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NIC VOICE NIC VOICE is a non-profit, non-business association of members within the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. NIC VOICE is not incorporated or filed as 501-C-3 tax deductible entity.
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come see the place where he lay. (Matthew 28:6)  NIC
VOICE offers the laity within NIC
churches an opportunity to become INFORMED. Upon
invitation from a NIC church or group,
NIC VOICE will provide a
speaker to conduct a presentation entitled
"WATERSHED
MOMENT: Discussion
of Theological and Doctrinal Issues in the UMC Raised by the Bishop
Sprague Complaint & Dismissal".What is a Watershed? NIC VOICE provides an open meeting package (see "How to Schedule an NIC VOICE Meeting) to assist you in scheduling the meeting.)
From NIC VOICE Links & Resources: Bishop Sprague Complaint and Dismissal (Links directly related to Bishop Sprague's writings, the complaint, dismissal and responses) Have you visited the NIC VOICE Comments Section lately? NEW Comments have been added. Have you visited the NIC VOICE Resources & Links Section? Great resources are added frequently! Check it out!
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WATERSHED MOMENT It is important that we not allow the passing of what Bishop Ough’s Supervisory Team has characterized as a “Watershed Moment” without examining their dismissal of recent charges brought against Bishop Sprague. More importantly, presentations and discussions such as this forum will allow United Methodists throughout the Northern Illinois Conference and beyond an opportunity to decide for themselves what they believe to be the Biblical Truth about the doctrines that are at the root of this controversy. The charges in the complaint against Bishop Sprague state that his positions are contrary to the Statement of Faith in the United Methodist Book of Discipline. This controversy became public when a transcript of Bishop Sprague’s speech at Iliff Seminary was released in the summer of 2002. Subsequent to that, Chapter 4 of his book, “Affirmations of a Dissenter” was released by Bishop Sprague on the NIC web site. In the fall of 2002, the UMReporter published a series of articles contrasting excerpts from Chapter 4 of Bishop Sprague’s book with the published response of Bishop Whitaker. In addition, various renewal groups officially within the UMC, as well as other groups not officially connected, have covered various aspects of this controversy on their web sites. They have published information and opinions about the complaint that was made by a group of laity and clergy late in 2002, and the subsequent dismissal in February of 2003. These groups provide a forum for this and other issues of concern within the UMC. MISSION NIC VOICE is a growing network of concerned laity whose purpose is to provide balanced information and dialog within the Northern Illinois Conference of the UMC about Doctrinal Issues raised by the Bishop Sprague Complaint & Dismissal. This is in harmony with the recommendations by the Supervisory Response Team's dismissal of charges. They urged that the laity become involved in the process of "serious theological reflection on issues of Biblical Authority, Christology and the Mission of the Church". Questions or comments about NIC VOICE may be directed to: nicvoice@nicvoice.org. NIC VOICE offers the laity within NIC churches an opportunity to become more INFORMED: Upon invitation from a NIC church or group, NIC VOICE will provide a speaker to conduct a presentation entitled "Discussion of Theological and Doctrinal Issues in the UMC Raised by the Bishop Sprague Complaint & Dismissal", or You may choose to conduct the presentation 'in-house', using the NIC VOICE Watershed Moment Presentation, at a single meeting or in a series of studies on these key doctrinal issues of: · Christology (Trinity, Virgin Birth, Deity of Jesus) · Resurrection of Jesus Christ · Salvation through Jesus Christ Alone · The Atonement of Jesus Christ SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe/unsubscribe, go to newsletter.htm. If you don't have Web access, send your name and email address to:nicvoice@nicvoice.org
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For past issues, visit our archives at newsletter.htm. Tell a friend about NIC VOICE. It's free! If they do not have e-mail access, you can print this newsletter and distribute it (see REPRINT AND FORWARD POLICY below.) DISCLAIMER NIC VOICE is sponsored by a laity-led network in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church dedicated to providing balanced information and dialog about issues of concern relating to the Bishop Sprague Complaint & Dismissal. This group has sole responsibility for the content of this letter. NIC VOICE provides original content on our web site and may distribute information from other sources. NIC VOICE exercises no more editorial control over such information from other sources than does a typical public library, bookstore, or newsstand. The views and opinions expressed in such information do not necessarily reflect those of NIC VOICE. Copyright (c) 2003, NIC VOICE. All rights reserved. REPRINT AND FORWARD POLICY Subscribers are encouraged to forward NIC VOICE News Letter and web site links to others and/or print it in its entirety, without any changes, for noncommercial use only. If forwarding to another publication, please do so with the appropriate citation NIC VOICE in accordance with "fair use" rules, and our Disclaimer. You can easily forward the NIC VOICE News Letter at newsletter.htm using the Send this Newsletter link to a friend capability. UNSUBSCRIBE NIC VOICE News is sent to inform you about significant additions to our web site or relevant information. If you would like to be removed from this list, please click "UNSUBSCRIBE". |
