In wake of Arafat's death, build for peace, United Methodist leader says

United Methodist News Service ^ | 11 Nov 2004 | Linda Bloom, UMNS

[mbarker12474]

"For decades, Arafat symbolized the hopes and aspirations of Palestinians and brought international attention to their cause," [Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries] said. "The most fitting tribute to him would be strong and deliberate measures by Palestinians and Israelis — and by the international community — to uphold international law and human rights."

[Admin Moderator]

Please use original titles.
Thanks.

[dukeman]

I think it happened when you weren't looking. It's really quite sad. The Methodists played a major role in America's first Great Awakening. They'll be on the sidelines (or the other side) for this one.

[7.62 x 51mm]

I left the Methodist Church 40 years ago. Liberals, socialists and commies were infiltrating back in the 60s and 70s. They own the place, now.

[Steve_Seattle]

I kind of saw this coming in the mainstream churches back in the late sixties. It was obvious that the campus-area clergy felt totally bypassed by the cultural/political/moral revolution on the college campuses, and wanted "in" badly. They felt useless and irrelevant. I bet the song "Eleanor Rigby" really stung them, even though the kind of despairing, gloomy loneliness in that song is much more typical of the unchurched than of regular churchgoers. Ever since, though, the mainstream clergy have been looking over their shoulders for approval from the secular Left.

[Our man in washington]

If one is conservative and believes in God but doesn't believe that non-Christians are going to Hell, what's a good church to join?

[LikeLight]

Rank and file Methodists have no clue.

Sure we do, and we're doing something about it.

Check out the links. Rank and file Methodists are REVERSING the slide into liberalism. Our last two General Conferences (2000 & 2004) have voted overwhelming against the homosexual agenda. The tide has turned.

http://www.confessingumc.org/

http://www.goodnewsmag.org/

[Steve_Seattle]

"Look at the Catholic Church's support of the Communist in Nicaragua, back when Ortega was actually rounding up Priests. "

I was recently looking at some websites of the Benedictine Order (Catholic monks), and was shocked at how far Left many of them are; their heroes are Castro and the Sandinistas.

[Steve_Seattle]

"If one is conservative and believes in God but doesn't believe that non-Christians are going to Hell, what's a good church to join?"

Possibly some of the community churches in conservative areas.

[weenie]

Here's some recommended viewing for all Methodists...

I have many Methodist friends and family and, I suggest, you are painting with too broad a brush if you blame the entire church for what their naive (and, apparently, stupid) leadership does.

This would be like saying that all Catholics are pederasts because of what a small percentage of priests have done. Often, members of a church have no clue (nor would they condone it if they knew) what their leadership is doing.

But when the Methodist rank and file do find out, there will be swift repercussions .

Most Methodists I know are Republicans and support Israel zealously.

[bushisdamanin04]

Here is a list of “religious” members of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. The list is from their website. Some may be surprised to see that their “churches” are officially pro-abort “churches.” The list:

Conservative Judaism
Rabbinical Assembly
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Women’s League for Conservative Judaism

Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church

Ethical Culture Movement
American Ethical Union
National Service Conference of the American Ethical Union

Humanist Judaism
Society for Humanistic Judaism

Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options (PARO)
Women’s Ministries
Washington Office

Reconstructionist Movement
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Reform Judaism
Central Conference of American Rabbis
North American Federation of Temple Youth
Union for Reform Judaism
Women of Reform Judaism, The Federation of Temple Sisterhoods
Women’s Rabbinic Network of Central Conference of American Rabbis

United Church of Christ
Justice and Witness Ministries

United Methodist Church
General Board of Church and Society
General Board of Global Ministries, Women’s Division

Unitarian Universalist
Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation
Young Religious Unitarian Universalists

Caucuses/Organizations
American Humanist Association
American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Congress
Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith
Catholics for a Free Choice
Church of the Brethren Women’s Caucus
Disciples for Choice
Episcopal Urban Caucus
Episcopal Women’s Caucus
Hadassah, WZOA
Jewish Women International
Lutheran Women’s Caucus
Methodist Federation for Social Action
NA’AMAT USA
National Council of Jewish Women
Women’s American ORT
YWCA of the USA

...

Source: http://www.rcrc.org/about/members/index.htm

[LikeLight]

If one is conservative and believes in God but doesn't believe that non-Christians are going to Hell, what's a good church to join?

You sound like a Universalist. But you won't find many conservatives in that school of thought. Why not rephrase your question? Try asking: "If one is conservative and believes in God and is seeking the truth, what's a good church to join?"

[Search4Truth]

Mainline Denominations Among Endorsers of Sunday's Pro-Abortion March
Backers Include ECUSA, PC(USA), UMC; Also, Anti-Bush Crowd Invited to Be There

"What do the American Civil Liberties Union, the Episcopal Church USA, Planned Parenthood of America, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the National Organization for Women, and the United Methodist Board of Church and Society all have in common? Answer: Each is either an organizer or an endorser of Sunday's pro-abortion rights "March for Women's Lives" in Washington, DC."

Continued... American Family Association - AgapePress news

[NavVet]

I think they get blinded by some mistaken notion that Communist share all resources equally. Sort of like monks in a monistary. Of course, the reality is that a few people have all the power and wealth and they maintain it by shooting any peasant who has a problem with it.

It seems that churchs are too quick to buy into the propoganda and that they turn a blind eye to the horrific reality of the goons they are supporting.

[Prov3456]

Ditto!

www.lifewatch.org - for the pro-life presence within the UMC

www.transformingcong.org/ - "Transforming Congregations," for those dealing with sexual sin; ministers to people who want to leave homosexuality and people whose family members live in that lifestyle.

[NavVet]

The Presbyterian Church is a member of the WCC and seems to have some pretty liberal views. I suppose you could find individual Methodist churchs that were either conservative or at least didn't kiss up to every brutal dictator on the planet, but the national leadership of the Presbyterian Church seems as out of touch as the the Methodists.

[LikeLight]

Great work!

[dukeman]

Wrong Presbyterian church. The PCA, of which I am a member, is one of the conservative branches which broke off from the "mainline" PCUSA in the 70's. The PCUSA is the Israel-hating one you're thinking of.

[Cinnamon Girl]

I'm sure all Methodists do not love Arafat. Still, I recommend "One Day in September" for discussion. Members of the United Methodist church need to take responsiblility for their leadership.

[kaehurowing]

Or was it "Open Wallets, Empty Minds?"

[weenie]

I will recommend it...I used to work a few blocks away from the WTC and am extremely angry with Islam. Read my posts when the issue of Islam comes up.

Most people barely know what is going on in their local church and, I think, would be quite surprised to learn what is going on (with local money) at the national level.

My family has been Methodist for several generations and, when I told my parents about this article, they were dumbfounded (and p!ssed...but they are in their 80's and didn't express themselves that language).