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Despite a groundswell of protest, the United Methodist Church (UMC) council of bishops has rejected a request to hold a special session of the denomination's top legislative body to deal with the issue of same-sex "marriage."

The bishops, however, may already be taking a stronger stance. Bishop Joel Martinez of Nebraska announced on May 6 that he will not reappoint Jimmy Creech as pastor of First United Methodist Church in Omaha. Creech had been acquitted by a jury of UMC pastors in March for performing a same-sex marriage (CT, April 27, 1998, p. 14).

Martinez indicated Creech has lost support from his congregation in the aftermath of performing the lesbian ceremony. Last month's announcement pleased conservatives in the denomination, including Patricia Miller, executive director of the Confessing Movement (CM), an evangelical organization representing 1,100 UMC churches and 500,000 members. "It says that there will be repercussions if the United Methodist doctrine is not upheld."

Creech told CT he is extremely disappointed with Martinez's decision. "I will continue to celebrate covenant ceremonies," Creech says. He does not believe that removal will stop the UMC from becoming "a more inclusive and open church."

SPECIAL SESSION SOUGHT: The only special session of the general conference, the denomination's highest legistlative body, took place in 1970, when Methodists considered issues relating to the union with the Evangelical United Brethren. General conferences consist of 1,000 delegates, half laity and half clergy, elected by the annual conferences. The general conference meets every four years, with the next session scheduled for 2000 in Cleveland.

Nevertheless, there has been pressure for a special session to consider the Creech verdict and the issue of same-sex marriages. Those advocating such a move include Asbury Theological Seminary president Maxie Dunnam (a theological adviser to CT), North Carolina bishop Marion Edwards, Georgia bishop Lindsey Davis, the evangelical magazine Good News, and the CM.

In addition, the south-central College of Bishops, one of five such groups in the UMC, has requested that the judicial council, the denomination's top court, consider whether a statement in the denomination's Book of Discipline prohibiting same-sex unions is a punishable offense. The judicial council will consider the issue August 7-8 in Dallas.

Among all the objections, the most serious came from the evangelical CM, which met in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in April. At the conference, about 1,000 CM members unanimously adopted a statement to be sent to all UMC bishops "to hold each other accountable in teaching and defending the doctrinal and ethical standards of the Book of Discipline."

In a separate statement to the UMC on homosexual rites, the movement warned, "If there is any weakening of these biblical and disciplinary standards, we will be forced to reconsider our commitments to the existing structures of the United Methodist Church."

The bishops, however, indicated calling a special session would be unwise in light of the imminent judicial council meeting. The bishops also vowed to proclaim and defend the doctrine, order, and mission of the church, including the statements on homosexuality in the denomination's Book of Discipline that prohibit homosexual-union ceremonies. Despite requests from prominent denominational leaders, bishops made no reference to the Creech trial.

PULLOUT RUMBLINGS: Even with reassurances that the denomination's views on homosexuality have not changed, the CM warned that unless the church's stance on same-sex marriages is clarified during the judicial council meeting, then "we are fearful that there will be a radical hemorrhage of members leaving the denomination."

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June 15 1998, Vol. 42, No. 7