November
Listed below are the columns and other commentaries written by Bishop Hee-Soo Jung in the November 2005 issues of the Northern Illinois Conference's weekly newspaper, The Reporter. To read a column, click on its name.
Circle of love must widen, not shrink (November 18)
A Pastoral Letter to the People of the United Methodist Church from the Council of Bishops (November 2)
Circle of love must widen, not shrink
(November 18) Many have contacted me regarding their concern over the recent Judicial Council decisions related to sexual orientation. Like many of you I have closely followed two cases that have been before the Judicial Council.
One decision removed from United Methodist ordained ministry a pastor in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference solely because of her sexual orientation and unwillingness to deny the Disciplinary language that she was a “self-avowed practicing homosexual.”
The other decision restored to active ministry, from involuntary leave of absence, a pastor in the Virginia Conference who had refused to receive into United Methodist membership a man who identified himself as gay.
Many different perspectives
People have many different perspectives on these matters in our conference and across our denomination. But we are one in ministry of love and compassion. Most United Methodists, I believe, are committed to welcoming all people into the community of faith.
The Virginia case raises serious concerns about our theology relating to hospitality. Did Jesus genuinely bid all persons to come to him? Or did he bid only those who “qualified” by their beliefs, their lifestyle, their social position, their race … ?
As such decisions as these are publicized, it becomes especially important to reach out to those who by these decisions have felt that they themselves, their children, their friends, their wider families have again been rejected by the United Methodist Church.
God’s realm is one of radical hospitality, of love and salvation. God rejects no one. As many have committed their lives to Christ, they have affirmed this wonderful good news by singing “Just as I am, I come.” Thus we invite others to come to Christ, just as they are, for we know that once we come to Christ, it is then that the changes in our life really begin.
Life-affirming ministry
Our church is involved in life-affirming ministry. The circle of love must grow wider and wider, not shrink to fit only ourselves and those most like us. The grace of God knows no limits.
Jesus Christ commanded us to love the Lord our God, to love our neighbor as ourselves, and love one another as God has loved us. His parable we know as “the Good Samaritan” defines how inclusively he used the concept of “neighbor.”
Further, Christ commanded that the gospel be preached to all people without limits. Says Paul as he interprets the teaching of Jesus: “In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 3:28)
Christian community membership must include all people who choose to follow Jesus. No person is to judge for another whether his or her following is acceptable.
Any pastor who excludes another child of God from church membership because he or she assumes the role of judging another will themselves be judged. “Judge not, that you be not judged!”
Of course, we are entitled to our opinions of appropriate behavior. But we are not entitled to judge others on the basis of our opinions and further use our judgment to exclude those others from the community of faith.
Decision affirmed authority of pastors
The Judicial Council decision affirmed the authority of pastors in membership matters. That has been a long-standing United Methodist concept. But refusing a person because of sexual orientation violates a core principle of our faith and heritage that proclaims everyone who professes faith in Christ and who is affirmed through baptism is, indeed, part of the body of Christ: the church.
As Christian leaders, I call upon you to practice hospitality and full welcoming. Christ’s ministry requires reaching out to all: gay and lesbian, young and old, poor and wealthy, and privileged and unprivileged, and welcoming them into our caring community. We need to live out the Gospel authentically with humble minds.
Our faith community is enriched by diversity and differences, yet we need to affirm living unity in Christ’s holy body. Through the saving grace of God the unbroken circle of love widens as we move toward Christian perfection and sanctification.
When we gather in Christian worship, we pray together for God’s mercy and justice for all people. When we have meetings we engage deeply in Christian conferencing and conversation as a means of grace.
I ask that you share both this message and the pastoral statement of Council of Bishops with your congregation and friends. (See “A Pastoral Letter from the Council of Bishops.”)
A Pastoral Letter to the People
of the United Methodist Church
from the Council of Bishops
By grace you have been saved through faith.
— Ephesians 2:8
Grace to you from Jesus Christ who calls his church to welcome all people into the community of faith as it proclaims the Gospel.
The Judicial Council, our denomination’s highest judicial authority, recently issued a decision regarding a pastor’s refusing a gay man’s request for membership in the church. In the case, this man was invited to join the choir at the United Methodist Church in the community. As he became more active in the choir and the church, he asked to transfer his membership from another denomination to The United Methodist Church. Because he is a practicing homosexual, the pastor refused to receive him into church membership. The Judicial Council upheld the pastor’s refusal of membership.
While pastors have the responsibility to discern readiness for membership, homosexuality is not a barrier. With the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church we affirm: “that God’s grace is available to all, and we will seek to live together in Christian community. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.” — Para. 161g, 2004 Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church
We also affirm our Wesleyan practice that pastors are accountable to the bishop, superintendent, and the clergy on matters of ministry and membership.
The United Methodist Church is committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ with all people. We, the bishops of the Church, uphold and affirm that the General Conference has clearly spoken through the denomination’s Constitution on inclusiveness and justice for all as it relates to church membership:
The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. All persons without regard to race, color, national origin, status, or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as baptized members, and upon taking the vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in any local church in the connection. (Article IV, Constitution of The United Methodist Church)
We believe the ministry of the local church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is to help people accept and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We call upon all United Methodist pastors and laity to make every congregation a community of hospitality.
— November 2, 2005
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