 On
October 12, 1986, the people of Wesley first declared publicly that
they are committed to a ministry of Jesus Christ for and with all persons
regardless of race, gender, age, economic status, or sexual orientation.
The Reconciling Statement
adopted on that date specifically included a declaration to reconcile
with older adults, the poor, and gays and lesbians (please
refer to the text of the Reconciling Statement). This was
a milestone in church history, as it made Wesley the First
Reconciling Congregation in Minnesota and the sixth in
the nation. We are proud and thrilled to have so many sister
churches follow in our footsteps and welcome the day when all people
are loved and accepted. We, however, remain unique in our Reconciling
Statement in including the poor, older adults, and those in recovery.
Today, Wesley Church, along with our sister churches, continues to
work to ensure all people are accepted in the United Methodist Church
by working to remove language from the United Methodist Discipline
that excludes people. Additionally, we work with the reconciling
church organizations on a national level to work toward justice for
all people.
We welcome you to join us.
For a link to the Minnesota Reconciling Website, click here.
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Reconciling Statement,
adopted by the Wesley Church conference on October 12, 1986.
The Wesley Reconciling Statement is contained in four parts.
In General
We who make up Wesley United Methodist Church, being convinced of the Biblical call to
love and justice for all persons, proclaim our commitment to a ministry of Jesus Christ
for and with all persons regardless of race, gender, age, economic status, or sexual
orientation. The greatest Biblical demand that Jesus Christ ever taught us was the
ethic of love. Further, the early Church was unique in its demonstration of
self-giving love for others. Therefore, for the Church to fail at love is to then
fail at our central purpose.
Wesley church has historically committed itself to a ministry with those who are
alienated and isolated. We have sought to eliminate barriers to participation so
that all God's children may know the love and saving grace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ. To this end, we have chosen to focus our mission of service on the poor,
gay, and lesbian people, and the older adult who comprise a large portion of the community
surrounding Wesley.
Each of these groups has been hurt by neglect and disrespect. Although we
encourage everyone to participate in the life of Wesley, in response to these specific
pains, we have sought participation by these people and have supported on-going programs
such as Affirmation for gay and lesbians, Wesley Fellowship for the elderly, and Saturday
meals for the poor. Furthermore, when any person or group has expressed a particular
need, we have attempted to meet that need. We have helped individuals deal with
loneliness, the death of a loved one, and specific physical needs like food and housing.
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The Poor
WHEREAS, we live and worship in a community where poverty is all around
us: poverty of means, poverty of choice, and poverty of spirit,
AND WHEREAS, we do not consider lack of money to be of itself evil, but
recognize that the person who comes to us in poverty may be materially poor or financially
well-to-do,
AND WHEREAS, we believe that every person is a child of God, uniquely
created, and precious, with special gifts and graces,
AND WHEREAS, we believe we are called by the Holy Spirit to respond to all
forms of poverty in Christian love,
THEREFORE, we, the members of Wesley Church commit our church and our work
to welcome every person who comes to us in pain, loneliness, or need, and to receive them
into our Family. We are to offer food to the hungry, to clothe in dignity those who
have none, to bring freedom to those imprisoned by loneliness, and to work for a just and
caring society for all people.
ALSO, we recognize that we bring with us many opinions and attitudes about
those in poverty, and so we struggle to re-evaluate our ideas, concepts, and lifestyles,
rather that sit in judgement on others. For by affecting the lives of other people
we open ourselves up in turn to being affected by them.
FURTHERMORE, we admit that our resources are not sufficient to end
poverty, or cure its many attendant ills, even within our own community. Yet, we
have heard God's call to be in ministry with our neighbors. We are to be a
well-spring of hope and help to those in need, while also serving as a source of
encouragement and education to other churches.
TO THIS END, we, Wesley United Methodist Church, convenant before God that
we will seek to open our Family to the hurting person who enters our door, giving them
hope, and enabling them to call forth their gifts, that we all might more fully share in
God's blessing.
