Grace and Peace to you through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Mississippi United Methodists have been in turmoil recently, due to an event that occurred during the Annual Conference worship service on Friday, June 12. The testimony of two lesbian women, widely publicized by newspaper and television, has been viewed by many people on the Conference website and YouTube. The outrage over this situation has generated countless e-mails and phone calls, and led to four clergy meetings across the state. Some church members are threatening to leave our denomination, and some are debating the merits of continuing to pay apportionments.
The lesbian testimony, a part of the planned worship service, is a serious issue, as is the subsequent response from our Bishop. We offer four central concerns in this letter.
One – The presentation during the worship service appeared to condone and even commend a sexual activity that the UM Book of Discipline deems “incompatible with Christian teaching.” We believe our church’s Disciplinary understanding is based on the clear witness of Scripture and two millennia of church teaching. The lesbian witness included this statement: “We have no doubt that God embraces who we are and blesses our relationship.” Many of us have much doubt and grave concern about the decision to allow such a witness to proceed when it clearly violated clear church teachings.
Two – Great harm was inflicted on unsuspecting and innocent United Methodists across the state, including children who were in attendance. In our view, Wesley’s admonition to “do no harm” was violated, because many people were blindsided by this disregard for the Bible and our Discipline. We also believe harm was likely done to the lesbian witnesses. They and others in the gay and lesbian community could mistake as condemnation the vigorous call to our leaders to uphold church teachings. While we deeply love all people and have no right or desire to condemn, we are charged with the responsibility of warning those who sin of the necessity for repentance. As there are homosexual persons who attend many of our churches, we believe that what took place at Annual Conference, regardless of the intent, has sent a confusing signal to the very souls our churches seek to reach with the transforming grace of Christ.
Three – Since the context of this testimony was a worship service, a simple standard of fairness was violated. We don’t believe a worship service is the proper place for such a politically charged testimony. The introduction of a report or resolution in the plenary session could have given opportunity to acknowledge that this lifestyle is contrary to the Disciplinary standards of the UMC. In any event, a worship service offers no recourse to those who strongly object to this unbiblical witness.
Four – Our bishop has stated that the intent of the worship planners was “to remember all of the people God loves, including those who have felt hurt or marginalized by our church.” She went on to declare that our Conference “has consistently supported the positions stated in the Discipline…” While we welcome Bishop Ward’s pledge in her July 3 pastoral letter to uphold the Discipline, she did not explain how the lesbians’ testimony during worship could be interpreted as support for the position of the Discipline.
Some Mississippi United Methodists are discussing whether or not to leave our denomination and join other churches. We strongly urge our church members to remain United Methodists. God is leading us to repentance and reformation. God can use every one of us who will be faithful to Scripture and the Gospel!