Common
Witness
General Conference 2004
In the midst of challenges facing The United Methodist
Church as we approach General Conference 2004, a group of leaders have
come together to hold up a common vision, addressing both the character
of the church and the way we relate to one another within the church.
The signers of Common Witness 2004, pledge to act in ways that strengthen
one another and the church as a whole.
The Methodist Federation for Social Action has given
its full support and invites others to endorse the statement as well.
Those wishing to do so are invited to send an email to mfsa@mfsaweb.org.
WE
ARE people committed
to following Jesus Christ as we embody God’s
love and justice through The United Methodist Church.
At a time when we are often defined by our differences, we embrace
one another on common
ground and claim our unity in Christ. We join together
to provide a Common Witness on the following vital areas of discussion
within our community
of faith. Ever open to the surprising movement of the
Holy Spirit in our midst, we proclaim the following:
WE
BELIEVE
-
in
a church that passionately works for racial justice. We rejoice
at progress within the
UMC toward liberating us from our shameful
history of racism, and pledge
our
perseverance and diligence to continue
to work toward greater racial/ethnic
inclusivity, both by strengthening historically marginalized
racial/ethnic communities and by receiving
the talents and leadership these/our
communities have
to offer the church. We embody the church
eager to lead the way in liberating and empowering
people shackled by demeaning concepts
of race, within the church walls and beyond.
-
in
a church that is doctrinally open. Without apology,
we follow Jesus as our guide,
remembering his repeated words to the disciples: “You
have heard that it was said … but now I tell
you.” We
affirm United Methodism’s great strength
of willingly understanding doctrine
as a guide along
the journey of faith, and remember
that Abraham began his journey
of faith in God before covenant
and law existed – a
journey from the comfortable
and familiar to the new and unknown.
We oppose human
attempts to mandate so-called “fidelity” oaths
to one particular interpretation
of doctrine. We wholeheartedly
affirm the role of doctrine at
the core of each faith
community, and
recognize
that doctrines evolve over time.
-
in
a church that embodies full
inclusiveness. We hear the Gospel
welcome to all people, regardless
of human distinctions that
contravene the unity we experience in God’s prevenient
grace. We believe there is
room at Christ’s
inclusive table for people
of every age, race, culture,
nationality, theological perspective,
sexual
orientation, gender, gender
identity, mental and physical
ability, economic condition, and marital status.
We believe that we are more
fully
the church together than
any of us
can be separately. We are
committed to
maintaining seminary education
for our clergy that includes
the lives and faithful witness
of Christians who are at
the margins of the
tradition as well as the
center, teaching an
expansive, multi-cultural
understanding of Christian
witness.
-
in
a church that celebrates both women and men as
equally created in God’s image and blessed with
gifts and graces for
ministry. We recognize that the work
of dismantling patriarchy
continues, as we strive for the full
equality of men and women
in society and in the
church. We affirm the work and ministry of the
Women’s Division
of the General Board
of Global Ministries acknowledging
that the Women’s
Division frequently blazes
the trail of justice
and leads the United
Methodist Church in paths of righteousness.
-
that
engaging in respectful interfaith
dialogue realizes the
vision of the church as the peaceable kindom and the beloved
community
of God on earth. We are
eager to
share with persons of
other faiths the truth that has come to us through Jesus
Christ,
and eagerly listen for
truths we can learn from
them. We do not support efforts to target Muslims for conversion
to Christianity, and
we do
not understand the dangers
of radical fundamentalism
to be uniquely Islamic. If the world is to be safer for
us all, leaders
in all faith traditions
must lead the way,
modeling respect toward
one another.
WE PLEDGE TO
• shape our lives according to the good news of Jesus
Christ, the Word
of God made visible in our midst.
• make visible our commitment to the beliefs articulated
above by our
actions, words and deeds.
• identify our common ground as those working for justice
through the UMC.
• listen to one another with open minds and open hearts.
• speak respectfully to one another with love, especially
when we disagree.
• seek earnestly to learn from one another.
• share openly our questions and concerns.
• situate our specific ministries in a broader understanding
of church and
community.
• honor respectfully the right of individual signers
of this document
to live out these commitments as they are led to do.
• live faithfully into our Wesleyan tradition as people
of the warmed heart, enlightened mind,
and extended hand.
|
SIGNED:
Joseph Agne and Marcia Hauer
Co-Chairs
Methodist Federation for Social Action
Gilbert Caldwell and Traci West
Co-Conveners
United Methodists of Color for a Fully Inclusive Church
John A. Carr, Executive Director
Association of Physically Challenged Pastors
Inday Day, Executive Director
National Federation of Asian American United Methodists
Alvin Deer, Executive Director
Native American International Caucus
Douglas Fitch, Pastor
Glide Memorial UMC
Peggy Gaylord and Ken Rowe
Co-Spokespersons
Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender Concerns |
Howard W. Hallman, Director
Methodists United for Peace with Justice
Kathryn J. Johnson, Executive Director
Methodist Federation for Social Action
John S. Lewis
Parents Reconciling Network
William B. McClain
Professor of Preaching
Wesley Theological Seminary
Mark Nakagawa, Chair
National Federation of Asian American United Methodists
Troy Plummer, Executive Director
Reconciling Ministries Network
Chett Prichett, Planning Team
Methodist Students for an All Inclusive Church
Jeffrey Spelman, Chair
Reconciling Ministries Network |