Methodist lay person brings action against protesting bishop United Methodist News Service Monday, July 17, 2000 An Illinois layman has filed four letters of complaint charging Chicago Bishop C. Joseph Sprague with disobedience to United Methodist law and calling for the bishop's removal from office. Sprague was arrested twice during the denomination's recent General Conference in Cleveland, where he protested policies against same-sex unions and ordination of gays and lesbians. John E. Juergensmeyer, an attorney and member of Wesley United Methodist Church of Elgin, sent the letters on June 30 to Bishop John Hopkins, who was president of the North Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops. Sprague succeeded Hopkins as president last April. Juergensmeyer charges that Sprague: Disobeyed the order and discipline of the United Methodist Church by "interfering with and disrupting the proceedings of the recent General Conference in Cleveland." Distributed "doctrines contrary to the established standards of doctrine of the church." Juergensmeyer's letter states that this is based on the bishop distributing the doctrines of Marcus Borg to Northern Illinois pastors. Borg is one of the leaders of the Jesus Seminar, scholars who deny the divinity of Jesus Christ, the resurrection, heaven, the miracles of Christ and "numerous other doctrines central to the United Methodist Church. ..." Violated church law by "using church funds and resources of his office for the promotion of homosexuality, contrary to the (Book of) Discipline." Juergensmeyer states that Sprague approved the use of -- or did not oppose the use of -- church money in the hiring of the Rev. Gregory Dell to work with "In All Things Charity," an advocacy group for gays and lesbians in the life of the church. During that period, Dell had been suspended from ministry for performing a same-sex union service; he returned to the pastorate on July 1. Juergensmeyer also stated that Sprague used his office "as a public relations and news media channel for promoting homosexuality." Failed to perform the work of the ministry. "This is based on the facts of numerous administrative failings and inadequacies of the Northern Illinois Conference office and conduct of the Northern Illinois Annual Conferences for 1999-2000." Among other factors, Juergensmeyer cites delays of key conference reports, lack of timely presentation of budgetary matters, and limits on legislative sessions and floor discussions at annual conference. Sprague said on July 10 that he has not seen anything in writing regarding the letters of complaint. "I do not have a copy; I don't know anything about it." However, he was notified by Hopkins that a copy of the letter of complaint had been received, and that contrary to the procedures in the denomination's Book of Discipline, the letter was released publicly at the same time, he said. Sprague said that when he does receive a copy of the letter, "I will not comment about it because this is a confidential process, and regardless of how the supposed complainant chooses to handle it, I will abide by the dictated procedures." The bishop said that the letters of complaint seemed to be "part of an organized effort of a small, very vocal minority." That includes people with the Confessing Movement, the Institute for Religion and Democracy and similar conservative groups, which he said have drawn support from "a few people" in the Northern Illinois Annual Conference. "People can't fathom why a person with my commitments would be elected to the episcopacy," he said. However, he said, he made those commitments clear when he stood for election as bishop. In Northern Illinois' recent annual session, he said, the conference members approved a resolution calling for his return for another four years as bishop. The resolution was approved on consent calendar, which means it was approved without debate on the floor. Juergensmeyer told United Methodist News Service that Sprague's "arrests in Cleveland were sort of the triggering point" for his letters of complaint. He equated the arrests with "throwing a glove in the face of the denomination." "The critical thing to me is the Marcus Borg material," Juergensmeyer said. "That ... strikes at the root of Christianity. That is a secular philosophy and not even a theology, and Sprague has bought into that and advocates it and has promoted it very skillfully to the pastors in the conference." The Book of Discipline states that when a complaint is filed against a bishop, the president of the jurisdictional college of bishops shall make a supervisory response. The response is "directed toward a just resolution and/or reconciliation among all parties." This may include consultation with the jurisdictional committee on episcopacy or voluntary mediation. If the supervisory response doesn't lead to a resolution, the case could be referred to a bishop from another jurisdiction or central conference or to a pastor from the same jurisdiction or conference. That person would serve as church counsel on behalf of the denomination. The counsel would forward the complaint to a committee on investigation, which would have the power to hold hearings. If the committee decided the charges were valid, it could recommend a trial be held. In that event, a trial court of 13 clergy members would be convened, with nine votes needed to convict. The court would also have the power to impose a penalty.

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