Gay church may join UCC, but three drop out
The Layman Online, August 4, 2005
The United Church of Christ’s endorsement of same-gender marriages has been a boon and a bane for the denomination.
The UCC news service reported that the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, which is believed to be the largest church in the world with a primary outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, is considering affiliation with the UCC.
The news service says an additional 15 congregations have inquired about membership in the UCC since the denomination’s General Synod voted in July to endorse same-gender marriages.
But there have also been some dropouts. The news service said they include the 49-member Center Congregational church in Atlanta, the 470-member Shiloh church in Faith, N.C., and the 400-member Salem-Darmstadt church in Indiana.
Other fallout
The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America is leaving the U.S. National Council of Churches, saying it is unhappy with policies and statements of other member denominations, including the United Church of Christ, over the issue of homosexuality.
Metropolitan Philip Saliba, the denomination’s senior cleric, made the decision to leave the NCC on July 28 during its convention in Dearborn, Mich., according to Ecumenical News International.
“It got to be too much,” denomination spokesperson the Rev. Thomas Zain told ENI, saying, “there was no more reason to be part of it.” He added, “It’s lost its goal of Christian unity on a doctrinal basis. The goal seems to be including everybody and [promoting] niceties.”
A new ‘Revelation’
United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon of the North Alabama Conference has posted on the conference’s Web site a letter that he originally wrote for Christianity Today, which invited him to make a contribution in the style of the letters to Revelation.
Willimon presumes in the letter to speak for God but says his remarks were tongue-in-cheek. They also are a biting commentary on mainline denominations.
He titled it “To the Church called mainline.” It includes an allusion to the Presbyterian Church (USA), but not by name.
“You, who enjoyed thinking of yourselves as ‘mainline’ got sidelined,” Willimon says. “I the One who so exuberantly turned water into wine at Cana, tire of your propensity to turn wine to water at your bureaucracies in Nashville, Minneapolis, and Louisville …”
“You know me, I love to make the oldline new,” Willimon says. “If you will stick with me, I shall give you a future, new wineskins and all that. I am Lord of Life, not death. I shall move you from mordant decline to life. I’ve still got plans for you. You’ll be smaller, but small can be good. Ask the Mennonites. You will no longer be in charge of the nation, if you ever were. Remember, the national church thing was your idea of church, not mine. Get back to basics like worship, service, and witness. Don’t mourn the downsizing of your bureaucracy. You were once good at mission. Now that much of North America has never heard of me, it’s about time to start thinking of yourselves as missionaries…”
Judicial appeal
The Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church will hear oral arguments in the case of Irene Elizabeth (Beth) Stroud Oct. 27 in Houston, according to the denomination’s news service.
In a church trial last December, Stroud was found guilty of violating the denomination’s prohibition of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” in the ordained ministry. Then serving as associate pastor of First United Methodist Church of Germantown near Philadelphia, she lost her clergy credentials but remained on staff as a layperson.
On April 29, however, the denomination’s Northeastern Jurisdiction Committee on Appeals overturned the trial court’s verdict and penalty, citing legal errors, and restored Stroud’s clergy standing.
The wall must fall
The 2005 General Assembly of the Disciples of Christ called upon Israel to tear down the barrier it is building across Palestinian territory to shield itself against terrorist attacks. Assembly representatives approved the resolution first by majority voice vote and then by standing. The amended resolution titled, “Breaking Down the Dividing Wall.”
The resolution calls upon the Israeli government to cease the project, tear down the segments that have already been constructed and make reparations to those who have lost property and homes, according to the denomination’s news service. The resolution also calls upon the U.S. government to engage actively, fully, and fairly in a peace process that will lead to the peaceful coexistence of both Israel and a Palestinian state.
The resolution drew the attention of the Simon Wiesenthal Foundation in Los Angeles, Calif. Foundation representatives handed out flyers attacking the resolution the first four days the General Assembly met in Portland and lobbied delegates within the Oregon Convention Center.
Prior to the vote, several resolution opponents said the barrier seeks to stop suicide bombers and Israel has the right to protect itself from terrorist attacks.
Ken Britton, of Cloverdale Christian Church in Cloverdale, Ind., emphasized that Israel has a right to exist. “If we vote for this resolution, we are going to tell Israel we don’t care about you and that we don’t care about terrorism, and that you have no right to exist.”