Florida Methodist Council criticizes UMC board in Elian Gonzalez case The Layman Online Tuesday, May 2, 2000 The Florida Conference Council on Ministries of the United Methodist Church has issued a statement saying that the denomination's General Board of Church and Society acted "in a presumptuous manner" by beginning a fundraising account to hire a lawyer to represent Elian Gonzalez's father. "This unilateral action by the board is bringing considerable embarrassment to United Methodists in Florida because they were not consulted and do not feel this was wise action on the part of the board," the council said in a statement issued by Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson. Recently, the Methodist board, told that its involvement in the Gonzalez case did not meet the denomination's requirements for fundraising and political issues, turned over the legal account to the National Council of Churches. The lawyer for Elian's father is Gregory Craig, one of the attorneys who represented President Clinton during impeachment proceedings. "It is painful to see one's church appear to lend support to a government whose record on human rights is not acceptable by Christian standards or the principles of the United Methodist Church," the statement said. "Those of us in Florida United Methodism who are not intimately involved in the struggle for freedom in Cuba applaud our Cuban brothers and sisters who courageously stand for freedom and justice as the Bible and our Book of Discipline advocate," it said. "It pains us that the Hispanic pastors and laity in Miami are experiencing questions, criticism and great pressure from other Christians due to the presumptuous action of the General Board of Church and Society." The statement asked for an "apology for failing to understand the context in which the Cuban-American community is living in the South Florida area."

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