Welcome to our website!
We are United Methodists who love our church and who are centered on Christ. We believe in the historic Christian faith and are especially grateful for our Wesleyan understanding of God’s grace and his call for personal and social holiness. We are committed to renewing the United Methodist Church by promoting biblical truth and by praying for God’s Spirit to unite his people around our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thank you for your interest in the Confessing Movement. If we can be of any service to you or if you have a prayer request, please contact us. If you want to join with others in working to renew The United Methodist Church, please give us your contact information.
With God’s grace and because of people like you, we believe that the best years are ahead for the church we love.
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If you wish to keep track of the Proposed Constitutional Amendment voting results, click HERE and go to Spreadsheet View.
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Click here to see Dr. Maxie Dunnam's YouTube video commentary on the proposed Constitutional Amendments.
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Judicial Council Decision
The Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church, our denomination’s Supreme Court, met from April 22-24 in Denver, Colorado. The Judicial Council issued eight opinions on April 24. Four of the opinions are of particular interest to evangelicals.
First, in Memorandum 1118, the Council ruled on a declaratory request from the Alaska Annual Conference, which invited the Council to overrule Decision 1032 and hold that the pastor of a local church has no discretion when an applicant states that he or she is ready to take the vows of professing membership. The request asked whether paragraphs 214 (“all persons may . . . become members of any local church) and 225 (transfer of membership from another denomination) of the 2004 Book of Discipline are constitutional under paragraph 4 of the Constitution (“all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, status, or economic condition shall be eligible to . . . upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members of any local church. . . .”). In Decision 1032, the Judicial Council stated, “Paragraphs 214 and 225 are permissive and do not mandate receipt into membership of all persons regardless of their willingness to affirm membership vows.” The Judicial Council further declared that the pastor-in-charge of a local church has the power to determine “a person’s readiness to receive the vows of membership.”
In Memorandum 1118, the Council held that it did not have jurisdiction to rule on the declaratory request from the Alaska Annual Conference because paragraph 2610.2(j) of the Discipline requires that a declaratory request from an annual conference must “relate to annual conferences or the work therein.” The Council noted that a declaratory request from an annual conference “must be germane to the regular business, consideration, and discussion of the annual conference and must have a direct and tangible effect on the work of the annual conference session.” The request “must relate to some action taken or to be taken by the annual conference session.” Because these conditions were not satisfied by the Alaska Annual Conference in making its declaratory request, the Council held that it was without jurisdiction.
Proponents of eliminating pastoral discretion obviously hoped that the change in the membership of the Judicial Council in the current quadrennium would result in the Council overruling Decision 1032. The declaratory request from the Alaska Annual Conference did not present a vehicle for them to achieve this goal. The Judicial Council properly concluded that it lacked jurisdiction.
The 2008 General Conference had an opportunity to reverse Decision 1032 legislatively by changing the disciplinary provisions on membership to negate the exercise of pastoral discretion, but it did not do so.
A second matter before the Judicial Council involved a review of a decision of law rendered by Bishop Beverly Shamana. The 2008 California-Nevada Annual Conference adopted a resolution, which commended retired clergy of the conference for their “compassion” in being willing to celebrate same-sex marriage or union ceremonies despite a prohibition in the Discipline, which forbids clergy from performing such ceremonies. In response to a question of law, Bishop Shamana ruled that the resolution stepped over a disciplinary line, and was void and of no effect. In her ruling, Shamana wrote, “While the resolution is a commendable gesture to the congregations of the conference in offering the pastoral counsel of a number of retired clergy to persons contemplating same-gender marriage under the laws of California, it steps over the disciplinary line when it commends these clergy to the congregations for the purpose of ‘performing same gender marriages or holy unions.”
In Decision 1111, the Judicial Council affirmed Bishop Shamana’s decision of law stating that an “annual conference may not negate, ignore, or violate provisions of the Discipline with which they disagree, even when the disagreements are based on conscientious objections to the provisions.” The Council said, “[A]n annual conference may not formally disseminate an official conference communication advising its local churches of the availability of clergy who are willing to officiate in ceremonies that celebrate same gender unions” since such an action is prohibited by paragraph 341.6 of the Discipline.
