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Case of Gay Worshiper in Virginia Splits Methodists
Washington Post ^ | 10/28/5 | Alan Cooperman

Posted on 10/28/2005 2:11:25 PM PDT by Crackingham

The man had been attending a Methodist church in South Hill, Va., for several months. He sang in the choir. He owned a business and was well known in the community. But when he asked to become a formal member of the church, the pastor turned him down, because he is gay.

Those are the bare facts of a case that has split a 650-member congregation in southern Virginia and that threatens to divide the 8 million-member United Methodist Church, the nation's second largest Protestant denomination.

Yesterday in Houston, the Methodists' highest court heard an appeal from the pastor of South Hill United Methodist Church, the Rev. Edward Johnson. He was placed on unpaid leave after he rejected entreaties from his immediate supervisor and his bishop to admit the gay man, who has not been named by church officials and has declined to talk about the case.

Nationally, the Methodist Church prohibits "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals" from serving as ordained ministers. But it has declared that gay men and lesbians are "persons of sacred worth" and has repeatedly said there are no bars to their participation as lay people.

"The theme of our church for five years now has been 'Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.' The issue here is, 'Are we really open or not?' " said the Rev. W. Anthony Layman, who was Johnson's district superintendent when the pastor was removed in June by a 581 to 20 vote of fellow ministers in the church's Virginia conference.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: christianity; homosexualagenda; homosexuality; pastor; pervertperverts; perverts; pervertspervert; religion; religiousleft; schism; southhill; umc
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1 posted on 10/28/2005 2:11:26 PM PDT by Crackingham
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To: Crackingham

How can you be a member of a religious organization and simultaneously act regularly and openly in outright defiance of its principles? No church worth the name would accept such a person.


2 posted on 10/28/2005 2:13:59 PM PDT by thoughtomator (Ninety-nine Republican Arlen Specters aren’t worth one Democratic Zell Miller)
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To: Crackingham

Well, gee, what are the requirements for joining the club?

More and more I think of AlGore's ravings when he would say, "Everything that should be UP is DOWN . . ."


3 posted on 10/28/2005 2:14:42 PM PDT by petitfour
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To: Crackingham
Nationally, the Methodist Church prohibits "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals" from serving as ordained ministers. But it has declared that gay men and lesbians are "persons of sacred worth" and has repeatedly said there are no bars to their participation as lay people.

Well, they're 1/2 right. In the eyes of God all men are sinners but he still loves us despite this. However, he also says that a member of the church who refuses to give up their sinful lifestyle is to be expelled if they have been given the chance to repent but still persist in their sinful ways.

4 posted on 10/28/2005 2:17:33 PM PDT by COEXERJ145 (This Space For Rent.)
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To: petitfour

Just a thought...

Why does the church exist? Is it a JC fanclub with a bunch of hoopla, or does it exist to raise and inspire their fellow man? Does the church exist to condemn those who do not follow the rules, or does it exist to serve as an example to others?

I submit that if the world were full of sin-less people, there would be no need for a church. Who needs the church more than the sinners?


5 posted on 10/28/2005 2:20:56 PM PDT by Hodar (With Rights, come Responsibilities. Don't assume one, without assuming the other.)
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To: Hodar

I disagree with homosexual priests and ministers but it seems to me that the church is the one thing that homosexuals should not be denied.


6 posted on 10/28/2005 2:24:02 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
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To: Hodar; cripplecreek
Any member of that church guilty of pride, envy, anger, avarice, sadness, gluttony, and lust?
Hey, we all fall short.
7 posted on 10/28/2005 2:27:50 PM PDT by MaryFromMichigan
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To: MaryFromMichigan

We certainly do. Every day is a struggle. However, do we attempt to turn away from our sin, or do we embrace it and say it's not really a sin? (I have no idea about the man in this article.)


