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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2016)
FAITH Friday, May 20, 2016 East Oregonian Page 7A Methodists try to avoid split over gay rights By RACHEL ZOLL AP Religion Writer Struggling to avoid a split over gay rights, the top policy-making body of the United Methodist Church on Wednesday narrowly approved a full review of all church law on sexuality, amid an emotional meeting roiled by talk of schism. Delegates at the Methodist General Conference, meeting in Portland, Oregon, voted 428-405 to delay all consideration of LGBT-related proposals. Instead, the delegates created a commission that will spend at least two years reviewing policy on the subject, contained in the Methodist Book of Discipline, with the goal of developing a plan to address their differences. The denomination has 12.7 million members worldwide and is the third- largest faith group in the U.S. “We are at a precipice,” said Lonnie Chain, a delegate from the Northern Illinois Annual Conference, or church district, speaking in favor of forming the commission. “There is urgency before us. The church might divide.” While other mainline Protestant groups, including the Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), have approved same-sex marriage, the Methodists have upheld a policy they adopted in 1972, calling same-gender relationships “incompatible with Chris- tian teaching.” As gay rights gained acceptance in broader society and in other churches, Methodist LGBT advocates stepped up pressure for the denomination to lift prohibitions on ordination for people with same-sex partners, along with a ban on gay weddings. However, the denomination is on a more conservative path, with its greatest growth in the U.S. South and overseas, regions where conservative views predominate. Of the 864 delegates at the Oregon meeting, 30 percent are from Africa. A recent survey by the church found about 54 percent of U.S. pastors and lay people in leadership roles agreed with the church restrictions on gays and lesbians, although only 41 percent of congregants held the same view. The Rev. Adam Hamilton, who leads Community First United Methodist Church Of Hermiston Rev. Dr. James T. Pierce, Pastor Open Hearts, Open minds, Open doors AP Photo/Don Ryan Attendees and LGBT advocates gather to confer during a break in the United Methodist Church conference in Portland on Wednesday. Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, estimates two-thirds of Meth- odists are centrists who could live with those differences. But Methodist conservatives and liberals have become even more polarized over the years, raising questions about how they can stay in the same church. Matt Berryman, head of Reconciling Ministries Network, a Methodist LGBT advocacy group, said the commission plan “signals hope.” The Rev. Rob Renfroe, president of Good News, a caucus of evangelical Methodists, said the plan has “some potential to resolve our differences” but is “fraught with peril,” depending partly on whether conservative views will be heard. Clergy who support gay rights have been increasingly deiant, conducting same-sex marriages or coming out as gay and lesbian from the pulpit. Doing so risked penalties, including permanent loss of clergy credentials. Conserva- tives have stepped up demands for punishment of such actions. Separately Wednesday, the Judicial Council, or top church court, ruled that mandatory penalties, which conservatives had sought, were unconstitutional. At the meeting, which began last week, buzz about a potential breakup grew as some bishops and leaders of different streams within Methodism, including conservatives and LGBT advocates, met privately on whether the BRIEFLY church could stay uniied. The group discussed a proposed division of the church into conservative, centrist and liberal wings — a split that would have been the most dramatic realignment over homosexuality in American Protestantism. The church began in 1784 and has property and investments worth billions of dollars. The rumors intensiied to the point that the president of the Council of Bishops, Bishop Bruce Ough, was compelled to stand before the full conference Tuesday to address them. He said no plan would be advanced to break up the denomination, but he acknowledged bishops were divided and struggling to ind a way to move forward. “I have a broken heart in that collec- tively we have a broken heart,” Ough told the delegates. “Our heart breaks over the pain, distrust, anger, anxiety and disunity” evident at the conference. As committees rejected appeals to lift LGBT prohibitions, gay rights advo- cates staged multiple protests, standing on the perimeter of one session with rainbow-colored duct tape over their mouths and lying on the loor with their hands and feet bound. “People are walking down the street in tears saying, ‘This is not the United Methodist Church that I joined,’’’ said Dorothee Benz, an LGBT rights advo- cate from the New York. BOARDMAN’S LIMEY PASTOR Beginnings and bondings Former NASA engineer