowich Alan F .H . Wisdom is the Vice President for way of affirming that every child needs and is the President of the Institute on Religion & Research and Programs at deserves the care of a mother and a father Democracy. the Institute on Religion & – not just any two persons, but the child’s Democracy. own unique mother and father. Marriage

AUGUST 2008 | FAITH & FREEDOM 11 Mixed Messages on Israel Anniversary

by Alan F. H. Wisdom

srael recently celebrated the 60th an- dent Truman’s courageous step in 1948 sided confession: “We acknowledge niversary of its independence. On and proud of our nation’s role as one of with sorrow that for the last 60 years, IMay 14, 1948, as Great Britain re- Israel’s few reliable friends.” while extending empathy and support linquished its mandate over Palestine, The IRD statement added, “Our joy to the Israeli narrative of independence Jewish leaders there proclaimed the is tempered by sorrow. We are mindful and struggle, many of us in the church modern state of Israel. U.S President of the unresolved conflicts and unre- worldwide have denied the same soli- Harry Truman, overruling many of his lieved sufferings that date back to 1948.” darity to the Palestinians, deaf to their top advisers, was the first to recognize It closed with prayers “that Israelis, Pal- cries of pain and distress.” the new nation. estinians, and all their neighbors may This confession was curious, since Israel’s Arab neighbors immediate- finally know peace, security, self-deter- many of the declaration’s signers had ly launched a war to destroy the nascent mination, and justice.” extended their empathy far more to Pal- Jewish state. Israel survived that war “Joint Declaration by Christian estinians than to Israelis. Quite a few and has survived three more wars and Leaders on Israel’s 60th Anniversary,” of the endorsers have ties to the Sabeel thousands of terrorist attacks over the publicized in religious left circles , took Center that promotes a pro-Palestinian intervening decades. a rather different approach. “liberation theology.” (See Faith & Free- But hundreds of thousands of Ar- Two young pro-Palestinian jour- dom, February 2008, pp. 10-11.) Yet they abs were displaced in the 1948 war. The nalist-activists, Ben White and Philip did not confess their own pro-Palestin- plight of the Palestinians has become Rizk, drafted the declaration. Its most ian bias; instead they confessed the pro- a permanent grievance. And many ac- prominent endorsers were two lumi- Israel bias of other Christians. tors in the region—Syria, Iran, and the naries of the religious left, Nobel Peace This is a familiar tactic of the reli- Hamas movement that controls Gaza— Prize winners Desmond Tutu of South gious left: the harsh condemnation of are still committed to the destruction of Africa and Mairead Corrigan Maguire another’s alleged political sins, cloaked Israel. of Ireland. Several prominent evangeli- as if it were a humble confession of one’s Ordinarily, a birthday is an occa- cals, including executives of the World own sin. It is not the way that friends sion to offer congratulations and best Evangelical Alliance, World Vision, help friends celebrate a birthday. wishes. Although sorrows and regrets Youth with a Mission, Open Doors, and may be acknowledged, it is not usually Fuller Seminary, also signed it. appropriate to spoil the party by dwell- The joint declaration “recognize[d] ing on the negatives. that today, millions of Israelis and Jews The IRD issued a press release af- around the world will joyfully mark firming that, “Israelis have good rea- the 60th anniversary of the state of Is- son to celebrate today, and U.S. Chris- rael.” But the declaration’s endorsers tians can join them.” IRD President did not seem interested in joining the Jim Tonkowich observed: “Israel is the celebration. The declaration swiftly longest-lived democracy in the Middle proclaimed, “Millions of Palestinians East. It enjoys a vibrant, multi-party living inside Israel, the Occupied Pal- system, an independent judiciary, and estinian Territories, and the worldwide freedoms of speech and press. Jews, diaspora will mourn 60 years since over Muslims, and Christians practice their 700,000 of them were uprooted from faiths with few restrictions.” their homes and forbidden from return-

“U.S. Christians differ in their ing, while more than 400 villages were Alan F .H . Wisdom is understanding of Israel’s place within destroyed.” the Vice President for God’s plans for human history,” the The declaration insisted that “it is Research and Programs at the Institute on Religion & IRD president recognized. “But the vast vital,” in the pursuit of peace, to “hold Democracy. majority does glimpse some kind of di- both of these responses [Jewish and vine Providence in Israel’s existence and Palestinian] together in balanced ten- preservation. We are grateful for Presi- sion.” It then proceeded to make a one-

