Posted on 04/21/2003 9:01:51 AM PDT by rface
C. Joseph Sprague, currently in the position of bishop in the UMC Northern Illinois Conference, spoke as a self-professed representative of protestant Christianity at a public panel discussion on war and peace on Sunday evening, October 28, 2001. The Panelists, which included representatives of other world religions, as well as many people in the audience found Mr. Sprague's extreme pacifism as a laughing matter, as he was the only panelist who expressed non-support of the U.S. military action against the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. When an audience participant pressed Mr. Sprague to explain how he would stop terrorists from further murders in America and throughout the world, he couldn't propose a solution, but rather could only criticize the United States for a foreign policy that has resulted in deaths of Muslims in past years. In a feeble attempt to imply that there is a better way to deal with world terrorism, Mr. Sprague gave lip service to the United Nations with a vague reference to an international world court.
Mr. Sprague's pacifist position was not "breaking news" at the panel discussion, as he had previously publicized his criticism of America's war on terrorism. However, the unexpected news item from the event was Mr. Sprague's complete break from United Methodist doctrine concerning the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior. During the extremely brief question and answer period, Mr. Sprague responded to the question "When will Jesus come?" In his response -- in what is believed to be his first such public declaration on this matter -- Mr. Sprague said clearly and concisely that Jesus walked the earth about 2000 years ago and that he will NOT come again, as there will be no Second Coming!
The panel discussion titled "An Interfaith Dialogue On War and Peace" was held before at packed Sanctuary estimated at almost 600 people at the First United Methodist Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. The audience represented the diversity of the American populace with as many people of Arab descent present in the building as those of European descent. The event was organized by UMC Reverend Diana M. Facemyer of Glen Ellyn's St. Thomas UMC, who acted as the host of the event......
There's more if you want it....HERE
also:
Bishop C. Joseph Sprague (click to learn some more...)
Let's see, what regime has killed more Muslims than any other?
Answer: Saddam Hussein.
Thus is Joseph Sprague revealed for either the ignoramous he is, or the abettor of a mass murder.
9. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel;
11. Which also said, Ye men of Galillee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
What does Emory Theology say about the Apostle's Creed (let alone the Nicene Creed)? ("He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead")
This comes from the "UM Action Briefing" dated April, 2003. I will look to see whether the newsletter is available online.
I believe Bishop Sprague is in deep trouble with the Methodist Church and may be forced to resign. There is a movement under way to get this done, per the following:
". . . it is fundamentally fraudulent for him (Sprague) to attack the traditional Christian faith while serving as Bishop of a Christian church. Decency and integrety require his resignation or removal."
As a member of the United Methodist Church I will contribute financially and as a volunteer worker to get Joe Sprague removed as Bishop.
C.S. Lewis knocked these guys off in one in The Great Divorce. His apostate bishop publicly rejects the Creed and it brings him worldly fame, book deals, etc. Given a last chance to repent by a friend who is sent to rescue him from Hell, he turns his back on salvation and goes back to Hell to write a book on how Jesus would have adopted the bishop's views "if he had lived."
Gee, their names even begin with the same two letters. Suppose there's a connection there . . . ? nah. ;-)
I'm pretty sure that went down in flames (no pun intended).
But there are strong movements in the UMC to get the church back to where it belongs. Groups such as "Good News" the Renewal Movement and the Confessing Movement in the UMC are much more conservative and are trying to undo the harm done by liberals like Sprague.
No Thanks!!!
Ad my name to that list, a United Methodist from Arkansas.
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