8 posted on 10/28/2005 2:29:54 PM PDT by petitfour
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To: thoughtomator
"How can you be a member of a religious organization and simultaneously act regularly and openly in outright defiance of its principles? No church worth the name would accept such a person."

I don't know. Are there any fat people at your church who are regularly committing the sin of gluttony or sloth?

9 posted on 10/28/2005 2:30:05 PM PDT by muir_redwoods (Free Sirhan Sirhan, after all, the bastard who killed Mary Jo Kopechne is walking around free)
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To: thoughtomator

I believe that is just what the pastor is saying. Another case of doing what is right gets you in trouble. Makes no sense to me!!!!!!


10 posted on 10/28/2005 2:31:38 PM PDT by Coldwater Creek ("Over there, Over there, we will be there until it is Over there.")
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To: Crackingham

He should be allowed to join the church.

Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.

I agree Homosexuals shouldnt lead the church or act as Ministers, but every person has the right to worship God in the church of their choice.


11 posted on 10/28/2005 2:32:19 PM PDT by sgtbono2002
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To: Hodar

I think the church is supposed to be a support structure for folks trying to live the way Jesus taught. But it is more than that.

My earlier post was rather cynical because I so often have visited or been a part of congregations that were more social and athletic clubs than churches.


12 posted on 10/28/2005 2:33:25 PM PDT by petitfour
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To: cripplecreek
No one is denying the man access to worship, only membership which means fellowship with others of like beliefs.
13 posted on 10/28/2005 2:33:49 PM PDT by Coldwater Creek ("Over there, Over there, we will be there until it is Over there.")
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To: muir_redwoods
Are there any fat people at your church who are regularly committing the sin of gluttony or sloth?

Those are just among the 7 Deadly Sins; what about the 10 Commandments? Any members who swear and take the name of God in vain? Disrespect their parents? Adultry? Covet? Take what does not belong to them? Perhaps place more value on money, land, family or wealth than they should?

14 posted on 10/28/2005 2:34:13 PM PDT by Hodar (With Rights, come Responsibilities. Don't assume one, without assuming the other.)
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To: MaryFromMichigan

When I was a kid we had a Rabbi who was a member of our church congregation. As he said "the word of God is the word of God." He had no interest in conversion but said that he was among friends and felt that Jews and Christians together were like visiting family.


15 posted on 10/28/2005 2:35:58 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
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To: cripplecreek

That warms my heart.


16 posted on 10/28/2005 2:38:23 PM PDT by MaryFromMichigan
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To: Crackingham
"The theme of our church for five years now has been 'Open Hearts. Open Minds.

Much has changed with the Methodists in the last 40 some years. When I was a Methodist women weren’t even allowed to wear makeup or jewelry – and woe unto anyone who dared to actually have fun. I doubt anyone openly – or covertly – gay would have been able to come anywhere near.
17 posted on 10/28/2005 2:40:11 PM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
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To: thoughtomator
How can you be a member of a religious organization and simultaneously act regularly and openly in outright defiance of its principles?

How could a religious organization more openly defy the example of its founder?

18 posted on 10/28/2005 2:41:06 PM PDT by js1138 (Great is the power of steady misrepresentation.)
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To: COEXERJ145

"In the eyes of God all men are sinners but he still loves us despite this. However, he also says that a member of the church who refuses to give up their sinful lifestyle is to be expelled..."

How is the principle applied to a glutton? Do they have to lose weight or be expelled because they haven't given up the lifestyle of eating too much?

I am not in disagreement with what you say, but want to remind us that we ALL struggle with our human frailties. How many times should I forgive, 10 times?


19 posted on 10/28/2005 2:43:28 PM PDT by Owl558 (Pardon my spelling)
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To: muir_redwoods

Every sin is not the same as every other. You can't compare murder to gluttony, just as comparing gluttony to acting out sexual perversions is'nt correct


20 posted on 10/28/2005 2:44:17 PM PDT by SaintDismas
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