Larry Fox
July 14, 2004

After General Conference 2000, the Western Jurisdictional Conference of 2000 made two statements:

1) 2020 Our Emerging Vision and

2) We Will Not Be Silent and put in place a jurisdictional leadership team which met during the four year interim leading up to this year. In the time I have been here now, two days, I have come to understand that it is difficult to discern what is happening without this background.

Below are the two statements:

2020: OUR EMERGING VISION

A HOME FOR ALL GOD'S PEOPLE, GATHERED AROUND A TABLE OF RECONCILIATION AND TRANSFORMATION: the Western Jurisdiction of the UMC is multicultural and inclusive, engaged in the life of its communities, with confident, effective lay and clergy leadership who, in diverse ministry settings, form disciples who live out the Good News of Jesus as global citizens.

WE WILL NOT BE SILENT

We of the Western Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church have heard the call of the prophet Micah "to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God!" We have heard Jesus' invitation for all to come to the banquet table of God's abundant grace.

Certain actions of GC 2000 have caused tremendous pain for individuals and communities and have resulted in an attempt to suppress our prophetic and pastoral ministries among all people, regardless of sexual orientation.

The votes may have been cast but our voices will not be silent. Our Jurisdictional vision calls us to be 'a home for all God's people, gathered around a table of reconciliation and transformation." Affirming the statement of United Methodist of Color for a Fully Inclusive Church, "We acknowledge that there may be differences of opinion among us, but this does not require that we wait on justice." We cannot accept discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, or tansgender persons and, therefore, we will work toward their full participation in all levels in the life of the church and society. Valuing the voices of those who disagree, we will continue to be in dialogue as we journey together in creative tension. We will continue to be in ministry with all God's children and celebrate the gifts diversity brings. We will continue to feast at the table with all God's children.