united methodist church at crossroads over sexuality

[mscott59]

www.apnews.com/3a2684b7372b41d78c3d005ea601173e

not sure if anyone else here belongs to the umc as I do, but this weekend in st. louis is likely the most important meeting in the history of the denomination, as various proposals will be presented over how the church recognizes homosexuality. since '72, the umc has banned same-sex marriages and ordaining gay clergy by rule, though enforcing that part of the book of discipline (the umc's governing principles) has been inconsistent at best. there are no mandatory penalties for gay clergy, for example.

but it has been very divisive within regions and congregations of our church, and there's a real possibility that the church could be splintered on this. there are proposed plans to keep rules as they are with more rigid enforcement, remove the ban language and let regions of the church decide on their own, and one to actually create separate divisions of the umc based on lgbt preferences, and more proposals could be made this weekend. I'm hoping and praying that the church leaders come together on a way to keep the church together.

[oujour76]

Feb 21, 2019 12:22:13 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

www.apnews.com/3a2684b7372b41d78c3d005ea601173e

not sure if anyone else here belongs to the umc as I do, but this weekend in st. louis is likely the most important meeting in the history of the denomination, as various proposals will be presented over how the church recognizes homosexuality. since '72, the umc has banned same-sex marriages and ordaining gay clergy by rule, though enforcing that part of the book of discipline (the umc's governing principles) has been inconsistent at best. there are no mandatory penalties for gay clergy, for example.

but it has been very divisive within regions and congregations of our church, and there's a real possibility that the church could be splintered on this. there are proposed plans to keep rules as they are with more rigid enforcement, remove the ban language and let regions of the church decide on their own, and one to actually create separate divisions of the umc based on lgbt preferences, and more proposals could be made this weekend. I'm hoping and praying that the church leaders come together on a way to keep the church together.

You're a Methodist? Well, shit...that explains some things.

[mscott59]

Feb 21, 2019 12:32:53 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

Feb 21, 2019 12:22:13 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

www.apnews.com/3a2684b7372b41d78c3d005ea601173e

not sure if anyone else here belongs to the umc as I do, but this weekend in st. louis is likely the most important meeting in the history of the denomination, as various proposals will be presented over how the church recognizes homosexuality. since '72, the umc has banned same-sex marriages and ordaining gay clergy by rule, though enforcing that part of the book of discipline (the umc's governing principles) has been inconsistent at best. there are no mandatory penalties for gay clergy, for example.

but it has been very divisive within regions and congregations of our church, and there's a real possibility that the church could be splintered on this. there are proposed plans to keep rules as they are with more rigid enforcement, remove the ban language and let regions of the church decide on their own, and one to actually create separate divisions of the umc based on lgbt preferences, and more proposals could be made this weekend. I'm hoping and praying that the church leaders come together on a way to keep the church together.

You're a Methodist? Well, shit...that explains some things.

I love covered dish potlucks.

[oujour76]

Feb 21, 2019 12:35:19 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

Feb 21, 2019 12:32:53 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

You're a Methodist? Well, shit...that explains some things.

I love covered dish potlucks.

Yep. Methodist.

[AlaCowboy]

Feb 21, 2019 12:22:13 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

www.apnews.com/3a2684b7372b41d78c3d005ea601173e

not sure if anyone else here belongs to the umc as I do, but this weekend in st. louis is likely the most important meeting in the history of the denomination, as various proposals will be presented over how the church recognizes homosexuality. since '72, the umc has banned same-sex marriages and ordaining gay clergy by rule, though enforcing that part of the book of discipline (the umc's governing principles) has been inconsistent at best. there are no mandatory penalties for gay clergy, for example.

but it has been very divisive within regions and congregations of our church, and there's a real possibility that the church could be splintered on this. there are proposed plans to keep rules as they are with more rigid enforcement, remove the ban language and let regions of the church decide on their own, and one to actually create separate divisions of the umc based on lgbt preferences, and more proposals could be made this weekend. I'm hoping and praying that the church leaders come together on a way to keep the church together.

I left the Southern Baptist Church at age 16 when our preacher and most members refused to hear the testimony and confession of a 15 year old pregnant girl that asked for salvation. The preacher refused to allow her to come forward and confess her sins and refused to baptize her. When she was turned away on Sunday morning I left the church with her and have never been back. I joined the United Methodist Church in 1975 and have been a member ever since.
But their stand on many issues is pushing me away. I accept that gays are welcome in our church, as is any other sinner looking for a path to redemption. A gay minister is not a problem, but a gay minister that is actively a practicing gay cannot be allowed to lead or serve a congregation. For 20 years I was active in teaching Sunday School classes and serving on church boards, but as an unmarried person in a relationship with a woman, I will not take active roles even though I attend church many Sundays. The UMC accepts me as a member and would likely accept me in service to the church, but I will not do so.
If the UMC continues to disregard the teachings of Jesus, then I will leave this church as I did the Southern Baptist Church.
My best friend since 8th grade became a Baptist minister and is still my best friend. When I moved back here and took my Sweetheart to meet him and his wife, I told them we were not married. He said, "Marriage is a commitment, not a piece of paper. If you two are committed to each other in love, then," in his interpretation of Scripture, "God and Jesus accept you as one." There were no marriage certificates in the time of Jesus. Only a verbal covenant between man and woman made them husband and wife.

[daleko]

Feb 21, 2019 18:37:08 GMT -5 AlaCowboy said:

Only a verbal covenant between man and woman made them husband and wife.

And a dozen goats given by the bride's father.

