Methodist women to smash crockery

Telegraph (UK) ^ | 11/20/2001 | Victoria Combe

[Graewoulf]

No apologizes needed, on FR we learn and grow.

Now, now. There may be an FR from Berkley.

[daves_brother]

it was a pre-cursor to a violent slaying of many of the enemy

Or more technically, in the case I remember, it was a pre-cursor to the enemy killing themselves, mostly.

Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands.  The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!"  While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.  When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.

-- Judges 7:19-22

[Arkinsaw]

My wife tells me our church is none too happy with the conference folk and has not been for some years. They give dollars selectively and are big enough to go solo.

Well, I'm not one for trying to change denominations or their bureaucracies just to save them. Let the free market work its will on them as it has done with the Church of England. They will either change or die. Pretty clear choice and if they can't make the right one then they are frankly, unchangeable.

[Loyalist]

Let she who is without sin cast the first plate!

[daves_brother]

I believe the UMNS site is one of the best denominational news sites on the Internet. I have it bookmarked.

You are correct about the Church advocating a lot of issues that local member may not agree with or be aware of. The same might be said of many denominations, I think.

The designated giving by local churches described by RevNan in a previous post may be helpful in keeping more conservative local congregations from bolting the denomination and becoming part of the growing "independent" church movement.

Conversely, that system may just allow the conservative congregations to fund the administrative functions of the church, while the more liberal congregation fund action on the more liberal positions.

Please correct me if I have misunderstood your post about the way allocations work, RevNan.

[Graewoulf]

Your comment on symbolism raises an interesting point: If pots were to be smashed, as symbolic destruction of women, then would it not be proper for the men to glue the pots back together? Symbolic of the basic nurturing nature of good husbands.

To make it more difficult, all the pots should be the same size, material and color.

Naturally, the glue used would be water soluble (symbolic for tears) so than the pots could be re-used again next year, following the ceremony of tears, of course.

[hsszionist]

One assumes there will be an Islamic head underneath each of these crocks. Otherwise what a waste.

[LJLucido]

Easier to just get a gun and learn how to use it. Oh, that's right, Methodists think guns are evil. Never mind, go ahead and smash dishes. That will scare the abusers away.

[Arkinsaw]

The designated giving by local churches described by RevNan in a previous post may be helpful in keeping more conservative local congregations from bolting the denomination and becoming part of the growing "independent" church movement.

Conversely, that system may just allow the conservative congregations to fund the administrative functions of the church, while the more liberal congregation fund action on the more liberal positions.

I'm not sure why the conservative members of a church would want to pay the administrative costs so the liberal members of the church could spend their money promoting liberal causes. Sounds like a HECK OF A DEAL for somebody, LOL. Forgive me, but I'll pass on that jackpot. They can pay their own administrative costs as far as I'm concerned.

[daves_brother]

Are you serious?;-)

What a sight. The men of the church attempting to put these pieces back together. This would be...what...a week-long ceremony?

I prefer the symbolism of Ezekiel 4:1-13. Lying on one side for over a year, and then the other for almost six weeks, and eating food baked over a fire fueled by what?

[daves_brother]

I'm not sure why the conservative members of a church would want to pay the administrative costs so the liberal members of the church could spend their money promoting liberal causes. Sounds like a HECK OF A DEAL for somebody

EXACTLY SO!

[xzins]

As an ordained pastor (elder), let me suggest that this again proves that my church has its head up its ass.

(whew! now that I got that off my chest, I'm gonna say something really outrageous)

Ready?

sounds like a crock...to me.

[Slyfox]

...and many women may have been hit by flying crockery

Many women?

[Cold Heat]

I appreciate the heads up on this. I accessed the news site and made a few copies. I will send them to the pastor to make sure he knows of my feelings on these issues. I also see that a high ranking UMS man was arrested at Vieques at a protest. Too many liberals running the show. Looks like the entire Ohio delegation is in the Gore camp according to these news reports. Churches are supposed to be more sensitive to their members. Obviously they are not making much of a effort.

[xzins]

That a decent web site. But here's a GREAT Methodist web site....the absolute best!

http://www.ucmpage.org/news_page.html

click here for Best Methodist Web Site

[Cold Heat]

I think I'll have a cup of coffee too.

[Cold Heat]

Bookmarked the site! Unbelievable!

[Jmouse007]

Their motto: "Lets stop violence... WITH VIOLENCE!"

Ah, there is nothing like liberal theology... reaching the world for?

Dr. S

[daves_brother]

Hey, I've got that one bookmarked, too.  It is certainly a contrary take to some of the more outlandish activities of the church or its representatives.  Now if we could only see this type of information on the official United Methodist web site or the UMNS site.  I wonder what it would take.

From the UCMPage home page:

The People Called Methodist

"I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America.  But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power.   And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out."–John Wesley

[WVNan]

Same with my church, and a whole lot more than you would think. The hierarchy is perplexed because the locals won't support their liberal ideas. Maybe they will get a clue one of these days. God bless.