Call. Connect. Commit. Celebrate.

Members & Friends of Avery UMC,
 
Later this month, our denomination will meet in St. Louis, MO. It will be a special session of General Conference, for the purpose of discussing human sexuality and the church. This General Conference meets Feb. 23-26, includes elected delegates from across the world, and functions as the primary decision making body of the United Methodist Church (UMC).
 
This special called session of General Conference may be confusing even for those of you who are familiar with the structure of the UMC. As your pastor, I want to help you better understand what has led to this conference, what may happen at the conference, and how decisions made in St. Louis may affect us here at Avery UMC in the future.
 

History: What has led to this Special Session of General Conference?

 
Over the past 4 decades, United Methodists have debated and disagreed about matters of human sexuality. Most of that debate has centered around the following question: Is the practice of homosexuality compatible with Christian teaching? The first formal answer to this question by the UMC came in 1972, and that answer was, “No.” That has been the answer ever since, written into the Book of Discipline. The Discipline is our primary governing document, including doctrine, structural policies, and positions on social issues.
 
In practice, this language means persons in homosexual relationships are currently not permitted to be ordained as clergy in the church, nor married in the church. United Methodist clergy are not permitted to officiate same-sex weddings. However, the UMC also acknowledges that all persons are created in God’s image, and have sacred worth. Therefore, persons in homosexual relationships are welcome to participate in all ministries of the church and become members of a local congregation.
 
 As the culture around us has shifted its perspective on LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender) persons, our church remains divided. Some support the current stance of the church. Others believe the church’s current stance needs to change. Both positions come from an earnest attempt to faithfully interpret scripture, love God, and love our neighbors.
 
Every four years, the United Methodist Church holds a General Conference. General Conference is a legislative body of the church that makes decisions on behalf of all of us. Each Annual Conference elects delegates to send to General Conference; an equal number of delegates are laity and clergy. Avery UMC belongs to the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference, which elected 6 clergy and 6 laity to serve at the 2016 General Conference (GC). Those same delegates will also serve at this 2019 General Conference.
 
At the 2016 GC, debate over human sexuality reached a boiling point. As a result, the Council of Bishops recommended two things:

1. The appointing of the Commission on a Way Forward, which would study and discuss human sexuality and the church, and propose plans for strengthening and maintaining the unity of the church in the future.
2. A special session of General Conference, to be held for the sole purpose of discussing human sexuality and the church.

• The Traditionalist Plan maintains our current teaching on human sexuality and punishes persons within the church who act in opposition to the teaching. Pastors who perform same-gender weddings would have their ordination credentials revoked, and persons who identify as LGBT would have limited rights, including the inability to become ordained. These limitations and consequences are already in place, but are not always enforced. The Traditionalist Plan seeks uniform enforcement across the church.

• The One Church Plan deletes the language in the Book of Discipline stating “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching,” allows but doesn’t require United Methodist clergy to perform same-gender weddings, and allows but doesn’t require annual conferences to ordain LGBT pastors. It seeks to maintain unity by stating that as United Methodists and Christians, “we are not of one mind regarding human sexuality,” and affirms different interpretations of scripture as valid. The plan allows pastors, congregations, bishops, and annual conferences to act from their own conviction without penalty. The Council of Bishops have recommended adoption of The One Church Plan.

• The Connectional Conference Plan creates three values-based connectional conferences in the U.S., and allows UMC conferences outside the U.S. to align with one of those connectional conferences or become one of their own. Pastors, congregations, and annual conferences would choose which conference to align themselves with: Traditional, Unity, or Progressive. These conferences would be loosely connected but each have their own set of laws and practices. The Connectional Conference Plan would more drastically change the structure of the UMC than the other two plans.

• The Simple Plan removes all language from the Book of Discipline that excludes LGBT people from full participation in the church. Nothing else would change.

• The Modified Traditional Plan is the traditional plan, with the addition of creating a committee to hold bishops accountable to sexuality standards in the Book of Discipline. It would also offer a grant of $200,000 to annual conferences wishing to leave the UMC over this disagreement.

• Fundamental change in the structure of the denomination
• Changes in or elimination of UMC Boards & Agencies that provide local churches with resources
• Changes in size, structure, and leadership of Annual Conferences
• Clergy Pension Accounts
• Local churches and/or clergy leaving the denomination, or re-aligning themselves with a theological perspective with which they most agree.

 
This is not an exhaustive list. We do not yet know all the changes ahead of us, and it may be years before we know the full impact of the 2019 General Conference. The implementation of any plan will take at least 18 months, and probably more. The decisions made at GC may not affect Avery UMC much at all, or they may affect us greatly. We will not know until after February 26.
 
