NEPTUNE – The Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) will be holding several gatherings in GNJ January 19-20. Keith Boyette, President of the WCA, and Walter Fenton, Vice President of Strategic Development will be meeting with a group of Korean pastors and a group of pastors of large churches selected by the GNJ Evangelical Network for Renewal and Growth, in addition to two open meetings.
The WCA was started out of concern for The United Methodist Church and the disagreement about homosexuality. They have formed a not for profit organization, that includes both church and individual membership. In addition to officers, the WCA has regional delegates who vote on matters of the WCA. The WCA describes itself as committed to a plan that can be implemented either within a United Methodists structure or outside it in anticipated schism in the United Methodist Church.
Bishop John Schol said, “We welcome the WCA to GNJ. “I believe it is important for people to be informed about The United Methodist Church and the various organizations associated with United Methodists. I encourage people to learn about different views on the church and ministry with gays and lesbians including the WCA and Reconciling Ministries, as both groups offer two different viewpoints. I will continue to be a bishop of the whole church and I will continue to lead the church toward diversity and unity.”
Open meetings will be held Friday, January 19 at 6:00 p.m. at the Ocean Grove Youth Temple in Ocean Grove and Saturday, January 20 at 8:30 a.m. at the Brooklawn American Legion Post #72 in Brooklawn.
The Council of Bishops proposed The Commission on the Way Forward, which was approved by the 2016 General Conference to do a complete examination and possible revision of every paragraph of the Book of Discipline concerning human sexuality and explore options that help to maintain and strengthen the unity of the church. A special General Conference Session has been called for 2019 to address the results of the work of the commission. The special meeting of The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly will be limited to acting on a report by Council of Bishops, based on the proposals from the Commission on the Way Forward. The 32-member commission, appointed by the bishops, has the charge of finding ways for the denomination to stay together despite deep differences around homosexuality.
More information at the WCA can be found at www.wesleyancovenant.org
More information about Reconciling Ministries can be found at www.rmnetwork.org
More information about the Commission on the Way Forward: www.umc.org
To register for the open meetings:
Friday, January 19, 2018
6:00 pm at the
Ocean Grove Youth Temple in Ocean Grove
Click here for Friday, January 19 in Ocean Grove.
Or
Saturday January 20
8:30 am at the
Brooklawn American Legion Post #72 in Brooklawn