Methodists Approve Bush Library

Today, the delegates to the South Central Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church meeting in Dallas affirmed their Mission Council’s earlier decision to lease land to the President George W. Bush Presidential Center. It also passed a petition said to protect the integrity of both SMU and the jurisdiction itself by indicating that the proposed institute “does not speak” for either.
This is the petition approved by the conference:

"The South Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church understands that the institute does not speak for the South Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church or Southern Methodist University. The South Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church is dedicated to academic freedom and instructs Southern Methodist University to report back to the 2012 South Central Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church on the relationship with the institute and its impact on Southern Methodist University and the level of compliance of the foundation and the institute with the covenants of agreements protecting the integrity of Southern Methodist University and indirectly the South Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. Furthermore, the South Central Jurisdiction expects the institute to function in a manner that protects the integrity of both Southern Methodist University and the South Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.

The delegates who faced the uncomfortable task of undoing what had already been agreed to by its Mission Council took the easy way out and in so doing approved an action that already violates the integrity of the South Central Jurisdiction. Rev. Tex Sample, who had sent a letter to the jurisdiction’s nearly 300 delegates before this week’s conference said,

"I think the South Central Jurisdiction has made a big mistake. What they've done is subsidize the political goals of George W. Bush. I think we will live to rue the day."

The decision has now been made. SMU and United Methodists will have to live with it. I am angry and embarrassed that the university from which I took one of my degrees and the church jurisdiction in which I grew up chose not to see the ethical implications of such an arrangement. My sense is that neither the university nor the jurisdiction will do any better at restraining President Bush’s disregard for the law than Congress.

I have a heightened respect, however, for those like Andrew Weaver, who organized the petition drive against the project and who labored mightily for two years in opposition to it. I am grateful for Diane Smock, a self-described “average” Methodist, who submitted a petition to General Conference in May opposing the establishment of the institute. There were others like Tex Sample, Bill McElvaney, and many others who made the case for what SMU and the South Central Jurisdiction should be, but clearly are not. Even in defeat, their voices and actions give me hope for the future. Thank you!

- Milo