speaks Friday PENDLETON — Spike Psarris, a former engineer in the United States’ military space program, will speak at Calvary Chapel of Pendleton. A former atheist, Psarris speaks about science, creation and the Bible. He contends the universe is inconsistent with random evolutionary models and is consistent with Biblical creation. Psarris is the author/ producer of the DVD series “What You Aren’t Being Told About Astronomy.” The public is invited to the multimedia presentation Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Calvary Chapel, 1909 S.W. Athens Ave., Pendleton. For more information, contact 541-966- 8912, ccopendleton@ccpendleton.com or visit www.ccpendleton.com. For more about Psarris, visit www.creationastronomy.com. O Nazarene church holds Ladies Spring Brunch HERMISTON — Fellowship, laughter, special music and a special message by guest speaker Linda Brazel are featured during the Ladies Spring Brunch. Women and girls are invited to attend Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Hermiston Church of the Nazarene, 1520 W. Orchard Ave. Child care will not be provided during the event. The meal is potluck, so those attending are asked to bring something to share. To see what others are planning to bring, visit www. mealtrain.com/rvy9o2. For more information or to RSVP, contact 541-567-3677, hermistonnaz@ gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/ events/1189822504385364. Christian author to speak in Baker City BAKER CITY — A faith-based women’s spring event will feature Christian author Francine Rivers. The public is invited to hear the bestselling author, who will speak Tuesday from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Baker City Christian Church, 675 Highway 7, Baker City. A pre-event, which features an author meet- and-greet and book signing, is from 6-7 p.m. Afterwards there will be refreshments, books for sale and additional time to have Rivers sign her books. The event is free. Rivers received a degree in English and journalism from the University of Nevada-Reno. She initially embarked on a writing career from 1976-1985. She received numerous awards and acclaim. In 1986, after becoming a born-again Christian, Rivers wrote “Redeeming Love” as her statement of faith. Since that time, she has penned more than 20 novels with Christian themes. For more about the event, contact 541-523-5425 or secretary@ bakercitychristian.com. For more about Rivers, visit www.francinerivers.com. h my! There is a Kylene said to me: “I want lot of stuff going God in it!” By golly, that’s on. In a few days what she will get — she time I am invited to give a came to the right man in baccalaureate address to the her future father-in-law (I wise children of Boardman hope). Both of them will June 1, as they prepare for realize the holy nature one of the most signiicant of the wedding bond, its transitions in their lives. purpose that lasts in a world Colin The majority of them are outside our own and that Brown Catholic, and in preparation will take the couple to a Comment for the wide world, a deeper understanding of the Lutheran pastor (that’s me) community, the family of is going to speak with them about God where they are to be placed as the next steps in the larger picture. man and wife. I know one of the children Matthew’s old school friend, already, a young lady who serves Rachel, is also getting married me breakfast at the Sunrise Café to the equally biblically named on Saturdays, who plans to start Adam. I am performing their training as a nurse at Mt. Hood service too. Adam is like a large Community College in Gresham. pixie, grinning perpetually as if What an honor to be asked to help plotting a mischief, while Rachel’s prepare her by words, a young saint soulful Madonna eyes gaze at her in training. You can hear the call in man with adoration and longing. her, reverberating to the purity of It seems like marrying them will that sound. Many of the youngsters, be like tying together starlight to a of course, will still be listening for hay bale — such astonishing and their own call. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, perfectly matched opposites. the Lutheran theologian, said that These wonderful conjunctions God’s will is not just one thing, it all come following Pentecost, can be many and our job is then to the celebration of the birthday of examine them all, trying to discern the church when the Holy Spirit which ours is for right now. This, I entered and spoke, opening up think, is wisdom. the treasure chamber of spiritual Since I went to a Baptist church gifts. In those early days the Spirit in my pre-teen years, was baptized melded languages while sharing a Catholic and migrated to being understanding. On Sunday I sat a Lutheran due to accidentally with my lock, in their red feathers, moving next to a Lutheran church in a shaded sanctuary to share our while listening to and reading the stories of the Holy Spirit — still works of Garrison Keillor about the active in our lives after all these mythical Minnesotan town of Lake years. Stories