12 FAITH & FREEDOM | AUGUST 2008 One-Part Harmony by Alan F. H. Wisdom

he Rev. Dr. Mark Hanson, pre- in Jerusalem, Bishop Munib Younan, as is a consequence of [Israeli] occupation.” siding bishop of the Evangelical insisting, “A viable, contiguous, free Pales- He did not mention any similar outbursts TLutheran Church in America tine living side-by-side in peace with a se- directed at Palestinian officials or any LWF (ELCA), proclaimed a “renewed resolve cure, free Israel is the only solution for us to protests against injustices perpetrated by to join with others in daily praying for, affirm.” The ELCA head interpreted Jesus’ the Palestinian Authority. consistently advocating for, and continu- command, “Love your enemies and pray Hanson apparently has not lectured ally working for a lasting just Middle East for those who persecute you,” as mandat- Palestinian officials about the treatment of peace.” Addressing the annual Churches ing negotiations with the Islamist Hamas the dwindling Christian minority in the for Middle East Peace conference on movement that seeks Israel’s destruction. West Bank and Gaza. On the contrary, he April 20, Bishop Hanson declared: “I “More specifically,” he asked, “doesn’t that dismissed such concerns, calling for “the don’t think we need more soloists when mean that at the same time we admonish public rejection of all attempts to turn it comes to pursuing peace in the Middle Hamas for their unwillingness to recog- Palestinian Christians into political foot- East. I think we need a multi-voiced, full- nize the right of Israel to exist and their balls, especially efforts to blame Islamists force, four-part harmony choir.” for their supposed persecution, thus Hanson, who also serves as further vilifying Muslims in their President of the Lutheran World Western context.” Federation (LWF), made a strong The ELCA leader did not hesi- theological case for churches to tate to denounce fellow Christians invest themselves in peacemaking who disagreed with him on Middle efforts. But his specific comments East issues. “Let us as Christians about the Israeli-Palestinian con- admonish and challenge – pub- flict fell short of the balanced licly and face-to-face – those fellow “four-part harmony” to which Bishop Mark Hanson (R) joined former Archbishop of Washington Christians who espouse the ideolo- he aspired. Repeatedly, the bishop Theodore McCarrick (2nd-L), Rabbi Paul Menitorr (2nd-R) and Rabbi gy called Christian Zionism,” the bish- Amy Small (L) answering questions following a meeting with U.S. evinced a partiality toward the Pal- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty op urged. He also criticized “members estinian Authority and against Is- Images) of our own churches who remain silent rael. The would-be peacemaker also [about the Middle East] because they criticized fellow U.S. Christians who did failure to clearly reject and rein in acts of believe the issues are too complex.” not share his political commitments re- violence, we also must affirm publicly that Hanson took a jaundiced view of most garding the Middle East. any final status negotiations must include Americans: “Locked behind closed doors Hanson began by reflecting on how and engage Hamas, since all Palestinians in our post 9-11 world, we have been social- baptism and the show that “the must be represented at the table for there ized, politicized and enculturated into be- finite is capable of bearing the infinite to to be a reconciled, lasting peace.” ing afraid.” Yet the bishop made positive the world.” The top ELCA and LWF official Hanson pledged that “we will publicly comments about the Bush administra- then pivoted to Middle East politics: “On name and confront the barriers that exist tion’s Middle East peace initiatives. the basis of that we Christians are bold that cause us to stand in need of reconcili- Churches for Middle East Peace is a to advocate for peace and justice in the ation.” He seemed more ready to confront coalition of 22 religious bodies, including Middle East, to stand and accompany our Israel than the Palestinian leadership. He old-line Protestant and Orthodox denomi- Palestinian sisters and brothers in their told of how an LWF delegation protested nations and Roman Catholic religious or- humanitarian suffering, and to work to against the Israeli security barrier, publicly ders. alleviate that suffering because we are lit- reciting “psalms of lament” with “tears Alan F .H . Wisdom is erally being glimpses of the Messiah.” He stream[ing] down our cheeks.” the Vice President for did not explain how his theology would The bishop also recalled how he “lost Research and Programs at the Institute on Religion & justify accompanying only “our Palestin- it” in a conversation with then-Israeli Democracy. ian sisters and brothers” and not their Jew- President Moshe Katsav: “I proceeded to ish counterparts. lecture the president of Israel about the Hanson cited his Lutheran colleague [Palestinian] humanitarian suffering that

AUGUST 2008 | FAITH & FREEDOM 13 John Knox James D . Berkley Action n How Many Presbyterians Does It Take?

ria by James D. Berkley e

e may not know how many Presbyterians it meeting recently was $64. As some will return some takes to change a light bulb, although it is of their excess, figure $60 per day for nine days. That sbyt Wrumored to be six: one to change the bulb tacks on another $186,000. e and five to complain about how much better the old bulb was. But apparently we do know how many Pres- This totals to $444,000, nearly $1,300 per cranium. r byterian Church (U.S.A.) officials it takes to run a -bi Roughly, each presbytery will cover the cost of two of

P ennial meeting of the General Assembly: 344. these people, to the tune of nearly $2,600 per presby- That’s no joke. General Assembly Council (GAC) tery. authorized exactly 344 of its officials to attend General Assembly June 21–28 in San Jose. That was approxi- 344 People Doing What? mately one official for every three commissioners and So how does GAC keep 344 people busy during advisory delegates. Gideon conquered 135,000 Midian- General Assembly? The rationale given for each person’s ites with only 300 troops (Judges 7 and 8), which was attendance was divided into five categories: 13 percent fewer than it takes to stage a General As- sembly. • Award/Event: 68 people. These people give or re- No one batted an eye as GAC approved this large, ceive an award or are needed at some particular expensive contingent in April in Louisville. In fact, the event. GAC leaders heard that this figure was actually down a • GA Support: 47 people. These folks make the Gen- little from previous years. eral Assembly work, often from behind the scenes. • Exhibit: 48 people. These people will staff booths 344 Expenses and operate an exhibition hall. It costs big money to get 344 bodies to General • Corresponding Members: 21 people. These are dig- Assembly, house them, and feed them. Let’s run some nitaries, such as recent General Assembly modera- rough estimates. tors, seminary presidents, and ecumenical repre- sentatives. • With some good fare shopping, the 344 tickets could • Committee Work: 160 people. These people support average $350 per person. That’s about $120,000. the committee structure and are not supposed to ad- • Everyone will need a bed, conservatively around vocate for or against particular items. But, in prac- $50 per person per night for a shared room, for tice, many of these “resource persons” do function about eight nights. Add another $138,000 or so. as advocates for the interests and ideologies of their • All 344 will need to eat. Per diem for a Presbyterian agencies. They make presentations that amount to

