In accordance with the instructions for
preparation of petitions,
the following is submitted for action
by the General Conference, 2004.
Headings
TITLE: Amend
the Discipline's Provisions on Homosexuality to Conform with the
Second Great Commandment, as Elaborated by Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
PETITION CONCERNS DISCIPLINE PARAGRAPH #: 161G [last sub-paragraph] and two other closely related paragraphs (304.3, & 332.6).
DOES THE PETITION CARRY FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS? While this question is inapplicable to this petition, because it is submitted by an individual member, no program financial requirements are expected, beyond those typically associated with adjusting to changes in the Discipline and occurring after every General Conference.
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[Note to Reader: Under UMC rules governing petitions, proposed additions to a paragraph are shown in Boldface; proposed deletions of existing text are to be shown as strikeout. Because not all browsers support strikeout, proposed deletions are shown here in bold square brackets, as follows: [ ].]
PETITION TEXT: (1) To conform it to the Second Great Commandment, as elaborated by Jesus, your petitioner asks that the General Conference amend the last sub-paragraph of ¶ 161 G as follows:
Homosexual persons no less than heterosexual
persons are individuals of sacred worth. All persons need the ministry
and guidance of the church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as
well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship that enables reconciling
relationships with God, with others, and with self. Although we do not
condone [the practice of homosexuality] homosexual acts,
other than in support of a committed lifetime relationship between persons
capable of experiencing the gift of "one flesh" only with members
of their own gender, and consider [this practice] them
incompatible with Christian teaching, we affirm that God's grace is available
to all. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn their
lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry
for and with all persons.
(2) To conform it to the Second Great Commandment, as elaborated by Jesus, your petitioner asks that the General Conference amend the closely related ¶ 304.3 as follows:
While persons set apart by the Church for
ordained ministry are subject to all the frailties of the human condition
and the pressures of society, they are required to maintain the highest
standards of holy living in the world. [Since the practice of homosexuality
is] Because homosexual acts, other than in support of a committed
lifetime relationship between persons capable of experiencing the gift
of "one flesh" only with members of their own gender, are incompatible
with Christian teaching, [self-avowed practicing homosexuals]persons
avowing or known to engage in these incompatible acts are not to be
accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in
The United Methodist Church. However, a person who appears to have engaged
in such an incompatible act shall be judged no more harshly than a person
of heterosexual orientation who engages in a similar heterosexual act under
similar circumstances.
(3) To conform it to the Second Great Commandment, as elaborated by Jesus, your petitioner asks that the General Conference amend the closely related ¶ 332.6 as follows:
Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches unless all the following conditions are met:
a) At least one of the participants has been a member of the local church for at least one year, or is otherwise well known to the officiating minister.
b) The officiating minister, after due counsel with the parties involved, is reasonably convinced that both of them are of sufficient maturity, and have had sufficient (i) experience with their feelings of attraction, (ii) introspection (iii) and prayer, as well as appropriate counseling, to determine and affirm that they are capable of experiencing God's gift of "one flesh" only with members of their own gender.
c) The officiating minister, after due counsel with the parties involved, believes that they are ready to make a lifetime commitment to one another.
d) In jurisdictions with laws allowing or governing homosexual unions or commitment ceremonies, all applicable requirements have been met.
e) The officiating minister is
comfortable with performing the ceremony.
RATIONALE: The New Testament-based rationale for these amendments is explained fully in the attached supporting statement, which is hereby incorporated by reference. In summary, it begins with the Second Great Commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself," and explains how Jesus elaborated it to apply to outcasts and enemies, not merely to those we are already disposed to love. It defines the term "innate homosexuality" (or homosexual sexual orientation) by referring to a New and Old Testament passage stating one purpose of human sexuality-to make two "one flesh"--physically supporting a lifetime relationship. An innate homosexual can experience this purpose of human sexuality only with the "right" member of his or her own gender.
By condemning the means by which an innate homosexual can achieve this purpose of human sexuality, because it can only be effective when shared with a member of his or her own gender rather than with a member of the opposite gender, the Discipline does not manifest the love of homosexuals required by the Second Great Commandment; instead, it discriminates. By making the means to become "one flesh" available to heterosexuals committed to a lifetime relationship, while denying it to homosexuals also so committed, the Discipline is an instrument of hypocrisy, condemned repeatedly by Jesus. It is also hypocritical to distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable heterosexual acts, while condemning all homosexual acts, regardless of the circumstances, commitment or orientations of the persons involved.
Relying in great part upon The New Testament
and Homosexuality, written in 1983 by Professor Robin Scroggs of Union
Theological Seminary, the statement seriously questions the usual understanding
of the three passages in the Pauline epistles that condemn certain homosexual
actions. Because the usual understanding of the passages does not correspond
to actual homosexual acts and culture during New Testament times, that
understanding is wrong and leads to conclusions that put Paul at odds with
Jesus, doing Paul no favor. In any event, teachings of Paul should be put
to one side where inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus, as we do now
with certain teachings on the role of women in church services. Finally,
the Delegates are reminded of the urgency Jesus imparted in the parables
of the Supervising Servants and the Ten Virgins; the Discipline
should be conformed with the Second Great Commandment at this General conference,
to honor those teachings.
PURPOSES OF AMENDATORY LANGUAGE:
(1) The purposes of the amendments to ¶ 161G are (a) to eliminate the reference to "practice of homosexuality" because it is too ambiguous and broad; (b) to substitute condemnation of homosexual acts, and (c) to except, from that condemnation, acts by innate homosexuals in support of a lifetime relationship, just as we now accept such acts in heterosexual marriage. The term "innate homosexual" is not used; instead, the language of the exception is based on the supporting statement's definition of the term.
(2) The purposes of the amendments to closely related ¶ 304.3 are (a) to except from its prohibitions innate homosexuals committing homosexual acts in support of a lifetime relationship, just as we do for heterosexuals committing heterosexual acts in support of heterosexual marriage, and (b) to avoid hypocrisy by judging deviations from this strict standard by innate homosexuals no more harshly than similar deviations by heterosexuals are judged. For example, if premarital sex within an engagement is not deemed to disqualify a heterosexual candidate, the same should be true for a homosexual candidate who is similarly committed.
(3) The purpose of the amendments to closely related ¶ 332.6 is to allow homosexual union or commitment ceremonies only under all the circumstances set forth in the added language.
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DATE RECEIVED BY PETITIONS SECRETARY: Oct. 6, 2003. SUBMITTED BY: Donald M. Malone
PETITIONER IDENTIFICATION: Member, Foundry United Methodist Church, 1500 16th St., NW,
Washington, DC 20036
PHONE: (202)
484-3729 ; FAX: ______________; E-MAIL:___________________________