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GC2004 Updates

NIC VOICE General Conference Update (#57)

NIC VOICE is a network of laity in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church.

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

If you are unable to read this update, please go to www.nicvoice.org where the reports are being posted on-line.  When posted on-line, this will be the link and description: 

·        NIC VOICE - GC2004 Updates 57 (UPDATED:  Church Within a Church Calls for United Methodist Separation)

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This newsletter is to post a correction made by CorNet to a previous article headline.  It contains the correction, the previous headline, and the original Church Within a Church letter as posted on their web site.

 

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CORNET

 

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.  

From:  "umcornet" <umcornet@y...>

Date:  Sun Sep 12, 2004  5:06 pm

Subject:  Correction: Headline for "Church Within A Church Letter"

 

Please note: A headline for a message to UMCalled Out on September 1,

2004 was unintentionly misleading. I titled the post "Church Within A

Church Calls for United Methodist Separation." However the letter

that was included below the headline actually outlined three

viewpoints held by progressive United Methodists-- not just the one

cited in the headline.

 

Their letter specifically stated: "The Church Within A Church

Movement can offer a place of opportunity for progressive people in

all three of those postures."

 

The Church Within A Church's letter is available in printable format

on their website at:

http://www.churchwithinachurch.org/letter.htm

 

I regret the error.

 

CORNET Moderator

From:  "umcornet" <umcornet@y...>

Date:  Wed Sep 1, 2004  6:25 am

Subject:  Church Within A Church Calls for United Methodist Separation (link to article)

 

 

Group says, "Let two new denominations be born!"

 

------------------------------------

 

From the Church Within A Church (link to “Church Within A Church”)

 

"To BE Church in a fully inclusive way."

August 31, 2004

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

General Conference 2004 is a matter of record. Jurisdictional

Conferences with their election of bishops have come and gone. Where

are we as a denomination? Where are we as a church?

 

The United Methodist denomination is clearly split. The question is

not so much whether that is or is not the reality as it is what to do

about it!

 

The Church Within A Church Movement was organized in February of

2002, in response to the General Conference of 2000, and is now

focused even more clearly since the results of the 2004

Conferences. We came together with a sense that the denomination's

direction on inclusiveness was not exactly hopeful. Attacks were

being made on the Commissions on Religion and Race and Status and

Role of Women. Those attacks were not successful but they haven't

stopped. Most apparent has been the now repeated intransigence and

deepening rejection of persons based solely on their sexual

orientation. Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender persons and their

allies have not been afforded even the respect of recognizing that

there is a difference of perspective within the denomination.

 

The hypocrisy of declaring that the United Methodist Church is a

denomination of "Open hearts, Open minds and Open doors" is deeply

offensive. To declare on the last day of the 2004 Conference

that "as United Methodists we remain in covenant with one another,

even in the midst of disagreement, and affirm our commitment to work

together for our common mission of making disciples throughout the

world," adds further insult to injury.

We affirm that there are faithful folks and movements whose intent

remains focused on reforming our denomination.

 

But Church Within A Church recognizes that there are a growing number

of United Methodists who feel that the best stewardship of their

resources for the struggle for full inclusiveness should not be

directed primarily at continued legislative reform. Some of those

believe that an institutional split -- as amicable as possible -- is

where we should be. Let two new denominations be born! Others feel

that it may not yet be time to separate institutionally but we should

be prepared for that eventuality, should it occur. Still others see

the primary call to be one of living out the vision of the fully

inclusive church without heavy investment in efforts of reform.

 

The Church Within A Church Movement can offer a place of opportunity

for progressive people in all three of those postures. We have

already begun to consider, explore and implement:

 

1. Initiating and supporting congregations who may or may not be

United Methodist but who will be Wesleyan in their understanding and

fully inclusive (by race, gender, sexual orientation, ability and

status) in their ministry, constituency and leadership. The one new

congregation in that model already begun and growing is Bloom in the

Desert Ministries in California. Other congregational models are

being developed and encouraged.

 

2. The possibility of "irregular" ordination leading to gainful

employment for qualified LGBT persons -- done in the spirit and model

of the first ordination of women priests in the Episcopal Church.

 

 

3. Development and sharing of models for the blessing of same-

gender covenant relationships.

 

4. The creation and distribution of progressive, liberal

Christian education curriculum for children and adults. Such

curriculum unapologetically teaches the scriptures in their

affirmation of the goodness of all creation and our accountability to

both celebrate and enable the awareness of that goodness.

 

Pilot projects of this work have already begun.

 

All of these plans spring from the movement's Action Plan which

states: We commit ourselves as disciples of Jesus Christ to full

inclusion of all persons without regard to status or economic

condition and celebrating race, color, national origin, sexual

orientation and gender identities.

 

To move forward with considering, refining, and implementing these

plans, the Church Within A Church Movement will have a national

meeting on October 15 and 16 in Chicago, Illinois. Part of our

agenda we will be to develop further avenues of full participation of

all people, and explore the implications of the new denominational

discipline. We would like to invite you to be there. If you are

interested in receiving details about the meeting, please return the

enclosed form [CORNET ADDED NOTE: No form is attached to this

email. If interested, contact Greg Dell] The form also provides a

way for you to become part of this movement whether you will or will

not be able to be present for the meeting.

 

We look forward to hearing from you soon! God's grace is alive and

well.

 

 

Grace and peace,

 

Gregory Dell

National Coordinator

c/o Broadway United Methodist Church

3344 N. Broadway

Chicago, IL 60657

padipilot@a...

Phone: 773-348-2679

 

P.S. Please circulate this letter as widely as possible. Thanks for

your help!

 

============================================

cathy knight

Marketing and Development Coordinator

Church Within A Church - "To BE Church in a fully inclusive way"

Phone: 312.282.1556

 

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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 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)

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