[Anti-War Methodist] Church convention expels livid man

The Quad-City Times ^ | June 14th, 2003 | Associated Press

[newgeezer]

Copyright © 2002 The Quad-City Times | www.QCTimes.com


Church convention expels livid man

By Associated Press

AMES, Iowa — A delegate to a Methodist Church convention was expelled from the four-day event after he repeatedly tore down banners criticizing civilian deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Church officials said the delegate is a retired Marine colonel who was upset the hand-painted banners carried no mention of American and allied casualties.

The man was expelled from the conference Friday. The event began Thursday and ends this afternoon.

The banners were hung around the perimeter of Hilton Coliseum late Wednesday by the Rev. Ted Lyddon Hatten, minister of Farmers Chapel United Methodist Church in Indianola.

They were missing when Lyddon Hatten returned to the convention Thursday, so he made new ones. They, too, were torn down and Lyddon Hatten found them in trash cans. He had them rehung Friday. Within 45 minutes, they had been taken down again.

“This time the gentleman took them to his car and locked them in his trunk,” Lyddon Hatten said. “There was an ugly scene when he was confronted by security and the sergeant at arms.”

The Rev. Gregory Palmer, bishop for the Iowa United Methodist Church, asked conference members to be civil when discussing the dispute.

“If Christians can’t find a meaningful way to work through tough stuff without gouging each other’s eyes out, it could well be we do not have a hope of modeling anything redemptive for the world,” Palmer told the assembly.

Copyright © 2002 The Quad-City Times

[newgeezer]

Amen, brother!

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

I think this Colonel is in the wrong Army. Methodist high ups never miss a chance to embarrass themselves.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Looks like the good Reverend Lyddon Hatten and Bishop Palmer have their denomination all neatly sewn-up.

Good-bye Christ. Hello Karl Marx.

Behold the future of denominational Christianity.

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP

[chuckles]

Yeah, like the other story floating around about the United MC saying anal sex is a gift from God? These people have lost it. I can't understand why they don't leave en-mass.

[sticker]

Once agian the left proves that to them free speech is only for those that agree with them

[Constantine XIII]

"Yeah, I was walking by the temple today when this guy just tossed a moneychanger's table out the door and BAM, hit right square on my head!"

[bmwcyle]

My Church is fighting liberalism everyday. It is a fight worth fighting. If you think that Conservative Methodists are close to Karl Marx, you are a fool.

[SWake]

“There was an ugly scene when he was confronted by security and the sergeant at arms.”

Is an anti-war group with a "sergeant at arms" ironic or moronic?

[headsonpikes]

"Once again the left proves that to them free speech is only for those that agree with them."

That may well be the case, but...I hate to be a nit-picker, but wasn't it the 'right-wing' dissident who was tearing down the other guy's posters?

[DCBurgess58]

I quit the Methodist church because of their ungodly liberal policies. They reject the teachings of the bible and promote Democratic policy as a substitute. If you believe in Satin, there is no doubt that this church is an instrument of his, which he uses to undermine Christianity.

[WorkingClassFilth]

"If you think that Conservative Methodists are close to Karl Marx, you are a fool."

No, I allow for independant puddles of Conservatives in the UMC.

The problem is that you, and Conservatives like you, do not realize that your Seminaries are rife with Heresy, your Church Government is shot with Apostates and your sectarian affilitation is already lost. In short, you and your principles have nothing to do with your larger church's philosophies, goals and programs.

So what else is new with the Protestant schism in Christianity?

If you wish, you can call me a fool until Hell freezes over. It doesn't change the facts one iota.

[PeterPrinciple]

I used to attend a Methodist church here in Ames. The pastor grew up as a Presbyterian, went to a Baptist seminary, was a Chaplin in the Army, believed the Reformed doctrine and on occasion there would be speaking of tongues during the worship service. HE USED TO STAND IN THE PULPIT AND SAY THE ONLY REASON THE METHODISTS DIDN'T KICK HIM OUT WAS THAT THEY WERE TOO LIBERAL ........unfortunately, they moved him out of Ames.

Wish we had more guys like that pastor in all our churches. If I could find the retired Colonel in this article, I would take him out to lunch.

[TheBattman]

What I don't get - when a church/denomination flagrantly flies in the face of your beliefs - insulting both your sensibilities or goes directly against Bible teachings, why don't people leave that church/denomination and find one that does do what it's suppose to do?

[bmwcyle]

Yes we do know that our are rife with Heresy. Short of taking guns we out vote them everytime. If they ever win the church splits and the conservatives move on to a new church but for right now we hold the votes.

[Sloth]

Is an anti-war group with a "sergeant at arms" ironic or moronic?

Is a church group with a sergeant at arms disturbing or hilarious?

[Miss Marple]

As a life-long Methodist, I have to say that this type of thing was the final straw for me last year. For eight ong years the church was silent, through repeated military adventures by the Clintons, nevermind the total ignoring of the many scandals in that administration.

Suddenly, by golly, they feel compelled to comment on government policy.

Until the seminary graduates of the 70's retire, the church is going to continue along this path. I have left them to their own devices, which they can pursue without my time or donations. There are isolated pockets of good churches, particularly in the south, but supporting the hhierarchy is more than I can stand.

[Just another Joe]

Is an anti-war group with a "sergeant at arms" ironic or moronic?

I think it would be 'oxymoronic'. :^)

[WorkingClassFilth]

"...why don't people leave that church/denomination and find one that does do what it's suppose to do?"

Off hand I'd guess these are the biggest reasons...

1) They're comfortable in their church.

2) They become used to hearing falsehoods and lose their sense of outrage.

3) They assume the 'leadership' knows more than they do and, therefore, they're uncomfortable questioning the clergy.

4) They resist the idea of 'leaving' since it seems like running.

5) They think God is leading them into a great struggle for control of 'their' church as though the plan of God were to contest control of real estate.

[newgeezer]

What I don't get - when a church/denomination flagrantly flies in the face of your beliefs - insulting both your sensibilities or goes directly against Bible teachings, why don't people leave that church/denomination and find one that does do what it's suppose to do?

In most cases, I think folks eventually do just that, after they come to terms with the sad fact that they cannot effect change for the better from within. For me, it took less than a year to leave the staunchly-unbelieving ELCA.