Reaction to GC2008: Western Jurisdiction

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

In this fifth post identifying official reactions to General Conference 2008, we’ll be looking at the Western Jurisdiction. This is a long one, so grab a refreshing beverage before you start in.

In the Western Jurisdiction, four Annual Conferences approved official reactions to Fort Worth. First is the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference. They approved sending a letter to the Council of Bishops “and the members of the Judicial Council asking their support for petitions that oppose homophobia and heterosexism and repenting from acts of hate and violence and educate its members about those topics.”

While not the strongest resolution, Pacific Northwest made an interesting play by engaging the Judicial Council, a major part of the problem since Decision 1032. It’ll be interesting to see how this new more progressive Judicial Council rules on like matters.

Next we look at the Rocky Mountain Annual Conference, covering Colorado, Utah, most of Wyoming. They also had an innovative response, affirming the Majority Report that was rejected at General Conference 2008. This Majority Report, among other things, would have removed the “incompatible with Christian teaching” nonsense from ¶161G of the Book of Discipline. The resolution, which follows, can also be found on this document (pdf) along with the full text of the Majority Report.

RESOLUTION ON HUMAN SEXUALITY
IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE

Be it resolved that The Rocky Mountain Annual Conference affirms the statement known as The Majority Report, adopted by the Human Sexuality Sub-Committee and the larger Church & Society II Legislative Committee of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church on April 27, 2008.

Rationale:
The 2008 General Conference of the United Methodist Church convened under the theme “A Future With Hope” and, beginning with the opening worship service, expressed a new and genuine spirit to move beyond some of the language of the past and affirm new language that is more faithful to witnesses from both past and current holy conferencing, as well as our Scriptural call to live the gospel in the Spirit of Christ.

The members of the General Conference Legislative Committee known as Church & Society II were prayerfully selected to represent a broad scope of faithful United Methodists, both clergy and laity and from all parts of the theological spectrum, in their task of considering petitions submitted by United Methodists spanning our global connection.

The General Conference’s Church & Society II Sub-committee entitled Human Sexuality engaged in lengthy, thorough, and genuine holy conferencing around the subject of Human Sexuality found in ¶ 161 G of the Book of Discipline. Their prayerful work became the Majority Report of the Church and Society II Legislative Committee.

This statement was and is a product of honest and genuine holy conferencing and represents a reflection of both grace and truth of which United Methodists throughout our connection can be proud. The spirit of this statement is clearly the heart of our future and a reflection, we believe, of the grace and truth of Jesus Christ.

It is our prayer that The Rocky Mountain Annual Conference will affirm this statement and allow us to move forward, fully embracing “A Future of Hope”. We, the 2008 Rocky Mountain Conference Delegation, feel it expresses a respectful middle ground in an attitude of seeking understanding and the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

We commit ourselves to let this statement guide our own relationships with one another in this Conference and with our surrounding culture.

Next we have the California-Pacific Annual Conference, which covers Southern California, Hawaii, Guam, and other US territories in the Pacific. I have the full text of their three resolutions, and they’re pretty wordy, so I’ll shut up and let them speak for themselves. (Thanks to Rev. Craig Dorval and his blog The Daily Observation for putting them online.)

Pastoral Response to Legality of Same-Gender Marriage in California

Whereas many people who we know and love in our parishes are celebrating with overflowing joy the recent California Supreme Court decision to recognize their place in society and their right to be married, and

Whereas beloved same-gender couples in our parishes are coming to us with their desire to celebrate their love and commitment, and to have those affirmed not only by the state but by their faith community as well, and

Whereas the legality of same-sex marriage in California, the needs of our parishes, and the demands of love require a pastoral response from the clergy and congregations of the California-Pacific Annual Conference,

Therefore, be it resolved that we recognize the pastoral need and prophetic authority of our clergy and congregations to offer the ministry of marriage ceremonies for same-gender couples.

Be it further resolved, while we recognize that we are governed by the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, we support those pastors who conscientiously respond to the needs of their parishes by celebrating same-gender marriages, and we envision compassion and understanding in any resulting disciplinary actions.

