If you have links to
GC2004 Reports that may be of interest, please send the link to:
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United Methodist News Service
United Methodist petitions cover range of issues
By Linda Bloom*
PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - Delegates
to the 2004 United Methodist General Conference approved a number of
legislative petitions that never came up for debate during the April 27-May
7 assembly.
That's because the petitions -
on topics ranging from domestic social concerns to international issues to
guidelines for church life - were voted on as a group after being placed on
a "consent calendar." Those items had few opposing votes, either for
concurrence or nonconcurrence, from the legislative committees that
processed them.
Read More
Latest News from UMNS:
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New
Press Articles
TERRY Mattingly: Methodists do math to learn where they stand
Stuart News - Stuart,FL,USA
... General Conference voted by a narrow 455-445 to ... theologian Thomas
Oden, a former United Methodist liberal who ... options for how to end
the national warfare over ...
<http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/faith_and_values/article/0,1651,TCP_1155_2886047,00.html>
REV. Dammann
Chooses Not To Return To Ellensburg
KOMO - Seattle,WA,USA
Karen Dammann, a lesbian pastor who was the focus of a church trial, has
chosen not to return to her Ellensburg church, a United Methodist official
said Friday ...
<http://www.komotv.com/stories/31241.htm>
LESBIAN Minister Won't Return to Church
The Ledger - Lakeland,FL,USA
... in a church trial over her sexual orientation has chosen not to return
to her church, a United Methodist official said Friday. The Rev. Karen
Dammann chose to ...
<http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040514/APA/405140889>
MINISTER asked to judge
The Free Lance-Star - Fredericksburg,VA,USA
... Boyette relied on those skills to guide him last week during the United
Methodist Church's General Conference in Pittsburgh. While ...
<http://www.freelancestar.com/News/FLS/2004/052004/05142004/1350153>
METHODISTS, Presbyterians grapple with gay issues
Washington Blade - Washington,DC,USA
Debate at the United Methodist General Conference earlier this month focused
heavily on the role of gay men and lesbians in the church. ...
<http://www.washblade.com/2004/5-14/news/national/method.cfm>
SOME believe a schism may develop
Fergus Falls Daily Journal - Fergus Falls,MN,USA
... Liberal clergy, then, proposed at the May 2004 United Methodist General
Conference in Pittsburgh that Methodist annual conferences (meetings that
are for ...
<http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/articles/2004/05/13/news/news07.txt>
By Edward E. Plowman
At the United Methodist Church's 10-day
governing General Conference, which ended this month in Pittsburgh,
conferees fortified the church's official position condemning homosexual
behavior and prohibiting noncelibate lesbians and gays from serving as
clergy. They also defeated an attempt by liberals to create wiggle room
that could enable gays and their backers to skirt church law.
This battle over the homosexuality issue has
been going on for three decades in the quadrennial conferences. The
conservatives have been on the winning side so far, but by decreasing
margins. And they know gays and their supporters will continue to ignore
church law and be back next time to fight again. Enforcement of church
law is an issue that must be addressed, says Jim Heidinger, head of the
Good News renewal movement, part of the UMDecision 2004 coalition that
coordinated conservative efforts at the conference. ...
Read More
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The following have been updated with
additional reports or updated links as noted:
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Institute for Religion and
Democracy
The IRD is committed to
reforming the Church's social and political witness, and to
building and strengthening democracy and religious liberty at
home and abroad
United Methodist Action
United Methodist Action defends
traditional Christian beliefs and practices in the spirit of the
father of Methodism, John Wesley. UM Action goes to church
agency meetings, studies church publications, and interviews
church officials. UM Action publishes its findings in news
publications as well as in its own UM Action Briefing. The
Briefing not only provides reports of activities that affect the
Methodist Church and its members but also specific action items
individuals may take to affect positive change and reform. The
UM Action Reform Agenda for United Methodists outlines specific
proposals for the Reform of the United Methodist Church.
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Civil Rights Veteran Addresses Church and Society Banquet
John Lomperis
May 14, 2004
During General
Conference in Pittsburgh, the United Methodist General Board of Church
and Society hosted a banquet with civil rights veteran the Rev. Joseph
Lowery on April 30. With rainbow-colored stoles of the pro-“gay”
caucuses abounding throughout the banquet room, Lowery condemned U.S.
economic and foreign policies while implying strong criticism of the
church’s stance on marriage and sex.
