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BY KEVIN RIPPIN
United Methodist News Service

Seven United Methodist bishops from across the United States, including Bishop John R. Schol of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, discussed issues surrounding leadership, dialogue, homosexuality and other topics during a forum at a controversial church caucus event.

The bishops emphasized their intention to work for unity in the church. During a panel discussion, they were asked how they should deal with divisions in their own ranks.

'In this (most recent) class of bishops, we will be bishops of the whole church,' said Bishop Schol. 'We are here (at this event) because we are truly committed to working together?.'

'(It's important) to be part of a group to move the church forward? to model how we live in community,' said Minnesota Bishop Sally Dyck, who led the panel discussion.

More than 550 people attended 'Hearts on Fire,' the 8th National Reconciling Convocation event, held Sept. 2-5 by the Reconciling Ministries Network. The unofficial United Methodist caucus is, according to its own mission statement, 'a national grass-roots organization that exists to enable full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities' in the life of the church.

Some Christian and United Methodist organizations had objected to Reconciling Ministries? use of the Lake Junaluska facility, a United Methodist retreat and conference center because of the group?s position on homosexuality. Those attending the gathering were met at the lake?s entrances by heavy security and protesters, including the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.

Bishops participating in a Sept. 3 plenary were Minerva Carca?o, leader of the church?s Phoenix Area; Sally Dyck, Minnesota Area; Scott Jones, Kansas Area; Susan Morrison, Albany (N.Y.) Area; Melvin Talbert, retired bishop and executive director of Black Methodists for Church Renewal; and Richard Wilke, retired.

Wilke kicked off the first segment of the plenary by exploring the Jerusalem Conference, described in Acts 15, as a model for Christian discernment and dialogue. He stated that, according to Scripture, controversy has always been a part of the church.

He held mock dialogues with Peter, Paul and Luke as if they were contemporaries, and asked how they might deal with today?s controversies in the church, including the homosexuality issue. With each voice rendered, Wilke uncovered the points of view of the early church personalities that mirrored the voices in the church today. He pointed out that infighting among Paul, James, Barnabas, Peter and Luke concerned law versus its application, hypocrisy, Christian action and direction of the church.

A second segment of the plenary featured bishops on stage for questions and answers. Dyck, moderator, asked if the bishops had words of hope concerning the controversy.

'Don?t let anyone take your church away,' Talbert said. 'It?s your church, too.'

Jones, Morrison and Carca?o said the controversy was a generational issue that time would solve.

'How do we stay together despite the divisions in our church?' Dyck asked.

Bishop Schol responded by saying, 'One of our biggest fears is conflict. ? Affirm that there?s going to be conflict ? and we can work through it.'

Dyck also asked about the prophetic role of the bishops in all matters that occur in the church.

'The prophetic role in this day and age is to remind us who we are. ? It?s all about Christ,' Jones said.

Morrison took another angle: 'I'm a child of the ?60s in a 1940s job. I thought (it might be possible) to dialogue in a leadership role.'

A listening post followed the panel discussion.