Methodists threaten schism

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PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Conservatives in the United Methodist Church proposed splitting the denomination yesterday at a national policy meeting, the latest sign that a decades-long disagreement over homosexuality is worsening.

The Rev. William Hinson, president of the Confessing Movement for conservative Methodists, said evangelicals were just beginning to explore the idea and that no break was imminent in the 8.3 million-member church.

But Mr. Hinson said he and others were convinced that no compromise could be found after yet another bitter General Conference debate over what the Bible says about homosexual sex.

"We can't bridge that divide," said Mr. Hinson, former pastor of First United Methodist Church of Houston.

The Rev. Troy Plummer, executive director of the Reconciling Ministries Network, which advocates for homosexual Methodists, rejected the idea. He accused evangelicals of plotting to harm the church.

"It disturbs me," he said. "We can still be a family together."

The announcement came after conservatives prevailed at the meeting in maintaining the church's firm stand against homosexuality.

However, delegates affirmed that homosexual sex was "incompatible with Christian teaching," and made it a chargeable offense under church law for clergy to conduct same-sex "marriages" and for unmarried ministers to have sex.

But evangelicals expect that those who want a broader role for homosexuals in the church will continue to ignore church law and appoint sexually active homosexual clergy.

"I think that a number of us in the evangelical coalition are wondering if it's time for us to consider some kind of loving division," said the Rev. James Heidinger, leader of the Methodist evangelical group Good News.

Mr. Hinson said conservatives want the church to form a task force that would divide up church property and funds. That idea would meet intense opposition from many in the denomination. Church law prevents any congregation from walking away with Methodist assets.

Conservatives hoped to seek approval from delegates to form such a task force before the meeting ends today. However, they said they would explore the idea on their own even if delegates say no.

Mr. Hinson said evangelicals were inspired partly by conservatives in the Episcopal Church, who formed a breakaway network of congregations after that denomination consecrated its first openly homosexual bishop last year.

The leader of the Episcopal network, Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh, spoke about his movement in a meeting with Methodist evangelicals last week.

Mr. Hinson contended that if any break occurred, both sides would have to abandon calling themselves Methodist and each would have to choose a new name.

More than 200 people protested the denomination's prohibition of homosexual sex by disrupting yesterday morning's session. The demonstrators walked onto the floor and the stage where church officials were directing the debate, singing hymns and waving rainbow streamers and posters for about 20 minutes.

Dozens of delegates and bishops stood up in a sign of solidarity with the protesters before business resumed.