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SOULFORCE PLANS DEMONSTRATION AT MAJOR UNITED METHODIST EVENT

The pro-gay activist group Soulforce has announced plans to demonstrate at the upcoming United Methodist General Conference this spring in Fort Worth. (General Conference is the once-every-four-years international legislative gathering of the denomination.) Celebrating their 10th year of seeking "freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance," the group plans to host two events of some sort on Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27.

Soulforce orchestrated very disruptive actions, including arrests, at both the 2000 and 2004 General Conferences, and also made appearances at all the major clergy trials over sexuality issues - Jimmy Creech, Karen Dammann and Beth Stroud. Their current major concern is Judicial Council decision 1032, which ruled that local clergy have authority to decide readiness for ministry. (In regard to a local pastor that postponed membership to an unrepentant practicing gay man.) They are also strongly opposed to President Bush's nomination of United Methodist Dr. James Holsinger as Surgeon General, largely because of his leadership on the Judicial Council and his evangelical views about sexuality.

You can read more about Soulforce and its plans for General Conference at www.soulforce.org. Be forewarned, however, the site contains glaring misinformation about The United Methodist Church and about several of its renewal groups.

Transforming Congregations will again be part of the Coalition for Renewal and Reform at General Conference, a group that includes Good News, UMAction/IRD, the Confessing Movement, RENEW Network for Women and LifeWatch. Plans and events will be announced soon.

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General Conference

PC(USA) HIGH COURT RULES "FIDELITY AND CHASTITY" STANDARD REMAINS BINDING

Tuesday February 12 the PC(USA)'s highest court issued a landmark decision that has direct bearing on the intense debate over ordination standards in the PC(USA).

For the last twenty months, a confusing debate has raged on the meaning of a new "authoritative interpretation" (AI) of the constitution passed by the 2006 General Assembly.  Indeed congregations have left the PC(USA) in recent months, citing this new AI as a primary cause.  The new AI appeared as though it would allow sessions and presbyteries to ordain candidates who were in open violation of our denomination's constitutional standards for ordination, including the biblical "Fidelity and Chastity" standard. In addition, just last month two presbyteries cited this new AI as justification for their decisions to allow open departures from the "Fidelity and Chastity" standard.

However, in three decisions issued yesterday, the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) has ruled that no ordaining body (session or presbytery) has the right to ordain a candidate who is in violation of constitutional standards, including the "Fidelity and Chastity" standard expressed in the Book of Order (G-6.0106b).  With these new GAPJC rulings, we can now rest assured that our standards for ordination in the PC(USA) continue to reflect the clear teaching of Scripture and the plain meaning of our constitution.

Click here to read the rest of this article on GA2008.com where you can also offer your comments on this issue.

STUDY ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION CHANGE

This fall, Dr. Stan Jones and Dr. Mark Yarhouse released findings for the first three years of their five year study of Exodus ministry participants who are/were attempting to change their sexual orientation. The study broke new ground in several important ways. Unlike similar studies done previously, this one was longitudinal (tracking people over the course of several years) and it was “prospective” (following people in “real time” rather than relying solely on retrospective report.)

The study sought to answer two claims currently popular within the therapeutic community: that change of sexual orientation is impossible and that the attempt to do so is psychologically harmful. Much like the Spitzer study (2003), Yarhouse and Jones concluded that some people can change, though not all do and not all move from exclusive homosexuality to exclusive heterosexuality on current measurable scales. But unlike the Shidlo and Schroeder study (2002), they found that on average their sample experienced no more (and actually reported less) psychological stress than people involved in any other kind of therapeutic process.

There were some surprises in the study. The median age – 37 – was higher than the researchers expected, indicating that folk involved had some life experience behind them before they decided to start the change process. The sample also had a high education level and a strong commitment to religion, though that was anticipated. And the persons who reported the greatest range of change were those who started out with the highest “homosexual” rating on the Kinsey scale. (Many gay activists argue that it’s mainly bisexuals who enter into and succeed in these kinds of programs.)

Even before the findings were released, the study sparked lively and sometimes fierce debate on the Internet. Here are some links to online articles and blogs that deal with the study:

http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=2846

http://www.christianitytoday.com/49778

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/october/5.52.html

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_6920041

http://www.wthrockmorton.com/

http://disputedmutability.wordpress.com/

The Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church ruled the end of October that Bishop John Schol of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference did not act in error when he reappointed transgender pastor Drew Phoenix to St. John's United Methodist Church. The Associated Press broke the story this summer, reporting that Phoenix was "transitioning" from female to male. St. John's is a "Reconciling Congregation," committed to the full inclusion of "people of all sexual orientations and gender identities" into the life of the Church and the congregation has been supportive of the appointment. Bishop Schol had argued that current Church policy takes no position on transgenderism, an argument that the Judicial Council essentially confirmed. (You can read the full text of the ruling here. And you can read Rev. Phoenix's statement on the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference website.)

