Church Membership Status Changes Recommended for Homosexuals

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Cathy Knight
Executive Director
Church Within A Church Movement (CWAC)
Phone: 773.348-2679 x 227
FAX: 773.348.2521
E-Mail: knight.cathy@gmail.com

Church Membership Status Changes Recommended for Homosexuals

Commentary
by Mr. David Gould, Chicago, Illinois, CWAC Coordinating Team member
and Rev. Kevin A. Johnson, Palm Springs, California, CWAC Coordinating Team Co-convener


Chicago, Illinois, May, 2006: Memorandum 1041 released by the Council on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, really was a non-decision. The Council declared by a 5-4 majority that their Decision 1032, issued in October 2005, was correct and will continue to fly. Indeed, a pastor may determine a person's fitness for membership in the United Methodist Church based upon the pastor's own findings. We find this clarity of power, well, empowering.

The October ruling has a wingspan farther than the Judicial Council may have realized. If a local pastor may determine that homosexual persons need to repent of something before they are ready to join a congregation, what is to stop a pastor from pulling up the welcome mat from warmongers, white supremacists, gamblers, oil company executives, and death penalty supporters? All such unrepentant persons are "not ready" according to United Methodist dictums. So, in accordance with the Council's non-decision, shouldn't all United Methodist pastors treat all unrepentant persons equally? We think so. On the other hand, we think it is mistaken to lump homosexuals in with oil company executives. After all, homosexuals are of sacred worth as created by God, whereas oil executives choose their profiteering lifestyle.

Most importantly, since we now understand completely that homosexuals can be barred from membership and are vulnerable to church charges of immorality, we recommend that United Methodist homosexual members consider doing what some have already done by changing membership status to "Constituent." This action would be both for their own protection from church prosecution on morality charges and as a self-empowering, protective "timeout." We issue the same call to non-homosexual United Methodists who support full membership and ordination for homosexuals in the United Methodist Church, because the Council's non-decisive ruling may affect them, too. And a timeout might be welcome.

Finally, we directly address that swing voter on the Judicial Council - Voter #5 - to say: Look what you have done. One day you will realize that the "manifest injustice" is real. We think you will eventually realize the consequences of your action. Repentance comes in many forms.

If you would like more info regarding the constituent membership model, you may contact the CWAC national office by emailing: cknight@cwac.us


Organized in February of 2002, the Church Within A Church Movement is a grassroots response to actions of the United Methodist Church General Conference. The unofficial Church Within A Church Movement’s coordinating team declares its refusal to commit either to remain within the denomination or to leave it. Its mission is; “To BE church in a fully inclusive way.” The group also established its action plan by saying: “We commit ourselves as disciples of Jesus Christ to full inclusion of all persons without regard to status or economic condition and celebrating race, color, national origin, sexual orientation and gender identities.” A fifteen-member coordinating team, which meets twice a year, guides the group.
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