The work of the Mountain View UMC Inclusivity Committee
Beginning September 2017 at Mountain View UMC, our Church Council approved a new Inclusivity Committee. The committee’s purpose was to address controversy locally and in the larger UMC surrounding gender identity and the role and status of LBGTQ individuals in the church through the framework of the Wesley Quadrilateral — Reason, Experience, Tradition, and Scripture.
Over the course of a year, we covered the pillars of tradition and experience in small groups sessions. Then, we had a biologist, a sociologist and a psychologist from the University of Colorado on a panel addressing the latest developments and knowledge in their respective fields on sexuality and gender. That was the pillar on reason. Finally, the Inclusivity Committee addressed the final and important pillar of Scripture with three Methodist pastors discussing what Scripture says about sexuality through the lenses of a “traditionalist” view, a “compatibilist” view, and a “progressive” view.
Resources on this page are presented to aid in the discernment process for others who are addressing these important questions.
The Proposal to the Church Council to Commission an Inclusivity Committee
Pastor Emily Hagan’s Presentation Representing the “Compatibilist” view
Scroll through Pastor Emily’s accompanying slideshow representing the Compatibilist view
