CORNET Note: The Bishops' Letter follows this news article.

Monday, April 26, 2004
Bishops Express Hope for 'Holy Conferencing'
A UMNS Report By Neill Caldwell*

PITTSBURGH (UMNS) -- On the eve of the United Methodist Church's 2004
General Conference, the denomination's Council of Bishops has issued
a pastoral letter expressing hope for an atmosphere of love and
prayerful Christian conferencing.

The bishops pointed to issues surrounding this General Conference
that are creating a "sense of anxiety." Those issues include visa
problems encountered by some international delegates, financial and
stewardship challenges, concerns about war and terrorism, continued
threats of racism and poverty, and issues related to homosexuality.

"Fear and anxiety are not the only forces at work in the world," the
council said in its April 26 letter. "When Jesus Christ is present,
we have nothing to fear. We are convinced more than ever that Jesus
Christ is with us here, leading us to serve in all that we do."

Quoting Philippians 1:9, the bishops said their prayer for the
General Conference delegates is "that your love will overflow more
and more with knowledge and full insight to help you determine what
is best."

During its meeting preceding General Conference, the Council of
Bishops had long hours of discussion about the tensions that are
surrounding this gathering of United Methodists.


"We've had, in this council meeting, quite extensive conversation on
the present situation of the church and how we should lead," said
Bishop Ruediger R. Minor, president of the council and leader of the
church's Eurasia Area. "While we're not encroaching on the rights of
the General Conference, which is the governing body of the church, we
do want to help General Conference find a spirit of Christian
conferencing by listening to each other and putting things in the
right dimension."

The 2004 General Conference begins April 27 and continues through May
7 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

The letter calls each General Conference a "pivotal moment" in the
life of the church. General Conference is held every four years and
is the gathering that determines changes to the denomination's
governing Book of Discipline.

Many of the petitions before this General Conference deal with
sexuality, and a recent survey of delegates said that homosexuality
would be a chief topic of discussion. The tension surrounding the
issue has escalated with the March 20 acquittal of the Rev. Karen
Dammann in a clergy trial in the Pacific Northwest Annual (regional)
Conference. Dammann was acquitted of a charge of
practices "incompatible with Christian teaching" -- a violation of
the Book of Discipline -- stemming from her disclosure in 2001 that
she was living in a homosexual partnership.

The bishops are responding to a growing concern that decisions made
at this General Conference could split the United Methodist Church.

"That's certainly one of the fears that people have," said Arkansas
Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, part of the writing team that worked on
the council's letter. "That's why we spoke to the unity issue very
strongly."

Addressing church unity, the letter reads: "As a Council of Bishops,
we consider ourselves to be family. That means we love each other, we
listen to each other, and sometimes we vigorously disagree with each
other. However, we do not question the integrity of our colleagues
and their commitment to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to
them. We have learned that honest struggle is a part of love. Our
love for Christ, the church and one another transcends our
differences.

"On some issues, including human sexuality, we are not of one
opinion. At the same time, we are united in our commitment to Jesus
Christ. We are united in our commitment to practice and advocate
unity. We are united in our commitment to uphold the Book of
Discipline. … Schism is not a part of God's plan for the church."

Huie said the bishops spent a good deal of time praying over these
concerns.

"We spent three or four hours in covenant groups gathered in
prayerful discernment about the church and what is heavy on people's
hearts," she said. "We spent a good deal of time in prayer.
"We're aware of the concerns and the fears," Huie added. "We, as the
Council of Bishops, wanted to say a word to General Conference from
all of us, that we approach these two weeks with confidence and
hope."

The bishops said they hope the letter will have an impact on the tone
of General Conference.

"It's an invitation to holy conferencing, with a sense of hope that
General Conference will conduct itself in that manner," Huie
said. "We're prayerful and hopeful, and looking forward to this
General Conference."

*Neill Caldwell is a correspondent for the United Methodist News
Service.

-----------------
Bishops' Letter to General Conference

April 26, 2004

Dear United Methodist Sisters and Brothers:

Greetings in the name of the risen Christ. We write this letter in
the season of Easter, a season of hope and new life. Christ's
ministry, suffering, death and resurrection is our inspiration as we
gather on the eve of the 2004 General Conference.

Every General Conference is a pivotal monument for the church.
During this General Conference, we ask for prayer, not only from the
delegates meeting in Pittsburgh, but also from all who call
themselves United Methodist.

We come to Pittsburgh from many cultures around the globe. An
abundance of issues and concerns await our care and the care of the
General Conference. We are committed to Christ and to the mission of
The United Methodist Church. God calls us to do justice, love mercy
and walk with humility.

We are aware of a sense of anxiety in the atmosphere. Some persons
are anxious because of visa difficulties encountered by many
delegates from Africa, Latin America, and the Philippines. Others
are concerned about racism, poverty, war and terrorism. Still others
are focused on the tension between our passion for mission and our
financial and stewardship challenges. The recent church trial in the
Pacific Northwest Annual Conference has also contributed to the
stress.

Fear and anxiety are not the only forces at work in the world. Days
after the death of Jesus, the disciples were so fearful they stayed
behind locked doors. Suddenly, Jesus appeared and said, "Peace be
with you…receive the Holy Spirit." When they saw the Lord, the
disciples rejoiced. John 20:19-20.

When Jesus Christ is present, we have nothing to fear. We are
convinced more than ever that Jesus Christ is with us here, leading
us to serve in all that we do.

As a Council of Bishops, we consider ourselves to be family. That
means we love each other, we listen to each other, and sometimes, we
vigorously disagree with each other. However, we do not question the
integrity of our colleagues and their commitment to fulfill the
responsibilities entrusted to them. We have learned that honest
struggle is a part of love. Our love for Christ, the church, and one
another transcends our differences.

On some issues, including human sexuality, we are not of one
opinion. At the same time, we are united in our commitment to Jesus
Christ. We are united in our commitment to practice and advocate
unity. We are united in our commitment to uphold the Book of
Discipline. We are united in our conviction that the critical issues
will not be ultimately resolved with legislation. We will find the
answers in Christ-like love, expressed in dialogue, mutual respect
and a humble search for the mind of God. Schism is not a part of
God's plan for the church.

In recent days, we have spent many hours in dialogue, listening to
God and to one another. We have emerged from these conversations
strengthened and committed to the Wesleyan spirit of Holy
Conferencing. We pray that the General Conference will do its work
in the same spirit of mutual respect and unity.

The Book of Discipline is our most current statement on how United
Methodists agree to live their lives together. (Episcopal Greetings,
page v, Book of Discipline) Each General Conference is charged with
considering the past and focusing on the future. In the spirit of
Holy Conferencing, we pray that the General Conference will speak
prophetically and act wisely.

Our prayer is "that your love will overflow more and more with
knowledge and full insight to help you determine what is best, so
that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having
produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11

The Council of Bishops

Ruediger Minor, President