NIC VOICE Special Edition August 25, 2004 – “UMC Bishop Gives Witness to the Love of God” ********************************************************* On Sunday, August 22, 2004, NIC VOICE received an email (as did apparently others) from REV. ANDREW J. WEAVER, Ph.D., UNITED METHODIST MINISTER, NEW YORK CITY (see also http://www.healthcarechaplaincy.org/research_03.html). This email contained the text of an editorial by Linda S. Rhodes, published in both the print and on-line NIC Reporter (see following link to editorial and related article). · 400 attend Sprague farewell banquet (Aug. 13) · Editorial: ‘Crashing’ the farewell party (Aug. 13) Following you will find (separated by ******************):
******************************************************* UMC BISHOP GIVES WITNESS TO THE LOVE OF GOD Editorial 'Crashing' the farewell party By Linda S. Rhodes, Editor The Reporter of the Northern Illinois Conference In the midst of nearly 400 people at a retirement banquet celebrating the ministry of Bishop C. Joseph Sprague, a young man dressed in a white shirt and black suit began to attract attention. He photographed and tape recorded every speaker. He noted who was in attendance. He took in the whole event in silence—until Bishop Sprague blew his cover and recognized him as John Lomperis, a member of the staff of the Institute for Religion and Democracy (IRD). The IRD, based in Washington, D.C., is a right-wing organization created to target progressive policies, people and structures within United Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopal churches. The IRD website says it is working to "reform the social and political witness" of these churches. Specifically it objects to Protestant churches' involvement in what it calls "leftist crusades" such as "feminism, environmentalism, pacifism, multi-culturalism, revolutionary socialism, sexual liberation and so forth." The IRD says it works through "conservative renewal groups" within each denomination to try to effect the changes it desires. Lomperis works for Mark Tooley, director of UMAction, the department of the IRD that focuses on us: United Methodists. For the last eight years, Tooley and his staff have criticized, defamed and hounded Bishop Sprague through articles in their UMAction newsletter and on the IRD website. So it shocked many of us attending Bishop Sprague's retirement dinner when this blatant enemy of everything Bishop Sprague has stood for throughout his ministry "crashed" this final farewell for the Bishop's friends and family. When I asked Lomperis why he was there, he immediately began defending his right to attend the dinner. He said, "This is public event, open to all United Methodists." Well, that explained why he was allowed in the door. Actually, as far as I know, the event organizers welcomed anyone who wished to purchase a ticket. But that didn't answer my question. Why was he there? The rest of us were there to honor Bishop Sprague, to thank him for his ministry and witness among us, to celebrate his life and work. Was that why Lomperis had come? To honor the Bishop? I doubted it. But Lomperis kept insisting, "I have a right to be here because I'm a United Methodist."I asked him which United Methodist congregation he belongs to. Uh, well ... It turns out he is not a member of any United Methodist congregation. He said he attends an "evangelical, ecumenical church." But he still claims to be a United Methodist. When I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, suggesting that perhaps he is a United Methodist "in name only" because he doesn't attend a United Methodist church, he had the audacity to declare that, yes, he is "just like the other 8.5 million United Methodists in the country." Oh, really? I think the young Mr. Lomperis is "unclear on the concept" of what it means to be a United Methodist. Lomperis seems unaware that those of us who really are United Methodists praise God and lift our prayers in worship in United Methodist churches, serve as liturgists, prepare worship centers, sing in choirs, teach Sunday School classes for children and adults, maintain church buildings, and lead youth groups. Lomperis seems unaware that those of us who really are United Methodists read and study scripture through Disciple Bible Study classes, Schools of Christian Mission, Walks to Emmaus, Alpha, and programs of United Methodist Men and United Methodist Women. Lomperis seems unaware that those of us who really are United Methodists participate in Volunteer-In-Mission work trips, traveling around the country and around the world to help build houses, repair homes damaged by floods and tornadoes, feed the hungry, work in hospitals and clinics, assist emerging new congregations and testify to the great love of Jesus Christ Lomperis seems unaware that those of us who really are United Methodists donate the money that supports more than l,000 missionaries serving in 70 countries. And that—inside the U.S. alone— we help fund 65 community centers, 65 hospitals and health-care facilities, 225 retirement and long-term-care facilities, more than l00 colleges and universities, and 13 theological schools.