(Heather Youngquist, Sandy Haff, Tim Tennant-Jayne, John Irvin, Mike
Chatt, Jeff Swim-Davidson)
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The Older Adult
WHEREAS, any statement that describes the mission of Wesley United
Methodist Church must recognize that our diverse membership includes various well-defined
groups of people whose lifestyles and needs vary. Of these groups, the elderly
comprise a large part of both our church congregation and our neighborhood. Many of
these older people have devoted lifetimes to building Wesley's programs and traditions.
WE RECOGNIZE that the older adult has a gift for the rest of us that is
unique. By virtue of their years, elderly people possess a perspective, wisdom, and
depth that can only be acquired through time and experience. At the same time they
have characteristics and needs that are shared by everyone. Good physical and mental
health, food, clothing, shelter, meaningful work, recreation, good friends, shared
activity and feelings, and a sense of worth are requirements of us all. However,
older adults may have difficulty meeting these needs.
IN ADDITION, with the passage of time, older persons may experience
diminished energy levels. This can result in a sense of isolation, alienation, and
despair. Sensitivity and commitment to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs
of the older adult is important to the mission statement of Wesley Church.
THEREFORE, we commit ourselves to seeking out and meeting the special
needs of older adults. This can only be done if there is someone in the church who
is familiar with the resources and can advocate for the elderly person in securing them.
Our intent is not to duplicate services already available, but to focus on those
needs not presently being met. Within the church, attention needs to be given to
developing, in addition to physical assistance, an emotional and spiritual support system
that will give comfort, emotional sustenance, and strength throughout the major
transitions in a person's life. With the approaching expected life span of 95 to 115
years of age, the necessity of this support system ever increases. The problems
being encountered today by individuals presently passing from young-old through old
to old-old or frail require this commitment on the part of Wesley United
Methodist Church. We recommend that this be a stated part of our mission and that
steps be taken to implement such a program.
(Mae Belle Doty, Rick Huskey, Grace Lindner, Barb Bucknam)
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The Gay and Lesbian
WHEREAS, the gay members of our community expressed a need to 1984 Wesley
Annual Conference to have the church were they serve and worship become a Reconciling
Church. (A reconciling church is one in which the members have and continue to openly
accept gay and lesbian people.)
AND WHEREAS, despite this call, gay and lesbian people have experienced
and continue to experience prejudice and discrimination in the church and the larger
society.
FURTHER, we affirm the dignity and worth of gay and lesbian people as
children of God and as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. We hope that our
affirmation would counter these injustices. With this affirmation comes the
appreciation of the gifts of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. So believing,
we support the full and equal participation of gay and lesbian people in all areas of
leadership and activities of the Church.
ALSO, we recognize that there is a diversity of opinion regarding the
nature of human sexuality and its relationship to Christian faith. The diversity of
opinion illustrates that this issue is unresolved. We maintain that the best
response to this diversity is a healthy dialogue, which is only possible within a context
of mutual respect that honors each person's voice and beliefs.
FURTHERMORE, support for gay and lesbian people must be seen within the
context of support for all people. We challenge The United Methodist Church to show
its love for persons, to demonstrate its understanding of Biblical social justice, and to
continue in a dialogue on these issues that respects the right of all to participate in an
equal manner based on our common commitment to Jesus Christ.
TO THIS END, we designate Wesley United Methodist Church as a Reconciling
Congregation where gay and lesbian people are invited freely to join and
participate.
(Janet Swim-Davidson, Mike Chatt, Kenneth Hornibrook, Harold Anderson,
Elaine Underdahl, Rick Yramategui)
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The Wesley Church community has always been and
continues to be a community that openly welcomes and accepts all people who wish to seek God. Believing all people are children of God, we seek to
remove barriers that separate us—barriers that cause alienation
and isolation and prevent people from knowing the love and saving grace of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. We've heard the call of the Bible and studied the lessons of
Jesus to love each other, as we love ourselves—that we come to
know the love of God through loving each other.