Methodist Activist Reacts to Seminary Hosting Dem(ocratic Party) Conference

Agape Press ^ | 14 Aug | Jim Brown

[xzins]

Methodist Activist Reacts to Seminary Hosting Dems' Conference

By Jim Brown August 14, 2006

(AgapePress) - A conservative United Methodist activist finds it ironic that a United Methodist seminary in Colorado recently hosted a Democratic party conference on how to attract religious voters.

The political summit at Iliff Theological Seminary in Denver drew Democratic Party leaders, academics, pollsters, and members of the clergy. According to Associated Press, some of the participants said Democrats do not need to change their position on abortion or same-sex "marriage," but need only to emphasize the morality of helping the poor or protecting the environment. A table at the conference was stacked with new books from the religious left, and bumper stickers that read "Jesus rode a donkey."

Mark Tooley is director of the United Methodist Action Committee at the Institute on Religion and Democracy. He finds it ironic that the same liberals have been lamenting the supposed "marriage" between Evangelicals and the Republican Party.

"If nothing else, this illustrates what the religious left is all about and has been about for many decades previous to the founding of the 'Religious Right,'" observes Tooley. "And I guess there is resentment over the fact that conservative religious activists, although their movement is newer, have been far more influential and more successful than the old religious left."

According to Tooley, the sponsors of the conference may have outdone themselves this time. "Here, in this case, we have the Democratic Party of Colorado actually holding an event on the campus of Methodist Iliffe Seminary there in Denver, brainstorming on how to attract religious people into the Democratic Party," he points out.

"I really would be hard pressed to think of any examples where the Republican Party has convened a similar event at a conservative seminary."

Tooley says Iliff is probably the second-most liberal of the 13 United Methodist seminaries in the United States.

[xzins]

If it looks like a double standard, talks like a double stand, walks like a double standard, and quacks like a double standard, then....

(With apologies to GHW Bush)

[EagleUSA]

The separation of church and state...hmmmm.

[RegulatorCountry]

"I really would be hard pressed to think of any examples where the Republican Party has convened a similar event at a conservative seminary."

Separaton of church and state for thee, but not for me. Amazing.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Should the IRS be notified ?

[Still Thinking]

That only for conservative churches and or governments.

[xzins]

I'd prefer we call the hypocrite police, but if the media were any closer to the Democratic Party they'd come out the other side.

[xzins]

Of some comfort is the fact that these same liberals have led our denomination in the loss of some 7 million members since 1968....not counting the gain that should have been realized by simple birth rate addition.

In short, they're losers, and if the Dems are going to them for advice, then they've gone to exactly the folks we'd "suggest" they should go to. :>)

[abigailsmybaby]

"Jesus rode a donkey."

This as a political slogan really gets me all excited about the democrat party.

[NurdlyPeon]

Pathetic or amusing? To laugh or to barf? So many questions.

[MEG33]

Hypocrites!

[Zechariah_8_13]

A conservative United Methodist activist finds it ironic that a United Methodist seminary in Colorado recently hosted a Democratic party conference on how to attract religious voters.

He found it ironic? Where has he been?

[spinestein]

[He finds it ironic that the same liberals have been lamenting the supposed "marriage" between Evangelicals and the Republican Party.]



He finds it "ironic" that many liberal churches actively support and fund raise for Democratic causes and campaigns as tax exempt religious organizations, but I find it to be hypocritical, unethical, immoral and ILLEGAL.

[xzins]

Mark Tooley is quite knowledgeable.

The irony is found in the hypocrisy.

[ZULU]

Unfortunately, these creeps aren't the ONLY losers.

There's a saying in politics that you can't beat somebody with nobody.

Well, that goes for religion too.

Because the mainstream Christian faiths, particularly the Protestant ones, have been loosing members like a duck sheds water n the rain, more Christians are set adrift in the world without strong religious teachings.

That lack of connectivity to Christianity among some of these people, and ESPECIALLY their offspring, produces a well of potential Islamic converts.

And I believe the same thing has happened in Europe.

Christianity died out in many "Christian" countries like the Scandinavian ones, long before the Islamic invasion.

A secular religion is no substitute for a religious experience - which unfortunately, Islam is all to eager to provide - in a warped and distorted version.

[c-b 1]

Of some comfort is the fact that these same liberals have led our denomination in the loss of some 7 million members since 1968.

I'm one of those 7 million.

It's probably just as well, I don't think the .357 magnum I carry in church would be welcome in most Methodist Churches.

[HisKingdomWillAbolishSinDeath]

Another theological cemetery exposed.

[Recovering_Democrat]

LOL. This is a case of losers consulting losers. The Democrat party has people leaving it in droves, as does the United Methodist Church...this conservative has walked out on both. And I'm not alone.

[metesky]

What would today's Methodists know about religion?

[xzins]

Ping to basic article.