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VOL. 13, NO. 17

Statement from Bishop Felton Edwin May

I regretfully take note of Mr. Morris Hawkins personal criticism and loss of respect for me. My hope is that he would have followed the biblical process for resolving conflicts, found in Matthew 18:15-17.

However, he chose to make slanderous statements based on half-truths. My task as a bishop of the United Methodist Church is to uphold the Discipline of the United Methodist Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I will not tolerate the ideological or theological lynching of anyone for any reason. Every member of the United Methodist Church is entitled to a fair judicial process. These processes are in place and remedial action has been taken based on wisdom, justice and grace.

Cabinet responds to UMMen presidents criticism

By Erik Alsgaard UMConnection Staff

The dean of the Baltimore-Washington Conference cabinet, the Rev. Edwin A. Ankeny, has written a letter to local church United Methodist Men presidents, responding to criticism leveled against Bishop Felton Edwin May and the cabinet by UM Mens president, Morris Hawkins.

Hawkins wrote his remarks in the conference UM Mens newsletter Aug. 3. He issued some of his strongest criticism around the handling of the Rebecca Steen situation, and said that he would resign in light of irreconcilable differences.

Ankeny issued the cabinets reply Aug. 22. In the response, Ankeny wrote, Mr. Hawkinsmade innuendos and impugned the integrity of the bishop and cabinet In reality, Bishop May and the cabinet sought at every point to adhere to the Book of Discipline, which specifies procedures for the return of persons from Leave of Absence, guarantees appointments for those whom the Board of Ordained Ministry decides are fit for ministry and is mute on the issue of transgender clergy. (See UMConnection Aug. 7).

Ankeny, superintendent of the Baltimore North District, noted in the letter, These are challenging times for the church as we seek to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and invite people to Christian discipleship. We are called to affirm the sacred worth of all persons and simultaneously call all people to repent and believe the Gospel of Gods grace and love revealed in Jesus Christ.

The use of red herrings and irresponsible rhetoric will not help us to fulfill our calling. We wish that instead of citing irreconcilable differences, Mr. Hawkins would have sought constructive dialogue and worked with us to preserve the unity of the church and to help the conference navigate through the difficult passages of our covenantal relationships.

Hawkins wrote that he had lost respect for Bishop Felton Edwin May and the cabinet. The Rebecca Steen debacle took its toll, he wrote. The handling of this unfortunate situation could have been stopped right from the beginning if friendship had not be (sic) placed on a higher plane than moral adherence to the Bible and The Discipline.

He is resigning, he wrote, so the organization of UM Men will not be punished by those who hold the belief that inclusion means accepting any belief or practice as valid even in light of scriptural mandates to the contrary.

Hawkins, a member of Trinity UMC in Prince Frederick, did not write in his column specifically what date he would resign. In an interview with UMConnection, he said that he would resign at the Oct. 5 annual meeting of UM Men, or Jan. 1, whichever date would work best for his successor.

Conference lay leader Calvin Williams expressed disappointment in Hawkins comments. Im sorry that its come to this. But the work of the church will go on, said Williams. As lay leader, I am part of the UM Men nominating committee and I will strive to get someone who will run the race to the end.

Hawkins said that it has been a real battle to get mens ministry to the forefront in the conference. About 1,600 men are associated with the organization in the conference, with 280 chartered church groups, according to the General Commission on United Methodist Men, based in Nashville, Tenn.