PNW-RMN: General Conference 2004

WHEREAS, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church continues to declare Homosexuality a sin and as being "incompatible with Christian teaching" while simultaneously declaring that practicing Homosexuals can be received into our churches by baptism and vows of membership; and

WHEREAS, the United Methodist public media promotion slogan "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" does not reflect the Church's purpose and/or objectives as characterized by the Church's pronouncement that Homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching; and

WHEREAS, the newly added clause by General Conference to 161G of the Social Principles stating we "will seek to live together in Christian community" presents confusion as to how an individual can become a Christian and live in Christian community if their sexual orientation is incompatible with Christian teaching; and

WHEREAS, all of those living in Christian community are called to be ministers of Jesus Christ, some as laypersons, some as Lay Pastors, some as ordained Deacons and Elders; and

WHEREAS, the United Methodist Church prohibits the call of practicing Homosexuals to ordained ministry; and

WHEREAS, the Church limits the call of ordained ministry only to self-identified heterosexuals;

1. the Kansas East Annual Conference indicate its disagreement with the ambiguities contained in the language of the Discipline used to describe homosexuality as "incompatible with Christian teaching";

2. the Kansas East Annual Conference structures a study over the next quadrennium that will seek to clarify the language in the Discipline to describe homosexuality in terms that are more unanimously considered theologically compatible with United Methodist tradition,

3. the Kansas East Annual Conference send a copy of this resolution to the secretary of the 2004 General Conference as a record of our disagreement with the revised statement on homosexuality.