14 FAITH & FREEDOM | AUGUST 2008 a sales job on issues they favor, and even disrupted plenary sessions with ers, rather than in issues advocacy. But no they tend to offer derogatory infor- demonstrations. doubt those in charge will proffer some mation that undercuts proposals they • Advisory Committee on Social Wit- rulings and opinions that will be unpalat- dislike. Frequently (but, thankfully, ness Policy (ACSWP): 24 represen- able to evangelical tastes. not always) renewal advocates and tatives; 22 on committees. Since the Between GAC and OGA team mem- the GAC “resource people” are rivals ACSWP is only 15 people, it imports a bers, Presbyterian officialdom will have on opposite sides of an issue. few friends and consultants to lobby 393 representatives in San Jose, costing GA committees. ACSWP’s eight re- an estimated $508,000. Lest we forget The problem is that the GAC advo- ports to committees dispense liberal though, the GAC and OGA are not the cates enjoy special privileges that the advice on topics from global warm- only General Assembly entities. The Pres- renewal advocates lack. GAC advocates ing to waging pacifism in Iraq to the byterian Foundation, Board of Pensions, operate within the leadership as officials, social gospel, allowing ACSWP folks the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, while renewal advocates often get brand- to busily push their radical ideology. and other organizations will also field de- ed by officials as “outside special inter- • Advocacy Committee for Racial nominationally supported teams of staff ests” to be avoided. The GAC advocates Ethnic Concerns: 18 total; 17 on and other representatives in San Jose. Surely they add several score more heads Between GAC and OGA team members, – and perhaps another $100,000 or more – to the count Presbyterian officialdom will have 393 When evangelical and renewal vol- representatives in San Jose, costing an unteers feel a little overwhelmed at Gen- eral Assembly by the size, funding, and estimated $508,000. inside placement of contrary ideology, perhaps this accounting can give them some understanding of their impression can speak often and freely; the renewal committees. This large contingent of massed resistance. General Assembly advocates have a minute or two to speak covers all issues regarding people of is not a level playing field. It is structured once. The GAC advocates attend General color, and the number allows one per with an immense built-in advantage for Assembly at the expense of all Presbyte- committee. the plans and ideology of the present ad- rians; renewal advocates must pay their • World Mission: 50 total; 16 on com- ministration. own ways. mittees. The 16 assigned to commit- In spite of the way that numbers Thus, those who oppose abortion, tees will deal with such topics as mis- may intimidate, however, the Lord has for instance, must help pay the costs for sion funding and international issues, frequently and abundantly blessed the a horde of GAC-sanctioned advocates including Israel-Palestine tensions. faithful work of the outnumbered and promoting abortion. Meanwhile, pro-life • Compassion, Peace, and Justice: 35 underfunded renewal groups. No, it is not folks must foot their own costs for coun- total; 16 on committees. This group a level playing field at General Assembly. ter-advocacy. This hardly seems fair. will add 16 more advocates for social- Our Sovereign God always retains the up- activism and other self-proclaimed per hand. Representing Whom? “prophetic” causes to the committees So, then, which entities pump the that deal with peace, hunger, and Is- most bodies into the mix? One look at rael, for example. the top senders indicates the issues that get pushed hardest. The top-five sending Hold On to Your Hat – There’s More! entities field committee teams of 16 to 41 Does 344 seem a touch excessive? Add members. some more. The 344 number is for only the General Assembly Council. From the • Racial Ethnic and Women’s Min- Office of the General Assembly (OGA) James D . Berkley istries: 51 representatives; 41 on add in yet 49 more. is the Director of the committees. What a crowd! Anyone At an estimated cost of $1,300 per Presbyterian Action wanting to advocate for pro-life issues person, that is an additional $64,000 in program at the Institute on Religion & Democracy. or in opposition to radical feminism expenses to operate General Assembly. runs into a stacked deck. In years Many of the OGA persons will serve in past, some of the representatives have support roles, such as sound and comput-

AUGUST 2008 | FAITH & FREEDOM 15 Presbyterian Action Top Presbyterian Court Mumbles Mixed Message by James D. Berkley

