Posted on 05/28/2007 11:43:56 AM PDT by Zakeet
A United Methodist minister in Baltimore informed the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church of a name change, along with a change of gender. The former Rev. Ann Gordon now reportedly adopted a male identity as Rev. Drew Phoenix.
The issue will be discussed Thursday at a closed session during the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. The minister's name change is already reflected on her church's website, www.stjohnsbaltimore.org, Christian Newswire reported Tuesday.
In 2002, the Baltimore-Washington Conference had a similar controversy, when Rev. Richard Zimostny had a sex change operation and became Rebecca Steen. That minister's request to return to the active pastorate was ultimately sidetracked and Zimostny/Steen left the ministry.
The United Methodist Church has no explicitly stated, official policies regarding sexual identity changes or sex change operations, but does officially disapprove of homosexual behavior. Rev. Phoenix' congregation supports the "Reconciling" movement within United Methodism, which campaigns to overturn the church's official teachings on marriage and sexual ethics.
Institute for Religion and Democracy Director of UMAction Mark Tooley commented, "Christianity, in contrast to gnosticism and much of current popular culture in America, rejects the suggestion that sexual identity is merely a state of mind or a preference. Gender and physicality, in Christian and Jewish teaching, are intrinsically linked to God's order of creation, as first described in Genesis. The God whom we worship knew us as male or female before He created us. Gender is not a choice but a reality.
"Someone struggling with sexual identity issues needs the ministry and guidance of the church. But the church would be wrong to bless a so-called sexual identity change, with or without surgery."
What a clever name; a male, rising from the ashes of his former female self. GAG!
As far as I know, God has always been inclusive, but expects those who choose to follow Him of also following His Commandments. He won't exclude you, but you exclude yourself, by not doing so.
These folks don't worship God; they worship their oh so tolerant, non-judgemental, inclusive selves.
It isn’t only the sex change that these individuals want to promote - they want political change too. And there is no congruence betweeen these two concepts, gender identification and politics. The separate traits are two totally different facets of individual makeup.
One wishes they would not mix them up. Or if they choose to pursue one, do not be making assertions favoring the other as well.
We do not so much own the Gift as we have Stewardship
Denying the Gift is to deny the Giver of all Gifts
I understand error is everywhere, including myself
But to teach error is a great evil,
especially in one who entrusted with
teaching the Vision of Christ’s purpose for our life
Wrong in so many ways, I have difficulty forming these words
So she had an “addadictomy” operation?
Why don’t they just whip out the Golden Calf while they’re at it? Maybe some nice Baal worship for the occasion...
Does s/he think that God didn’t get it right??
I don’t think I’d have much faith in this fellow-ette.
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No, the Methodists are just trying to catch up with the PCUSA.
Drew Phoenix? I guess that’s one Phoenix which won’t rise again.
Minister? Minister of WHAT precisely! God is not radical, blasphemy should be!
Genesis 1
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
I do not know how clear this can be made
God Created, in what way can we deny that creation
without great error?
And this in one to whom has entrusted with the task of instruction of the Laity
regarding Christ’s purpose for our lives.
Abomination!
Maybe s(he) can get a date with Barney Frank.
BTW, the game's a scream. My daughter loves it. But she wants to be a vet, not a lawyer like mom . . . .
Nah, our pets have really weird names.
Anita Bone
Wesley Covenant Prayer
The Prayer
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
Please live in Hope that the Methodist Church remembers it’s Covenant Prayer and life in Christ.
Reminds me of the song, “I’ve looked at love from both sides now.”
Right on the money. It's good to know there are still some sensible people in the UMA.
One of the essential aspects of Christianity, like Judaism, is that it believes that reality is, well, real, whereas the pop cultists think that reality is a social construct. Everyone has a right to construct his own reality, as SCOTUS said in the Casey decision.
But God's creation doesn't work that way.
Or a non-dragon changing into a pride-hewn ox. < ;)
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