Produced by United Methodist News Service,
official news agency of the United Methodist Church,
with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New York, and Washington.
May 13, 1998 Contact: Thomas S. McAnally·
(615)742-5470· Nashville, Tenn. {300}
By Bishop Michael J. Coyner*
Those who are in the Methodist Middle support our United Methodist doctrine and discipline, value Scripture because it "contains the Word of God" (in the words of our historic creeds and our membership vows), believe that all persons are children of God and deserving of a place in God's church, and struggle to apply these values, Scriptures, doctrines and disciplines to the complex issues of today's world.
Those in the Methodist Middle value doctrine, but they do not use it like a club to beat their opponents (such as the far right do), nor do they simply choose to ignore doctrine when it interferes with their personal preferences (like those on the far left do).
Those in the Methodist Middle value Scripture, but they are not biblical literalists, nor do they simply ignore Scripture when it fails to support their personal preferences.
Those in the Methodist Middle value our conferencing as United Methodists and respect the opinions of others within the Body of Christ. Unlike the far right and the far left, they do not believe that they have the only answers to every issue that confronts us today. The Methodist Middle would never consider breaking any of our covenants of understanding with one another; rather, they are willing to discuss, debate, consider, pray and look for answers together.
Those in the Methodist Middle consider the idea of schism in our denomination to be unthinkable because they believe in dialogue, discernment and keeping their vows of faithful membership.
Those in the Methodist Middle know that the really tough issues of our day, like homosexuality, are not resolved by name-calling, petitions or judicial processes. They know that medical science is divided on the question of whether people are homosexual by birth or by development (or by both). They know people who are homosexuals and who struggle to be faithful Christians, and they understand that the issue of homosexuality is not a simple one.
They also know that the Scriptures are not silent on this issue and they take that seriously, while seeking to learn from the best biblical scholarship to discover the context, meaning, and interpretation of those texts. They are aware that the traditions of the church have spoken against homosexual practice, and they respect those traditions. They also believe that God's Spirit continues to give the Church discernment on this issue, and they are willing to remain in the United Methodist Church to struggle with this difficult issue.
The Methodist Middle is not ready to concede that either extreme (right or left) has the final answer. Perhaps most importantly, those in the Methodist Middle do not want the United Methodist Church to lose sight of its purpose and witness by focusing too much on this one issue at the expense of missions, education, outreach, worship and service.
Those in the Methodist Middle realize that the Jimmy Creech trial has not changed our United Methodist stance on the issue of homosexuality, and they are not in a panic to make any quick changes in our Book of Discipline. They realize that our Book of Discipline asks us to live with the paradox of welcoming homosexual persons into our churches because they are persons of sacred worth, while at the same time stating that we believe homosexual behavior is outside of the guidelines of Scripture and Christian teaching. Those in the Methodist Middle are willing to live with that paradox, and they are unwilling either to exclude homosexual persons or to condone homosexual practice.
Those in the Methodist Middle are not in the middle-of-the-road just to avoid issues. They try to center their life and faith on Jesus Christ, and they believe in the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct their lives and their church. Their faith is not relegated to past traditions, nor does it ignore those traditions. Their faith is firmly grounded in Scripture tradition, reason and experience. They are not opposed to theological exploration and new ideas, but they want these explorations and ideas tested by the whole community of faith and by the whole experience of Christian tradition.
Are you part of the Methodist Middle? I am, and I believe that 70 to 90 percent of all United Methodists are. I also believe that those in the Methodist Middle resent the attempts by the far left and the far right to damage our denomination.
Perhaps it is time for the Methodist Middle to be heard. And perhaps it is time for the far left and the far right to be quiet and listen for the will of God in the church.
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