n April 28, General Assembly service. But it also put Spahr and her sym- sense application of biblical morality re- Permanent Judicial Commission, pathizers on notice that those who con- flected in the denomination’s policies. Othe highest court of the Presbyte- duct same-gender “wedding” services in The PCUSA has consistently held to basic rian Church (U.S.A.) (PCUSA) ruled that the future would be punished. A PCUSA Christian standards, such as “the practice “a same-sex ceremony is not and cannot minister simply cannot do what Spahr has of homosexuality is sin” from the 1978 au- be a marriage.” While that decision would been doing. thoritative interpretation. Its Book of Or- seem to reflect obvious Christian teach- In explanation, the court noted, der defines marriage as “a civil contract ing, the court’s other shoe fell with an “Freedom of conscience must be exercised between a woman and a man.” unpleasant thud. The court went on to de- This court ruling does not duce that the Rev. Jane Spahr of deny or change that theological San Raphael, CA, could not be reality. The decision does say, “found … guilty of doing that rightfully, that for Christians a which by definition cannot be same-sex union could never be done.” And thus, a disciplinary a marriage. Christian marriage censure against her by a lower must involve the Christian un- church court was removed. derstanding of God’s purposes The lower court had cen- for man and woman since Cre- sured Spahr for presiding over ation. So in that sense, Spahr did the “weddings” of two same- not conduct true wedding cer- sex couples. Spahr’s supporters emonies. hailed the Permanent Judicial Yet Spahr has officiated at The Rev. Jane Spahr (AP photo) Commission’s decision as a bogus ceremonies held out to vindication of her action. “Jan- be weddings, and she plans to con- ie Spahr Cleared of Charges,” read the within bounds…. Submission to the cur- tinue doing so. She persists, defying the headline for her organization’s web site. rent standards of the church may not al- authority she vowed at her ordination to “Today’s decision held that the Presbyte- ways be comfortable, but it is not optional.” be “governed by” and the discipline she rian constitution contains no prohibition Thus, the slim “victory” Spahr trumpeted vowed to “abide by.” against marrying same-gender couples,” it will be cold comfort in the future. She and The Bible and the PCUSA’s constitu- proclaimed erroneously. others cannot continue to practice minis- tional standards remain remarkably clear. Spahr, however, has not been vin- try in contradiction to the constitution of It remains to be seen, however, what the dicated. The court did not approve her the PCUSA with impunity. PCUSA will do. Will it have the courage to defiant practice. It has only spared her say unequivocally: “Sexual relations out- temporarily due to a strange reading of a Future Defiance Guaranteed side the marriage of man and woman are technicality of the law. Spahr, however, lost no time in de- wrong. They are harmful. We will neither “No More!” Says the Court to Spahr claring her intention to violate the court’s whitewash nor encourage them in any way While setting her free in this instance, ruling. “I will continue to honor my call- within church life and by our practices.”? the court made it clear that “officers of the ing to perform marriages for all couples Or will it continue to espouse a lukewarm, PCUSA authorized to perform marriages who love one another and are committed fuzzy message that is as universally unpal- shall not state, imply, or represent that a to one another,” declared Spahr. “To not atable as it is undecipherable? same-sex ceremony is a marriage.” The perform these marriages would go against court even further ruled, “Future non- my faith, my conscience and, most impor- James D . Berkley compliance will be considered to be a dis- is the Director of the tantly, against God.” Unless the PCUSA Presbyterian Action ciplinable offense.” considers violation of its court’s decisions program at the Institute on In other words, the court spared a virtue, it will have to discipline Spahr for Religion & Democracy. Spahr from current discipline, reason- this obvious defiance of the ruling. ing that as there was no real marriage, It is unfortunate that quibbling over she could not have conducted a marriage a technicality has blunted the common-

16 FAITH & FREEDOM | AUGUST 2008 Pentecost, Mother’s Day, & Pluralism Sunday

by Dr. James W. Tonkowich and Alan F. H. Wisdom

f asked what our churches – mainline, ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The promise dedicate their worship to a celebration of evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox – need was fulfilled in a small room on a Sunday our interfaith world.” Imost, the obvious answer is renewal by morning 2,000 years ago, with a violent The “progressive” center certainly the power of the . The history wind and tongues of fire. was not seeking any conversions or bap- of revivals and awakenings from the first Afterwards, the apostle Peter ex- tisms or growth of the Church. In fact, century to the twenty-first is the history of plained to the crowd how Jesus had its announcement of Pluralism Sunday the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church. fulfilled the prophecies of the Hebrew made no mention of the Holy Spirit. It And so we pray, to use the words of an old Scriptures. Peter invited the bystanders, did not even call anyone to repentance. prayer, “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts “Repent, and be baptized every one of you Instead, it took an “I’m OK, you’re OK” of your faithful and kindle in them the fire in the name of Jesus Christ so that your approach. of your love.” sins may be forgiven; and you will receive “By calling ourselves progressive,” Sunday, May 11, was Mother’s Day. the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). the organizers said, “we mean we are Most of us knew this as marketers had The Church grew by 3,000 that day, Christians who recognize the faithful- and it contin- ness of other people who have other ues to spread by names for the way to God’s realm, and the power of the acknowledge that their ways are true for Holy Spirit. In them, as our ways are true for us.”For fact, were it not this center, Jesus is nothing special. They for the coming disagree with the apostle Peter, who de- of the Holy Spir- clared shortly after Pentecost, “There is it, Jesus’ death salvation in no one else [other than Je- and resurrec- sus], for there is no other name given tion would have among mortals by which we must be been in vain and saved” (Acts 4:12). in all likelihood Such alternatives to Pentecost would have been should cause Christians to celebrate the long forgotten real feast with all the more vigor and ex-

Mother’s Day is great. But Pentecost is more important. by now. Without citement. Were it not for the coming of the coming of the the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the incarna- Holy Spirit, there tion of Christ (Christmas) and his death lobbed ads for Mother’s Day sales and would be no Christians and no Church. and resurrection (Easter) would have no brunches in our general direction for sev- Even today, the Church withers where effect on the world. As St. John Chrys- eral weeks. Mother’s Day is a very nice the meaning of Pentecost is lost or sup- ostom, the fifth century Archbishop of thing. pressed. Yet a group called the Center for Constantinople, wrote about Pentecost, We are all for mothers—ours and ev- Progressive Christianity wants to do just “Today we have arrived at the peak of eryone else’s—and we are all for setting that. Claiming “a network of about 370 all blessings, we have reached the capital aside a special day to celebrate mother- churches nationwide,” the center, brazenly of feasts, we have obtained the very fruit hood. This year, though, Mother’s Day ob- urged that May 11 be changed from Pente- of our Lord’s promise.” That, even more scured the even more important celebra- cost to “Pluralism Sunday.” May 11 was to than Mom, calls for a party. tion occurring on May 11, 2008: Pentecost. be a day for churches around the world [to] Pentecost commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples fifty days Dr . James W . Tonkowich Alan F .H . Wisdom is after Jesus’ resurrection. At his ascension is the President of the the Vice President for Jesus promised, “[Y]ou will receive power Institute on Religion & Research and Programs at Democracy. the Institute on Religion & when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and Democracy. you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the

