Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!princeton!njin!paul.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: PCUSA report on human sexuality Message-ID: Date: 7 May 91 04:38:13 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: State University of New York at Binghamton Lines: 40 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu OFM gave us a fairly extensive meta-report. He also expressed disappointment over the lack of reporting upon homosexual relationships in the church. The UMC has also had a committee studying a church controversy. This study has been specifically on Homosexuality. No official report has been handed down, and no official vote has been taken, however a straw poll taken recently indicates that a majority of the committee will recommend that the denomination remove the ban against ordaining "self-professed practicing homosexuals". This would be an ammendment to "The Discipline" of the UMC, to remove wording that was added back in '72 as I recall. It would not take place until "General Conference" which will be in '92. Although everything is *very* unofficial at this point, a minor uproar is starting and will no doubt grow. (I'm looking forward to passionate debates at my Annual Conference again this year. (* Heavy Sigh *)) Already, protests have been lodged, and the AFA is lobbying delegates to Annual Conferences (such as myself), and possible delegates to General Conference to try and influence the election of delegates this year, and the vote next year. (Delegates are sent from each "Annual Conference" to "Jurisdictional Conferences" and to the "General Conference". It will be these delgates to GC that will decide whether or not to amend "The Discipline" and if so how. ("The Discipline" is not holy writ, it is a document governing the running of the denomination. Like, what is the responsibility of the trustees of the local congregation. And how are officers to be elected. And how are clergy to be ordained.)) It's my understanding that Roberts wrote his "Rules of Order" in an attempt to bring order to church meetings he had the misfortune to chair. The more church meetings I attend, the more I understand. In case anyone has any specific questions, I probably don't have any answers. (Well, maybe one or two, but you get the idea. I'm still pretty much in the dark in this one. This much I know, Once again [as in the PCUSA report] the minority opinion is surprising in its acceptance.) Tom Blake SUNY-Binghamton