Reaction to GC2008: Northeastern Jurisdiction

[Note: Part three in a series of six. Links to parts 1-2 and 4-6 at bottom of this post as they are published.]

In this third post identifying official reactions to General Conference 2008, we’ll be looking at the North Central Jurisdiction.

There was one official reaction from the Northeastern Jurisdiction, kind of surprising for such a generally progressive area. The resolution comes from the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference, found here (pdf), beginning on page 58:

Resolution for Continuing Dialogue on
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

WHEREAS, the United Methodist Church continues to struggle with issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity; and

WHEREAS, the Report of the Task Force on Homosexuality and the Unity of the Church adopted by the 2004 General Conference encouraged further dialogue throughout the United Methodist Church, designed to lead to greater understanding, love and care for each other; and

WHEREAS, the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference determined in 2006 that this Conference will model inclusive behavior by expecting and encouraging its congregations and clergy to abide by the principle: Membership in any local church in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference shall not be denied on the basis of race, color, national origin, economic condition, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, ability or disability, or any other status; and

WHEREAS, the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference has demonstrated wisdom and leadership in facing the challenge of contending views regarding sexual orientation and gender identity during the 2005-2008 quadrennium by initiating a dialogue team at the Conference level and by beginning the process of forming district level dialogues, which allow Conference members to talk with and not just about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) persons; and

WHEREAS, through prayerful dialogue these teams created open, grace-filled spaces for persons with contending viewpoints to learn to know each other authentically, to explore divergent understandings and whenever possible, to experience healing and reconciliation; and WHEREAS, the Conference was not able to initiate dialogue teams in each of the Districts of the Baltimore-Washington Conference during the 2005 – 2008 quadrennium; and WHEREAS, it is appropriate not only to complete the task of the dialogue teams but also to advance congregational insight and wisdom in dealing with LGBT issues as they pursue the Discipleship Adventure:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the bishop and each district superintendent shall continue to facilitate the organization of dialogue teams within each District of the Baltimore- Washington Conference on issues related to the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the life of The United Methodist Church, Conference organizations and each local church; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each District dialogue team shall include LGBT persons and that care shall be taken to ensure that LGBT persons who participate in these dialogues shall not be subject to adverse actions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that funding required for the work of the District Dialogue Teams shall continue to come from the Baltimore-Washington Conference, as is consistent with Judicial Council rulings; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each district superintendent shall report quarterly to the bishop regarding the formation or lack thereof of a dialogue team in his or her district and that the bishop and Cabinet work together to ensure that each district has a functioning dialogue team by Annual Conference 2009; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each district dialogue team shall continue this important work during the entirety of the next quadrennium (2009 – 2012), and shall report quarterly to the bishop and the Cabinet on their progress and activities, and further that each district dialogue team shall, through 2012, report annually to the Annual Conference on the status of their work, including lessons learned, hopes and plans for continued dialogue, and recommendations for how to move into the future; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such reports of each district dialogue team and each district superintendent shall be published annually in the Conference Journal through 2012.

I congratulate leaders in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference for their continuing work for the cause. Leaders involved with this resolution include Bishop John R. Schol and members of B-WARM, the local chapter of Reconciling Ministries. Named on the Conference’s official documents are Adam Briddell (current chair of B-WARM), Carol Berman, Ella Curry, the Rev. Peter DeGroote, Ron Gebhardtsbauer, Paul Hazen, Jen Ihlo, Kara Ker, T.C. Morrow, the Rev. Drew Phoenix, Dr. Mittie Quinn, and Ralph Williams.

Note: In mid-July, delegates from the Northeast Jurisdiction passed a resolution supporting the clergy in the California-Pacific and California-Nevada Conferences. For more information regarding the actions of these clergypersons, see the post detailing the resolutions of the Western Jurisdiction.

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