United Methodists repeal longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy

[essentialsaltes]

Delegates voted 692-51 at their General Conference — the first such legislative gathering in five years.

The church also decided to forbid punishing clergy who either perform or refuse to perform same sex marriages.

Likewise, local churches can decide to either host or forbid SSM in their buildings, without fear of penalty from supervisors.

Later, they may vote on changing the church's "Social Principles", presumably to be more open to homosexuality than the current version.

Over the past few years, a quarter of congregations have left the UMC since, it appears, the writing was on the wall.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

They’re just meshing up with what individual churches have been doing for a long while in some spaces. Around here, every Methodist church does same sex marriages.

 

[Ain't Zwinglian]

"As goes the culture, goes the church" is the progressive mantra. In this regard, Culture is above Christ in order to be relevant.

 

[RileyG]

Too bad. They went with the worlds way. I’m sure John and Charles Wesley are rolling in their grave right now.

 

[Kokavkrystallos]

"If one evil thought, if one evil word, if one evil action, deserves eternal damnation, how many hells, my friends, do every one of us deserve, whose whole lives have been one continued rebellion against God!" -
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[seeking.IAM]

Too bad. They went with the worlds way. I’m sure John and Charles Wesley are rolling in their grave right now.

Given that John and Charles were Anglicans, I reckon they've been rolling in their graves for a while now.

Said by an Anglican

 

[RileyG]

Given that John and Charles were Anglicans, I reckon they've been rolling in their graves for a while now.

Said by an Anglican

That's true, since their followers actually started the Methodist Church.

 

[IceJad]

"If one evil thought, if one evil word, if one evil action, deserves eternal damnation, how many hells, my friends, do every one of us deserve, whose whole lives have been one continued rebellion against God!" -
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Does not imply there is no standards to live by. What's next officiate wedding of other religions in church? Maybe condone bestiality as Scriptural? We live in this world but we are not part of the world. That is one of our teachings. You can argue that it's archaic but that is what believe in an Unchanging God is. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

 

[rjs330]

No nsurprise here. We've seen how the Methodists have moved away from God. The great falling away is underway. There is the separating of the sheep and goats.
The Church is NOT a denomination or a certain church or building. Its not something run by a man or a group of men. The Church are followers of Christ who walk with him and live for him and walk in a spirit of repentance and thankfulness for his grace and mercy.

The Methodists as a denomination have left the church. But I am positive that there are Methodist believers out there who are still part of the Church.

 

[Hans Blaster]

"If one evil thought, if one evil word, if one evil action, deserves eternal damnation, how many hells, my friends, do every one of us deserve, whose whole lives have been one continued rebellion against God!" -
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What's the point of this dude?

We're talking about people inside the church (or at least one of the many Christian denominations), not apostates like me. (And even I don't bother with "rebellion against god", what would be the point.)

 

[IceJad]

Maybe condone inappropriate behavior with animals as Scriptural?

OK hold on. That is not what I typed. The word of choice is a derivative of beast. Can we please not have sensitivity filters on? Curse words I understand. But the beast derivative word is not a curse. Everyone is an adult here I gander. Can we communicate in a more direct manner? I feel the forum is getting too infantilized.

"Inappropriate behavior with animals" can also mean animal abuse. But everyone knows what I wanted to convey is "sexual intercourse with"

 

[FireDragon76]

They’re just meshing up with what individual churches have been doing for a long while in some spaces. Around here, every Methodist church does same sex marriages.

Although it seems like a necessary step to bring their policies in line with their actual practice and values.

I grew up in Mainline style Methodist churches and this policy change is long overdue for the denomination.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

Another progressive Church becomes less Christian.

 

[RileyG]

No nsurprise here. We've seen how the Methodists have moved away from God. The great falling away is underway. There is the separating of the sheep and goats.
The Church is NOT a denomination or a certain church or building. Its not something run by a man or a group of men. The Church are followers of Christ who walk with him and live for him and walk in a spirit of repentance and thankfulness for his grace and mercy.

The Methodists as a denomination have left the church. But I am positive that there are Methodist believers out there who are still part of the Church.

There is the Global Methodist Church, although small in number, have rejected LGBT ideology. Another very small denomination includes the free Methodists who also reject the LGBT agenda.

 

[seeking.IAM]

Although it seems like a necessary step to bring their policies in line with their actual practice and values.

I grew up in Mainline style Methodist churches and this policy change is long overdue for the denomination.

Agreed on this point. I always thought their tag line "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" didn't really fit policy and practice very well. At least now it does.

 

[Kokavkrystallos]

What's the point of this dude?

We're talking about people inside the church (or at least one of the many Christian denominations), not apostates like me. (And even I don't bother with "rebellion against god", what would be the point.)

George Whitefield was a Methodist preacher, like the Wesleys

 

[jayem]

The UMC isn't the first Christian denomination to end prejudiced and discriminatory doctrines regarding LGBTQ persons. As I recall, the Unitarian Universalists did the same in the early 70s. Though I know that traditionalists don't consider the UUs as Christian.

 

[FireDragon76]

The UMC isn't the first Christian denomination to end prejudiced and discriminatory doctrines regarding LGBTQ persons. As I recall, the Unitarian Universalists did the same in the early 70s. Though I know that traditionalists don't consider the UUs as Christian.

The United Church of Christ started ordaining openly gay pastors back in the 70's.

The United Methodist Church's ammending the Book of Discipline to contain anti-gay language is relatively recent. It didn't appear until the 1970's, and was basically a sop to cultural conservatives. Even in the early 70's, the ordination of gays was being talked about in mainline Protestant churches.

 

[rjs330]

Agreed on this point. I always thought their tag line "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" didn't really fit policy and practice very well. At least now it does.

Open minds was never a value of Christ's. God really doesn't have an open mind.

 

[FireDragon76]

George Whitefield was a Methodist preacher, like the Wesleys

Methodism was originally not a separate denomination, but a perjorative term for a religious affectation or inclination.