United Methodist South Central Jurisdiction backs Bush Library

by Robin Russell of The United Methodist Reporter

The South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church has voted to back its Mission Council's decision to lease SMU property to the George W. Bush Presidential Library complex, but also asked the university for some accountability regarding the library's policy institute.

The adopted resolution instructs Southern Methodist University to report back in 2012 on the institute's relationship to and impact on SMU, and to show compliance in protecting the integrity of both the university and the jurisdiction.

"We are delighted that the Jurisdictional Conference has affirmed that the procedure we followed," said Dr. Gerald Turner, SMU president.

"All the safeguards are there. [The delegates] are saying, 'We want to see how well you implement them,' so we'll come back in four years. We'll give a report. We would do it anyway. It fits very well with what we would normally do anyway."

Tex Sample, a professsor emeritus of church and society at St. Paul School of Theology and an opponent of the Bush institute, said he appreciated that the issue came on the floor "and got the kind of airing it got," but added he felt the jurisdiction has made a mistake.

"What it has done is subsidize the political goals of George W. Bush. I think personally that is a serious transgression. I think we'll live to rue the day. I must confess I am deeply disappointed by this decision."

Bishop Scott Jones of Kansas, who is an SMU trustee, said he was grateful the jurisdiction affirmed the Mission Council's process.

"This was a messy process, but we're a big church, and eventually we get to a decision. I'm grateful for the way the church conferences together. I respect the people who are disagreeing, but life as a United Methodist leader means we recognize that we are still brothers and sisters in Christ."

In light of the confusion and debate over the Bush library lease on church-owned property, delegates also approved a resolution directing the Mission Council "to evaluate and bring greater clarity to the language of the rules and structures of the jurisdiction."

The jurisdiction rejected, after lengthy debate, a petition from the floor "to prevent leasing, selling or otherwise participating in or supporting a George W. Bush policy institute on the property of Southern Methodist University."

Here is the language of the adopted petition, as recommended by the jurisdiction's Petitions and Resolutions Committee:

The Petitions and Resolutions Committee believes it is essential that the President George W, Bush Institute function in a manner that maintains the integrity of Southern Methodist University and the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. To this end, the Petitions and Resolutions Committee moves the following:

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.