Bishops at ‘Hearts On Fire’
conference stress commitment
to unity

United Methodist News Service
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C.—Seven bishops from across the United States discussed issues surrounding leadership, dialogue, homosexuality and other topics during a forum at a controversial church caucus event.
More than 550 people attended Sept. 2-5 “Hearts On Fire” event sponsored by the Reconciling Ministries Network.
The unofficial UM advocacy group is, according to its own mission statement, “a national grass-roots organization that promotes full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities” in the life of the church.
Some organizations had objected to Reconciling Ministries’ use of Lake Junaluska, “a United Methodist retreat and conference center,” because of the group’s position on homosexuality. Those attending the gathering were met at the lake’s entrances by protesters, including the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
The seven bishops emphasized their intention to work for unity in the church. During a panel discussion, they were asked how they should deal with divisions in their own ranks.
“In this (most recent) class of bishops, we will be bishops of the whole church,” said Bishop John Schol of the Washington, D.C., Episcopal Area. “We are here (at this event) because we are truly committed to working together.”
Minnesota Area Bishop Sally Dyck said, “(It’s important) to be part of a group to move the church forward and commit … to model how we live in community.”
Other bishops participating in a Sept. 3 plenary were Minerva Car-caño, Phoenix Area; Scott Jones, Kansas Area; Susan Morrison, Albany (N.Y.) Area; Melvin Talbert, retired bishop and executive director of Black Methodists for Church Renewal; and Richard Wilke, retired.
Wilke kicked off the first plenary by exploring the Jerusalem Conference, described in Acts 15, as a model for Christian discernment and dialogue. He said that, according to scripture, controversy has always been a part of the church.
In mock dialogues with Peter, Paul and Luke, Wilke asked how they might deal with today’s controversies, including the homosexuality issue.
Impersonating the voice of each apostle, Wilke uncovered points of view of early church personalities that mirrored positions in the church today. He pointed out infighting among Paul, James, Barnabas, Peter and Luke over law vs. its application, hypocrisy, Christian action and direction of the church.
A second segment of the plenary featured bishops on stage for questions and answers. Dyck moderated and asked if bishops had words of hope concerning the controversy.
“Don’t let anyone take your church away,” Talbert said. “It’s your church, too.”
Jones, Morrison and Carcaño said the controversy was a generational issue that time would solve.
“How do we stay together despite the divisions in our church?” Dyck asked.
Schol responded by saying, “One of our biggest fears is conflict. … Affirm that there’s going to be conflict, … and we can work through it.”
Dyck followed up by asking, “How do we pastor and relate to those we serve?”
Talbert responded: “There’s room for both reconciling and transforming congregations. We have to consistently say that.”
Transforming Congregations is another unofficial church caucus that believes the practice of homosexuality is a sin and that gays can be “transformed” through the grace of Christ.
Dyck next asked about the prophetic role of the bishops in all matters that occur in the church.
“The prophetic role in this day and age is to remind us who we are,” Jones said. “… It’s all about Christ.”
Morrison took another angle.
“I’m a child of the ’60s in a 1940s job,” she said. “I thought (it might be possible) to dialogue in a leadership role.”
A listening post followed the panel discussion.
The controversy surrounding the conference didn’t create security problems, said Buddy Young, director of residential services for Lake Junaluska. Security was enforced for the Labor Day weekend.
“We had cooperation from the Sheriff’s Department and state police and extra security officers from our force,” he said. “We did our best to maintain the traffic coming in and out of the lake and throughout the weekend, and we had absolutely no problems.”