Adult Education

Sunday January 19, 2014

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The State of Reconciling Ministry In the United Methodist Church

Presented by the Saint Francis Reconciling Ministries Team

We will provide the latest information on actions regarding reconciliation by clergy and congregations, and our denomination’s response, as we discuss how this affects the future of the United Methodist Church.

RECONCILING TIMELINE

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH and RECONCILING MINISTRIES NETWORK

1974: Start of Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian and Gay Concerns; First issues of Blair’s Blurbs newsletter

1979: UM Board of Discipleship publishes resource packet on homosexuality.

1980: Board of Church and Society focus Christian Social Action issue on homosexuality.

1983: Affirmation leaders begin RCP: Reconciling Congregations Program

1984: General Conference – Baltimore; UMC amends the Book of Discipline to state that “no self-avowed, practicing homosexual shall be ordained or appointed in the United Methodist Church.” In response, two Congregations vote to be first Reconciling churches

1985: First quarterly RCP resource Manna for the Journey (early Open Hands)

1987: First national Convocation; 30 reconciling congregations (RC).

1988: General Conference -St. Louis; Reconciling witness but no positive changes, St. Francis in the Foothills votes to become the 35th reconciling church

1990: RCP becomes a 501(c)3 with national offices in Chicago.

1995: Convocation in Minneapolis; Jean Audrey Powers “coming out” sermon; 104 reconciling congregations

1996: General Conference in Denver; Open the Doors campaign challenged exclusive church policies encouraging radical hospitality and removal of “incompatibility” language. UMC banned same gender unions and blessings. Doris Morris joins the national board of Reconciling Ministries Network. (RCP then)

1997: RCP publishes Claiming The Promise: An Ecumenical Welcoming Bible Study Resource on Homosexuality

1998: In Omaha, Nebraska, Jimmy Creech, after two trials, is defrocked for performing same gender marriages. Susan Morgan (then Mullins) was his associate pastor during the first of his two trials in which he was acquitted of the complaint. Susan joined St. Francis shortly after leaving First Omaha.

1998: Judicial Council rules that conferences and congregations may not identify themselves as Reconciling. After the ruling many met and refused to abandon the use of “Reconciling”

1999: Greg Dell, Broadway UMC, Chicago, was suspended for performing commitment ceremony. The Sacramento 68 (UMC pastors) were charged with jointly performing a blessing of a lesbian couple. Bishop Melvin Talbert announced the decision not to pursue a trial saying "The investigating committee heard testimony from church experts on Scripture, tradition, ethics, experience, and reason before reaching its decision." He added “We may never reach agreement on this issue” perhaps prophetic statement

2000: Cleveland GC; RMN campaign to change the Book of Discipline, Extend the Table, failed but supportive protestors arrested (over 200) brought public awareness to the issues; RCP changes name to Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN); United Methodists of Color for a Fully Inclusive Church (UMOC) and the Parent’s Reconciling Network (PRN) are established as RMN extension ministries

2001: Clergy Alliance is created and later becomes another extension ministry, Reconciling Ministries Clergy (RMC); 171 local congregations, 25 campus ministries, 16,500 Reconciling United Methodists (RUMs) are registered. St. Francis members attend Desert Southwest annual conference to engage delegates in lunch time conversations on reconciling.

2003: RMN Publication of Made In God’s Image: A Resource For Dialogue About the Church and Gender Differences

2004: Pittsburgh GC; RMN’s campaign. Watermarked: A Ministry of Assurance on baptismal promises, is designed to require removal of exclusionary language. However, no positive changes are achieved. A suggestion that the church split was defeated. 193 local congregations, 46 communities, 18,000 RUMs enrolled.

2005: KKK pickets Hearts on Fire, RMN’s 8th national convocation, Lake Junaluska, NC, 7 bishops participate. Judicial Council defrocks Beth Stroud and allows barring homosexual persons from membership. Bishops issue unanimous pastoral letter in opposition.

2006: RMN protests as Judicial Council refuses to reconsider membership decision. 221 local congregations, 61 communities

2007: 10th national convocation, Nashville, TN. Faith, Hope, Love Rev. Drew Phoenix comes out as transgender and is reappointed to his church. Judicial Council affirms

2008: Ft. Worth, TX, General Conference. RMN extensive efforts to change Book of Discipline discrimination fail. Ordination ban is re-affirmed. Structure of the UMC and possible changes to be studied over the next 4 years. Elizabeth Fimbres joins the national board of Reconciling Ministries Network

2009: Desert Southwest Annual Conference - votes to become a reconciling conference and to change the UMC constitution to include ALL persons entitlement to membership

2009: Justice and Joy RMN convocation Estes Park, CO, over 500 attended including almost 100 youth and children and many St. Francis folks St. Francis sends Daniel Viehland

2011: Sing a New Song RMN convocation Sawmill Creek, Huron, OH over 100 students and young adults attend. St. Francis sends Holly Kent, youth. Approximately 600 attend and plan for General Conference 2012 in Tampa In Wisconsin, Amy DeLong trial and punishment of suspension for 20 days for performing a lesbian couple’s ceremony.

