NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 53

NIC VOICE General Conference Update (#53)

If you have links to GC2004 Reports that may be of interest, please send the link to: nicvoice@nicvoice.org.

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ALL ITEMS ARE NEW or UPDATED!!!!

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CORNET stands for COvenant Relationships NETwork. CORNET seeks to continue the tradition of hosting worship services that celebrate and witness to same-gender covenant relationships in United Methodist churches and resists actions that try to withdraw this means of grace from same-gender persons. It also seeks to educate people about this concern; therefore this web site includes links and some materials that do not agree with CORNET's views.

UM Called Out Message 2625

Evaluation of GC2004 by Bishop Jack M. Tuell
The Reconciling Ministries Network Digest
Thursday, August 5, 2004

Prior to General Conference when I was asked how I thought the
delegates might vote on greater inclusiveness, I usually
answered, "They will keep the status quo." My answer now would be
more optimistic. While there was a lot of status quo, there were some
signs of progress. It is true that legislation
surrounding "chargeable offenses" was made more specific and clear,
but what this legislation (passed in response to the Dammann verdict)
does is clarify what a lot of people thought the Discipline already
said. I do not regard this as a big setback to the cause of greater
inclusiveness.

In addition, the Conference beat back legislation on the appeals
process in church trials that could have been truly damaging. The
Judicial Council made two important decisions. In the first, they
held that the existing disciplinary language on "incompatibility" did
constitute a declaration of the United Methodist Church. In the
second, they declined to apply this finding to the Dammann case, and
said it only applied to the future. So the Judicial Council's
opinions echoed those of the General Conference. The "signs of
progress" I say are as follows:

1. The vote on the key petition that would have changed
the "compatibility" resolution to a statement that "we are not of one
mind" on this issue, lost by a closer vote than at any of the last
five General Conferences. The vote was 55% to 45%. The votes on
similar resolutions at Conferences in the last 20 years have had
majorities in the 60% range. This may be slow progress, but it is
progress.

2. The "Unity Resolution" passed on the last morning of the
General Conference (in response to news stories that the UMC was
considering an "amicable separation") was important for two reasons:
First, it acknowledged that we are in disagreement. Second, it was an
affirmation (869-41) that the common mission of making disciples is
too important to allow us to be divided by those who think they have
a corner on "the truth."

3. The most important sign of all was: the impact of the witness
made by Reconciling Ministries Network members and their supporters.
Every morning, delegates passed by hundreds of quietly singing,
praying Christians making a witness to a more inclusive church. The
most hardened opponents could not help but be impressed with the
authenticity of this witness. Opponents of change cite
the "unchristian" tactics of those seeking change to justify their
position (which happened after the 2000 General Conference). The 2004
witness leaves no room for such a response. The peaceful
demonstration on the floor of the Conference on Thursday struck the
same note. As I stood in support of the demonstrators, I was part of
a group of hundreds of delegates and many bishops (32, by my count)
who were expressing solidarity with the idea of change. It was
a powerful moment. So despite the lack of tangible legislative
progress at the 2004 General Conference, I feel quite good about it.
Victories do not come quickly in important struggles... they come
through prayer, conversation, careful study, discernment, and loving
and persistent effort. Judged by those criteria, the witness made at
the General Conference of 2004 may be a turning point in this journey.

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NIC VOICE Reports on GC2004 are on-line with descriptions at: General Conference Reports.

Updated NIC VOICE Report Directory

The following NIC VOICE GC2004 reports link to reports, articles and commentary, including UMNS, Reporter Interactive, Good News, Confessing Movement, Institute for Religion and Democracy, Reconciling Ministries Network national and PNW, Affirmation, CorNet, SoulForce, links to various video, audio and transcripts and more:

NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 52 (Articles from Reporter Interactive including Paul T. Stallsworth commentary, Newscope, Interfaith Working Group
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 51 (Articles from Renew, Newscope, Interpreter On-Line, General Board of Church & Society, Commentaries by Rev. Dean Snyder and Rev. James Gibson)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 50 (UMNS on Transition Team, Reporter Interactive Letters to the Editor, Dan Tilly Commentary, Interpreter Online Articles on GC, including How GC will impact local church)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 49 (Press articles, Affirmation newsletter and Wesley Putnam and other commentary)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 48 (Christianity Today articles and Albert Mohler commentary)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 47 (press reports, radio interview with Bill Hinson and UMR commentaries)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 46 (press reports, GC2004 coverage by Good News and commentaries)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 45 (press reports, Riley Case Commentary, updates from RMN and Confessing Movement)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 44 (press reports, Maxie Dunnam & Ira Gallaway Commentaries)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 43 (press reports, commentary, including MSFA, IRD & Confessing Movement)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 42 (press reports, commentary, including UMNS and others)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 41 (press reports, commentary including Good News and reports from AC's in the Northeastern Jurisdiction)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 40 (reports on Northern Illinois Conference delegation and members at GC2004)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 39 (press reports, commentary and reports from AC's in the South Central Jurisdiction)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 38 (Today at General Conference Newsletter - May 18 and more)
NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 37 (press reports, summary of GC by IRD and reports from AC's in the Southeast Jurisdiction)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 36 (press reports, Commentary and reports from AC's in the North Central Jurisdiction)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 35 (press reports, Commentary and reports from AC's in the Western Jurisdiction and Illiff Seminary)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 34 (press reports, Commentary: HOW SHALL WE DEAL WITH UNITED METHODIST HERETICS)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 33 (press reports, Commentary: IN THE END WHAT DID WE ACCOMPLISH)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 32 (press reports, A Statement of Conscience by Bill Hinson)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 31 (Today at General Conference Newsletter - May 7 and more)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 30 (press reports, Resolution on Church Unity)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 29 (press reports, Statement by Dr. James V. Heidinger II, Good News)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 28 (Today at General Conference Newsletter - May 6 and more)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 27 (UMNS: Conservatives consider 'separation' of United Methodist Church)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 26 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 25 (press reports on proposed UMC split)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 24 (IRD Press Release: An Amicable and Just Separation)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 23 press reports, Commentary: FUNNY BUT SAD)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 22 (Today at General Conference Newsletter - May 5 and Text for Judicial Council Decision 985)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 21 (IRD Press Release: Renegade Bishop Participates in "Gay" Church Service)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 20 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 19 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups, commentary, Judicial Council elections)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 18 (Today at General Conference Newsletter - May 4 and more)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 17 (UMNS Daily Wrap-Up - May 3 and more)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 16 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 15 (Reports from PNW RMN and from Delegate Mark E. Williams)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 14 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 13 (Today at General Conference Newsletter - May 3 and more)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 12 (press reports and reports from advocacy groups, Commentary: THE LANGUAGE OF THE SHEPHERD)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 11 (press reports and reports from advocacy groups, Commentary: A CERTAIN PEACE)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 10 (UMNS Daily Wrap-Up - May 1 and more)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 9 (Judicial Council Decision 984 and UMNS - GC asks court to re-examine acquittal of lesbian pastor)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 8 (UMNS Daily WrapUp - May 1 and more)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 7 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 6 (UMNS Daily WrapUp - April 29 and more)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 5 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 4 (UMNS Daily WrapUp - April 29 and more)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 3 (press reports and reports from various advocacy groups)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 2 (Today at General Conference Newsletter - April 27)

· NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 1 (How to Watch/Listen to GC2004, Council of Bishops Pastor Letter, 04/26/2004)

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