September 18, 2013
Bishop Mark Webb
Resident Bishop, Upper New York Conference
The United Methodist Church
Greetings, Brother in Christ,
I wish that I might have been as eloquent as my brother
Steve Heiss in bringing together a foundational, biblically-based, discernment
of support for United Methodist Clergy performing same sex marriages. In that I am not that eloquent, I simply state
that I fully affirm what he has said so well for so many, many of us, clergy
and laity alike. I stand with him in his
position. To his discernment, I wish to
share some observations of my own.
With regard to same sex marriages, ultimately NYS has sought
a higher ground than the UM Church. This
places United Methodist pastors in a theological bind as to how to serve those
same sex persons freed by State Law to become their fuller selves through
marriage when they seek their own pastors to officiate at their marriage
ceremony. This is not just a "church law" issue because pastors
are led into a theologically differentiated relationship with differing members
of the Body of Christ they are appointed by the UMC to serve with and for
Christ ... Christ who seeks unity even when the denomination does not yet wish
to do so. By Discipline,
I can now be pastoral in a marriage setting to heterosexual couples [within
which marriages the divorce reaches above 50 percent, with many couples
divorced multiple times.] But I cannot be pastor to a same sex couple in
a marriage setting, except to say, "I'm sorry, but my church will let me
pastor to you in every other aspect but this ... so either don't come to me, or
go somewhere else." That does not reflect the Jesus I meet in the
gospels. Jesus stopped, called people to him and ministered with
them. It is not just a matter of church
law that pastors must "theologically" divide their ministry, putting
themselves at odds with the One they ultimately serve within their appointment
by the UMC, while acting in a hypocritical manner within the local church and
community to which they are appointed.
Furthermore, General Conference "makes" church law
based on numerical vote totals. The theological bind is this: "When
it comes to the ethical and moral implications of the gospel of God's grace in
Jesus as it applies to street-level living, is "church law" to trump
“values of Jesus?" Does Discipline triumph over Gospels? Society-at-large, often ignorant of Jesus of
the gospels, is steadily moving beyond an exclusionary position … the Source of
Life and Love is well and present outside the walls of the church as well as
working within. I listen to that Spirit in both locations.
I do understand that there is a General Conference of
2016. I know that the sentiment of the
majority of people in the USA is swinging visibly toward inclusion of same sex
marriage. I can expect that at one of
these General Conferences we might find a way for the church to “catch up” to
many states’ practices, when all the while the church should actually have been
leading. But there are same sex couples NOW who have waited most of their
lifetime, and there are pastors NOW having to manipulate their "ministry"
practice to either "marry," or "not marry," same sex
people. And we have been waiting for as many General Conferences as I have been
in ministry.
Shall United Methodist appointed pastors give priority to a
"majority vote" overriding the ethical and moral values for which
Jesus lived, gave his life, and lives in Spirit among us today? I believe not. The Spirit of Jesus among us is leading the
way as did Jesus when he engaged those cast aside by society in his day. The Spirit is offering all the same grace. And I hear the Spirit asking, if there is a
probability that the General Conference might actually “vote” to affirm its
leading in the near future, why should those who grasp the Spirit’s leading NOW
but simply lack the “vote” of General Conference be punished “just before
hand?”
Lastly, I want to engage the "kind and degree" of
"sentence" to be delivered. I grant that a breach of church law
must be addressed head on. Nevertheless,
if I grasp anything clearly about Jesus, I grasp that he did not take judgment
and punishment to be his priorities. He did take compassion, fairness and
restoration to be his priorities. In light of the understandings
that the best in biblical study is unlocking about Jesus today, may the
"kind and degree" of "sentence" that concludes this trial be
"healing" and "transforming" for and of all -- those
on trial, those presiding at trial, those on whose behalf this trial has come
to be, and the general public who are measuring the United Methodist Church
against the love of God in Jesus of the Gospels. May we demonstrate the grace
to which we are all called.
May any “sentence” that comes forward at Steve Heiss’ trial reflect
the call of the Holy Spirit within the United Methodist Church to put this
peripheral discussion that saps far too much energy without offering blessing behind
us, so that we can bind together in
community that expresses Jesus’ way of love, justice and peace for all
people so that our world may be a place to live safely in succeeding generations.
In great love and care for you, Bishop, and for all who are
involved in this process in any manner.
Shalom in all its fullness,
Shalom in all its fullness,
Bob Long
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