Source: Fort Worth Star Telegram, Tulsa World
FORT WORTH -- At a major conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC), delegates took steps Friday toward filling posts on the denomination's Judicial Council, which is crucial in determining the church's stance on such issues as same-sex unions, the ordination of sexually active homosexuals and the membership of homosexuals in the church.

UMC's General Conference, which is convened every four years is meeting in Fort Worth. Nearly 1,000 delegates from throughout the world have gathered at the Fort Worth Convention Center for the 10-day conference.

A group that supports the ordination of gay ministers has been passing out hand-sewn rainbow-colored stoles to any guest who would accept them. A group that opposes changing the rules is being accused of manipulating votes by distributing free cellphones for use at the conference to delegates from Africa and the Philippines, where churches are generally traditional in their theology.

Twenty-seven people were nominated for five openings on the nine-member council, with voting to be Monday at the General Conference, where church policy is made.

Committees are studying nearly 1,600 petitions -- many of them controversial -- from churches, agencies and individuals.

The General Conference is the only body that can change church policy as written in the Book of Discipline and the Book of Resolutions, Tulsa World reports.  Any United Methodist Church member can petition the General Convention to change the church's policies.

Such groups as the Methodist Federation for Social Action say the Book of Discipline should not prohibit any aspect of participation in the church based on sexual or gender orientation.

Among the petitions before the conference are one that would state that homosexuality is a subject about which Christians disagree; and another that would define marriage as the union of two loving adults.

Tom Junk, a lay delegate to the conference who described himself as "Wesleyan, traditional, orthodox", told Tulsa World he did not expect those changes to pass.

"The high water mark for the liberal movement in the church was the 1996 General Conference in Denver," said Junk, whose has been a delegate to five conferences.

Since then, the traditional movement in the church has grown stronger, he said.

Another delegate, Rev. Mouzon Biggs, who has been a clergy delegate to the convention seven times in 28 years, said he does not expect the church's position on homosexuality to change.

"The demographics of the church are moving to a more conservative position, not a more liberal one," he claimed.

He said that for decades, about two thirds of the delegates have stood by the policy, and one third has sought to change it.

"It'll draw all the media attention; the feelings are strong on both sides," he said.
Biggs said that if the church's position becomes more liberal, it would be "very divisive."

Junk argued that such a change would put the Methodist Church at risk of the type of schism threatening the Episcopalian and Presbyterian churches.

Both delegates said the issue is one small part of a convention that will deal with many other important issues.

"The majority of Methodists wish we could put it to rest," Biggs said.

Several Fort Worth events will be held by groups who support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender inclusiveness in the church, including ordination and same-sex unions, Fort Worth Star Telegram reports. Some of the groups are Affirmation, Soulforce, and Reconciling Ministries Network.

Soulforce, a group that fights church-based homophobia, scheduled a conference for today entitled, "The Struggle Continues: Racism and Heterosexism in the Church."

Scheduled speakers were be the Rev. James Lawson, former president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; Bishop Melvin Talbert, former president of the National Council of Churches and former director of Black Methodists for Church Renewal; and the Rev. Gil Caldwell, former co-convener of United Methodists of Color for a Fully Inclusive Church.

Full article: Methodists' council picks could affect sensitive issues | Star-Telegram
Methodist conference delegates expect no change on gay issues | Tulsa World