came out faster and Wobegon, it seemed likely that I faster as people revealed their might ind myself as a presenter stories about how the supernatural to this lively group. In those days, touch of the Spirit embraced them Keillor was Plymouth Brethren and and protected them, or bent their managed to convert himself into lives in new directions. Had we a Lutheran while in the process of stayed there until the next day the telling his understated story gems stories would have still lowed out, about life in the minus-20 degree because as we relected we realized temperatures of that northern state. that God has never left us alone In this spirit of beginnings, and never will. Miracles of the examination and discernment, I am Holy Spirit are gifted us every day. also preparing for wedding my son Amen. Matthew to his true love, Kylene, ■ and doing it carefully without Pastor Colin Brown from Good disturbing the balance of things, Shepherd Lutheran Church on without scaring them, but focusing Locust Road in Boardman invites a laser-like solemnity of purpose to you to join us at 11 a.m. on Sunday the occasion while blessing them morning with coffee and tea with God’s joy. To my delight afterwards. SUBMIT FAITH NEWS Friday's faith page features local, national and international faith-related news. Send information about local faith-related news and events, including concerts, special speakers and activities to community@eastoregonian.com or drop off to the attention of Tammy Malgesini at 333 E. Main St., Hermiston or Renee Struthers at 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton. Call 541-564-4539 or 541-966-0818 with questions. 191 E. Gladys Ave. Sunday Worship at 11am (541) 567-3002 P eace L utheran C hurch 210 NW 9th, Pendleton ELCA Join us Sundays 9:30 am Sunday Worship 9:30 Worship 10:30 am am Sunday Fellowship 11:00 am Sunday School & Adult Class ~Come and be at Peace ~ on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday NEW HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH 1350 S. Highway 395, Hermiston Sunday Worship Services English- Pastor Dave Andrus 9:00 & 10:45 am Spanish- Pastor Genaro Loredo 9:00 & 10:15 am Classes for kids during all services For more information call 541-567-8441 Faith Center Church Worshiping God Loving People 108 S. Main • 276-9569 Sunday Worship 10:30 am Sr. Pastor, Ray O’Grady pendletonfaithcenter.org Seventh-Day Adventist Church Saturday Services Pendleton 1401 SW Goodwin Place 276-0882 Sabbath School 9:20 am Worship Service 10:45 am Community Presbyterian Churc h OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR 14 Martin Drive, Umatilla, OR 922-3250 Worship: 10 AM Sunday School at 11:30 www.graceandmercylutheran.org Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Nursery Provided) Fellowship, Refreshments & Sunday School Check Out our Facebook Page or Website for More Information 541-289-4535 Tom Inch, Pastor Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA 164 E. Main St. / P.O. Box 1108 Hermiston, Oregon 97838 Grace Baptist Church 585 SW Birch, Pilot Rock, OR 97868 (541) 443-2500 prbconline.blogspot.com Sunday School: 9:30 am Worship Service: 10:45 am Kids’ Club: 6:00 pm Wednesday Services: Youth Group: 7:00 pm 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 Nursery provided for all services Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 pm Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” St. Johns Episcopal Church All People Are Welcome Scripture, Tradition and Reason Family service 9am Sunday Gladys Ave & 7th Hermiston Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672 Redeemer Episcopal Church 241 SE Second St. Pendleton (541)276-3809 www.pendletonepiscopal.org Sunday Holy Communion 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Holy Communion Noon Weekly Adults Spiritual Life Group All Are Welcome FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH -Presbyterian Church (USA)- 201 SW Dorion Ave. Pendleton Service of Worship - 10:00 am Children’s Sunday School - 10:20 am Fellowship - 11:00 am www.pendletonpresbyterian.com Open Hearted... Open Minded Com e m eet Jesus a t PEN D LETO N BAPTIST C HU RC H 3202 SW N ye Ave Pen d leton , O R 541-276-7590 Su n d a y M orn in g W orship 11:00 AM Su n d a y Bible Cla sses 9:45 AM Su n d a y Y ou th Grou p 6:00 PM M on . Com m u n ity W om en ’s Stu d y 9:30 AM & 6 PM Aw a n a K id s Clu b (K -6th gra d e) W ed M en ’s Stu d y 6 PM M O PS m eetin g the 1st Thu r of the M on th 6 PM FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM 712 SW 27 TH ST. 541-276-1894 www.fcogpendleton.com FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH in Mission for Christ LCMC Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM Sunday Worship . . . 10:30 AM Red Lion Hotel ( Oregon Trail Room ) www.faithpendleton.org BAHA’I FAITH “The Unity of All Mankind” Pendleton Baha’i Center at 1015 SE Court Place Devotions Sundays @ 11:00am; Everyone invited! (541) 276-9360 visit us at www.pendletonbahais.org To share your worship times call Terri Briggs 541-278-2678