And it's obvious that Lomperis was unaware that those of us who really are United Methodists have "open hearts, open minds and open doors."But Lomperis saw United Methodism in action, because despite the fact that he is not a United Methodist, despite the fact that he was not there to honor Bishop Sprague and had come to the dinner under false pretenses, despite the fact that he is part of an organization that has harassed Bishop Sprague for the past eight years, despite the fact that he seems to know nothing about the denomination he is trying to destroy, John Lomperis was not only allowed into Bishop Sprague's retirement dinner, but also was greeted cordially and treated with respect—at least by everyone but me!
The bishop shook his hand and said that even though
he worked for an organization about which Bishop
Sprague could say nothing good, Lomperis himself was
welcome. Bishop Sprague treated Lomperis as a child
of God—greeting him with graciousness and warmth.
The Rev. Deborah Fisher,
senior pastor of First UMC in Downers Grove and
co-chair of the dinner, asked Lomperis if he had
heard anything that night that changed his mind
about Bishop Sprague. Lomperis admitted he was
surprised that he had not heard any "evangelical
bashing" either behind closed doors or in public.
Of course, the only things Lomperis heard at the
banquet, the only things said by anyone there, were
praise and thanks for the mission and ministry of a
humble servant of God.
Dr. Phil Blackwell,
senior pastor of First UMC of Chicago (The Chicago
Temple) and co-chair of the dinner, suggested that
maybe the retirement banquet could be, for Lomperis,
a Damascus Road experience like that of Saul, the
persecutor of Christians who became Paul, the great
missionary who spread Christianity to the gentiles.
Saul saw the light of Christ, turned his life around
and quit persecuting Christians, Maybe Lomperis can
do the same.
I pray that it will be so.
SENT BY
REV. ANDREW J. WEAVER, Ph.D.
UNITED METHODIST MINISTER
NEW YORK CITY
MORE
INFO ON IRD BELOW
PLEASE
SHARE WITH FRIENDS
http://www.mediatransparency.org/stories/irdi.html
http://www.zionsherald.org/Jan2004_specialreport.html
************************************************************
Response to Rev. Weaver by NICEA member Rev.
Chaplain Kent L. Svendsen
Dear REV. ANDREW J.
WEAVER, Ph.D.
UNITED
METHODIST MINISTER
I'm wondering why you
had to go and ruin my day by sending me this trashy
article by Linda Rhodes who is the radical left wing
mouthpiece for the Northern Illinois Conference. I
was quite embarrassed by it so I didn't include it
in this return e-mail but deleted it immediately.
I am an ordained Elder
who has served churches in the Northern Illinois
Conference since 1988, when I was first appointed to
a church as a student pastor. So I have been under
the leadership of Bishop Sprague for the entire
eight years (plus a few months) of his Episcopal
appointment to the conference.
Before being mobilized
by the Army Reserve and sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
earlier this year, I was also planning an event.
But it was not a celebration of Bishop Sprague's
wonderful accomplishments and illustrious career.
It was a prayer service to beg God to send us a
bishop who could be the bishop for all United
Methodists in the Northern Illinois Conference and
not just the extreme liberal left. As a vocal
evangelical pastor in the conference I felt
oppressed, embarrassed, discriminated against, and
excluded by the leadership and ministry of Bishop
Sprague. By the time he had finished his time in
the conference he had been brought up numerous times
on charges of being in violation of the Book of
Discipline. In my opinion it is a travesty that none
of those charges were permitted to go forward to
trial.
His denial of orthodox
theology and active promotion of those beliefs
caused me to avoid if possible receiving communion
from him towards the end of his service. I simply
could no longer reconcile the Jesus he believes in
and the words spoken by our Lord at the Last Supper
and recited as part of the liturgy. I felt that I
was affirming Sprague's theology and denying the
orthodox teachings of the church by receiving it
from his hands.
According to the Book
of Discipline a bishop is supposed to be an agent
for bringing unity to the body. Instead Sprague
brought division and distrust to our conference. I
am praying that our new bishop will attempt to heal
the many wounds that Bishop Sprague caused and will
work towards helping us find a center pathway in
which all members of the United Methodist Church can
feel included in the family.
Rev. Kent L. Svendsen
Rev. / Chaplain Kent
Svendsen baptizing a new
believer in the ocean at Cable
beach, Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba.
************************************************************
The Northern Illinois
Conference of the United Methodist Church honored
its highly controversial retiring bishop with a
banquet on August 1. Amidst toasts and praises from
those whom he had influenced over his career, Bishop
C. Joseph Sprague promised that he would continue to
“engage the demanding justice and peace issues which
confront the church.”
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