IRD [Institute for Religion and Democracy] assails United Methodist Church bishop on doctrinal issues

Christian Century, Sept 11, 2002

A conservative watchdog group has called on the United Methodist bishop of Northern Illinois to resign because of a speech in which he allegedly questioned the virgin birth of Jesus and other traditional Christian doctrines. The Institute for Religion and Democracy said "honor and integrity require" that Bishop Joseph Sprague resign after a June speech at Iliff School of Theology in Denver.

"Obviously it is a scandal when a Christian bishop who has pledged to uphold and defend the faith instead exploits his office to attack that faith," said Mark Tooley, chairman of IRD'S Methodist division. In a transcript of the speech provided by Tooley, Sprague says the "myth of the virgin birth was not intended as historical fact" and "I cannot believe that [Jesus'] resurrection involved the resuscitation of his physical body."

Sprague, a self-professed "progressive," said his theological beliefs will be completely laid out in a new book, Affirmations of a Dissenter, due in December from Abingdon Press.

According to the transcript of the speech, Sprague said, "I must dissent from the Christocentric exclusives which hold that Jesus is the only way to God's gift of salvation," adding that the belief that Jesus shed his "blood" as a sacrifice for mankind is "superstition at best."

Sprague, 63, has been UMC bishop of Northern Illinois since 1996. Reached through a spokeswoman, Sprague said he has "no intention of resigning" and does not take Tooley seriously as a gadfly critic.--RNS