>>The Book of Discipline still hasn’t changed on either of those issues you cite.
True, but it is only because of the Africans. At AC, all the talk was on Hamilton’s “Way Forward” (I wonder why he left off the traditional exclamation mark for the Progressive “Forward!”?). The emotionally-charged vote on abortion (a resolution to merely encourage an ultrasound) was my tipping point. We heard arguments on politics, social sciences, and junk science (i.e. “only 1 out of 10 women who see an ultrasound will choose to not abort.” Fine. What about the liberal mantra of “if it only saves one child”??). At one point, my pastor (a rare conservative Elder) leaned over and said, “Do you feel the Holy Spirit in this room?” I said “No”. He replied, “Me neither.”
>>I was actually at the IN Annual Conference back at the tail-end of April. We have a thriving Confessing Movement presence. INAC is probably the most evangelical/conservative AC outside of the Southeastern Jurisdiction and I’m not really concerned about whether my clergy are political liberals/moderates. God doesn’t endorse one political brand, after all.
We have a growing Confessing Movement in Florida. When the church splits, I may return to the newly-formed Evangelical Methodist Church (or whatever they call it).
>>Sorry to hear you left the fight.
I’m tired of fighting Progressives (until the actual shooting war starts). I just want to be away from them. Most of them don’t even know the entirety of what they are fighting for. They just pick one cause and make that their emotional hot button without understanding the full implications of what they want.
In the end, does any of the stuff at FL AC noticeably impact what's going on in your local congregation? You might find my friend Chad Holtz's reasoning for why he stays in the UMC insightful.