Methodists Move Toward LGBT Inclusion

religion Dispatches ^ | 10 Jun 2011 | CANDACE CHELLEW-HODGE

[Chode]

pretty much...

[xzins]

Dear Cronos, our only rules making body does not meet until next year. It is comprised of delegates selected world-wide in proportion to the size of a region’s membership. Thus, the regions that want lgbt are smaller in mewmbership than those that do not want it. Africa, for example, is opposed to lgbt and comprises nearly a third of our membership. The south and south central and texas is much larger than the northeastand north central in membership, and they are mostly opposed to lgbt. I expect our standards to hold.
Nonetheless, pray that God would grant us victory and that your Church would speak out public support for those Christian Communities that stand fast in our historic Christian faith.

[Mr Rogers]

It won’t be just Methodists praying for you. May God bless the efforts of those who love God and desire His will. May He make those who follow Him fruitful, and quickly destroy those who reject His will.

“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—
let Israel now say—
“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,
yet they have not prevailed against me.
The plowers plowed upon my back;
they made long their furrows.”
The LORD is righteous;
he has cut the cords of the wicked.
May all who hate Zion
be put to shame and turned backward!
Let them be like the grass on the housetops,
which withers before it grows up,
with which the reaper does not fill his hand
nor the binder of sheaves his arms,
nor do those who pass by say,
“The blessing of the LORD be upon you!
We bless you in the name of the LORD!” - Psalms 129

[xzins]

Thanks you for your wonderful prayer and scripture of support.

[ducttape45]

As Pat4ever told me, there are still many conservative pastors in the Wesleyan denomination. Kokomo, IN is a decidedly liberal town, though, and it makes my search a bit more difficult. Plus with my income I can't drive much more than 15-20 miles in any one direction. The church I'm in now is a good church; a little rough around the edges to be sure, but they are growing and seeking God's will.

I come from a Free Methodist background and, though there are still many conservative pastors in that denomination, they took a huge turn towards their United Methodist brethren about 15 years ago.

But anymore it's not about the denomination; it's about finding a church that is grounded solidly in the Word of God. Sure there may be some aspects of any church that we might not agree with but we have to maintain fellowship with our brethren as long as possible.

[anniegetyourgun]

All the best with that. Unfortunately, the faithful in the mainlines aren’t winning that battle.

[Cronos]

Nonetheless, pray that God would grant us victory and that your Church would speak out public support for those Christian Communities that stand fast in our historic Christian faith.

I'm not even talking of our Churches speaking out -- I'm talking of us as individuals standing out. We can't vote of course as we're not Methodists, but we can stand with you in a picket, we can write in, we can above all pray.

I'm terribly serious about this -- I see this only as fellow Christians being beleaguered.

I cannot understand the philosophy that some are espousing of "lets let them destroy this, we'll move on to the next" -- the enemy will keep moving to the next and the next and we dwindle and dwindle

I am happy that you say that this will NOT pass, but I feel we (all of us) should have this motion defeated so thoroughly it is not raise again and again in years to come, trying to push it through.

[Cronos]

My analogy is — we’re soldiers of Christ. We know our commanding General is incorruptible. If our platoon or division is corrupt,we don’t go AWOL or form a new division. We stay, pray to higher authority or fight out this. We don’t leave our fellow Christian soldiers behind...

[CitizenUSA]

Christ’s divisions and platoons cannot be corrupted. His church is a single entity, not a plethora of man-made denominations. I’d rather not lend any support for those denominations that are preaching outright heresy. Their leaders will ultimately pay a very heavy price for leading people astray. Do you think it will go easier on them than unbelievers? They claim to serve God by loving everyone regardless of sin, but there is no salvation without repentance. Instead of trying to rescue those who are drowning in sin, these “Christians” tell them it’s OK.