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Why Does Jesus Call the Father Greater If We Teach That the Members of the Trinity Are Equal? Msgr. Charles Pope • May 23, 2016 • Many of you know that I write the Question and Answer column for Our Sunday Visitor. Given the celebration of Trinity Sunday this past Sunday, I thought I might reproduce here on the blog a question/answer regarding the Trinity. It is a fairly common question; perhaps you have it, too. Remember that my answers in the column are required to be brief.We read in a recent Sunday Gospel (May 1, 2016) that Jesus...

A German pastor has decided to hold a Muslim funeral for a 17-year-old who died fighting for Islamic State in Syria, leaving many outraged. Pastor Sieghard Wilm of the protestant St. Pauli Church in Hamburg is stirring strong emotions after he made the choice to hold a Muslim funeral in his church for 17-year-old ‘Florent’, who died fighting for the Islamic state in Syria in July. The funeral will take place today.

It’s instinctive for us to look favorably upon a situation where a markedly messed up and apostate group such as the United Methodist Church takes a step ostensibly in the direction of a better position than what they held before. But let’s check out some reasons why this is not necessarily a great reason to celebrate. First, let’s note that 310 delegates voted against the resolution to stop supporting Roe v Wade. Let that sink in. I’m no mathematician, but it sure looks like 40% of the people that United Methodist churches across the USA selected to represent them at...

Circumstantial evidence is when The enemy would have you believe in a lie instead of The Truth in the matter(substance) for truly as you are obedient to follow My Son "THE WORD" it is then My Spirit maintains your walk on the Highway of Holiness free from guile and the lies that distract you from My SON for I am not a man that should sway you from The Truth of My ~ Eternal Kingdom ~ and Glory forever, as you "ARE" My Children. Numbers 23:19 19 God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie,...

A presbytery’s Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) has ruled that a church’s session cannot adopt a policy requiring all weddings performed on church property be only between one man and one woman. In the case of Thomas E. Morgan, complainant vs. Session, First Presbyterian Church, Asheboro, N.C., respondent, the PJC of Salem Presbytery ruled that “A categorical decision by the session not to permit any marriage by a couple of the same-sex on church property without consideration of their commitment to each other, their understanding of the nature of the marriage covenant and their commitment to living their lives together according...

In his address at the grand meeting on the occasion of the DECR 70th anniversary, Metropolitan Hilarion said that the relations of the Russian Church with the Catholic Church and with the Ancient Oriental Churches could be characterized by positive dynamics, but, regrettably, we cannot say the same about relations with the Protestant world. ‘The contradictions between the Orthodox Church and the Protestant communities that consistently distort the Church’s teaching to accommodate modern secular standards are intensifying,’ he said and added that the Moscow Patriarchate was still open to cooperation with representatives of the conservative circles of the Protestant world...

Young protesters from the Baltimore uprising share their experience and hope to the Diocese of Maryland convention. Delegates began the work of what reparations for the sin of racism and slavery to determine what that might look like. At its recent convention, the Diocese of Maryland took the first of what could be many small steps to engage the issue of reparations and set aside money to help heal the centuries-old wounds of slavery. Though the resolution that anchored the conversation, known as “Reparations Investment,” was referred to Diocesan Council for further review, its appearance marked a beginning for the...

There "IS" movement in My rest, Though you are at peace you wear My Best, The fullness of My Spirit moving in you, Accomplishing The Father's will in all you say and do, Step by step each jot and tittle performed, For in "My rest" you are Re-born, Into My peace bearing the fruit of Tranquility, For each step you now take is an image of Me in the shape of My Kingdom and Majesty, So all others see is me in you , For no other shape has the ability of My will to say and do, The form...

The top policy body for the United Methodist Church is struggling to avert a split over gay rights. The Methodist General Conference voted 428-405 to delay all discussion of church policy related to LGBT people during a meeting in Portland, Oregon. Delegates created a commission Wednesday to review all relevant church law on the subject over a period of at least two years, then hold a special meeting to discuss the way forward. …

(Vatican Radio) Anglican and Catholic theologians, meeting in Toronto, Canada this week, have agreed on the publication of their first ARCIC III document on the theme “Towards a Church fully reconciled”. The volume, which is likely to be published in the autumn, uses the ‘Receptive Ecumenism’ approach to look at the limitations within each communion and see how one Church can help the other grow towards the fullness of faith. The third Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC III) is holding its sixth annual meeting from May 11th to 19th, hosted by the Anglican sisters of St John the Divine in...