2012: Tampa, FL, general conference. All extensive efforts at reform fail and chaos prevails at the conference. The RMN “An Altar for All” is created and over 1000 pastors have agreed to perform weddings and commitment ceremonies in “violation” of the Book of Discipline. Bishop Talbert announced that he would act in “Biblical Obedience” rather than follow the discriminatory and unlike Jesus provisions of the Book of Discipline. The Western Jurisdiction (including Desert Southwest Conference) Conference votes to support Bishop Talbert’s efforts and task him to fully define “Biblical Obedience”.

2013: Churchquake convocation in Chevy Chase, MD. Bishop Talbert’s preaches historic sermon on Biblical Obedience. St. Francis sends Chase Moreland.  Bishop Talbert performs a wedding of a gay couple in Alabama and a divided Council of Bishops calls for a complaint to be initiated against him.  Three churches in Sacramento create a Statement of Inclusion and urge others to join them in their stance against the discrimination of the BOD.  St. Francis in the Foothills’ church council adopts and signs the Statement of Inclusion.  Weddings and ceremonies for same gender couples grow in numbers throughout the country. Threats of trials continue and complaints against pastors increase in numbers.  Rolly Loomis returns to St. Francis as associate pastor and is hired half time by RMN.  St. Francis celebrates 25 years of its status as a reconciling church.  Desert Southwest Conference now has 6 reconciling congregations and a Reconciling and Welcoming subcommittee of the conference Church and Society committee  Desert Southwest Conference passed a Marriage Equality Resolution at its annual conference. Bishop Hoshibata finds that it does not violate the BOD. Judicial Council may review it during its spring meeting 2014.  Nationally, RMN has 577 reconciling congregations, campus ministries and Sunday school classes, and there are 25,100 Reconciling United Methodists (RUM)

RECONCILING RESOURCES

Reconciling Ministries Network http://www.rmnetwork.org/about-us/ Reconciling Ministries blog http://www.rmnblog.org/ Jan.8, 2014 Bishop Melvin Talbert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSemVhTQG8g Reconciling Ministries Network Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RMNetwork Information re Rev. Frank Schaefer’s trial And its impact http://www.rmnetwork.org/schaefer-media/ SUPPORTING OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS

This was taken from a variety of sources deemed to be reliable. These lists are not exclusive and there are surely additional groups and companies we could add to these lists. But this is a start.

You can show your support of your LGBT brothers and sisters by supporting companies that have a proven record of coming forward in favor of marriage equality. A few of these high profile companies are: Apple Starbucks Google Facebook ebay Nike, Inc. Gap Ben and Jerry’s Banana Republic Levi Strauss & Co. Microsoft Jet Blue Mastercard AT&T Instagram Johnson & Johnson Ernst & Young Modelez International (Oreo) UBS (bank) Citi (financial services) Orbitz Cisco Goldman Sachs Marriott International Moody’s Expedia Marc Jacobs Home Depot Viacom Macy’s General Mills JCPenney

You can show your support of your LGBT brothers and sisters by learning about and encouraging your friends to refuse to support the following anti-gay organizations Abiding Truth Ministries/Defend Campaign for Children & Institute for Marriage and the Family Families Public Policy Alliance Defense Fund SaveAmerica.com Concerned Women for America Family Research Council Focus on the Family American Family Association Renew America Westboro Baptist Church Watchmen on the Walls Salvation Army ProtectMarriage.com National Org for Marriage Traditional Values Coalition

You can show your support of your LGBT brothers and sisters by choosing not to take your business to the following companies that have consistently promote ‘Biblical obedience’ and have supported organization that are opposed to marriage equality and, in some cases, actively promote an anti-gay agenda: Chick-fil-A Urban Outfitters Exxon Mobile Wal-Mart A-1 Self Storage JTM Food Group Curves Fitness Hobby Lobby

Here are links you might find helpful: http://www.lgbtqnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Anti-Gay-Lobby.pdf www.bossip.com http://www.businessinsider.com/major-brands-that-support-gay-marriage-photos-2013-3?op=1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_supporters_of_same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States http://www.policymic.com/articles/31290/8-companies-that-rocked-red-logos-for-marriage- equality Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church

