UMs won’t split, resolution says

United Methodist News Service
PITTSBURGH—General Conference delegates joined hands and sang “Blest Be the Tie that Binds” before approving a resolution May 7 affirming the unity of the denomination.
The unity resolution read: “As United Methodists we remain in covenant with one another, even in the midst of disagreement, and affirm our commitment to work together for our common mission of making disciples throughout the world.”
The measure was introduced by the Rev. John Schol of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and approved 869-41, with 8 abstentions.
“It’s important to send a clear message that we are unified, a United Methodist Church, which is not splitting,” Schol said. “I have a great deal of relief that we have affirmed our covenant, and that delegates will not leave this place divided. I believe we will come back in four years as a stronger denomination.”
The May 7 action was in response to nationally distributed news reports the day before suggesting that a task force would be formed to study splitting the church because of differences over homosexuality. No such proposal was ever introduced.
Before the unity resolution was introduced, the Rev. Bruce Robbins, former top staff executive for the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, and the Rev. Bill Hinson, president of the Confessing Movement, spoke to the delegates. They tried to clarify events of the day before.
“In our conversations Monday night and Tuesday, some informal proposals were made,” Robbins said. “They were brainstorming sessions. There was no consensus.
“There were papers distributed with the idea of not going beyond the room. Then on Thursday morning, Dr. Hinson addressed the Good News breakfast and shared the pain he has been experiencing. He mentioned the idea of amicable separation and the suggestion of a resolution being offered.”
Good News is an unofficial evangelical United Methodist advocacy caucus.
Hinson, former senior pastor of First UMC, Houston, later told reporters. “I stand in amazement at the combustibility of a speech made at an early morning breakfast by someone who is not even a delegate.”
Hinson denied charges that he personally is behind efforts to divide the denomination. He said he had not written the proposed resolution that ignited the controversy.
Robbins said the result of the morning’s vote was that the 10 million member denomination has not considered any split.
“The United Methodist Church strives and is determined to seek unity,” he said. “That is the goal for all of us. The question is how do we discern ways to build bridges over our differences? I do believe that God has a greater imagination than we do.”