AUGUST 2008 | FAITH & FREEDOM 17 William Wilberforce Action

n Proposed Anglican Covenant:

“The Only Game in Town” by George Conger l ica

he end of Anglicanism is nigh. Divided over doc- But there is no other option, save for schism, on trine and discipline, the Anglican Communion the table. Thus, in the words of the chief author, West An g Tis unraveling, torn asunder by the consecration Indian Archbishop Drexel Gomez, “the covenant is the of a partnered gay priest as Bishop of New Hampshire. only game in town.” The Anglican Communion is faced with two choices: expelling dissident minorities – be they con- “Worst Crisis in the Anglican Communion since the servatives from the Episcopal Church in America, or ” the Episcopal Church from the wider Anglican Com- The consecration of a gay priest, Gene Robinson, munion—or ratifying a common statement of beliefs, as Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003 ignited what the an Anglican Covenant that outlines the parameters of former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey called the faith. the “worst crisis in the Anglican Communion since the Reformation.” It sparked protests from conservatives at The choice of conformity or schism is presented to home and from abroad, particularly the bishops of the the bishops at the Lambeth Conference, the July 16–Aug “Global South,” the collective name for the churches in 3 gathering of bishops held the developing world. A covenant would create “a every ten years in England. Led by Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, the The bishops are reviewing Global South demanded the errant Episcopalians con- trustworthy means of taking the work of the Anglican form to the agreed statements on human sexuality counsel together” in the face Covenant Design Group, and church order. Individual churches soon began to the committee tasked by “break communion.” By the end of 2003, over half of of doctrinal divisions. Archbishop of Canterbury the Anglican Communion had qualified their ties to Rowan Williams to draft a the Episcopal Church. common code. To head off a split, Dr. Williams created the Lam- But whether a binding agreement can keep the beth Commission on Communion. Tasked with ad- communion together is an open question in a church dressing the spilt, the commission produced the Wind- whose roots lie not in a common philosophical or theo- sor Report in 2004. logical ideal, but in a shared historical and cultural The report chastised both the U. S. Episcopal heritage. Liberals have already rejected key provisions Church for consecrating Robinson and the African of the draft agreement, refusing to countenance any churches that had consecrated traditionally minded diminution of their authority, while conservatives have American priests as bishops to serve as missionaries in protested against the absence of any meaningful en- the U. S., arguing that all of the churches had surpassed forcement mechanisms. their legitimate ecclesiastical authority. The Windsor

18 FAITH & FREEDOM | AUGUST 2008 Report also called for the creation of an It created a four-step process of re- we have all inherited together,” he ex- Anglican Covenant, which would set view to respond to threats to the “unity plained. limits on permissible Anglican conduct of the Communion and the effectiveness A covenant would create “a trustwor- and teaching. or credibility of its mission.” It gave the thy means of taking counsel together” in Dr. Williams appointed the senior Archbishop of Canterbury power to make the face of doctrinal divisions, says Prof. primate, or archbishop of the commu- “requests” of those churches that were en- Ephraim Radner, one of two Americans nion, Drexel Gomez of the Bahamas to dangering “unity.” It also authorized the on the design team. lead the Covenant Design Group. The Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) The lack of an agreed structure to re- group released the first draft of the cov- – a pan-Anglican consultative body – to solve conflict had created a situation that enant in January 2007. determine if a church had “relinquished had allowed “anxiety to grow, impatience Support for the covenant process was the force and meaning” thin. Mark Sisk, the Bishop of New York, of the covenant. said he was “not persuaded” there was However, neither even a need for one. The first draft gave the ACC nor the Arch- the impression “of attempting to cen- bishop of Canterbury tralize and control the Communion, of could compel obedi- policing the process of discernment and ence. They possessed no implementing conformity in the name of “legislative, executive or clarity,” he said. The Welsh, Irish, Ameri- judicial authority.” But can and New Zealand churches also criti- they did “carry a moral cized the draft, rejecting any “curializa- authority which com- tion” of Anglicanism. mands our respect,” the Conservatives welcomed the moves draft said. towards setting the communion’s house in order, but feared it was too little too Voices Not Calmed late. Pittsburgh’s Bishop Robert Dun- The restrained lan- can, a leader of the American conserva- guage of the second draft tive movement, called for a covenant that did not mollify the left. would provide unambiguous doctrinal The Brazilian Church Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh seeks a covenant that establishes statements. urged a re-write, say- clear doctrinal positions. ing the covenant sought Draft Seeks “A Common Mind” to resolve conflict through the “creation flourish, and precipitous and destruc- In February 2008 the design teams of curial instances absolutely alien to our tive local action emerge as seemingly released its second draft. It dropped ethos.” inevitable,” Professor Radner told Faith much of the theological language of the Conservatives were alarmed by its & Freedom. The covenant “would make first draft and conceded there was no weakness, as well as with a timeline that explicit” the “commitments upon which common mind as to the theological dis- would not see it come into force until 2015. our actual life in Christian communion tinctiveness of Anglicanism. The draft Such a delay would give “the impression is based.” asked the churches to put aside their that we are not in a state of crisis and that Rebuilding trust within the Angli- own particular views on divisive topics there is no desire to move towards a solu- can Communion is worth the effort, as and seek “a common mind about matters tion,” said Dr. Mouneer Anis, the bishop the covenant process “goes to the heart” understood to be of essential concern, of Egypt. “If we wait until 2015 or even of what it “means to be a Christian living consistent with the Scriptures, common 2012 the communion will be fragment- in the ,” argues Dr. Radner. standards of faith, and the canon law of ed,” he warned. While he acknowledged some of the dis- our churches.” Archbishop Gomez responded that quiet felt on the left and right, he insists Each church would commit to the to ease the “overheated” situation, “we failing to go forward would be fatal. words, “professes the faith which is need to hear a voice of calm. We need to uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures” identify the fundamentals that we share The Rev . Canon George and set forth in the “historic formularies in common, and to state the common Conger is a priest of of the Church of England” as expressed in basis on which our mutual trust can be the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida and the Book of Common Prayer, the Articles rebuilt.” senior correspondent of of Religion and the historic . How- A covenant would not “define some The Church of England ever interpretation of these formularies sort of new Anglicanism” but would Newspaper. would be left to each member church. “state concisely and clearly the faith that