1 MARRIAGE EQUALITY RESOLUTION (revised) 2 3 WHEREAS, the recent SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) ruling makes marriage 4 Equality legal in California, and 5 6 WHEREAS, Our Annual Conference consists of part of California, and 7 8 WHEREAS, the continuing denial of full access to all the rights and privileges in the 9 United Methodist Church is causing deep spiritual harm to our LGBT brothers and sisters 10 and is a threat to us all; and 11 12 WHEREAS, our membership vows call us “to resist evil, injustice and oppression in 13 whatever forms they present themselves”; and 14 15 WHEREAS, we are called to be obedient to the whole of church law which calls the 16 church to be in ministry with all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and 17 queer (LGBTQ) persons. 18 19 WHEREAS, the opening section of The Book of Discipline, which reminds us of serious 20 flaws and shortcomings manifest in the larger history of Methodism. Shortcomings 21 specifically listed include our previous accommodation of racial segregation by 22 establishing a race-based Central Jurisdiction, and our extended denial of ordination 23 rights and prominent leadership roles for women, and 24 25 WHEREAS, the “Social Principles” of The United Methodist Church (Part IV) strongly 26 endorses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with emphasis on respect for the 27 inherent dignity of all persons. Explicitly cited are the full rights of racial, ethnic, and 28 religious minorities; and the rights of children, young people, the aging, women, men, 29 immigrants, and persons with disabilities. The list concludes by declaring the full human 30 rights of all persons without regard to their sexual orientations, a reference that suggests 31 rational and experiential grounds for endorsing the rights of same-sex couples to marry, 32 and 33 34 WHEREAS It is in the context of these traditions that we must address current 35 shortcomings in United Methodist polity, in particular, forty-one years of prejudicial 36 language portraying the life practices of gay and lesbian persons as “incompatible with 37 Christian teaching,” a standard that has excluded them from ordination, from marriage, 38 and in some cases even from church membership (Judicial Council Ruling 1032). These 39 exclusionary principles are prominent components of the “chargeable offenses” assigned 40 to the “Judicial Administration” (chapter 7, par. 2702). Such unjust rules, combined with 41 the prosecution of clergy who refuse to uphold them, are themselves incompatible with 42 United Methodist visions of inclusiveness, which call of “Open Hearts, Open Minds, and 43 Open Doors.” 44 45 WHEREAS, The Desert Southwest Annual Conference is part of the Larger Western 46 Jurisdiction, which adopted the “Statement of Gospel Obedience” that states the 47 denomination is in error in its stance on the practice of homosexuality and urged United 48 Methodists to operate as if that position does not exist. 49 50 51 WHEREAS, at last year’s Annual Conference we resolved that the Desert Southwest 52 Conference reaffirm its commitment to and work for the full civil and ecclesiastical rights 53 and privileges of all persons including LGBT persons and that the Desert Southwest 54 Conference of the United Methodist Church work together to build a fully inclusive 55 church. We commit to be in ministry with all people, regardless of their economic status, 56 race, age, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, or immigration status, therefore let it be 57 58 RESOLVED that the Desert Southwest Annual Conference and the United Methodist 59 Churches of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference make a public statement 60 supporting and upholding Marriage Equality. Let it further be 61 62 RESOLVED that the Desert Southwest Annual Conference and the United Methodist 63 Churches of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference will support our clergy who take 64 the bold and faithful stand to minister to all equally and include all in the life of the 65 church, which includes but is not limited to, conducting ceremonies which celebrate 66 homosexual unions; or performing same-sex wedding ceremonies where it is civically 67 legal to do so. Let it further be 68 69 RESOLVED, that the Desert Southwest Annual Conference and the United Methodist 70 Churches of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, will support (spiritually, 71 emotionally, and prayerfully) clergy who are brought up on charges for conducting 72 ceremonies which celebrate homosexual unions; or performing same-sex wedding 73 ceremonies. 74 75 Welcoming and Reconciling Committee HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you have a few minutes . . .  Speak up when someone says something uninformed about a LGBT person. Good phrases to use are: o That’s not been my experience o I have a friend who is ____ o But what about (raise an alternative scenario)  Talk about our church as being open to all. Don’t hide the fact that you go to church from your progressive friends.  Write a letter of support to someone in the United Methodist Church who takes a courageous stand.  When on vacation, visit another UMC and introduce yourself as being from a reconciling congregation.  Support LGBT inclusive laws and businesses—a changing society means a changing church.  Pray for a more inclusive church and those who work for it.

If you have more time . . .  Join the St Francis reconciling committee.  Volunteer to be a part of a committee in our Conference, any committee where you have passion or expertise. Your presence as a member of St Francis gives others a way to ask questions.  Attend a Reconciling Ministries Convocation. These inspiring events are held every two years with the next one in 2015, usually over Labor day weekend.  Attend General Conference, the every four year legislative meeting of the UMC. The next one is scheduled for May 2016 in Portland OR. There are many opportunities to demonstrate the power of a more inclusive church.  Look at some of the opportunities at the Reconciling Ministries web site. Click Act to see what you can do.

Stay Informed  Sign up to receive e-mails from the reconciling committee about local events and letter writing opportunities.  Go to the national Reconciling Ministries web site and click Join Us to receive emails and newsletters about national events.

DECLARATION OF INCLUSION

We, The Charge Conference of St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church, declare:

that no one will be denied the services of our church because of sexual orientation or gender identity. This includes the use of our property for same-gender marriages and holy unions.

This action is in accordance with the United Methodist Book of Discipline which states:

 “inclusiveness denies every semblance of discrimination” (¶140)

 “We affirm that all persons are individuals of sacred worth, created in the image of God” (¶161f).

 “All persons, regardless of age, gender, marital status or sexual orientation are entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured” (¶161f).

 “We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends”. (¶161f)

Therefore, we commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons because we understand that each individual is of sacred worth. We do this in a spirit of biblical obedience as we practice the radical hospitality of Jesus Christ.

Enacted by The Charge Conference of St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church on Tuesday, November 19, 2013