In a third matter, the Judicial Council reviewed a decision of law rendered by Bishop Mary Ann Swenson in the California-Pacific Annual Conference. The 2008 California-Pacific Annual Conference adopted a resolution, which stated, “while we recognize that we are governed by the Book of Discipline . . . we support those pastors who conscientiously respond to the needs of their parishes by celebrating same-gender marriages, and we envision compassion and understanding in any resulting disciplinary actions.” Bishop Swenson ruled that the resolution was permissible and stated, “The action called for in the resolution can be characterized as a pastoral response on the part of the annual conference . . . . What the resolution does not call for is for pastors to violate the provisions of the Discipline governing the celebration of same-gender marriages. In fact, the resolution is specific in acknowledging the authority of the Discipline . . . . The resolution does not call for or encourage violation of the Discipline; it does provide for a response that is pastoral (compassionate) in nature.”
In Decision 1115, the Judicial Council affirmed the portion of Bishop Swenson’s decision of law, which ruled that clergy are subject to provisions of just resolution and fair process, but the Council reversed that portion of her decision of law, which ruled that the resolution was permissible. The Council held that that portion of the resolution which expressed support for actions which would violate the Discipline was impermissible. A concurring opinion by Jon Gray, joined in by Katherine Austin Mahle, stated, “Changes in church law can only be made by the General Conference and cannot be achieved through piecemeal resolutions adopted in an annual conference session. A request for a bishop’s decision of law in an annual conference or for a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council are not effective ways to change the language of the Discipline.” One concern raised by Bishop’s Swenson’s decision of law and the opinion in Decision 1115 is the continued unwillingness of some parts of our church to hold members of our church accountable when the Discipline is violated. Language which calls for persons who violate the Discipline to be treated pastorally or compassionately in subsequent disciplinary proceedings has been used by some essentially to nullify the provisions of the Discipline and to fail to hold persons accountable in some circumstances. Such a result when it happens weakens the covenant United Methodists share embodied in the Discipline.
Finally, in Decision 1113, the Judicial Council held that the Mission Council of the South Central Jurisdiction was properly vested with the authority to give its consent to enter into a lease agreement of Southern Methodist University (“SMU”) with the George W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation (the “Bush Foundation”). The Mission Council’s action was reported to the 2008 session of the South Central Jurisdictional Conference. The Judicial Council held that the Jurisdictional Conference ratified the action of the Mission Council at the 2008 session of the Jurisdictional Conference. Because title to the property being leased to the Bush Foundation remains with SMU, the lease did not and could not violate the trust clause provisions of paragraph 2503.4 of the Discipline, the Judicial Council stated.
The opinions of the Judicial Council can be viewed in the Judicial Council section of the website of The United Methodist Church (www.umc.org).
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"Theology of the Body"
An Ecumenical Seminar for Clergy and Laity on the Teaching of John Paul II
May 21, 2009
Sheraton Hotel and Marina, New Bern NC
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Paul Griffiths, Duke Divinity School
Sponsored by Transforming Congregations, LifeWatch, and New Bern District of The United Methodist Church
http://www.transcong.org/TOB.htm
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PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, March 19, 2009
NEW PRESIDENT OF THE CONFESSING MOVEMENT
WITHIN THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, March 19, 2009 – The Confessing Movement within The United Methodist Church wants to congratulate Rev. Rob Renfroe on his new position as President and Publisher of Good News. Rob has provided excellent leadership as a Board Member and as the current President of the Board of Directors of The Confessing Movement. Our prayers are with him as he assumes this new position, which brings exciting opportunities and responsibility. He will be a great asset to Good News. Appreciation is expressed to Rob for his many years of dedicated service to The Confessing Movement. Walter Fenton is to be congratulated as well on his new position with Good News.
The Confessing Movement also expresses good wishes and God’s blessings on Dr. Jim Heidinger in his retirement.
Effective July 1, 2009, the Rev. Gregory McGarvey will become President of Board of Directors of The Confessing Movement. Greg currently serves as the 1st Vice-President of the board having served on the Board of Directors since 1999.
Dr. Maxie Dunnam, Co-Chairman of The Confessing Movement, observed, “Greg McGarvey has been a part of The Confessing Movement from the beginning. I am excited about his leadership. He knows the issues and he loves the church.” Rob Renfroe stated, “Greg McGarvey is keenly insightful with a winsome personality committed to Christ and the cause of The Confessing Movement.” Senator Patricia Miler, Executive Director of The Confessing Movement stated, “I know Greg as a strong and compassionate leader, who is faithful to our Lord and Savior and lives out that faith in his daily life.”
