This letter is a follow-up to our April 25th email regarding the United Methodist Church's efforts to end a decades-long impasse on issues related to human sexuality and LGBTQ inclusion. As you may recall, the church in 2016 appointed a representative group called the "Commission on A Way Forward" to formulate recommendations on this matter. Our denomination's decision-making body, the General Conference, will hold a special meeting in February 2019 to act on the Commission's recommendations.

 

This summer, after reviewing three alternative plans, the Council of Bishops formally endorsed the Commission recommendation known as the "One Church Plan." The bishops believe that the One Church Plan represents the best means to maintain unity and advance the Church's global ministry, in the face of sincere disagreements that exist regarding LGBTQ inclusion.

 

Specifically, the One Church Plan would allow each conference, each pastor, and each congregation to make decisions about how best to serve the people who live in their own respective communities. The perceived benefit of this plan is that it allows room for ongoing disagreement regarding issues of inclusion, while maintaining denominational unity. Specifically, the plan removes restrictive language from the church's Book of Discipline and does not impose a single standard of LGBTQ inclusion across the global church.

 

The alternative plans to be presented at the General Conference in February 2019 would not allow for the same result.

 

 

 

At this time, it is simply not possible to predict the outcome of the 2019 General Conference. It's conceivable that one of these three plans would be adopted or that no proposal would gain enough support to sustain a church-wide consensus.

 

Dr. Howell has long been an advocate of embracing disagreement within the church on these issues. He is also one of the leaders of a group called " Uniting Methodists," an organization that our church has helped to fund. Uniting Methodists is determined to find a way for the Church to stay together, despite divergence on these questions.

 

At Myers Park, we began thoughtful discussions on issues related to human sexuality, same gender marriage and our clergy's ministry in 2015. As you may recall, Dr. Howell taught a class on what the Bible says about homosexuality. Our lay leadership communicated their prayerful decision to support our clergy in exercising individual discretion when deciding whom to marry. In addition, we held congregation-wide discussions on same-gender marriage. Through these shared experiences, our large congregation acknowledged that we are not of one mind on these issues. Nonetheless, there was broad consensus that we should continue to love and respect one another despite differing opinions. .

 

With that same love, respect and togetherness, our Myers Park church family will be awaiting the outcome of the General Conference in February 2019. We, the undersigned, will continue to study and reflect on what impact the possible outcomes may have on our church. As the General Conference approaches, we want to continue providing you with opportunities to learn, discuss and pray regarding the best way forward.

 

Dick Carter, Will Barr, Mark Kinghorn, Jim Rodgers, Richard Wood, Dennis Soter, John Clarkson, Beverly Shull, Tina Weinberg, Tom Harrall, Johanna Anderson, Michelle Vigor, Kate Maynard, Fred Bright