West Ohio Bishop Bruce Ough has released a letter defending his support for openly partnered homosexual Bill Brownson as the West Ohio Conference Treasurer. The upcoming Ohio Annual Conference will vote whether to affirm the appointment. Ough’s letter is below.
The Evangelical Fellowship of West Ohio is also speaking out, against Brownson’s appointment. Their letter is below, after Bishop Ough’s. Apparently the vote on Brownson’s appointment will be June 7.
A Letter from West Ohio Bishop Bruce Ough in defense of the nomination of
Bill Brownson as the West Ohio Conference Treasurer
June 1, 2010
TO: Lay and Clergy Members of the West Ohio Annual Conference
Dear Friends of Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Each of you and the entire annual conference session are in my prayers as we prepare to convene at Lakeside in a few days under the banner “Love in Action: Building Bridges Out of Poverty.” Unfortunately, the debate regarding Bill Brownson’s nomination for election as the Conference Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services has eclipsed all other preparations.
I understand the pain, resentment, confusion and division that we, as a part of the Body of Christ, are experiencing in these days. I am aware and conversant with the arguments for and against electing Bill. I comprehend the magnitude of the conference’s decision both for those who maintain that Bill’s election will be an endorsement of homosexual practice and have great negative impact upon the entire UMC, and those who believe that not electing Bill will be an indictment against all homosexuals, parents and friends of homosexuals and will have great negative impact on the UMC’s ability to reach the younger generations. Not all who profess Christ as Lord and Savior see the issue of homosexuality in the same way. I do, however, know that Jesus welcomes and loves all with the same love. And, I do know that I am called to be bishop of all whom Jesus loves.
I have received, through correspondence and in dialogue settings, many questions. There appears to be significant interest in knowing my mind and heart on this matter. The inquiries cluster around two main interest areas:
- Do I support Bill Brownson’s nomination?
- Will I uphold the Discipline and unity of the church
As an ex-officio member of the West Ohio Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CFA), I participated in interviewing the top four candidates chosen from the 56 applicants reviewed by the Transition Team. In each case my questions focused on the vitality of the candidate’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the candidate’s proven leadership capabilities,and the candidate’s readiness to immediately deal with the complex and urgent financial and administrative matters confronting the West Ohio Conference (WOC). Bill Brownson’s responses in all three areas were clearly superior. He was the only candidate ready right now to assist CFA and the Conference to address the financial constraints that are threatening our mission capacity. These constraints included declining apportionment receipts, burdening clergy pension obligations, several property related lawsuits, the need for greater administrative efficiencies, uncertainty about the new health care legislation, an antiquated investment policy, and outdated technology and systems.
I support Bill’s nomination because the West Ohio Conference desperately needs the very best chief financial officer available. I am fully cognizant that some persons will seize upon my participation and support of Bill’s nomination as advocacy of a homosexual lifestyle. The only agenda I have had in the entire search process has been for a financially challenged West Ohio Conference to have a superior CFO.
I am profoundly distressed, as are many of you, about the threat to our unity, posed by Bill Brownson’s nomination. I am deeply committed to maintaining and strengthening the unity of the West Ohio Conference. I am grateful, beyond adequate expression, for the Unity Task Force and so many other conference and caucus leaders who have remained in dialogue and urged, regardless of the election outcome, that we all continue to support and focus on our shared vision and ministry.
Several things contribute to our unity – our doctrine, our Discipline, our faith in Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Our Social Principles, which are teachings and guidelines for the church, but not church law, state that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teachings (Para. 161F). The same Social Principles make an equally strong statement about enabling all persons to participate in the life of the church and denying every semblance of discrimination (Para. 139). Our Discipline prohibits us from certifying as candidates, ordaining or appointing self-avowed practicing homosexuals as clergy. These restrictions are not applicable to laypersons. Currently, this is the only prohibition in church law dealing with hiring practices in The United Methodist Church.
