UMNS File Photo by John C. Goodwin
GC2000 Protest
PROTESTING -- People protesting the United Methodist Church's anti-homosexual policies block the aisles during the denomination's 2000 General Conference. The Rev. Gilbert Caldwell is fourth from the left, and the Rev. Gregory Dell is fourth from the right.
I fear delegates to The United Methodist General Conference have opened the door for a debacle similar what occurred during the 2000 General Conference in Cleveland when police were called to remove church leaders and members for demonstrating in support of opening the church to LGBT persons. That conference represented one of my beloved church’s darkest hours as it shut down dissent.
During its opening plenary on Tuesday, the General Conference adopted a new rule (Rule 18) that specifically prohibits any kind of demonstration or dissent that allegedly would distract delegates or disrupt proceedings. This includes silent protests, where people stand in place in the bleacher seating area or quietly surround the voting area to pray while delegates consider issues related to human sexuality. When a delegate repeatedly tried to get an interpretation of what the vaguely worded rule means, she was told its interpretation will be up to the bishop presiding at the time.
What this may mean, I fear, is that police will be called in to remove protestors when the inevitable protests begin in support of changing church law related to full equality of LGBT people. We will be going from doing spiritual violence against LGBT people to the threat of physical violence. I know of what I speak. One of my responsibilities in my role at United Methodist Communications before the 2004 General Conference was to ensure the violence of 2000 was not repeated. It wasn’t. There were demonstrations within the conference hall, but no one was arrested. The 2008 and 2012 conferences were similar. Demonstrations, yes. Highly-charged emotions, yes. Some inconvenience, yes. But no physical violence.
Through many generations of General Conferences, demonstrations are part of The United Methodist DNA. Most often, they reflect movements related to social justice, and how we, as a church treat and welcome (or not welcome) all of God’s children.
I pray for all of those involved in the General Conference. Many, on both sides of the issue, are friends and former colleagues. I pray bishops will show great forbearance, patience, and mercy as they preside during difficult places in the agenda. We should be able to find ways to peacefully live together no matter how difficult our differences.
For the record, I strongly support the movement to open all places in our church to all people who profess a love and commitment to Jesus Christ. Our pastors should be able to conduct same-sex weddings. Our churches should be able to host them. And our ordained and commissioned ministry should be open to LGBT people, too. It’s time to open the doors.
Stephen Drachler is a communications consultant and former staff member of United Methodist Communications. This post is republished with the author's permission from his Facebook feed.