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Blessing Same-gender
Covenants
We emeriti clergy members of the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church, joined by our brother and sister clergy of other Conferences, wish to explain our support of blessing same-gender covenants for persons who request that of their pastors.
We are troubled that in our current social landscape homophobia grips our people. The language of hate and actions of violence express contempt for the thoughts, feelings, and space of others. We fear people we take little time to know. We fail to listen carefully to our sisters and brothers. We believe the compassion of Christ needs to be experienced by all people, and especially in our church through our pastors and our congregations.
An issue which has become increasingly divisive across our church is that of gender-orientation and gender identity. We believe that gender-orientation and gender identity are divine gifts. We believe that every child of God deserves to be treated with respect and challenged to become fully the person God is creating. We believe that the Church has a singular role in nurturing that process.
Through changing times our mission as United Methodists has been constantly challenged. We are called to offer an open and inclusive ministry. Our theology has mandated a prophetic response to our pastoral calling. Our founder, John Wesley, claimed the world as his parish. Wesley, himself in the midst of cultural change, exercised a splendid conciliatory spirit: "Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding [our] smaller differences. These remaining as they are, they may forward one another in love and in good works."*
We believe loving covenants between persons are rich and wholesome acts. We are called now and again as United Methodist pastors to preside over blessing ceremonies as diverse as the needs of the persons in our care. We are free, in Christ's name, to offer - or refrain from offering - blessings of homes, of families, of journeys, even of pets. At this point we are forbidden to offer a blessing upon the covenant of faithfully shared love between persons of same gender. (Not every United Methodist Pastor is required to offer this particular blessing, but every United Methodist Pastor must be free to follow the leading of Christ's Spirit in making this decision.) The very authority of our ministry finds its empowerment through this freedom.
We therefore covenant with one another to co-officiate when called upon by other clergy-members of our Conference for the sake of pastoral care for all God's people. We believe God is calling us to faithfulness in this ministry. While we respect the conscience of those who cannot join us, we prayerfully believe that our own conviction, both as Christians and as United Methodist clergy, allows us no other course of action.
We further join with other lay and clergy members of United Methodist Conferences across our country seeking the removal of Paragraph 161G, Book of Discipline 2000, The United Methodist Church, at the next General Conference of the Church. 1 From John Wesley’s Sermon XXXIV "Catholic Spirit," published 1750. Current in “John Wesley’s Fifty-three Sermons" p. 493.
(Clergy signature list updated 3-27-03) We welcome and invite other emeriti clergy to add their signatures to ours above.
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