Common Witness: General Conference 2004

WE ARE people committed to following Jesus Christ as we embody God's love and justice through The United Methodist Church. At a time when we are often defined by our differences, we embrace one another on common ground and claim our unity in Christ. We join together to provide a Common Witness on the following vital areas of discussion within our community of faith. Ever open to the surprising movement of the Holy Spirit in our midst, we proclaim the following:

WE BELIEVE

*in a church that passionately works for racial justice. We rejoice at progress within the UMC toward liberating us from our shameful history of racism, and pledge our perseverance and diligence to continue to work toward greater racial/ethnic inclusivity, both by strengthening historically marginalized racial/ethnic communities and by receiving the talents and leadership these/our communities have to offer the church. We embody the church eager to lead the way in liberating and empowering people shackled by demeaning concepts of race, within the church walls and beyond.

*in a church that is doctrinally open. Without apology, we follow Jesus as our guide, remembering his repeated words to the disciples: "You have heard that it was said … but now I tell you." We affirm United Methodism's great strength of willingly understanding doctrine as a guide along the journey of faith, and remember that Abraham began his journey of faith in God before covenant and law existed – a journey from the comfortable and familiar to the new and unknown. We oppose human attempts to mandate so-called "fidelity" oaths to one particular interpretation of doctrine. We wholeheartedly affirm the role of doctrine at the core of each faith community, and recognize that doctrines evolve over time.

*in a church that embodies full inclusiveness. We hear the Gospel welcome to all people, regardless of human distinctions that contravene the unity we experience in God's prevenient grace. We believe there is room at Christ's inclusive table for people of every age, race, culture, nationality, theological perspective, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, mental and physical ability, economic condition, and marital status. We believe that we are more fully the church together than any of us can be separately. We are committed to maintaining seminary education for our clergy that includes the lives and faithful witness of Christians who are at the margins of the tradition as well as the center, teaching an expansive, multi-cultural understanding of Christian witness.

*in a church that celebrates both women and men as equally created in God's image and blessed with gifts and graces for ministry. We recognize that the work of dismantling patriarchy continues, as we strive for the full equality of men and women in society and in the church. We affirm the work and ministry of the Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries acknowledging that the Women's Division frequently blazes the trail of justice and leads the United Methodist Church in paths of righteousness.

*that engaging in respectful interfaith dialogue realizes the vision of the church as the peaceable kindom and the beloved community of God on earth. We are eager to share with persons of other faiths the truth that has come to us through Jesus Christ, and eagerly listen for truths we can learn from them. We do not support efforts to target Muslims for conversion to Christianity, and we do not understand the dangers of radical fundamentalism to be uniquely Islamic. If the world is to be safer for us all, leaders in all faith traditions must lead the way, modeling respect toward one another.

WE PLEDGE TO

*shape our lives according to the good news of Jesus Christ, the Word of God made visible in our midst. *make visible our commitment to the beliefs articulated above by our actions, words and deeds. *identify our common ground as those working for justice through the UMC. *listen to one another with open minds and open hearts. *speak respectfully to one another with love, especially when we disagree. *seek earnestly to learn from one another. *share openly our questions and concerns. *situate our specific ministries in a broader understanding of church and community. *honor respectfully the right of individual signers of this document to live out these commitments as they are led to do. *live faithfully into our Wesleyan tradition as people of the warmed heart, enlightened mind, and extended hand.

SIGNED:

• Joseph Agne and Marcia Hauer
  Co-Chairs Methodist Federation for Social Action
  
• Gilbert Caldwell and Traci West
  Co-Conveners United Methodists of Color for a Fully Inclusive Church
  
• John A. Carr
  Executive Director Association of Physically Challenged Pastors
  
• Inday Day
  Executive Director National Federation of Asian American United Methodists
  
• Alvin Deer
  Executive Director Native American International Caucus
  
• Douglas Fitch
  Pastor Glide Memorial UMC
  
• Peggy Gaylord and Ken Rowe
  Co-Spokespersons Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns
• Howard W. Hallman
  Director Methodists United for Peace with Justice
  
• Kathryn J. Johnson
  Executive Director Methodist Federation for Social Action
  
• John S. Lewis
  Parents Reconciling Network
  
• William B. McClain
  Professor of Preaching Wesley Theological Seminary
  
• Mark Nakagawa
  Chair National Federation of Asian American United Methodists
  
• Troy Plummer
  Executive Director Reconciling Ministries Network
  
• Chett Prichett
  Planning Team Methodist Students for an All Inclusive Church
  
• Jeffrey Spelman
  Chair Reconciling Ministries Network