World Methodist leaders adopt statement on unity, sexuality Oct. 1, 2004 By Kathy L. Gilbert*
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A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose
His
Eminence Sunday Mbang (left), chairperson of the World Methodist
Council, reports during a meeting in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
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His
Eminence Sunday Mbang (left), chairperson of the World Methodist
Council, gives his report during a meeting of the council's executive
committee at St. John's Methodist Church in Port Elizabeth, South
Africa. At right is the Rev. John Barrett, vice chairperson of the
council. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.
Photo number 04-423, Accompanies UMNS # 451, 10/1/04 |
PORT ELIZABETH, South
Africa (UMNS)-Top leaders of the World Methodist Council have adopted a
statement on unity to "sound a note of warning" that churches must
seriously address tensions around issues of human sexuality.If
the church fails to look at the issue of homosexuality now, the unity
of the church will suffer, said His Eminence Sunday Mbang, chairperson
of the council’s executive committee and prelate of the Methodist Church
in Nigeria. The executive committee adopted the "Unity and Sexuality" statement during its Sept. 15-18 meeting. "A
number of countries, particularly in Europe and America, are legalizing
gay marriages," Mbang said in his opening statement to the committee.
"The churches in those areas are ordaining gay ministers. Some of them
have already consecrated gay bishops. This trend is spreading like
wildfire in some areas." Many people of faith, especially in Africa, "are becoming very confused at this trend and this new learning," he said. "The
future of the Christian church and Methodism may depend on what we do
or fail to do at a time when Christianity is going through (a) crisis
which she has brought upon herself. "The sooner each of us under God takes a position on this new trend, the better for the Christian church." In
response to his remarks, the ecumenics and dialogue committee drafted
the unity statement, calling for churches to "apply their energies and
best minds to the challenges as we all seek God’s light." The
statement acknowledges that the executive committee could not "give
more satisfactory answers than those which have resulted from long
thought and discussion in our churches; it desires only to sound a note
of warning." It
goes on to urge member churches to love all their people but to hold
firmly to the "centrality of Scripture, to the long Christian tradition
of teaching on the order of creation, on marriage and family life, and
to exercise immense care as they face choices which could threaten the
unity of congregations and churches." The
World Methodist Council links churches in the Methodist and Wesleyan
tradition in 132 countries. The full council meets every five years;
during the intervening years, the council is guided by the executive
committee, representing 76 member churches. *Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn. News media contact: Kathy Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org. The full text of the statement follows: Statement from the Executive Committee
of the World Methodist Council Unity and Sexuality The
Chairperson, His Eminence Sunday Mbang, in his opening address to this
Executive, called for a response to the widespread debate ‘within the
churches on the subject of human sexuality.’ He asserted ‘the unity of
the Church is gradually beginning to suffer’ as a result of significant
tensions. He observed the impact of new and unfamiliar interpretations
of the Scriptures to the confusion of many faithful Christians. We also
have record of its adverse effect on our Christian mission. Several
churches have worked for many years to find a way to respond to the
pastoral needs of their people in the face of changing attitudes to
sexual orientation and sexual practice in our societies and cultures,
acknowledging that our sexuality is one of the gifts of God in creation.
(The issue is sharpened in many cases where a call to ordained ministry
is involved.) It
must be observed that there is no ethical consensus in the world at
large on these and related matters. For Christians, there is a tension
between the desire to respond in love to all God’s creatures in the
light of the Gospel’s universal promises, and the need to discern God’s
will in rapidly changing circumstances. Additionally, we must be
concerned for the health of the nations and the future of the entire
human family. In
our review of ecumenical relationships, it is clear that at least one
Christian World Communion has been internally disrupted as a result of
the actions of certain individuals and conciliar bodies; its survival is
at stake. Others with whom we remain in dialogue have firmly reasserted
classical Christian teaching on these matters. Some of our own member
churches have come to the brink of division or have lost members through
precipitate action. It
is acknowledged that this Executive is unlikely to give more
satisfactory answers than those which have resulted from long thought
and discussion in our churches; it desires only to sound a note of
warning. It takes with complete seriousness the issues involved,
scriptural and doctrinal, medical and ethical. It urges the churches to
apply their energies and best minds to the challenges, as we all seek
God’s light. It urges the churches to endeavour to preserve the bond of
peace and love with all their members. But it equally urges the
member churches to hold firmly to the centrality of Scripture, to the
long Christian tradition of teaching on the order of creation, on
marriage and family life, and to exercise immense care as they face
choices which could threaten the unity of congregations and churches. Adopted by the Executive Committee of the World Methodist Council
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
September17,2004
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