American Family News Network reports that a pastor in Maryland has filed formal charges against Rev. Phoenix challenging the pastoral appointment.

Transforming Congregations has submitted and will advocate for two pieces of legislation for General Conference consideration. The first would reinforce official church teaching in the Book of Discipline, including addressing transgenderism, and the second would introduce transgenderism to the Book of Resolutions, which is not as authoritatively binding for faith and practice.

The New York Times reported on September 25 that the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church rejected directives by the world-wide Anglican Communion in regard to the issue of homosexuality. Earlier this year, after a summit of Anglican leaders in Tanzania, the American Bishops were given a deadline of September 30th to define the denomination's official position. At their meeting in New Orleans, the American Bishops agreed to "halt" the ordination of gay bishops and public blessings of same-sex unions for the next two years, but some Global South Bishops are not satisfied and are continuing to call for repentance and the de-frocking of openly gay Bishop, V. Gene Robinson. Other news outlets are also reporting that disgruntled conservative American priests and Bishops are poised to withdraw from The Episcopal Church to form a new network or denomination.

The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association of The United Methodist Church has had its property tax exemption for its boardwalk pavilion revoked by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection because they refused to allow a same-sex civil union to be performed there.  The DEP claims that the group violated the exemption requirement that the pavilion be equally available to all people.

“Contrary to New Jersey's assertions, the Ocean Grove Camp Ground Association has not limited the use of its boardwalk pavilion to any person, rather it has prohibited some BEHAVIOR, according to the principles of the United Methodist Church.”        --Mark Tooley, Executive Director UMAction

The Camp Meeting Association is going forward with its federal lawsuit against the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, claiming their right to religious freedom will be violated if forced to sanction same-sex unions.

To read the article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, click here.

To read a copy of UMAction's press release, click here.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA (ELCA)

CHICAGO (ELCA) - While the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) made no changes to its standards for its professional leaders during the 2007 Churchwide Assembly, it encouraged restraint in disciplining people and congregations that call ministers in mutual, chaste and faithful, committed, same-gender relationships, and called for restraint in disciplining professional leaders.
 

The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is met here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About 2,000 people participated, including 1,069 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly was "Living in God's Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
 

By a vote of 538 to 431, the assembly encouraged the ELCA's synods, bishops and presiding bishop to "refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining" people and congregations who call qualified leaders on the professional rosters of the ELCA "who are in a mutual, chaste and faithful, committed, same-gender relationship." The assembly also stated that the same restraint should apply to the professional leaders who are on the official rosters and are in committed same-gender relationships.  The proposal was adopted by the assembly as a substitute for a recommendation of the Memorials Committee.

Initial debate centered on referring recommendations on standards for rostered leaders to the Task Force on Studies of Sexuality, which is developing a social statement on human sexuality for consideration by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.
 

The substitute proposal was made by the Rev. Paul R. Landahl, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod. He said, "We pray that somebody here today will listen to what we are trying to say and give us some breathing space to do what God is calling us to do."
 

"We need to refrain from harming good leaders," said Eric M. Peterson, ELCA South-Central Synod of Wisconsin. "Stop the bleeding of our church, and focus on mission and ministry."
 

Arthur Murphy, ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, was opposed to the action. "We're trying to get in the back door what we did not do through the front door. I urge us not to make haphazard, piecemeal policy but create a comprehensive solution at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly and pass it one way or another."
 

At a news conference following the decision, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, said the key words from the adopted action were that the Churchwide Assembly "prays, urges, and encourages" refraining or demonstrating restraint in discipline. "These are words of counsel. They are not words that change the standards of the church. They reflect the mind of this assembly as it seeks to give counsel to the leaders of the church."
 

In a separate decisions, the assembly referred memorials to the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality regarding requests to make changes in ELCA clergy standards. The assembly added an amendment to the referral, directing the task force to "specifically address and make recommendations to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly on changes to any policies that preclude practicing homosexual persons from the rosters of the church." The assembly also referred other related memorials on sexuality to the task force.
- - -

Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be found here on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news

 Click here to read an article in The Chicago Tribune.

The Maryland Court of Appeals upheld, by a 4-to-3 decision, the state's law which defines marriage as the union of one and one woman.  The action put to an end a challenge which began in 2004 by nine same-sex couples and one homosexual man when a clerk denied marriage license applications.

