Commentary: The World is my Parish
John Wesley, the Founder of Methodism proclaimed: "The world is my parish." This was in response to the criticism that he was not working within parish boundaries or in church. He wrote "I look upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation." His message and ministry addressed also the social situation beyond the walls of the Church. In the light of this shared Methodist heritage Gilbert H.Caldwell in the United States and Yap Kim Hao in Singapore were prompted to write this joint message. We come from opposite sides of the world. But we were once together in Boston University School of Theology and inspired to look upon the world as our parish. Gilbert H. Caldwell has served as Pastor & District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church in the United States. He was one of the founders and 2nd National Chairperson of Black Methodists for Church Renewal. Active in the Martin Luther King-led Civil Rights Movement, he participated in major freedom marches. He was a member of the Massachusetts Unit of Dr. Kings's Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Caldwell was a member of United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race. In 2000, he with others and with the support of the Reconciling Ministries Network, organized United Methodists of Color for a Fully Inclusive Church. The group is committed to the full inclusion of same gender loving and LGBT persons in church and society. Yap Kim Hao upon graduation from seminary returned to Malaysia to serve as Pastor & District Superintendent until he was elected the first Asian bishop of The Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore in 1968. Yap was active in the ecumenical movement and resigned from the episcopacy and was elected General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia in 1973 and served for twelve years. He led the Asian churches in support of the human rights struggle in the Asian countries and their programmes of not only of theological but also of social and economic development. Currently he is involved in Interfaith work and engaged in Inter-religious dialogue. He serves currently as Pastoral Advisor to the Free Community Church which is the only church for the LGBT persons and straights who affirm them. Awards include Boston University School of Theology Distinguished Alumni, Baker University Honorary Doctorate, World Methodist Council Order of Jerusalem, People Like Us "Dignity" (Coordinating all LGBT groups in Singapore) for his contribution to the gay community. Both of us have been in the ordained ministry since the fifties and we are now in retired relations in the Methodist Church. But the ministry continues. As we survey the world in which we live, we have not known a time when the painful agonies of the world have been so obvious. Whether we refer to war, hunger, poverty, violence, environment or HIV/Aids, the world is suffering as it may never have suffered before. These are the pressing life and death issues that we as a church must address in our time. We need to re-arrange our priorities and tackle human suffering, resolve conflicts and enhance life.We came together again recently at the General Conference in Fort Worth. We are concerned that while the world suffers, our denomination spent an inordinate amount of precious time legislating against LGBT persons over against the more pressing issues as listed above. In maintaining the language and legislation; "Homosexuality is incompatible with the Christian faith", our denomination has indicated that there is the absolute truth about the incompatibility between Christian faith and homosexuality. We have not expressed adequately toward the other matters which are so obviously incompatible with Christian teaching that are responsible for so much more human suffering. Our prohibiting negative language on this concern is out of proportion to other serious concerns that confront us all. In the past we have segregated people of color, denied the rights of women and ignored the poor. We have moved on and accepted people regardless of their race, gender or economic status. There is this last frontier or prejudice of homosexuality that we need to cross. It is apparent that in the USA and elsewhere same gender civil unions will become legal from state to state. United Methodist prohibitions on such commitments limit the ministry of our Church. As the South African Constitution forbids discrimination against same gender couples and as the world seeks to confront those things that seem to be tearing the world apart, the negative focus of the United Methodist Church on same gender love and commitment gives the impression this is a priority issue for the denomination. The tide of gay-affirmation is rising throughout the world and even major international financial institutions in exercising their corporate responsibility for staff diversity are proactive in recruiting LGBT persons. Is the church going to be lagging and left behind?Slavery in the USA, is now thought of as one of the moments in American history when church and society were not at their best. The role of the Church (the Methodist Church included) was not always a force for good as the nation debated the issue of slavery. In a drama titled The Slave Narratives, a collection of the thoughts and words of slaves, one slave says of the "Christian" slave master: "They used the Bible like a stick against us."How tragically unfortunate it is that in the 21st century the Bible as stick, is still used against same gender loving and committed couples.We urge the People called Methodists to develop a more positive attitude towards the issue of homosexuality and include LGBT persons in the parish in the world in which we serve. Rev Dr Yap Kim Hao, Rev Gilbert H Caldwell, Braddell Hill, Apt 16-17, Singapore 579724 Asbury Park, New Jersey, USATel: +65-6250-456, E-Mail: whykeh@singnet.com.sg E-mail: caldwellchurch@aol.com
-- Rev Dr Yap Kim Hao10E, Braddell Hill, Apt. #16-17Singapore 579724Tel: +65-6250-4561Email: kimhao.yap@gmail.com
"When we lose the right to be different,we lose the privilege to be free"
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
World Wide Nature of the Church
Worldwide church raises ‘insurmountable’ issuesYap Kim Hao, Jun 19, 2008 Yap Kim Hao By Yap Kim Hao Special Contributor
It was a revealing experience for me to be in Fort Worth as a visitor at the United Methodist 2008 General Conference. I participated for the first time as an elected delegate from the Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore in the General Conference in 1964. I attended as the first Asian bishop of the affiliated autonomous Methodist Church of Malaysia and Singapore until I resigned from the term episcopacy in 1973 to serve for 12 years as the General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia, which brought together the Christian denominations within Asia—including Australia and New Zealand—for fellowship, witness and service.
