Article

Christ Church, Memphis Barnabas Commitee Updates Report Of Current State UM Episcopal Unfaithfulness

An article by the United Methodist News Service can be found at http://umns.umc.org/00/feb/089.htm "The dismissal of a case against a group of United Methodist ministers who performed a same-sex union will likely intensify the debate over homosexuality issues when the church’s top lawmaking body meets in May, according to people on both sides."

In another article by the UMNS Bishop Melvin Talbert announced the committee’s decision during a Feb. 11 press conference which can be found at http://umns.umc.org/00/feb/061.htm Talbert says, "Having received this report from the the Committee on Investigation …I now declare that according to our church polity this complaint process is hereby ended. No further steps or actions will be taken or pursued. I am grateful to the members of the Committee on Investigation for a job well done." This article also contains Bishop Talbert’s full statement and the committee’s written decision.

Bishop Susan Morrison of the Troy Conference recently was among 17 religious leaders encouraging the Vermont legislature to pass a bill that legalizes same-sex marriages. This UMNS report can be found at http://umns.umc.org/00/jan/028.htm

Bishop Roy Sano of the California-Pacific conference recently signed onto the Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing. The full text of this document can be found at http://www.religionproject.org/declaration.html Among other things this declaration calls for "Full inclusion of women and sexual minorities in congregational life, including their ordination and the blessing of same sex unions."

Jack M. Tuell, a retired Bishop of the united Methodist church sent a letter to lay and clergy delegates of the 2000 General conference, urging the delegates to overturn legislation passed by the 1996 General Conference which prohibits the performance of "homosexual unions" by the United Methodist ministers and in United Methodist churches. A copy of the letter can be found at http://ucmpage.org/news/gc2000_lobby.html

An open letter to Bishop Robert C. Morgan, President of the United Methodist council of Bishops and copied to the rest of the active members of the council can be found at http://ucmpage.org/news/ca_disobey_hearing7.html This letter signed by James V. Heidinger, President and publisher of Good News magazine, calls for the council of bishops "to hold one another accountable and deal with this internally" This was in regard to both Bishops Morrison’s and Sano’s public stands. An addendum to the letter also includes "the action taken by the California/Nevada Annual Conference and its Episcopal leader, Bishop Melvin Talbert, who claims the annual conference is a more ‘basic and fundamental covenant than General conference and the Book of Discipline.’"

To stay informed on General conference activities United Methodist News Service, the denomination’s official news agency, will post more than 75 stories during the conference, one after each major action or presentation. All stories and daily summaries can for the duration of the 10-day meeting be received automatically by e-mail. To subscribe for this free service, go to http://umns.umc.org/gc2000news on the web.

A live prayer chat room is in the process of being organized for individuals interested in praying during General Conference with each other via Internet. As the details become available we will let you know. Look for more articles from your Barnabas Committee and visit our Barnabas room on the third floor of Dunnam for any articles you see listed here.