Events preceding this letter to Bishop Shamana
At its October meeting, the Judicial Council, like the “Supreme Court” of the United Methodist Church, the highest interpreters of church law (Book of Discipline), meeting in Houston, reached two decisions on the issue of “inclusiveness” of gay and lesbian persons in the life and work of the denomination. First, they reversed a jurisdictional decision and removed the orders of Rev. Elizabeth Stroud, Germantown PA, because she “came out” as being in a living, loving relationship with her partner. Second, they sustained the decision of a local-church pastor in Virginia to deny church membership to a practicing homosexual man who already had been worshiping and singing in the choir there. That pastor had been place on leave by his bishop. The Council of Bishops happened to be meeting at Lake Junaluska NC, when the judicial decision was announced. Their public statement acknowledged different views on the question of pastoral discretion toward church membership. They reaffirmed the openness of the United Methodist Church to all persons of good faith and good will and specifically included homosexual persons in that reaffirmation. Our local Bishop Beverly Shamana sent out her own similar letter of concern for the implications of such a decision to make it possible for pastors to refuse membership on any number of grounds. Bishop Shamana also organized a public prayer vigil in Sacramento to call for a review of church law in light of this ruling.
 
Letter to Bishop Shamana from Reno First Methodist Church Council
 

10 November 2005

 

Bishop Beverly J. Shamana
San Francisco Area, California/Nevada Conference
P. O. Box 980250
West Sacramento, CA 95798-0250

Dear Bishop Shamana,

Thank you for your pastoral letter from the Council of Bishops.  We ask you to relay our response to the Council of Bishops, the Judicial Council, and anyone else in high places who might be reached, touched, and moved by the Spirit of the Body of the Church.  We are the Church Council of Reno First United Methodist, meeting after worship on All Saints Sunday, in behalf of all the saints!

We look first to the Jesus of the gospels – who never mentions sexual preference or practice – but who transcends any number of “status” barriers – nationality, color, gender, creed, class, condition, vocation (even tax collectors!) -- in his witness and outreach to all.   We also look to the Christ of personal faith, of church tradition, and of cosmic promise – whom we name Messiah, anointed, one who embodies the fullness and freeness of God’s created and all creation.

We look to this congregation, all of its members and friends. We see in them the bondage in Egypt, the tomb outside Jerusalem.  We hear the call to us all to “come out” for justice and peace, “come out” for shalom and communion with God who is all in all.  We look to the larger communities – local, state, national, and global – for whom and with whom we are meant to be light, leavening, salt – ever enlightening, enriching, enduring – for the sake of those “little ones” of Jesus, who are displaced, dispossessed, disrespected as human beings.

We subscribe wholly to the scripture and Social Principle and Constitutional Article lifted up by our bishops.  We commit to be relentless in our proclamation of grace and good news to and with all!  If God is for us -- as God is for all life and all living, all love and all loving – we shall overcome, someday!

Faithfully,

 

Kay Greene, Chair

Church Council, Reno First United Methodist Church

 

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