Africa Declaration Released at UM Renewal and Reform Conference

The 2008 Renewal and Reform Coalition’s conference on a “A Hope and a Future Through Our Wesleyan Heritage” was held on October 26 and 27 at Christ UMC in Memphis.  The event featured a challenge from African Methodists to their U.S. cohorts to hold fast to a Wesleyan and orthodox Christian faith.  Over 100 recently elected General and Jurisdictional Conference delegates from around the United States and from every overseas region (Africa, Europe, and the Philippines) of the United Methodist Church were in attendance.

The Rev. Jerry Kulah presents the Africa Declaration to conference attendees.

The Rev. Jerry Kulah, a district superintendent in Monrovia, Liberia, released an “Africa Declaration” calling the denomination to scriptural faithfulness and effective ministry.  The declaration has been endorsed by the bishop and every district superintendent in Liberia as well as United Methodist leaders from other parts of Africa.  The continent is now home to 32 percent of United Methodists.

The endorsers announced that they “are saddened that some United Methodist Churches of the Euro-Western world have questioned over and over again the United Methodist Book of Discipline’s biblical positions” on “the authenticity of the Scriptures as the Word of God” and   on human sexuality.  Such “current trends” are “confirming the fears of John Wesley” that Methodists would not hold “fast to the Doctrine, Discipline and Spirit with which they first set out” and therefore “exist merely as a dead sect, having the form of godliness but no power to live for and proclaim Christ.”

The declaration also calls for significant denominational restructuring to ensure “fair, just and proportionate representation” in church leadership, and support for the denomination’s African seminaries. Other steps proposed in the declaration advance such “missional priorities” as “fighting deadly diseases,” “making disciples of the nations,” and “[d]efending the sanctity of all vulnerable human life, including the poor, the elderly, the terminally ill, the disabled, and the unborn.”

In addition to the Kulah’s address, the conference featured several other sessions on key issues for the 2008 General Conference:

• Rev. Tom Lambrecht, chair of the executive committee of Good News, offered an explanatory overview of the members of the 2008 Renewal and Reform Coalition: Good News, the Confessing Movement, the RENEW Network,  Lifewatch,  Transforming Congregations, and UMAction.

• Dr. Eddie Fox, Director of World Evangelism for the United Methodist Council, examined the proposed plan to increase the division between Methodists in the United States and those overseas. Africa Declaration Released at UM Renewal and Reform Conference

  The Rev. Rob Renfroe, President of the Confessing Movement, and Dr. Eddie Fox, Director of World Evangelism for the World Methodist Council, led a session that pointed to problems with the controversial new plan to establish greater division between the U.S. and overseas portions of the denomination.

• Veteran General Conference delegates and regional lay leaders Dixie Brewster and Marget Sikes spoke about proposed General Conference legislation related to “Advocacy for Women and Children” on issues ranging from sexual exploitation to abortion to child soldiers to accountability for the national offices of United Methodist Women.
• Judge Ron Enns spoke on “The Critical Role of the Judicial Council.”
• Dr. Maxie Dunnam, former president of Asbury Seminary and civil rights advocate, spoke on “Doctrine, Accountability, Leadership, and The Council of Bishops.”
• Dr. Les Longden, professor of Evangelism and Discipleship at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, and the Rev. Greg Stover, Cincinnati District Superintendent, led a session on membership standards in our denomination’s history and in light of current controversies.

There were also several worship sessions led by Bishop William Morris, the Rev. Bill Bouknight, and the Rev. Gloria Brooks.

The conference was reported on in greater depth by the United Methodist News Service and by the UM Reporter.  Audio and text of the speeches delivered, including the entirety of the Africa Declaration, are on the website of Christ United Methodist Church, Memphis.