The ruling does not mean that Maryland's General Assembly cannot pass legislation legalizing same-sex marriages and civil unions. One state senator, Richard Madaleno, states that he does plan on introducing such a bill.

Click here to read the Cybercast News Service article.

CHRISTIAN LEADERS URGE APA TO RESPECT RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

Thu, Jul. 12, 2007 Posted: 10:41:07 AM EST

The American Psychological Association will begin reviewing its policy on therapy to homosexuals next Tuesday as both gay rights activists and religious groups hope for a revised policy in their favor.

New research on what is often called reparative therapy and protests by homosexual activists who say such treatment is harmful have prompted the largest association of psychologists to re-examine its 10-year-old policy on counseling homosexuals.

As pro-gay groups push for a new APA policy, which is expected by mid-2008, that denounces any attempt by therapists to change sexual orientation, conservative religious leaders and counselors have already written to the APA to urge respect for religious commitments of clients who have unwanted same-sex desires.

While commending the APA for acting to develop ethical and helpful procedures to assist persons with same-sex attractions, the religious leaders stated: "[W]e are writing to express some concern that the mission of the task force may not recognize same-sex attracted persons who also have solid and unwavering religious commitments which lead them to avoid homosexual behavior.

"We strongly believe that psychologists can offer a valuable service if they respect the religious commitments of their clients to the same degree that they respect sexual orientation diversity," they wrote in the letter dated June 29.

The initial statement was written by Dr. Warren Throckmorton, a noted expert in sexuality counseling, and reviewed at Focus on the Family, one of the largest evangelical organizations in the country, along with other conservative leaders.

Scores of religious leaders representing various denominations, churches, universities, and organizations as well as individual professionals signed on to the letter expressing concerns and offering suggestions, including the expansion of the current task force of formation of a new and separate one that would provide recommendations for psychologists who respect religious identity.

Religious groups had raised concern when the six-member APA task force that was set up late May to review the policy on reparative therapy did not include experts who reflect their view or have worked with clients experiencing religious conflict over sexuality. The task force is dominated by gay-rights supporters and conservatives believe the panel does not reflect diversity.

"We're concerned," said Carrie Gordon Earll of Focus on the Family, according to The Associated Press. "The APA does not have a good track record of listening to other views."

Clinton Anderson, director of the APA's Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns Office, insisted the panel would base its findings on scientific research, not ideology, according to AP.

"We cannot take into account what are fundamentally negative religious perceptions of homosexuality – they don't fit into our world view," said Anderson, defending the decision to reject certain conservative nominees to the task force.

In response, Throckmorton argued, "If by this, he (Anderson) means the APA cannot accommodate religious views which object to homosexual behavior, then he is setting the APA up as a judge of religious beliefs. In contrast, the religious coalition who signed the letter to APA wants the APA in its policies and guidance to respect religious diversity in the same way they do sexual identity diversity."

"We encourage safe and ethical practices that allow clients to live according to their religious values," the June 29 letter stated. "We believe that psychologists should assist clients to develop lives they value, even if that means they decline to identify as homosexual."

The task force is expected to submit a preliminary report to the APA's directors in December.

Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter

BISHOP TIMOTHY WHITAKER ON THE CHURCH AND HOMOSEXUALITY

Florida area United Methodist Bishop Timothy Whitaker has an excellent on essay entitled "The Church and Homosexuality." Bishop Whitaker has already gained a reputation within the denomination for forthright defense of orthodox Christian faith, and his essay for the most part continues in that vein. He makes a powerful argument against basing one's identity on a sexual preference or behavior, and he challenges the Church as a whole not to surrender to cultural pressures to redefine human sexuality. His opinions on church membership for homosexuals actively engaged in same-sex behavior may part company with other evangelical leader's beliefs, but the essay is definitely worth serious consideration.

You can read the entire essay, and several others on human sexuality, here.

PRO-GAY WORSHIP LEADERS AT METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE 2008

The United Methodist Committee on General Conference has chosen two pro-gay musicians, Mark Miller and Marcia McFee, to lead worship at the 2008 international legislative gathering. Miller is an openly gay professor at Drew Seminary in Madison, New Jersey.  And both he and McFee have led worship for Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) national conferences in past years.  RMN is the unofficial caucus promoting full inclusion of homosexual, bisexual and transgender people in the life of the church, including ordination and blessing of marriage or unions.

The official News Service press release is here.

You can find out more about the Reconciling Ministries agenda here.

Renewal leadership critique and commentary is here.