AUGUST 2008 | FAITH & FREEDOM 19 John Wesley Mark D . Tooley Action United Methodists Affirm Biblical Standards UM on Marriage and Sex by John S. A. Lomperis

t its 2008 gathering in Fort Worth, TX, the Gen- from Africa. Another 84 delegates came from Europe eral Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Philippines. A(UMC), the UMC’s governing body, voted deci- The large number of African delegates was crucial sively to maintain the UMC’s current biblical standards for affirming biblical teaching about marriage. A post on marriage and sex. Specifically, delegates at the April on the blog of the pro-homosexuality Reconciling Min- 22–May 2 gathering voted to: istries Network lamented the “clear alliance” between overseas and conservative U.S. United Methodists say- • Retain the United Methodist Social Principles stanc- ing, “We have feared this for years.” es that state homosexual practice is “incompatible Indeed, this General with Christian teaching” and the UMC should Conference was possibly “support laws in civil society that define marriage the pro-homosexuality as the union of one man and one woman.” advocates’ last chance for • Strengthen the Social Principles by saying that “sex- victory. When the Gen- ual relations are affirmed only within the covenant eral Conference meets of monogamous, hetero- again in 2012, the African Indeed, this Conference was sexual marriage.” Ivory Coast Annual Con- • Maintain the current ference will have an addi- possibly the prohibition of same-sex tional 50–70 delegates at pro-homosexuality advocates’ union services and the or- the Conference. dination of “self-avowed Disturbed by this last chance for victory. practicing homosexuals.” possibility, pro-homo- Pro-homosexuality sexuality forces are sup-

groups expressed great disappointment with the results porting a proposed con- One of many homosexual activists of the conference. A sub-headline for a local gay publi- stitutional amendment protesting outside the Ft.Worth convention center. (photo: Loralei G. cation declared, “Gays and their allies struggle with de- creating a new U.S.-only Coyle) cision on whether to stay and fight or leave UMC after regional conference where church reaffirms anti-gay policies, ruling.” liberals potentially could The UMC has steered away from the direction of prevail. All local annual conferences will vote on that the Episcopal Church and the United Church of Christ, amendment. which face schism over homosexuality, thanks largely As in the past, pro-homosexuality demonstra- to its growing overseas membership. United tors were prominent at this General Conference. After continues to grow in Africa, where nearly one-third of the key votes, over 200 demonstrators walked onto the its membership now lives. The 2008 General Conference General Conference floor at the Council of Bishops’ included an unprecedented 186 delegates (out of 992) invitation. The protesters angrily denounced church

