I don’t know, some time ago I would have also dismissed the UMC the way you do, but I would like to know from some conservatives still in the Methodists what they think
Sexuality is indeed a gift from God, when expressed according to Biblical principles. And in a way, CUMC is right but for the wrong reason.
God created us to marry male and female -- and as a result, shows prima facie why homosexuality is a sin. Gays indeed deny who 'God created them to be', by choosing to live a lifestyle of unrepentant, Scripturally defined sin.
Meshelle Lesner, Lead Team Chair
Central United Methodist Church
Meshelle lives in West Toledo with her partner Cathie and their dog, Jack. She has been a member of Central since 2003 and says that what she likes best about Central is the come-as-you-are atmosphere. She loves coffee, sci fi, old t-shirts, Rich Mullins, and Jesus, and her favorite book of the Bible is Philippians. She really dislikes humidity and the color raspberry. She works full-time as the Training Manager and Coordinator of Spiritual Life at Sunshine, an agency that provides care to people with developmental disabilities.
http://centraltoledo.org/blog/who-we-are/staff/
Central United Methodist Church
2108 Collingwood Blvd, Suite 200
Toledo, Ohio 43620
Phone 419.241.7729
E-mail office@centraltoledo.org
So serial adulterers and child molesters should be allowed to act in accordance with their "God-given" sexual orientation"?
What about kleptomaniacs and homicidal maniacs. Should we let them steal our property and kill our families so that they can be reconciled to their god-given orientations?
I shudder to think if they have added any new sacraments to the list.
***The Church seeks nothing less than the healing of the world, and Central UMC wants to offer words and acts of healing to those hurt and marginalized,***
“Healing” the world is not done by embracing sin. Rather it is done by pointing sinners to the redemption of sins through Jesus.