Posted on 02/25/2019 2:22:35 PM PST by xzins
Delegates at United Methodism’s General Conference in St. Louis, meeting as legislative committee, endorsed the Traditional Plan by 56% to 44%. The plan, which would strengthen the church’s policies defining marriage as male/female, will be voted on again by the delegates in plenary tomorrow.
The One Church Plan to liberalize the church’s policy on sexuality was rejected 53% to 47%. It is now defeated unless there’s an attempt to bring it tomorrow’s plenary as minority report.
Also approved were two petitions allowing congregations who can’t abide the church’s marriage teaching to leave the denomination with their property. Potentially some liberal churches consequently would leave United Methodism.
Most liberals opposed these plans for “gracious exit.” But pro-LGBTQ retired clergy Mike Slaughter of West Ohio spoke in favor of one petition, saying he did not wish to remain in a church that was not entirely affirming for all.
About 800 United Methodist congregations out of over 30,000 in America have declared themselves “reconciling” i.e. opposed to church policy on sexuality. These petitions also will go before the plenary session tomorrow.
Potentially the Judicial Council, top court for the denomination, will will rule on the constitutionality of these proposals. USA evangelicals and overseas delegates provided consistent majorities for these petitions.
Many liberal church activists and institutionalists remain surprised by the global support for the Traditional Plan, having assumed the liberalizing One Church Plan backed by most bishops would prevail. Efforts by USA church officials to cajole overseas delegates into supporting the One Church Plan have so far failed.
It remains to be seen whether liberal churches will form a new denomination after General Conference if the Traditional Plan passes. The next General Conference in 2020 will see a further shift in delegate strength towards Africa and away from America, making change in traditional church policy even more unlikely.
This is wonderful news — stay on and FIGHT for God in the Methodist Church. Do not let the devil get full control of the UMC. fight!!
Africa church is growing. US church isn’t. The gap should grow bigger in conservative favor.
It’s easier for them to go if they don’t have to fight over their property
I was is seminary same time as Slaughter, our most conservative seminary. He became a very successful mega church pastor. Don’t know how you get from that point A to that point B.
If asked to pastor a new or renewed conservative denomination, I would help
I think it is so easy to go down the slippery slope to hell - we take one little step that is nothing by itself, but is part of the overall journey to hell.
I pray you get that opportunity soon at the UMC.
I’m retired, so it’s unlikely, but I would respond if asked.
Well, I’m not a Methodist, but thank you Africa.
And now, kiddies, which one of those does not describe a liberal?
Amen.
Support your missionaries. Their work starting a century+ ago is what has led to this extra (one last) chance for our denomination.
“Their goal is to infect, subvert, and destroy the denomination. “
Correct.
Thanks, Rush
Their goal is to infect, subvert, and destroy the denomination. They can’t do that if they split away.
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True. Plus the conservatives are the biggest donors. If one looks as the votes, one sees that they really are not too far away from eventually coming to power in the denomination. They can always hold a vote in the future when they have a majority and make their desired changes at that time.
2019 General Conference passes Traditional Plan
Updated at 6 p.m. Tuesday: Delegates to The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly approved a plan that affirms church policies on homosexuality and strengthens enforcement. The vote was 438 to 384.
7:29 Donna Pritchard gave speech Western Jurisdiction will continue to continue to function the same!
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