20 FAITH & FREEDOM | AUGUST 2008 teachings, covered the communion table in black cloth, and likened their defeat to General Conference Backs Radical Political Causes Christ’s sufferings on the cross. Demon- While it maintained the UMC’s traditional stance on homosexuality, the General strators also staged a “marriage” service Conference endorsed dozens of controversial political resolutions with little debate, between two lesbian activists outside the including resolutions to: convention. • Call convicted Puerto Rican terrorists “political prisoners” and demand that they “be released from prison.” Conference Affirms Pro-Life Actions • Decry the “colonialism” of Puerto Rico’s commonwealth status, a status Puerto While failing to end the denomina- Rican voters have repeatedly supported. tion’s pro-choice official position on abor- • Demand that the U.S. Military welcome openly “gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans- tion, the 2008 General Conference con- gender” soldiers. tinued the decades-long trend of nudging • Support amnesty and “sanctuary churches” wherein illegal immigrants can theo- United Methodism in a more pro-life di- retically dwell without threat of deportation. rection. Delegates voted to: • Urge cooperation with the International Solidarity Movement, which is devoted • “Affirm and encourage the Church to to “nonviolent, direct-action” for the Palestinian cause. assist the ministry of crisis pregnan- • Support the Kyoto Protocol on global warming. cy centers and pregnancy resource • Accuse the U.S. Of “pursu[ing] a global economic agenda that is of, by, and for centers that compassionately help transnational corporations.” women find feasible alternatives to • “Support progressive income taxes.” abortion.” • Criticize free trade agreements. • Replace overly broad, pro-choice lan- • Demand an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. guage about “devastating damage” from “unacceptable pregnanc[ies]” with the affirmation that “we are filiation with the Religious Coalition for the divisive, politicized National equally bound to respect the sacred- Reproductive Choice (RCRC), a group Council of Churches (NCC) will “re- ness of the life and well-being of the that vehemently fights legal restrictions main faithful and accountable to the mother and the unborn child.” on, and moral opposition to, abortion. purpose defined in its Constitution,” • Support adult “notification and con- RCRC prevailed by just 32 votes out of the which is for member communions sent” for minors seeking abortions. 800 cast. to “make visible their unity given • Describe abortion as “violent.” The vote occurred on the final day in Christ,” through means includ- • Adopt a lengthy statement decrying when over 100 African delegates (who ing “[f]urther[ing] their vocation to sex-selective abortions. tend to be more pro-life) were not pres- proclaim Jesus Christ as Savior and • “Reject euthanasia and pressure upon ent. Lord,” “counsel[ing] one another in the dying to end their lives.” mutual accountability as a witness The General Conference also adopt- Evangelicals Celebrate Progress to the unity of the Church,” and “[c] ed an excellent statement against eugen- Although issues concerning homo- ultivat[ing] relationships and dia- ics that included opposition to fertility sexuality dominated the General Confer- logue with people of” diverse “ide- treatment practices of selectively killing ence debates, there were other significant ologies.” embryos with undesired genetic traits. actions that United Methodist evangeli- • Support for a constitutional amend- However, the General Conference cals celebrated. ment allowing non-ordained UMC voted to continue the UMC’s formal af- • A defeated attempt to change the clergy in primarily small and rural church’s law book, The Dis- congregations to vote for General and cipline, to require all United Jurisdictional Conference delegates. Methodist pastors to grant im- • $4 million appropriated for theologi- mediate church membership to cal education in Africa. anyone who demands it. • The reservation of Ministerial Educa- • An overwhelming rejection of tion Fund Disbursements to United divestment against Israel. Methodist seminaries only for the • A greatly strengthened recog- benefit of United Methodist students nition in the Social Principles (rather than general operating ex- of the negative consequences penses). Bishop Donald Ott prays with the homosexual activists after the of divorce. • The elimination of one bishop from General Convention voted to uphold traditional marriage. (photo: Loralei G. Coyle) • A call for “assurances” that each of the declining U.S. jurisdic-

AUGUST 2008 | FAITH & FREEDOM 21 UMAction (cont.) tions, beginning in 2012. • Maintenance of the right of any in- “A Snake that Sunk its Fangs into the Paw . . of the Big Dog” dividual United Methodist to submit petitions to General Conference. Despite their wins on political resolutions, many liberal caucus groups were en- raged over their losses on sexuality issues and by the influence of IRD and other re- Incumbents on Judicial Council newal groups. Before the conference began, a film producer in Tennessee mailed U.S. Defeated delegates a DVD titled “Renewal or Ruin” that attacked UMAction. The DVD featured After having rigorously upheld the Bishop Beverly Shamana of San Francisco, retired Bishop Ken Carder, and Jim Win- church’s teachings on homosexuality, kler, head of the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), and others denouncing three evangelicals on the United Meth- IRD with colorful rhetoric. Winkler asserted UMAction “is really a snake that’s sunk odist Judicial Council were not reelected. its fangs into the paw or into the blood of the big dog [the UMC] and is slowly trying to Their successors are clearly more liberal, poison it.” but whether they will uphold or nibble A Tennessee film away at the church’s policies remains to director was not the only be seen. person upset about the Evangelical groups formally en- influence of IRD. In a dorsed only one of the 5 new members on public statement released the church’s top court All 5 of the win- just before the confer- ners were nominated by the Council of ence, the Religious Co- Bishops and endorsed by liberal caucus alition for Reproductive groups. Unusually, the bishops declined Choice (RCRC) declared to support any incumbents, possibly be- that “[i]t is a grave error cause they were angered by the incum- to believe that the In- bents’ defense of a Virginia pastor who stitute on Religion and declined to accept an active homosexual Democracy and its al- into immediate church membership, con- lies are concerned about trary to the instructions of Virginia’s lib- women and families.” eral bishop. RCRC also called UM- Even though they represent 30 per- Action “the main force behind the effort” to end the UMC’s endorsement of RCRC. cent of the church, Africans are now At the conference, “Mainstream United Methodists” of Oklahoma distributed an unrepresented on the UMC’s top court, eight-page newspaper that featured cartoons portraying UMAction as a snake and also which includes eight Americans and one as an evil, mustached train conductor trying to run over a personified UMC tied to the Filipino. Evangelical groups had nomi- tracks. The paper also claimed that members of UMAction are not United Methodists nated two Africans; liberal caucus groups concerned for their own church but rather a collection of “Neocon Roman Catholic supported none. The seeming new liberal leaders” and “wealthy millionaires who control billions of inherited tax-free trust dol- majority on the Judicial Council almost lars.” certainly will ensure further controversy Soulforce, a pro-homosexuality lobby, hosted a rally featuring the Rev. James Law- over the next four years about the church’s son, who charged that the sole aim of UMAction and Good News was “the preservation policies on homosexuality. Traditional- and domination of white males in the church.” ists within United Methodism will need Unfortunately, liberal activist groups were not the only ones disseminating misin- to be prayerfully on guard against possi- formation. At the start of the General Conference, the United Methodist News Service ble attempts to nullify church law through reported that the Renewal and Reform Coalition – a group composed of the Confessing Judicial Council decisions. Movement, Good News, Lifewatch, RENEW Network, Transforming Congregations, and UMAction – was “bribing” non-American delegates by offering them the use of cell phones during the conference. Members of the General Conference felt rather differently about UMAction. The Conference overwhelmingly rejected resolutions from the leadership of two liberal John S .A . Lomperis is the Reseach Assistant at annual conferences to condemn UMAction. The Conference also adopted a resolution the Institute on Religion & from UMAction celebrating our denomination’s inclusion of members with diverse po- Democracy. litical views. It called for Christians “to have the humility to be cautious of asserting that God is on their side with regard to specific public policy proposals.” IRD/ UMAc- tion will challenge politicized church agencies to heed this resolution.

