October 1, 2004
By Kathy L. Gilbert

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa - Top leaders of the World Methodist Council have adopted a statement on unity to "sound a note of warning" that churches must seriously address tensions around issues of human sexuality.

If the church fails to look at the issue of homosexuality now, the unity of the church will suffer, said His Eminence Sunday Mbang, chairperson of the council's executive committee and prelate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria.

The executive committee adopted the "Unity and Sexuality" statement during its Sept. 15-18 meeting.

"A number of countries, particularly in Europe and America, are legalizing gay marriages," Mbang said in his opening statement to the committee. "The churches in those areas are ordaining gay ministers. Some of them have already consecrated gay bishops. This trend is spreading like wildfire in some areas."

Many people of faith, especially in Africa, "are becoming very confused at this trend and this new learning," he said.

"The future of the Christian church and Methodism may depend on what we do or fail to do at a time when Christianity is going through (a) crisis which she has brought upon herself.

"The sooner each of us under God takes a position on this new trend, the better for the Christian church."

In response to his remarks, the ecumenics and dialogue committee drafted the unity statement, calling for churches to "apply their energies and best minds to the challenges as we all seek God's light."

The statement acknowledges that the executive committee could not "give more satisfactory answers than those which have resulted from long thought and discussion in our churches; it desires only to sound a note of warning."

It goes on to urge member churches to love all their people but to hold firmly to the "centrality of Scripture, to the long Christian tradition of teaching on the order of creation, on marriage and family life, and to exercise immense care as they face choices which could threaten the unity of congregations and churches."

The World Methodist Council links churches in the Methodist and Wesleyan tradition in 132 countries. The full council meets every five years; during the intervening years, the council is guided by the executive committee, representing 76 member churches.

The full text of the statement follows:

Statement from the Executive Committee
of the World Methodist Council

UNITY AND SEXUALITY

The Chairperson, His Eminence Sunday Mbang, in his opening address to this Executive, called for a response to the widespread debate 'within the churches on the subject of human sexuality.' He asserted 'the unity of the Church is gradually beginning to suffer' as a result of significant tensions. He observed the impact of new and unfamiliar interpretations of the Scriptures to the confusion of many faithful Christians. We also have record of its adverse effect on our Christian mission.

Several churches have worked for many years to find a way to respond to the pastoral needs of their people in the face of changing attitudes to sexual orientation and sexual practice in our societies and cultures, acknowledging that our sexuality is one of the gifts of God in creation. (The issue is sharpened in many cases where a call to ordained ministry is involved.)

It must be observed that there is no ethical consensus in the world at large on these and related matters. For Christians, there is a tension between the desire to respond in love to all God's creatures in the light of the Gospel's universal promises, and the need to discern God's will in rapidly changing circumstances. Additionally, we must be concerned for the health of the nations and the future of the entire human family.

In our review of ecumenical relationships, it is clear that at least one Christian World Communion has been internally disrupted as a result of the actions of certain individuals and conciliar bodies; its survival is at stake. Others with whom we remain in dialogue have firmly reasserted classical Christian teaching on these matters. Some of our own member churches have come to the brink of division or have lost members through precipitate action.

It is acknowledged that this Executive is unlikely to give more satisfactory answers than those which have resulted from long thought and discussion in our churches; it desires only to sound a note of warning. It takes with complete seriousness the issues involved, scriptural and doctrinal, medical and ethical. It urges the churches to apply their energies and best minds to the challenges, as we all seek God's light. It urges the churches to endeavour to preserve the bond of peace and love with all their members. But it equally urges the member churches to hold firmly to the centrality of Scripture, to the long Christian tradition of teaching on the order of creation, on marriage and family life, and to exercise immense care as they face choices which could threaten the unity of congregations and churches.

- Adopted by the Executive Committee of the World Methodist Council, Port Elizabeth, South Africa September 17, 2004

United Methodist News Service
Kathy L. Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.