Methodists facing deep division on homosexuality

By Darrell Holland

Rellglon Editor

PORTLAND, Ore. America's second largest Protestant denomi-

·

nation begins its quadrennial Conference here tomorrow confronted with a loss of about a million members in the past 10 years and

·

with deep divisions over the church's social ministry.

The 984 delegates to the United Methodist policy meeting will be

asked to act on proposals to soften the

church's stand against homosexuality and to study sex issues during the next four years.

One proposal is to delete from the church's Discipline a book containing official Methodist doctrine, law and practices the statement, "We do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”

Another proposal is to delete, "Although men and women are sexual beings whether or not they are married, sex between a man and a woman is to be clearly affirmed only in the marriage bond.'

1

Conservatives, including a group called Good News of Wilmore, Ky., have criticized the proposals. Good News said that with the deletions the church no longer would object to homosexual practices and fornication.

Another amendment, expected to be opposed by conservatives, would welcome all persons regardless of sexual orientation into the fellowship and membership of the church.

Robert Lear, a church spokesman, said yesterday that about 15,000 petitions have been received from members across the country and that about half oppose even the study on human sexuality.

There have been reports of deep frustration at the local church level over liberal policies of the denomination's hierarchy, according to a report from the National Courier, a religious weekly.

The laity and many pastors at the local church level apparently are more inclined to evangelism programs leading to decisions for Christ than are many agency board and conference leaders.

This was apparent in the responses from 13,000 members in a recent sampling of opinion. The church has 9.9 million members,

-

second in size only to the Southern Baptists in America.

The report also showed that members were more conservative than the church and that many are bitterly frustrated because they feel the church does not listen to them when policies and programs are shaped.

On social issues, only 36% of the clergy and 20% of the laity favored the proposed study of human sexuality. Nearly 75% of the clergy and 78% of the laity said the ordained ministry should not be open to people regardless

of their sexual orientation.

However, 55% of the clergy and 47% of the laity thought membership should be open to all people.

Ohio, home of about 600,000 United Methodists, has 60 delegates, including 24 from the East Ohio Conference and 36 from the West Ohio Conference. Delegates from the Cleveland district are the Rev. Thomas L. Cromwell, district superintendent, the Rev. Calvin Myers, pastor of the Berea United Methodist Church and Dr. A. B. Bonds, president of Baldwin-Wallace College.