Posted on 04/30/2008 7:44:30 PM PDT by Flo Nightengale
FORT WORTH, Texas | Representatives of the United Methodist Church turned back attempts to liberalize its policy on homosexuality Wednesday.
Almost 1,000 delegates to the church’s General Conference rejected a proposal from a legislative committee, leaving in place the position that the practice of homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching.”
The General Conference, which meets every four years, is the only assembly that can set policy for the 7.9 million-member church. It includes delegates from all 50 states and 66 overseas regional jurisdictions.
The question of the status of gays was likely the most contentious one delegates will deal with in the 10-day conference, which concludes Friday. The result of Wednesday’s debate was similar to votes in the past several General Conferences.
By 55 to 45 percent, the delegates adopted a minority report which is essentially the same as the church’s current policy. It states, “The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider (sic) this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”
It also affirms that sexual relations should take place “only within the covenant of monogamous, heterosexual marriage.”
Hillary’s a Methodist. Someone should make her squirm over this,no?
Won't be long though. Just have to swing 6%.
Tooley goes on to say that "Africans and other international United Methodists in coalition with Evangelicals in the U.S. are working for a renewed denomination faithful to historic Christian teaching, and culturally transformative instead of culturally accommodating."
I hope he's right.
They used to have over 15 million members. Maybe there are some other positions they ought to reject ~ get back the members.
Romans 1:25-27 tells us that same-sex sexual relationships are a consequence of idolatry. In other words, such relationships are a consequence of disobeying the 1ST COMMANDMENT, a major aspect of the GREATEST COMMANDMENT, to love the jealous God with all your being.
Homosexuals need to keep in mind, however, that the good news of the gospel is not about how God despises same-sex sexual relationships. In fact, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 indicates that certain members of that church had been slaves to such relationships but had been cleansed in Jesus' name. So these former homosexuals had evidently repented and accepted God's grace to straighten their lives out.
John 3:16
Revelation 3:20
I suppose the UMC-ECUSA covenant committee can disband. The modern Episcopalians will not want to linked with them now!
We're hangin' tough on this though - we've consistently stopped the homosexuality lobby at each of our last three General Conferences. And the demographics are trending in our favor. The more liberal jurisdictions are losing members and the more conservative are gaining.
I hope the word gets around to all the Methodist churches. I walked out of a Methodist-led Christian group over this very issue. According to them, homosexuality is a Christian thing, and those of us who disagree are guilty of bigotry.
Welcome aboard! There always room for more (on the Titanic).
By 55 to 45 percent,
Not exactly good news.
I just don’t think Jesus wants us voting on sin. It’s not a democracy, it’s a Monarchy. He’s either Lord, or your wasting time going to church.
The UMC needs to kick the liberals out of the church leadership.
That day will never come since the day they ordained women.
7 less we when my family left a few years back.
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