What was new for me in 2008 was the issue of homosexuality. I joined in the Common Witness as a Soulforce and Reconciling Ministries Network volunteer. The Silent Witness at the plenary was a memorable and moving experience for me, and it showed the increasing maturity of the delegates of the United Methodist churches in the United States. Hopefully the delegates, especially those from the Central Conferences, may be inspired by such a witness.
Worldwide nature
What was old for me was the discussion on the worldwide nature of the United Methodist Church. I was an active participant in the ‘60s in the Methodist Board of Missions Asia Consultation followed by the Global Consultation in Green Lake, Wis., which brought together the other regional consultations in Africa and Latin America. It was sponsored by the Commission of the Structure of Methodism Overseas (COSMOS).
The significant outcome of that consultation was the wide support for the move toward the structure of affiliated autonomous Methodist Churches overseas. The move was implemented in the Methodist Churches throughout Latin America and of Asia, with the exception of the Philippines. Other Methodist churches in Asia, which were the result of the work of the missionary society of British Methodism, had followed its policy of setting up autonomous churches earlier.
Looking at this development from the Asian perspective, the countries in Asia that were colonies of the United Kingdom entered into the period of de-colonization. The rise of independent nation-states came about with the disintegration of the British Empire. (British Methodism had also set free the Methodist Churches in the American colonies after the War of Independence).
For political reasons, the Methodist Churches in Korea, Japan, China, Indonesia and Burma have had to cut off connections at times with the United Methodist Church in the U.S. Foreign connections were detrimental to the development of Christianity.
The forces of history brought about the autonomous Methodist Churches throughout Asia with the exception of the Philippines. We have developed new relationships with one another that went beyond our previously exclusive connections with London and New York. We recognize now that close neighbors are more meaningful than distant relations.
A Fellowship of Asian Methodist Bishops/Presidents has since evolved into the Asian Methodist Council. The council recognizes the sovereignty of each member and restricts itself to common issues of witness and service.
Regarding the current discussion of the United Methodist Church’s worldwide nature, it is highly unlikely that the affiliated autonomous Methodist Churches will desire to be re-integrated into the denomination’s General Conference structure. It is more likely that we will welcome the partnership with the United Methodist Church on specific issues and programs of witness and service that are mutually beneficial.
It will be a relationship of mutuality without the past dominance of American Methodism over the other former Central Conference churches, even though they may change their names to Regional Conferences.
In re-structuring the United Methodist Church, what would be acceptable to the present Philippines Central Conference as well as other affiliated autonomous churches in Asia? What is the formula for representation at General Conference? Can we develop a rationale for disproportionate representation?
Questions to consider
How do we measure the apportionment from the churches in the different Regional Conferences? What is the level of participation in the Episcopal Fund? How do we support the enlarged General Conference budget, which will require convening in different parts of the United Methodist Church around the world?
To me, it seems these are insurmountable questions that defy answers.
The reality is that we have a different world today. Methodism responded to the colonial and post-colonial period. But in this time of globalization, what does it mean to develop a worldwide nature of the church?
Those who command resources and power will continue to dominate others who have less. Is the United Methodist Church in a position to develop a more equitable connection and mutually beneficial relations? This will call for affirmation of diversities and a commitment to change from its privileged status. Is there a willingness to learn from other already established Methodist Churches and an openness to partner with one another on an equal basis in witness and service?