[AlaCowboy]

The difference between Baptists and Methodists?
When more than two Baptists get together they want to pray. When two or more Methodists get together, they eat.

[mscott59]

Feb 21, 2019 18:37:08 GMT -5 AlaCowboy said:

Feb 21, 2019 12:22:13 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

www.apnews.com/3a2684b7372b41d78c3d005ea601173e

not sure if anyone else here belongs to the umc as I do, but this weekend in st. louis is likely the most important meeting in the history of the denomination, as various proposals will be presented over how the church recognizes homosexuality. since '72, the umc has banned same-sex marriages and ordaining gay clergy by rule, though enforcing that part of the book of discipline (the umc's governing principles) has been inconsistent at best. there are no mandatory penalties for gay clergy, for example.

but it has been very divisive within regions and congregations of our church, and there's a real possibility that the church could be splintered on this. there are proposed plans to keep rules as they are with more rigid enforcement, remove the ban language and let regions of the church decide on their own, and one to actually create separate divisions of the umc based on lgbt preferences, and more proposals could be made this weekend. I'm hoping and praying that the church leaders come together on a way to keep the church together.

I left the Southern Baptist Church at age 16 when our preacher and most members refused to hear the testimony and confession of a 15 year old pregnant girl that asked for salvation. The preacher refused to allow her to come forward and confess her sins and refused to baptize her. When she was turned away on Sunday morning I left the church with her and have never been back. I joined the United Methodist Church in 1975 and have been a member ever since.
But their stand on many issues is pushing me away. I accept that gays are welcome in our church, as is any other sinner looking for a path to redemption. A gay minister is not a problem, but a gay minister that is actively a practicing gay cannot be allowed to lead or serve a congregation. For 20 years I was active in teaching Sunday School classes and serving on church boards, but as an unmarried person in a relationship with a woman, I will not take active roles even though I attend church many Sundays. The UMC accepts me as a member and would likely accept me in service to the church, but I will not do so.
If the UMC continues to disregard the teachings of Jesus, then I will leave this church as I did the Southern Baptist Church.
My best friend since 8th grade became a Baptist minister and is still my best friend. When I moved back here and took my Sweetheart to meet him and his wife, I told them we were not married. He said, "Marriage is a commitment, not a piece of paper. If you two are committed to each other in love, then," in his interpretation of Scripture, "God and Jesus accept you as one." There were no marriage certificates in the time of Jesus. Only a verbal covenant between man and woman made them husband and wife.

what you just said above, which I agree 100% with, is why I hope the umc stays connected. wealthy or poor, black or white, republican or democrat, white collar or blue collar, 3 college degrees or not even a ged, old or young, man or woman, straight or gay, I cannot believe that god sees anyone differently who believes in him.

in the days of jesus, women were just a step above property on the social scale. a women who bore girls instead of boys was pitied. the societal norms were so different than today, and I see a parallel with how gays are seen by some in the church.

at communion, the umc makes a point to say clearly that all are welcome. including everyone, truly, doesn’t violate the spirit of jesus’ teaching of love, forgiveness, faith and service, to me. I hope you don’t leave regardless of the decision.

[AlaCowboy]

To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, "I won't leave the church. But they may leave me." A sunrise cruise around the lake on Sunday mornings is about as close to God as one can be.

[Buckeye Dale]

SORT of following along on this...attended the UMC in my small town as a youth...didn't really PRACTICE, but dropped all relationship when I was made aware of some of the hypocrisy in the rules of the church...
JMHO, but talk about changing rules because of societal changes does not ring true or right...God's word / the Bible hasn't changed. People talk about 'God is on our side,' but I think we're better off when WE are on God's side.

[mscott59]

www.foxnews.com/us/united-methodist-church-on-edge-of-breakup-over-lgbt-stand

[oujour76]

Feb 25, 2019 23:15:27 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

www.foxnews.com/us/united-methodist-church-on-edge-of-breakup-over-lgbt-stand

Sounds like a mess

[mscott59]

Feb 26, 2019 8:44:41 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

Feb 25, 2019 23:15:27 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

www.foxnews.com/us/united-methodist-church-on-edge-of-breakup-over-lgbt-stand

Sounds like a mess

been a horribly stressful time. final vote in st louis is today... I fear it will officially split the denomination.

[oujour76]

Feb 26, 2019 10:19:09 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

Feb 26, 2019 8:44:41 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

Sounds like a mess

been a horribly stressful time. final vote in st louis is today... I fear it will officially split the denomination.

Sounds like it...we'll see.

[AlaCowboy]

Feb 26, 2019 10:19:09 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

Feb 26, 2019 8:44:41 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

Sounds like a mess

been a horribly stressful time. final vote in st louis is today... I fear it will officially split the denomination.

Had a long discussion about this with my pastor and youth minister this morning while fishing for crappie. The pastor, about 60, is from the old school and is against gay marriage, but is agreeable with gays in the pulpit, but only if they are not actively practicing homosexuality. The youth minister, 23, open to gay marriage and agrees that gays in the pulpit should not be actively gay.
I said I thought within the church is fine, and a gay pastor should adhere to the words of Jesus in John 8:11. "Go, and sin no more." Taken literally, that is impossible because none are perfect and can stay without sin. But if you interpret that as to mean, "Go, and do not take up a life of willful sin again." then it is more easily understood.
Sinners should always be welcome into the Church, for it is the one place they can be shown the path to resisting sin, and be forgiven for past sins. I've never heard of a church solely for saints.
Married gays are (in my opinion) as married as any heterosexual married couple. I'm sure more traditional ministers will disagree, but they are human, so they just may not be right.