200 Methodist clergy in Illinois defy church on same-sex unions

Chicago Tribune ^ | 26 6 2011 | Manya Brachear

[Cronos]

More than 200 United Methodist clergy in Illinois have pledged to flout church policy and bless unions for same-sex couples, putting their jobs, homes and callings in jeopardy if couples take advantage of their offer.

Methodists in the Northern Illinois Conference also called on the global church to impose no more than a 24-hour suspension for clergy who defy the policy.

Elders, deacons and pastors took their stand after civil unions in Illinois became legal this month. But they said their determination to support same-sex unions has been fueled further by a church trial last week in which a jury found a Wisconsin pastor guilty of performing a holy union for a lesbian couple, suspending her for 20 days.

"Unfortunately the church has lost its prophetic voice on this issue," said the Rev. Gregory Gross, a deacon who organized the campaign. "Our civil society has taken the lead. Now the church is trying to catch up."

[Cronos]

What is wrong with these 200 morons? (apologies to my Methodist friends for using such language)

[Lysandru]

Well, I am a Methodist. And I want these guys booted out. It won’t happen though.

[driftdiver]

“putting their jobs, homes and callings in jeopardy if couples take advantage of their offer.”

They should be more worried about their souls.

[Cronos]

xz -- who is this nut? Rev. Gregory Gross, a deacon who organized the campaign. "Our civil society has taken the lead. Now the church is trying to catch up."

I just can't fathom what is going through the minds of these guys.

[driftdiver]

Trying to catch up to the world eh...wide road indeed.

[aruanan]

What is wrong with these 200 morons? (apologies to my Methodist friends for using such language)

They are possessed by the spirit of the age and not by the Spirit of God. I know of one Methodist minister who finally admitted to his parishioners that he didn't even believe in God but thought that becoming a minister would make it easier for him to implement his social agenda. This was the Methodist minister in the Chicago area who, a few years ago, made news by performing a gay marriage ceremony. I know of four or five families who left this church.

[Cronos]

I've said it before and will say it again -- it shouldn't be just you conservative Methodists standing up to protect your church from these pinkos. All us conservative Christians -- all of us whether Methodists or Lutheran or Baptist or Catholic or Pentecostal etc. are on the same side in this and we stand together.

These guys are not just attacking the Methodists, they're doing the same in each denomination -- we'd be kidding ourselves if we think there is not a movement across denominations to undermine various Christians churches.

We stand together or we fall.

[Jacquerie]

Wasn’t one of the reasons for the Protestant Reformation the departure of the Catholic Church from the teachings of the Bible?

[max americana]

I will give you a line from the movie SEASON OF THE WITCH with Nic Cage...

‘I didn’t defy God but I defy the church”

[Cronos]

one Methodist minister who finally admitted to his parishioners that he didn't even believe in God but thought that becoming a minister would make it easier for him to implement his social agenda.

That guy ought to be run out.

[EGPWS]

"Our civil society has taken the lead. Now the church is trying to catch up."

Trying to make the church out a follower instead of a leader I see.

[Westbrook]

They should start their own coven, uhh, “church”.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

The Methodist Church has been on this course for 50+ years.

I was about 20 when the pastor started preaching about banning all guns and then supported a fund raiser to build a Viet Cong field hospital. I left in the middle of the sermon.

[Rashputin]

"I didn’t defy God but I defy the church”

Well isn't that special. And when everyone can just randomly pick portions of the Scriptures to use as the basis for whatever sort of Got they want, why would you even consider not defying the church?

[driftdiver]

I’ve had discussions with pastors about guys like this. A large percentage of pastors don’t believe Jesus is the Son of God. He told me one survey indicated it was around 70%.

There was a movement in the Unitarian Church a few years ago to modify their services. They were seeking to address complaints about there being too much discussion of God.

[Westbrook]

> one Methodist minister who finally admitted to his
> parishioners that he didn’t even believe in God but
> thought that becoming a minister would make it easier for
> him to implement his social agenda.

LOL!!!

That explains a LOT about a LOT of denominations, INCLUDING Catholic (e.g. Pfleger).

[greene66]

As a Methodist myself, these clergymen are evil personified. If it were my minister, I’d go directly to the pulpit and slap the snot out of these vermin, who are a disgrace to humanity and all that is Holy.

[Army Air Corps]

Yeah, so much for the church being apart from the shifting sands of the world.

[Cronos]

There was a movement in the Unitarian Church a few years ago to modify their services. They were seeking to address complaints about there being too much discussion of God.

Errr... you aren't unitarian are you? I've stopped considering them Christian.

[hinckley buzzard]

All the other mainline protestants have abandoned scripture. The Methodists have held out on this front, but will now be undermined from within. Discipline will crumble, as the church cannot afford to enforce its own rules across the board.