Quickly…

Just hung out with Rob Dillingham this afternoon at the GC.  The committees are SUPPOSEDLY finished now, so Kiboko and Betty can watch Grace during the daytime so I can attend GC stuff a little, too.  We ran into Jen Tyler, who went to Simpson College.  She’s been at GC all week, and has a completely different perspective on the conference.  She said she’s got a blog up at jen-tyler.blogspot.com and is also keeping track of the latest developments.  So go there if you’re interested on the different point of view on the GC.

Tomorrow is scheduled to be the day for the vote on paragraph 161 G, which is the Church’s stance on homosexuality.  I don’t know if it will be taking place morning, afternoon, or evening, but should be a full house when it does happen.  This is big because it removed the line “homosexuality is incompatible with the Christian teaching” as is found in the 2004 Book of Discipline.  Here’s the current “thing” that was approved through the Church and Society group and will be given to the GC tomorrow.  (Bill?  Petition?  Resolution? Legislation?  I don’t know what it’s technically called.)

Human Sexuality

We recognize that sexuality is God’s good gift to all persons. We believe persons may be fully human only when that gift is acknowledged and affirmed by themselves, the church, and society. We call all persons to the disciplined, responsible fulfillment of themselves, others, and society in the stewardship of this gift. We also recognize our limited understanding of this complex gift and encourage the medical, theological, and social science disciplines to combine in a determined effort to understand human sexuality more completely. United Methodists, along with other Christians, have struggled to find principles for applying traditional teachings to contemporary understandings of human sexuality.

We recognize that sexuality is part of the larger human mystery, to be received and acknowledged in grateful responsibility. We reject all sexual expressions that damage or destroy the humanity God has given us. We deplore all forms of the commercialization and exploitation of sexual relations, with their consequent cheapening and degradation of human personality. We call for strict global enforcement of laws prohibiting the sexual exploitation or use of children by adults and encourage efforts to hold perpetrators legally and responsible. We call for adequate protection, guidance, and counseling for children thus abused. We believe that the Church family should support all families in providing age-appropriate education regarding sexuality to children, youth, and adults. We challenge all members of our community of faith to commitment, integrity, and fidelity in their sexual relationships.

We know that all are God’s children and of sacred worth; yet we have been, and remain, divided regarding homosexual expressions of human sexuality. Faithful, thoughtful people who have grappled with this issue deeply disagree with one another; yet all seek a faithful witness. We continue to reason and pray together with faith and hope that the Holy Spirit will soon bring reconciliation to our community of faith. The fire in our disagreements points to a deeper human mystery than we knew. We believe that the Spirit has brought our collective conscience to acknowledge this mystery more honestly, and to make our claims with greater humility before God and our neighbors. We therefore ask the Church , United Methodist and others, and the world, to refrain from judgment regarding homosexual persons and practices until the Spirit leads us to a new insight. In the meantime, let us seek to welcome, know, forgive, and love one another as Christ has accepted us, that God may be glorified through everything in our lives.

I’ll let you know what happens if I’m at the GC when that vote occurs.  You can watch everything happening online here.