c. 2004 Religion News Service

PITTSBURGH _ Conservative United Methodists, frustrated by three decades of painful debates over homosexuality, unveiled a surprise proposal Thursday (May 6) calling for an “amicable separation” from liberals.

Supporters of the plan, drafted by the Rev. Bill Hinson, leader of the evangelical Confessing Movement, said a mutual parting would allow both sides to leave with both their consciences _ and their property _ intact.

The proposal caught many at the General Conference meeting here off-guard, including bishops who received no advance warning. Many were skeptical that the proposal could be brought to a vote before the meeting here ends Friday.

The resolution would give a task force until 2006 to study how to divide the church. A final date for an outright break would be left to the task force.

Whatever the proposal’s merits or future, organizers said it signals a stepped-up campaign by the church’s powerful right wing to put a permanent end to the perennial fights over homosexuality.

“Our people, who have been faithful and patient, should not have to continue to endure our endless conflict,” said Hinson, the proposal’s drafter and president of the 633,000-member Confessing Movement. He is a former pastor of First United Methodist Church in Houston.

“I believe the time has come when we must begin to explore an amicable and just separation that will free us both from our cycle of pain and conflict.”

A divorce within the church could take years, because all property is owned by the denomination. Supporters said it was likely neither side would be able to claim the name “Methodist” if a split were to occur.

On Tuesday, delegates voted to retain church law that calls homosexual activity “incompatible with Christian teaching.” The church’s highest court also made clear that “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” may not serve as clergy.

While buoyed by their string of victories here, evangelicals said the prospect of more gut-wrenching votes and division is harmful to the church’s long-term health. What’s more, they don’t trust their opponents to abide by church law.

“Clearly the evangelical wing can provide legislative victory, there’s no question about that,” said the Rev. Scott Field, an Illinois pastor who serves as a leader in the Good News movement. “But is that really the battle we all want, where we have winners and losers?”

Leaders of the church’s progressive wing called the proposal a power-grab by conservatives.

“We did not come here to participate in a schism,” said the Rev. Monica Corsaro, spokeswoman for the gay-friendly Reconciling Ministries Network. “Our agenda was to say who we are, that we are not of one mind.”

Church bishops, too, criticized the resolution’s backers for encouraging schism in the church. “To speak about separation is not the United Methodist way,” said Bishop Joe Pennel of Virginia.

Bishop Ruediger Minor of Moscow was more blunt. “Leaving the church, these people would shoot themselves in the foot,” he said. “They would lose their ability to influence a mainline church, not just in this country, but a global church.”

During Thursday’s assembly, more than 250 demonstrators led by the gay advocacy group Soulforce brought business to a halt for 20 minutes when they took over the convention floor in a peaceful protest of the church’s gay policies.

Protesters carrying signs and rainbow streamers circulated throughout the convention hall and were joined by about half of the delegates and two dozen bishops who stood and sang in solidarity.

“The church is being unfaithful to the gospel!” yelled procession leader Jimmy Creech, a former Methodist pastor who was defrocked in 1999 for celebrating a same-sex union ceremony.

In 1845, Northern and Southern Methodists split over slavery, a breach that was not healed until 1939. Several historically black churches, such as the African Methodist Episcopal Church, were born as splinter groups that left the Methodists because of racism.

DEA/PH END ECKSTROM