Posted on 03/05/2019 7:17:14 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Rejecting the sad direction of many of the other mainline Protestant denominations in the U.S., in a historic — and what some view as a surprising — vote at their General Conference last week, faithful United Methodists — thanks in large part to African United Methodists — stood firm and rejected the perverse LGBT agenda on sex and marriage. Unlike American Methodists — more than two thirds of American delegates and a majority of American bishops supported the LGBT-driven "One-Church Plan" — African Methodists overwhelmingly supported the Traditional Plan. Thank God for the African United Methodists!
However, though the language forbidding any official acceptance of homosexuality by the Methodist Church is strong, the vote was far from overwhelming. The vote to defeat the "One Church Plan" — the liberal plan that would have officially accepted homosexuality in the Methodist Church — was 54.6% to 45.4%. The vote in favor of the "Traditional Plan" was 53.3% to 46.7%. In other words, it was not exactly a widespread, ringing endorsement of Scripture when it comes to matters in the sexual realm.
Nevertheless, United Methodists — at least for now — staved off further infection of the liberalism that is helping to destroy other mainline U.S. denominations. Though this victory is huge, I urge my brothers and sisters among the United Methodists to remain faithful and vigilant. Whether via the LGBT agenda or some other wicked means, those bent on remaking Christianity into something that virtually no true believer would recognize will continue their evil efforts.
No less than Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe — general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS, the United Methodist Church's controversial D.C. lobby office) — hinted at such when she angrily denounced the passage of the Traditional Plan. As Juicy Ecumenism notes:
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
This war will never be won by mere political or legal means, though battles on such fronts are needed and necessary. This is a spiritual war, and we'll likely be fighting it until the end of days. Take heart: though these fights are hard and taxing, the truth will ultimately win out. Let us work diligently to bring as many as possible to the winning side.
Until they reverse the ordination of women, which is virtually impossible, this denomination will continue to decline.
AMEN!!
It doesn’t matter. What about the 2/3rds in American UMC’s which are defiant and are still AVOCATING for the unbiblical, sinful lifestyles? Their being allowed to stay and infect the church body doesn’t bode well.
The Africans have been sending their LGBDF sob sisters to the crying room after these votes for years. Bless them.
It's clear that the legacy leadership and central church bureaucracies are both wrong and out of touch with the laity. This is a familiar problem. The laity needs to identify and support faithful clergy and retake operational control of the church agencies.
The 2019 General Conference brought unbearable pain to the body of Christ,” the Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) wrote in high dudgeon. “The delegates’ resistance to hear and honor the presence and voices of LGBTQIA people has created a wound. The wound may one day be healed by the grace of God, but the scar left behind will be visible forever."There is nothing more evil than those who knowingly, for their own selfish interests, call Good Evil and Evil Good
As an Episcopalian, I can see how difficult it is to crawl back up that slippery slope.
Not as United Methodists. I suspect the church will split within a few years.
Why don’t all the church “officials”, who demand that Christianity become an “Anything Goes” religion, just GO?
NOW is not too soon...
Overheard a conversation 15 years ago between a methodist coworker and his female pastor, discussing the recent acceptance of homosexuality by the church.
His question was “So we are good with this? Are we going to get behind this in our church? Ok. Sounds good. I’ll spread the word.”
Their allegiance to political correctness trumps their religion and common sense.
“Until they reverse the ordination of women, which is virtually impossible, this denomination will continue to decline.”
QFT^^^^
I was the executor of my 94-year-old uncle’s will and he was a lifelong Methodist. It truly surprised me when he left nothing to the church in his will because he had been very generous in life with building campaigns and regular fundraisers like the Ground Hog Day supper every year. I believe the women’s ordination was the deal-breaker for him yet he never said a word. He just got the last word...
They must also divorce themselves from the commie-lovin’ National Council of Churches
I contend it isn't 2/3rds of the laity. It's 2/3rds of the hierarchy that are the problem. May be wrong but I believe if it was put to a vote of the laity it would have been soundly defeated.
However, the laity bears the responsibility and has been very remiss is allowing the liberal bishops among others to take over the leadership of the church.
I couldn't agree more.
They won't "GO" because of money. I doubt a separate, liberal Methodist denomination would survive very long. It's the tithing conservatives that keep the church alive financially.
“Not as United Methodists. I suspect the church will split within a few years.”
Meanwhile, the battle will continue to be waged at the church level. I predict that several current UMC churches in my area will split along One Church/Traditional lines. The only way for the remnants to survive will be to re-constitute as one or the other. The messy part will be the fight over church property, as the local Presbyterians did.
“I doubt a separate, liberal Methodist denomination would survive very long. It’s the tithing conservatives that keep the church alive financially.”
That depends on the church and the area in which it is located. In mine, there are a surprising number of wealthy congregants who favor the One Church model. If they leave, we will have to cut all of the paid, part-time staff except the part-time secretary and reduce our mission footprint substantially. We don’t have a mortgage, so I think we would be able to continue to pay the minister, pay our apportionment, and keep the lights on for a while at least.
Amen!
In the Kansas City area as well. There is a Methodist church in suburban KC, Church of the Resurrection with over 22,000 members, largest Methodist church in the nation, and their senior pastor has already started the conversation about leaving with his congregation.
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