Here at Avery, we are not of one mind regarding human sexuality. Some members regard homosexuality as incompatible with Christian teaching, and desire a church that maintains this stance. Some members believe that LGBT persons are created and loved by God as they are, should be able to have their committed romantic relationships affirmed by the church, and should be permitted to become ordained. Still other members of Avery remain unsure what they believe, as they struggle to harmonize their understanding of scripture with a growing awareness of changing cultural realities.
 
In the nearly 5 years I have served as your pastor, I have been encouraged to see that Avery UMC allows space for each of these theological perspectives. Despite disagreements on matters of human sexuality, we have worked together to accomplish great things in faithfulness to God’s mission in Washington, PA. And regardless of what happens in the UMC this month or in years to come, we will continue to do so.
 
Personally, I do not consider identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender to be sins to avoid or defects to cure or correct. I don’t see them as lifestyle choices, but rather as part of a beautiful God-given identity some people are created with. Furthermore, I believe that we are currently doing harm to our LGBT neighbors by insisting that they deny this aspect of their identity in order to follow Jesus, be married in the church, or be ordained.
 
This has not always been my belief. My theological perspective and interpretation of scripture on human sexuality has changed through years of deep intellectual inquiry and a prayerful spirit. Indeed, I continue to engage in study and prayer as I seek greater clarity. However you understand this matter, I invite you to study and pray for clarity as well. While I hope for a church that is fully inclusive and affirming of LGBT persons, I know some of you do not share this hope. To me, that matters far less than our shared mission of calling people to faith in Christ, connecting in loving relationships, committing to growth in knowledge and love of God, and celebrating life together through worship and sacrament. We can disagree on human sexuality and maintain unity as a congregation in other ways. Indeed, we are already doing so.
 
As this 2019 General Conference meets, I worry that this matter will create divisions and enmity within our congregation, and detract from the important ministry we are already doing. In order to avoid this, we will need to adopt a spirit of openness and love, where we are free to express our our convictions on human sexuality, but are willing to patiently and respectfully listen to others with whom we disagree.
 
Likewise, I have many friends, both lay and clergy, across the global United Methodist Church. We are not all of one mind regarding human sexuality. And yet we have been part of this denomination together for all these years. Because of this truth, I hope and pray for a United Methodist Church that continues to make room for a diversity of theological perspectives regarding human sexuality. I do hope for progress in more fully living out the belief that all persons have sacred worth, and that we will allow LGBT persons full participation in the life of the church - even as pastors and bishops. But I also believe God cares far less about our perspective on human sexuality than our ability to love our neighbor without condition, and to live the life of discipleship to which each of us is uniquely called. If we can maintain unity through diversity, we will be stronger and more capable of making disciples for Jesus Christ in every place and time.
 

Finding Our Way Forward at Avery UMC

 
In worship on February 17 & 24, we will pray for the 2019 Special Session of General Conference. Following General Conference, on Sunday, March 3, I will host an open conversation from 9-10 am in the Heiskell Fellowship Hall. At that time, I will give a brief summary of the outcome of General Conference, then allow you to express your reactions or ask questions. There will be no agenda for this meeting. This is your time, and my role will primarily be to facilitate and clarify. (I’ll also bring the donuts!) If additional meetings are desired beyond this one, we will make arrangements.
 
I am also open to personal conversations with you, before or after General Conference. However, I ask that you schedule a time with me so that I can give you my full attention, and/or email me your questions or concerns. Please do not attempt to discuss this by calling or stopping by my office unannounced, or during other church events. I will not be able to accommodate such conversations.
 
In one of his most famous sermons, John Wesley expressed a desire for Methodists to adopt a spirit of unity despite division on what he considered “nonessential” beliefs. He wrote:
 
Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences. These remaining as they are, they may forward one another in love and in good works. (John Wesley, “Catholic Spirit”)
 
This is my hope for Avery UMC, and for the United Methodist Church, as we prayerfully approach the 2019 Special Session of General Conference. In a world increasingly divided and polarized between two opposing viewpoints, where each person is either ally or enemy, our congregation and denomination both have an opportunity to model faithful relationship with God and neighbor despite differences of opinion on this one matter. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us as we respond to all that is before us.
 
May the peace of Christ be with you always,
 
Rev. Erik Hoeke
 
Resources / Additional Information:
2019 Special Session of General Conference
Commission on a Way Forward
Western PA Task Force Report
A Clergy Family’s Story: Siblings Seeking a Way Forward
Blog post by Pastor Erik prior to 2016 General Conference
Live Stream of 2019 General Conference