Many times the Church has found itself at a crossroads over who is in and who is out – divided over scripture, tradition and strong personal beliefs. One of those times is recorded for us in Acts 15. Paul and Barnabas reported to the Council at Jerusalem on the large numbers of Gentiles being converted. Some protested that the Gentiles could not be saved or become a part of Christ’s Church unless they kept the Law of Moses and were circumcised. In the midst of a heated debate, Peter rose and spoke, “And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith God has made no distinction between them and us….On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (Acts 15: 8-11) Christ is our ultimate unity, not our uniformity or agreement in all things. The Holy Spirit can and does gift the church with clarity and unity. The call of Christ to make disciples for the transformation of the world compels us to stay at the same table.
And, so, I pray as Paul prayed:
I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that with the eyes of your heart enlightened you may know what is the hope to which he has called you….(Ephesians 1:16-18)
With deepest appreciation for your kingdom work and witness, I remain,
Yours in Christ,
Bruce R. Ough
P.S. CFA will place Bill Brownson’s nomination before the annual conference for election during the Monday, June 7, afternoon session. This is a change in the working agenda printed and distributed in the Book of Reports.
A Letter from The Leadership Team of the Evangelical Fellowship of West Ohio regarding the nomination of Mr. Bill Brownson for election as the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration for the West Ohio Conference
Dear Colleagues and Partners in Ministry of the West Ohio Conference,
Grace and peace to you through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The General Rules have served as the guidelines of the community life of the Methodists for over 200 years. Recently, these have been restated for our day by Bishop Reuben Job in Three Simple Rules—Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God. It is in the spirit of these rules that we write. It is our heart to do no harm, to do good, and encourage all of us to stay in love with God as we approach Annual Conference at Lakeside.
In this context, we write as members of the West Ohio Conference to raise a matter of conscience related to the nomination of Mr. Bill Brownson for election as the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration for the West Ohio Conference. Mr. Brownson is an openly gay man living in a 20 year partnered relationship with another gay man. We recognize and affirm Bill’s professional qualifications for this position. Our concern is that this nomination seemingly affirms a lifestyle that the United Methodist Church has consistently said is “incompatible with Christian teaching.” (¶ 161F of The 2008 Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church).
Although Mr. Brownson is a layperson and the restrictions on ordination and appointment of self-avowed practicing homosexual persons is not applicable, the election of a self-avowed practicing homosexual to one of the most influential and trusted positions in the life of the annual conference signals disregard for this standard in the United Methodist Church. In addition, if the nomination is affirmed, the result will surely be advanced by some persons as a West Ohio Annual Conference endorsement of homosexual practice.
Therefore, we write to ask you to consider joining us in voting not to affirm Mr. Brownson’s nomination.
We offer this plea with heavy hearts. We realize this is a controversial matter and that not everyone who reads this letter will agree with our view. Our desire is not to do harm, but to minimize the harm that could occur at Annual Conference and the General Church as the nomination is brought forth, debated and as the vote is cast. The future implications of this election will have great impact upon the United Methodist Church far beyond the boundaries of the WOC. The election of Mr. Brownson is more than an election about him and his credentials, it is of great historic proportions and will serve as a challenge to all of us to search for a deep understanding of God’s will in this situation and on this topic.
The Unity Task Force has been working on a process that will guide the Conference’s discussion and voting on this nomination. We ask you to be present for the nomination, debate and vote which will be a part of the Council on Finance and Administration Report on the afternoon of Monday, June 7, that you be respectful and gracious while engaging in the process, prayerfully consider the presentations that are made, and then to vote your conscience on this matter.
We further urge that, when the results are announced, we all move on regardless of the result of the vote. The call of Christ and the needs of our world compel us to work together to refocus ourselves on our common mission even as we remember the strides that have been made in West Ohio to align ourselves around mission and faithful practices. Regardless of the outcome of this matter, we urge you to join us and our local congregations in continued support of the vision and ministry we share together in the West Ohio Conference.
Please know that we are praying for all persons involved in this process as we approach Annual Conference—that we may do the least amount of harm—that we may do the most amount of good—and that at the end of the day—we will stay in love with God.
The Leadership Team of the Evangelical Fellowship of West Ohio
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