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Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Resolution

The following resolution was approved by the Administrative Board at the April 24, 2006 meeting. Background for resolution submitted by the Council on Ministries:

On October 31, 2005, the Judicial Council ruled in favor of a pastor who prohibited a gay man to join his congregation.

November 2 the Council of Bishops issued a letter in response to the ruling stating that “homosexuality is not a barrier” to membership.

Aldersgate is committed to “open its life to all people regardless of race, ethnicity, social status, age, gender, or sexual orientation.”

Aldersgate’s Commission on Social Justice approved a resolution and submitted it to the Council on Ministries on December 5, 2005. The following amended resolution was passed by a vote of 11 in favor and 1 person abstaining.

The Council on Ministries of Aldersgate United Methodist Church resolves that;

We affirm our belief that God’s grace is available to all as we “commit ourselves to be an inclusive Christ-centered community striving to know God’s purpose and live out Christ’s teachings as we meet the needs of our local and world communities.”

We regret the actions of any member or body of the UMC who would deny membership and participation by any of God’s children in the ministries of God’s church based solely upon that individual’s sexual orientation or practice and request the Judicial Council reconsider its decision.

We support, applaud and desire to live into the principles put forth by the Council of Bishops in their November 2nd letter to all United Methodists regarding open membership in the United Methodist Church.

As stated in the recently adopted statement by Aldersgate’s Charge Conference in our Vision and Core Values, we commit ourselves to “being a welcoming, grace-filled community approaching each other with genuine Christian love dealing openly with our differences and misunderstandings…as we invite persons to become a disciple of Jesus Christ and become part of Aldersgate. We will become a more inclusive church which opens its life to all people regardless of race, ethnicity, social status, age, gender, or sexual orientation.” (see Inviting & Accepting Core Value)

We urge each member, local church, District, Conference and governing body of the UMC to engage in prayerful examination, open and challenging dialog on the issue of homosexuality to ensure the inclusion of all persons who are in our communities. We further request the Peninsula-Delaware Conference delegates to the 2008 General Conference to develop legislation to ensure that language, policies, and practices unmistakably reflect the commitment of the United Methodist Church to inclusiveness in membership, so that we may truly be a church with “Open Hearts…Open Minds…and Open Doors”;

Council on Ministries & Commission on Social Justice, Aldersgate United Methodist Church

Approved by Administrative Board:

WHEREAS, the Administrative Board of Aldersgate United Methodist Church embraces, with gratitude, the terms and spirit of the Resolution from the Council on Ministries and Commission on Social Justice;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Resolution is hereby approved and adopted by unanimous vote of the members of the Administrative Board this April 24, 2006.