General Conference opens with hope
Personal ministry makes disciples
UMC formally admits Ivory Coast
Madam President, Mama President
Church retains stance on human sexuality
Pain and protest: A Good News response
Young people: a church to call home
Doubts arise following cellphone gifts
Sometimes a cellphone is just a cellphone
Deeds, not words, make disciples
Former abortion clinic owner shares story
U.S. Christians don’t feel persecution pain
Moved by the “water and the Spirit”
Church key to fighting AIDS crisis
Episcopal address focuses on hope
General Conference tackles global issues
Points of order, points of grace
CONFERENCE COMMENTARY
United Methodist teambuilding: Acevedo
Looking to the future with hope: Hamilton
Priorities transcend differences: McCurry
The dilemma of 3 Simple Rules: Reisman
COLUMNS
Editorial Reflections on the 2008 General Conference
RENEW Women’s Network Aftermath
Culture in View To Be a Friend of Caspian
Next Generation Responding to Speakaphobia
The Great Commission Brokenness
From the Hear Prison Praise
Strong Texas winds, area tornados, and unseasonably cool temperatures marked the ten arduously long days of General Conference 2008. What is the aftermath of this quadrennial gathering of United Methodists? Many individuals and groups will offer assessments of and make predictions about GC2008 decisions. We join in this important process.
As women who comprise over half of the membership of The United Methodist Church, we join the men in our interest of all issues that impact the church. As evangelical women, we acknowledge a defined perspective regarding General Conference action.
Regarding general legislation:
• We are troubled by the shift in the Judicial Council to a liberal body, thus creating concern for future rulings.
• We rejoice in the preservation of our standards on most of the sexuality issues.
• We regret that the vote fell 30 short of severing our ties with the pro-abortion Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC).
• We are pleased the General Conference let stand language in The Book of Discipline regarding pastoral authority over church membership.
• We are concerned about the ongoing study regarding the formation of “Regional” conferences that would separate the current U.S. church from the Central Conferences.
Regarding “actions taken” by Soulforce, Affirmation, Reconciling Ministries Network, and Methodist Federation for Social Action:
• We are grieved that a bishop of our Church found a loophole once again to allow advocates for the acceptance of homosexual practice onto the floor of General Conference without vote of the body.
• We lament with delegates who felt “dismayed, saddened, outraged, and captive” as the protestors marched onto the floor.
• We decry one protestor’s statement that the “anti-gay policies of The United Methodist Church are wrong and sinful in the sight of God.”
• We concur with the North Georgia bishop who said publicly, “I think the church is right. I think we are very much in sync with historic Christianity and very much in sync with 99.9 percent of Christians in the world. I make no apology for our position. It is biblical, and it is in keeping with 2,000 years of Christian tradition.”
• We were appalled at the blatant performance of a same-sex marriage ceremony just outside the Convention Center, and at the participation of a United Methodist clergy woman who blessed and consecrated communion elements that the couple served to their guests.
Regarding legislation that relates to United Methodist Women and the Women’s Division:
• We appreciate the delegates who spoke on behalf of choice in women’s ministries as proposed by legislation submitted by Renew Network members.
• We regret that this legislation did not pass, despite the fact that GCFA statistics show that only 16 percent of women who are members of the UM Church are members of the UMW, leaving 84 percent whose ministries are unrecognized or non-existent.
• We are glad our petitions “Divorce” and “End Exploitation by United Nations Personnel” were adopted.
• We remain concerned that other petitions calling for accountability on the part of the Women’s Division failed.
• We praise God that the legislation recommending “After the Fact…,” a faulty study on teen suicide, was rejected.
• We are deeply troubled by the passing of other resolutions relating to teen suicide that only focus on homosexual practice, not the top causes of teen suicide.
• We are alarmed that General Conference continues to pass Women’s Division petitions that are politically and socially skewed, such as those endorsing radical United Nations treaties and the International Criminal Court.
The aftermath of General Conference may not bode well for the denomination. Although it was a stormy time, the voices of evangelical women and men were heard, and will continue to be heard, above the winds of confusion and doubt.
For a detailed analysis of General Conference 2008 contact the RENEW Network. RENEW is the women’s program arm of the Good News movement. Visit us at www.renewnetwork.org or contact us at renew1@hemc.net; P.O. Box 889, Cornelia, GA 30531; 706/778-4812. Your contributions to this ministry are appreciated.
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