Posted on 04/29/2005 9:06:16 AM PDT by RobertP
Methodists to Reinstate Defrocked Minister Updated: Friday, Apr. 29, 2005 - 11:51 AM
By FOSTER KLUG Associated Press Writer
LINTHICUM, Md. (AP) - The United Methodist Church reversed itself Friday, deciding to reinstate a lesbian minister who was defrocked after revealing her relationship with another woman.
A church panel voted 8 to 1 to set aside an earlier decision to defrock Irene "Beth" Stroud for violating the church's ban on openly gay clergy.
The Philadelphia minister said she was relieved by the ruling and hopes the church will become more inclusive to people regardless of sexual orientation.
After Stroud disclosed the relationship to her congregation two years ago, the church defrocked her, meaning that she could no longer serve communion or baptize anyone. She kept the title of associate minister and worked in a lay capacity at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown in Philadelphia.
"The church is not free to disregard the standards of justice and inclusiveness that are preached by Jesus Christ ... and are a part of church law," Stroud said after church authorities read their decision at a hotel.
"The ruling gives us hope that the United Methodist Church has the resources to do justice," she said.
I don't have much problem with that one. Were it not for this most felicitous event, Ireland would never have known the young British priest known as Patricius (St. Patrick), our Patron Saint and evangelist.
Your timing is off. Saint Patrick lived in the late 300s/early 400's. Adrian's Bull was issued in 1154 or 1155. Ireland was already a thoroughly Christian nation long before the Bull.
Hardly celebrated, but be happy in your church and I will be happy in mine.
The "young" denominations are lost.
What happened did some of the original pannel resign and the new pannel take over?
ping
Friend you are the one who implied the Catholic Church did so. No point getting technical now that you are being called on it.
You make your little smear then object when the error is pointed out to you? Unbelievable! I will make a prediction right now. The official policy against Homosexuality will be intact in the Catholic Church long after the UMC has started approving of child molesters and chicken sacrifices.
The tricky thing, in the U.S. at least, is finding a good parish, where RCIA will be taught by faithful Catholics. The best advice would be to find a Catholic FReeper in your area who can make a recommendation.
I feel for the Methodists; I know there are many who are trying to do their best to keep to the Word of God (my dad is Methodist). There is a struggle between orthodoxy and "progressivism," along similar lines in most every church and/or denomination.
"I'm not certain what line of thought you are following with regard to ecclesiastical officials and bishop members of the College of Cardinals. It may be a variation of the "catholics worship Mary and the Saints" canard. I don't know."
I heard that all the Cardinals had to line up and swear allegiance to him before his first mass. Of course I picture a King Arthur thing kissing of the ring and all...
Excellent point. They have to create a "tolerant" Jesus that accepts their choices, otherwise they won't be able to reconcile their behavior with the true teachings of Jesus. Just another way people rationalize their deviant behavior.
Thank you for you answers.
My wife too has been asking the same type stuff. Our small southern Methodist Church is fairly conservative and traditional, but I don't like what I am seeing in the main body of the organization.
I'm not a Catholic, but isn't the Pope a political leader as well as a religious one. He is the head of a sovereign nation, Vatican City, isn't he?
As such, allegiance from one's "deputies" is expected, I would think.
The liberalization of the UM church is why hubby and I left it.
Let me guess: Fat, with short hair.
When I found out that our conservative congregation was expected to fund a portion of a gay retreat, it was the last straw.
The unofficial policy seems to be the problem.
True, not on paper. But this proves that in practicality, the UM church has a 'policy' of allowing homosexual ministers.
Ah, a good point.
OPD:
I appreciate your interest. Battles between orthodoxy and heterodoxy (let's call it what it is, heresy) seem common to all the established U.S. Christian denominations. Certainly the Roman Catholic Church is no exception to the rule. And, as the scandals that have rocked it reveal, it is made up of very fallable individuals, indeed.
Why then be Catholic? It's a difficult question. What the Church offers that other don't is access to the holy sacraments and to teachings that make the bold claim to the one and undilluted Truth, as emodiend of the ancient deposit of faith. It's pretty inspiring once you explore it.
Catholic orthodoxy is not everyone's cup of tea, obviously. But it may be worth a try if you find yourself drawn to it.
Good luck in your journey
Irish_Links
I agree, the woes of the Catholic Church just grab headlines and any attempt to bash a Christian organization is foremost on the medias' agenda rather than report on all of the pedophile cases in the nations school systems over a year.
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