While appealing to some, this \u201ccompromise\u201d\u009d is ultimately unhelpful. When a matter is pragmatic and little more, compromise can be the right option to take. Part of growing up is realizing that you can\u2019t and don\u2019t need to get your way all the time.<\/p>\n
But when the issue is one of principle and when it involves the clear teaching of Scripture, we cannot take the easy way out and claim that we do not know what we believe without injuring our personal integrity and our corporate witness. And to be honest, everyone knows that removing the clear statement we currently have in the Discipline would not resolve the issue. It is only a first step by those whose ultimate intention is to change the church\u2019s position. And that\u2019s hardly a true compromise.<\/p>\n
When the \u201cagree-to-disagree compromise\u201d\u009d was defeated in Fort Worth and the historic position of the church was reaffirmed, the charge against those who supported the church\u2019s stance was, \u201cYou\u2019re dishonest. We are of divided mind. Why won\u2019t you even allow us to state that we differ?\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a good question. And there\u2019s a very good answer. We United Methodists are divided on practically every issue. But in none of our other statements on matters theological, moral, or cultural do we state that we have agreed to disagree.<\/p>\n