Greg was instrumental in starting the renewal movement in the South Indiana Conference. He developed the Bloomington Declaration, modeled after the Houston and Memphis Declarations, which were the forerunners of The Confessing Movement.
Since 2001 Greg has been the Senior Pastor of Carmel United Methodist Church, Carmel, Indiana, just north of Indianapolis. He is a 1972 graduate of DePauw University and a 1976 graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary. Spending his entire 35 year ministry in the South Indiana Conference in small rural churches, a downtown-county seat church, a small town church, and 3 urban/suburban churches. From 1983 – 1988 Greg was New Albany District Superintendent, and served as Chairperson of the Cabinet in 1986 & 1987.
He has served the denomination as Chairperson of the South Indiana Conference Administrative Council, a member of South Indiana Conference Executive Committee, a 6-time delegate to General Conference, and a member of the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits.
Greg has led seminars and church consultations in the South Indiana Conference with Dr. Kennon Callahan’s 12 Keys to an Effective Church approach to church growth and effectiveness.
Part of Greg’s continuing concern for The United Methodist Church is the need for ongoing discussions of the role of the church in America in a global strategy of missions.
Greg married Peggy Ann Drake in 1974. Peggy and Greg have two sons, Christopher and Joshua. They have traveled in India, Nepal, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt. In 1988, Greg studied United Methodist missions in Indonesia, People’s Republic of China, Korea, and Japan, rekindling his passion for Christian mission.
Greg’s hobbies include planning exciting family vacations, sailing, tennis, and collecting antique automobiles.
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Good News announces new leadership upon Heidinger retirement
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Join the Million Voices of Prayer
My name is Terry Teykl, as a local prayer leader, along with Kim Kossie of 89.3 KSBJ, a Christian radio station in Houston, Texas. We are recruiting a million people to join a prayer team. The team has three objectives:
One, to worship and pray together to give pleasure to our heavenly Father. We want to enjoy Him as much as He enjoys us. We want to wait and worship Him for who He is.
Secondly, we want to intercede for Christian ministers and leaders. We want God's favor on them to bless their ministry and we want to build a hedge of protection around them. In this way the local church is helped.
Third, we want to invite God's Presence down on a distressed world so that the lost may be saved by Jesus Christ. In other words we want to see our communities transformed by the Gospel.
Please join a prayer force that will grow and impact our community at:
http://www.ksbj.org/details_promotions.php?Id=61
"For nothing is impossible with God", Gabriel (Luke 1:37)
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Announcing the publication of Confessing Movement Board Member Dr. Edwin (Buddy) Cooper's daily devotional entitled "Becoming Ancestors". For more information, CLICK HERE.
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2005 Unity StatementUnity is the critical issue in The United Methodist Church today. This was evidenced by discussions at the 2004 General Conference and the subsequent appointment of the Unity Task Force by the Council of Bishops. |
In Response to To The Decision Of California-Nevada Annual Conference Retired Clergy’s Offer To Perform Same-Sex MarriagesSenator Patricia Miller, Executive Director of The Confessing Movement said, “I am very disappointed that United Methodist Retired Clergy are willing to break their vows before God and to break their covenant with The United Methodist Church.” She said the broken covenant is also with 2,000 years of Christian Heritage and The Worldwide Christian Church. Miller said, “The Confessing Movement stands firm on the official position of The United Methodist Church, which was just reaffirmed at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference."
Since the United Conference in Dallas, Texas in 1968, The United Methodist Church has lost over 3 million members. The Western Jurisdiction has led the church in its downward spiral. The action of Rev. Eileen Lindsay of Walnut Creek United Methodist Church in performing 3 same-sex ceremonies will hasten that downward spiral. Radical progressives like Rev. Lindsay apparently cherish their commitment to homosexual behavior much more than the unity of the church, the clear teaching of Holy Scripture and 2,000 years of church tradition.
www.wfn.org/2008/07/msg00081.html
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Join The Discussion
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| Thursday 19. of June 2008 | |||||
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