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North Carolina Christian Advocate, September 6, 2005
ON HOMOSEXUALITY: NO ONE IS TEACHING FOR THE CHURCH
by Rev. Paul T. Stallsworth
At the end of the summer of 2005, The United Methodist Church is dealing with the issue of homosexuality in three different venues. First, there is the case of Reverend Beth Stroud. A clergywoman from Pennsylvania, Rev. Stroud publicly admitted that she is a practicing homosexual. At the end of a church trial, she lost her clergy credentials. An appeal decision reinstated her credentials. And in October, the Judicial Council, which is United Methodism’s Supreme Court, will render the final decision on Rev. Stroud. Second, there is the case of Reverend Edward Johnson. Rev. Johnson, at South Hill United Methodist Church in Virginia, refused to receive into church membership a practicing homosexual, who is in a relationship with another man and who is unrepentant. Because of his refusal, a complaint was filed against Rev. Johnson, and it was decided in June that he would be removed from pastoral responsibilities and placed on an “involuntary leave of absence.” And third, there is the matter of “Hearts on Fire,” a conference sponsored by Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN). According to RMN’s mission statement, “Reconciling Ministries Network is a national grassroots organization that exists to enable full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the life of The United Methodist Church, both in policy and practice.” Furthermore, “[at ‘Hearts on Fire’ w]e hope to gather 400 UMs who will envision The United Methodist Church truly opening itself to the gifts and graces of the LGBT [Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender] community.” (www.rmnetwork.org) With the aforementioned stimulating so much conversation throughout the denomination these days, now is the time for an attempt at some clear thinking on The United Methodist Church and homosexuality. It is a given that United Methodism has teaching, substantive moral-theological teaching, on homosexuality. The 2004 General Conference, like many General Conferences before it, fine tuned that teaching. This teaching is now contained in The Book of Discipline (2004). It reflects what historic Christianity has taught, Biblically and Traditionally, about homosexuality through the ages. As is well known, the Church’s teaching on homosexuality is not accepted by all United Methodists. In other words, regarding homosexuality, some United Methodist clergy and laity are in dissent. This is not an unusual situation. Every issue confronting the Church -- indeed, every doctrine of the Church -- generates dissent. That is the way it has always been; that is the way it is; that is the way it always will be. Again, Church teaching is never accepted by all the clergy and all the laity. That is a sociological fact. But the pattern of teaching and dissent remains: the Church has teaching; and the Church allows and even welcomes dissent over against its authoritative teaching, for the sake of furthering the engagement and clarifying the teaching. Now, with regard to homosexuality, how is this teaching-then-dissent pattern playing out in the life of United Methodism? It appears that our denomination teaches on the matter of homosexuality mainly around the time of General Conference. The debates (before and during the conference), the votes on petitions, and the final wording of adopted petitions are duly reported in the denominational press. Then the language of adopted petitions is printed in the newly minted Book of Discipline. There, in large part, the teaching ends. (It resumes about four years later, as preparations begin for yet another General Conference.) What follows each General Conference is a new round of church trials in which those in dissent search for ways around the denomination’s doctrine and discipline on homosexuality. In addition, various educational events, sponsored by dissenters, are organized to advocate against the Church’s teaching on homosexuality. That is, after each General Conference, it appears that those in dissent take the offensive against the Church’s teaching, doctrine, and discipline. All these activities in dissent are covered rather exhaustively in the denominational and daily media. That is, the position of dissent is constantly dissenting in public. Only a few paragraphs in a book -- The Book of Discipline -- are left to teach for the Church. Question: What is missing from this picture? Answer: Engaging, clear, forthright, comprehensive, authoritative teaching on what The United Methodist Church believes about homosexuality. The Council of Bishops does not provide such teaching. Few bishops in their episcopal areas, if any, do this. Agency executives do not do this. Most seminary professors do not do this. One might say that The Book of Discipline is left humbly to offer up its simple, rules-oriented paragraphs on homosexuality to those who are willing to inquire and read and quote. Yes, The United Methodist Church has teaching on homosexuality. But that teaching needs to be taught -- indeed, that teaching needs to be winsomely asserted -- for the good of the whole church. And teaching involves more, much more, than simply quoting the pertinent paragraphs from The Book of Discipline. Such teaching involves, at a minimum, providing the Biblical and Traditional reasoning that stands behind and with our disciplinary paragraphs on this moral matter. If this teaching takes place, when this teaching takes place, The United Methodist Church will regain some trust and confidence in the Church’s faith. Then the dissent against Church teaching will not seem nearly as threatening to the larger denomination.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Rev. Stallsworth is the pastor of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Morehead City, NC.
To respond to this article and continue the dialogue, please send your article to: St. Peter’s United Methodist Church/111 Hodges Street/Morehead City, NC 28557.
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