Supernatural experiences are happening now with in my Body and Bride but do not let this distract you for though you walk on the waters with me it is My Testimony that keeps you afloat for I AM in and through all things and it is as you cause others to understand My love for them that I elevate you to walk in the heavenlies for you are not earthly bound and it is "My Spirit IN YOU" that performs what seems impossible to others for as Stephen did now you shall do ! Acts 6 Seven Chosen to Serve...

After nearly 50 years of discourse between the Catholic and Anglican communions, the official dialogue body wants to fine-tune how it studies the differences and similarities between two churches which both call themselves Catholic. “ARCIC III hasn’t proved itself yet,” Sir David Moxon, Anglican co-chair of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, told The Catholic Register following an ecumenical evensong on Pentecost Sunday. This third stage of the dialogue has been meeting since 2011, but has yet to publish a major document. It is currently studying how the Church arrives at moral teaching. The official dialogue sponsored by the Vatican and...

Pope Francis said today that he would set up a commission to study whether or not he can find more ways to confuse and frustrate the living crap out of people, revealing an openness to re-examining the church’s long-held insistence on not speaking off-the-cuff. His move was hailed as a breakthrough by those in the media who have clamored for years to be given more stuff to speculate on, and who cite research showing that a pope whose speeches were scripted and thought out produced nothing for the media to report on, and therefore, pointless. But the idea will face...

Dozens of United Methodist clergy members came out as lesbian, gay or bisexual on Monday, defying their church's ban on "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" serving in ministry and essentially daring their supervisors to discipline them. In a public letter posted online, 111 pastors, deacons, elders and candidates for ministry said church rules require "that we not bring our full selves to ministry, that we hide from view our sexual orientations and gender identities." "While some of us have been lucky to serve in places where we could serve honestly and openly, there are others in places far more hostile, who continue...

Today in America abortion on demand rages on with hundreds of millions of Christian Church-goers surrounding abortion clinics. What do the churches think? I went to First Pres here in San Luis Obispo, CA to ask them if they knew the abortion clinic was just 5 blocks from their church. Surprisingly not onlt did they know, they said they supported Planned Parenthood and Abortion! (Watch "Peace Peace" to see this exchange: http://youtu.be/pxLiAMExLz0?list=UUt5...) After doing a little research I found out that First Pres SLO is a member of the PCUSA and that they support abortion in almost any case. So...

Adam Hamilton has once more entered into the fray of making pronouncements about what the Bible does and does not advocate when it comes to same sex sexual activity and same sex marriage, and you can read his post here, http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/6876/the-bible-homosexuality-and-the-umc-part-one only the first of four such posts leading up to the General Conference in a couple of weeks. My concern is with the misinterpretation of the Bible in this post as well as the misrepresentation of Methodist cultural trends at various points and so once you’ve read what Adam says, then consider the following response. In the first place,...

A few months ago while standing in front of the abortion clinic pleading with folks not to kill there children I looked up and down the street trying to see what those who were entering the clinic could see. To my surprise just above the trees was a red steeple with a white cross on the top. How sad I thought, you can actually see a church from the front of the abortion clinic. Trying not to be cynical and deciding to put the best construction on things I thought, Maybe they don't know there are children being killed here,...

John’s vision in Revelation gives us some clues about what heaven is like. Heaven is charged with the absence of things that are conspicuously present in our earthly environment. What is absent? Some of the missing things include tears, death, sorrow, and pain: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:4, NIV). Certain types of people will also be absent. No unbelievers, abominable and sexually immoral people, murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, or liars will live in that place....

The Catholic Church leader called for "building" the Christian-Islamic dialogue with patience: "The work that they do, is a work of building." The Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies, was the initiator of the letter of 138 Muslim representatives in 2007. It was written in response to the famous Regensburg speech of Benedict XVI. Pope Francis: "In a meeting like this dialogue is the operative word. And dialogue means to come out - with the word and with yourself. To say his word and hear the word of the other. Two words come together there, two thoughts. This is the first...

My train of Glory is about to shine, All over my children for through my blood they are divine, Now I shall come down and rest, Upon my treasure chest, For this is where ever they are gathered in My Name, Shouting out My Fame, "To the ones that have overcome and pushed through", " I AM Chasing after you ", MY Glory is about to reveal, The Fullness of My Kingdom's Seal, The Father's Heart now fully revealed, Not just a sector but as a whole, Not just a faith or trust "now you shall know", The Fullness of...