22 FAITH & FREEDOM | AUGUST 2008 IRD Diary Four-and-a-Half Incredible Years by John S.A. Lomperis

t the end of 2003, not long after my repeatedly to the wisdom of John Wesley’s staunchest defenders of the violence of abor- college graduation, God seemed to “On Schism” sermon. In that sermon, the tion. Among Middle Eastern nations, Israel A arrange a miraculous circumstance. father of Methodism acknowledges that has a uniquely liberal record on gay rights. I quite inadvertently stumbled across the if one could not remain a part of a specific Yet those in mainline churches who single it announcement for an entry-level position church body “without doing something out for criticism are generally staunch parti- opening at some group called the Institute which the word of God forbids, or omitting sans of the pro-homosexuality cause. In my on Religion & Democracy. something which the word of God positively denomination, a main liberal caucus ener- To this the day, I remember reading commands,” then one would be obligated getically seeks to replace the denomination’s over the announcement in elated disbelief. “to separate from it without delay. ” During my college years, I had been an- In such a case, the guilt for “the sin of guished to learn about the problems with separation, with all the evils conse- theological liberalism in my denomination quent upon it“ would not lie upon the (the United Methodist Church). I did not one who left “but upon those who con- want to abandon my denomination without strained me to make that separation.” looking back, but I was only dimly aware of In the absence of such constraints, renewal efforts. This job and ministry, how- however, abandoning one’s church ever, not only seemed perfectly tailored for makes one “just chargeable…with all me, but it gave me hope. You mean there’s the evils consequent upon that separa- a whole movement of other members of tion.” As a friend in the United Meth- “mainline” Protestant denominations who odist renewal movement has reminded are also evangelicals and committed to me, surrendering contested ground to steering their churches back towards Chris- the Devil is not a sound strategy for ad- tian orthodoxy??!! vancing the Kingdom of God. IRD provided me so much more than True ecumenical Christian uni- John Lomperis hands IRD Daily newsletters to Methodists just a job. It gave me valuable experience. ty and cooperation does not require delegates outside the Ft. Worth Convention Center (photo/Loralei G. Coyle) There has never been a dull moment! I’ve sticking to “lowest common denomi- reported on extreme events, worked with in- nator Christianity.” I have learned much essentially conservative basic statement on credible people, and was denounced person- from working with Anglicans, Calvinists, homosexual practice. In the name of ac- ally by a regional United Methodist newslet- Orthodox, Catholics and charismatics. knowledging the truth of members’ views ter and a denominational agency chief. Even None were shy about respectfully sharing and not leaving out anyone’s heartfelt per- more importantly, my experience here gave their perspectives on historic denomination- spective, it argues the church should declare me the invaluable theological and ecclesias- dividing issues, yet we continued to work to- that it is not of one mind. This same caucus, tical grounding I needed. gether successfully. however, strongly opposes replacing the de- Several people have expressed valid Those fighting to undermine bibli- nomination’s basically liberal statement on concerns about the rather liberalized en- cal Christian teachings often fail to follow abortion with a similar declaration. vironment (Harvard Divinity School) in biblical while fighting. I My evangelical faith is strong. With which I will now pursue a Masters degree. am no longer surprised by what church lead- God’s help and regular doses of orthodox But my time at IRD has prepared me well. ers will do to win a point. Yet, I am still sad- Christian nourishment and support, it will As I recently told one concerned sister, I am dened by how often church leaders eschew continue to be so and so will the important very unlikely to run into anything there things such as honesty and Christian love. ministry of IRD. more radical than what I have already en- “Progressive Christianity” has a re- John S .A . Lomperis is countered! While it would be impossible to markable capacity for moral inconsisten- the Reseach Assistant at adequately summarize here all that I have cy. The most vocal proponents of “a fully the Institute on Religion & learned at IRD, here are a few highlights. inclusive church” tend to demonstrate the Democracy. The unity of the church deserves great most ruthless and mean-spirited exclusive- respect. I have struggled with the tempta- ness when and where they gain power. The tion to give up on United Methodism. Dur- loudest voices categorically denouncing ing these struggles, I have been brought back the violence of war are often among the

AUGUST 2008 | FAITH & FREEDOM 23 To order, visit: www TheIRD. org.

The fight for the United Methodist Church begins here . .

Explore the history of the political and

theological conflicts within the United

Methodist Church as Mark Tooley takes

you through his years of activism within

the reform and renewal movement. Tooley

offers not only perspective on the battles

waged, but a vision for the future of United

Methodism.

“You don’t have to be a Methodist to be intensely interested in the integrity of faith and life in a Christian community whose influence touches us all. We are indebted to Mark Tooley for this lively account of the heirs of John Wesley who are fighting the good fight.” —The Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, Editor-in-Chief, First Things

“If you want to understand all the controversies that have rocked the United Methodist Church for the past twenty years, this book is a must-read.” — Dr. William R. (Bill) Bouknight, retired former Senior Minister of Christ UMC, Memphis, and former President of the Confessing Movement

24 FAITH & FREEDOM | AUGUST 2008 Bristol House