Comment

UM Agencies and Institutions Still Do Not Abide By Official Church Position On Homosexuality While Discussion Continues For Another Four Years

To: ucmpage@ucmpage.org <ucmpage@ucmpage.org>
Date: Thursday, June 29, 2000 12:14 PM
Subject: Clarification from the NC Annual Conference

Dear John,

Once again the establishment media in both the church and secular arenas failed to tell the whole story regarding the position of grass roots United Methodism. While it is true that the North Carolina Annual Conference passed a resolution which encourages continued prayerful dialogue on the topic of homosexuality, the press failed to mention that the following motion was passed on the floor of Conference:

The 2000 North Carolina Annual Conference expresses its appreciation to the 2000 General Conference for its deliberation and decision on the issue of homosexuality and we remind ourselves of our basic covenant of faithfulness and obedience to the teaching and order of the Church.  [June 9, 2000]

The resolution calling for continued discussion of homosexuality was deemed by many to be confusing in the way it presented the authoritative teaching of the Church.  Thus, the above motion was a means of clarifying our support and endorsement of the United Methodist Church's biblical stand on issues related to homosexuality.

Thank you for getting out "the rest of the story".

In Christ,
the Rev. Ben Sharpe
Cornerstone UMC
NC Annual Conference

From: bethandgreg1 bethandgreg1@netzero.net
To: ucmpage@ucmpage.org ucmpage@ucmpage.org
Date: Thursday, June 29, 2000 9:29 PM
Subject: UM Agencies and Institutions Still Do Not Abide By Official Church Position On Homosexuality While Discussion Continues For Another Four Years.

Dear John,

This story comments on actions by the N.C. Annual Conference regarding homosexuality. The resolution in question was presented by a pro-homosexual faction. The resolution was a poorly worded resolution which I believe would have been easily defeated had we been allowed to debate it on the floor. Unfortunately, before we could debate the resolution itself the question was called. This provided a source of confusion as there were 2 ammendments that had been offered. A delegate called all that was before us and thus the vote went quickly and without discussion. It was an unfortunate move by a fellow evangelical. The vote was extremely close.

Not reported in the UMNS, however, was a motion presented and OVERWHELMINGLY adopted the following day. That motion reads as follows: "The 2000 North Carolina Annual Conference expresses its apreciation to the 2000 General Conference for its deliberation and decision on the issue of homosexuality, and we remind ourselves of our basic covenant of faithfulness and obedience to the teachings and order of the church."

Hopefully, this brings some clarity to actions taken at the N.C. Annual Conference and offers reassurance as to our commitment to biblical authority.

Greg Jenks President,
Evangelical Fellowship of the NC Annual Conference