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Protecting Marriage Equality in California
[Opposition to “California Marriage Protection Act”]

Whereas the Book of Discipline 2004 states in ¶162(h) that: “Certain basic human rights and civil liberties are due all persons. We are committed to supporting those rights and liberties for homosexual persons,” and “We insist that all persons, regardless of age, gender, martial status, or sexual orientation, are entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured,” and

Whereas the 2008 session of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, held in Fort Worth, Texas, has adopted the resolution titled Opposition to Homophobia and Heterosexism, calling on: “The United Methodist Church strengthen its advocacy of the eradication of sexism by opposing all forms of violence or discrimination based on gender, gender identity, sexual practice or sexual orientation,” and

Whereas the Supreme Court of the State of California ruled in the case of In re: Marriage Cases (2008), when it struck down a state ban on same-sex marriage, has found the right to marry to be civil right of all citizens, and that “the essence of the right to marry is freedom to join in marriage with the person of one’s choice,” and that “An individual’s sexual orientation – like a person’s race or gender – does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights.”

Whereas a so called “California Marriage Protection Amendment” will appear on the November 4, 2008 General Election ballot, seeking to overturn the California Supreme Court decision, and

Whereas this amendment would be a profound misuse of our state constitution for the purpose of restricting the civil rights of one group of citizens, such an amendment would be in direct contradiction of the principles and spirit of the United Methodist Church:

Therefore, be it resolved that the 2008 Session of the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Opposes the California Marriage Protection Amendment, and calls upon United Methodists in favor of the defeat of this act to work with all their might for its defeat, and

Be it further resolved that we call upon the laity and clergy of our churches in the California-Pacific Annual Conference to answer the call of General Conference by providing a witness against heterosexism and any discrimination based on sexual orientation, and in so doing, to be actively involved in protecting the civil rights of all Californians as they pertain to the right to civil marriage, working through correspondence with elected officials, through public venues such as newspapers, periodicals, radio and television, and the venues offered by the internet, and through other opportunities as they rise.

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Affirmation of Marriage Equality in California

Background
On May 15, 2008, The California Supreme Court issued its decision holding that marriage is a basic civil right of personal autonomy and liberty to which all persons are entitled without regard to their sexual orientation. The week the California Pacific Annual Conference 2008 will be in session, history will be made in California as legal marriage becomes available to gay and lesbian couples. Gay and lesbian couples in many of our churches will be married in the weeks and months to come.Whereas California has led the marriage equality movement, beginning 60 years ago, by striking down laws prohibiting marriage between interracial couples (Perez v. Sharp, 1948);

Whereas on May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court issued its decision holding that marriage is a basic civil right of personal autonomy and liberty to which all persons are entitled without regard to their sexual orientation; and

Whereas as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, the State of California will begin to license and recognize same-gender marriages on June 16, 2008;

Whereas the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church states that “certain basic human rights and civil liberties are due all persons. We are committed to supporting those rights and liberties for homosexual persons.” (¶162.H)

Whereas The United Methodist Church understands family “to be the basic human community through which persons are nurtured and sustained in mutual love, responsibility, respect, and fidelity.” (¶161.A)

Whereas the California Pacific Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church has had a long history of ministry with, by and for lesbians and gay men through which the Holy Spirit has taught us the sacred worth of all persons and our ministries have been shaped accordingly;

Therefore be it resolved that the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church celebrates the Supreme Court decision regarding marriage equality;

Be it further resolved that the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist church support same-gender couples who enter into the marriage covenant and encourage both congregations and pastors to welcome, embrace and provide spiritual nurture and pastoral care for these families.

Finally, the California-Nevada Conference adopted a resolution in support of marriage equality in California as well as a separate supporting retired United Methodist elders who have offered to conduct same-gender marriage ceremonies and Holy Unions in response to the May 15 California Supreme Court ruling extending “right to marry” protection to same-gender couples.

A month later, retiring California-Nevada Bishop Beverly J. Shamana issued a ruling declaring the statement “void and of no effect,” saying:

“While the resolution is a commendable gesture to the congregations of the conference in offering the pastoral counsel of a number of retired clergy to persons contemplating same-gender marriage under the laws of California, it steps over a disciplinary line when it commends these clergy to the congregations for the purpose of ‘performing same gender marriages or holy unions.”

Following Bishop Shamana’s ruling, leaders for the retired clergy vowed to continue performing marriage ceremonies as long as they were needed.

Meantime, delegates from their home Western Jurisdiction passed several resolutions challenging the Church’s official limits on the participation of LGTB folks, and delegates from the Northeast Jurisdiction passed a resolution supporting the clergy in the California-Pacific and California-Nevada Conferences.

Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the General Conference just tell us that we all agree on this issue?

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