It seems to me that the time has passed for the Methodist Churches in Asia to come together under one governance of one General Conference, either in the projected United Methodist General Conference or the Asian region. General Conferences in each country in Asia will continue to exist and develop connections not only with the United Methodist Church but with other churches in pursuit of our common mission and service in the world.
The Rev Yap is a former bishop of the Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore.
It was a revealing experience for me to be in Fort Worth as a visitor at the United Methodist 2008 General Conference. I participated for the first time as an elected delegate from the Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore in the General Conference in 1964. I attended as the first Asian bishop of the affiliated autonomous Methodist Church of Malaysia and Singapore until I resigned from the term episcopacy in 1973 to serve for 12 years as the General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia, which brought together the Christian denominations within Asia—including Australia and New Zealand—for fellowship, witness and service.
What was new for me in 2008 was the issue of homosexuality. I joined in the Common Witness as a Soulforce and Reconciling Ministries Network volunteer. The Silent Witness at the plenary was a memorable and moving experience for me, and it showed the increasing maturity of the delegates of the United Methodist churches in the United States. Hopefully the delegates, especially those from the Central Conferences, may be inspired by such a witness.
Worldwide nature
What was old for me was the discussion on the worldwide nature of the United Methodist Church. I was an active participant in the ‘60s in the Methodist Board of Missions Asia Consultation followed by the Global Consultation in Green Lake, Wis., which brought together the other regional consultations in Africa and Latin America. It was sponsored by the Commission of the Structure of Methodism Overseas (COSMOS).
The significant outcome of that consultation was the wide support for the move toward the structure of affiliated autonomous Methodist Churches overseas. The move was implemented in the Methodist Churches throughout Latin America and of Asia, with the exception of the Philippines. Other Methodist churches in Asia, which were the result of the work of the missionary society of British Methodism, had followed its policy of setting up autonomous churches earlier.
Looking at this development from the Asian perspective, the countries in Asia that were colonies of the United Kingdom entered into the period of de-colonization. The rise of independent nation-states came about with the disintegration of the British Empire. (British Methodism had also set free the Methodist Churches in the American colonies after the War of Independence).
For political reasons, the Methodist Churches in Korea, Japan, China, Indonesia and Burma have had to cut off connections at times with the United Methodist Church in the U.S. Foreign connections were detrimental to the development of Christianity.
The forces of history brought about the autonomous Methodist Churches throughout Asia with the exception of the Philippines. We have developed new relationships with one another that went beyond our previously exclusive connections with London and New York. We recognize now that close neighbors are more meaningful than distant relations.
A Fellowship of Asian Methodist Bishops/Presidents has since evolved into the Asian Methodist Council. The council recognizes the sovereignty of each member and restricts itself to common issues of witness and service.
Regarding the current discussion of the United Methodist Church’s worldwide nature, it is highly unlikely that the affiliated autonomous Methodist Churches will desire to be re-integrated into the denomination’s General Conference structure. It is more likely that we will welcome the partnership with the United Methodist Church on specific issues and programs of witness and service that are mutually beneficial.
It will be a relationship of mutuality without the past dominance of American Methodism over the other former Central Conference churches, even though they may change their names to Regional Conferences.
In re-structuring the United Methodist Church, what would be acceptable to the present Philippines Central Conference as well as other affiliated autonomous churches in Asia? What is the formula for representation at General Conference? Can we develop a rationale for disproportionate representation?
Questions to consider
How do we measure the apportionment from the churches in the different Regional Conferences? What is the level of participation in the Episcopal Fund? How do we support the enlarged General Conference budget, which will require convening in different parts of the United Methodist Church around the world?
To me, it seems these are insurmountable questions that defy answers.
The reality is that we have a different world today. Methodism responded to the colonial and post-colonial period. But in this time of globalization, what does it mean to develop a worldwide nature of the church?
Those who command resources and power will continue to dominate others who have less. Is the United Methodist Church in a position to develop a more equitable connection and mutually beneficial relations? This will call for affirmation of diversities and a commitment to change from its privileged status. Is there a willingness to learn from other already established Methodist Churches and an openness to partner with one another on an equal basis in witness and service?
It seems to me that the time has passed for the Methodist Churches in Asia to come together under one governance of one General Conference, either in the projected United Methodist General Conference or the Asian region. General Conferences in each country in Asia will continue to exist and develop connections not only with the United Methodist Church but with other churches in pursuit of our common mission and service in the world.
The Rev Yap is a former bishop of the Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore.
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