Posted on 04/20/2019 10:44:07 PM PDT by Olog-hai
Theres at least one area of agreement among conservative, centrist and liberal leaders in the United Methodist Church: Americas largest mainline Protestant denomination is on a path toward likely breakup over differences on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT pastors.
The differences have simmered for years, and came to a head in February at a conference in St. Louis where delegates voted 438-384 for a proposal called the Traditional Plan, which strengthens bans on LGBT-inclusive practices. A majority of U.S.-based delegates opposed that plan and favored LGBT-friendly options, but they were outvoted by U.S. conservatives teamed with most of the delegates from Methodist strongholds in Africa and the Philippines.
Many believe the vote will prompt an exodus from the church by liberal congregations that are already expressing their dissatisfaction over the move.
Some churches have raised rainbow flags in a show of LGBT solidarity. Some pastors have vowed to defy the strict rules and continue to allow gay weddings in Methodist churches. Churches are withholding dues payments to the main office in protest, and the UMCs receipts were down 20 percent in March, according to financial reports posted online.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Poor Methodists, how long have they strayed from Wesleyan teachings?
I will not, nor will I allow my children to be “ministered to” by an active sodomite, tranny, or other sexual deviates.
Morality is not flexible and this is why I left the ELCA.
As well they should!!!
Genesis 18:20-21
20. Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous
21. that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."
Genesis 19:4-7
4. Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house.
5. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
6. Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him
7. and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.
Leviticus niv
18:22 Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.
20:13 If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
Isaiah 3:9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.
2 Peter 2:13b Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.
Ezekiel 16:49-50
49. "`Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
50. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.
1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
5. if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6. if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7. and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men
8. (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)--
9. if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
10. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings;
11. yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.
12. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
13. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.
But there IS hope!!!
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:
Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
10. nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
If you could NOT change, you would be in most pitiful shape...
There is a reason ancient Israel was told by God to not tolerate it in their midst - it is the destroyer of societies.
Homosexuality isn’t their only problem.
7. For United Methodist congregations to display signs that prohibit carrying guns onto church property.
8. For United Methodist congregations to advocate at the local and national level for laws that prevent or reduce gun violence. Some of those measures include:
Universal background checks on all gun purchases
Ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty
Ensuring all guns are sold through licensed gun retailers
Prohibiting all individuals convicted of violent crimes from purchasing a gun for a fixed time period
Prohibiting all individuals under restraining order due to threat of violence from purchasing a gun
Prohibiting persons with serious mental illness, who pose a danger to themselves and their communities, from purchasing a gun
Ensuring greater access to services for those suffering from mental illness
Establishing a minimum age of 21 years for a gun purchase or possession
Banning large-capacity ammunition magazines and weapons designed to fire multiple rounds each time the trigger is pulled
Promoting new technologies to aid law-enforcement agencies to trace crime guns and promote public safety.
ADOPTED 2016
None of which has ANY relevance to Christian teachings.
Just as the US Constitution cannot function with an immoral citizenry so the United Methodist Church cannot function with Bishops who do not reflect Jesus’ humility.
Satan has a mission on this earth and he drives towards it every second of the day.
Uh, someone needs to do a little research.
I don’t expect the Dissociated Press to do anything like pesky research.
The most concise passage:
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; . . . Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.”
1 Thess 4:1-8
Was channel-skimming the other day and saw a beautiful youngster with the most bizarre haircut and ear-rings. She was being encouraged by her “girlfriend” and Ellen Degeneris to continue her testosterone therapy. Looking closely at her eyes I saw only agonized confusion.
Today on “CBS Sunday Morning” they not only cheered Pete Buttigieg as the Democrats’ Great Gay Hope, they broadcast him playing tonsil hockey with his “husband”. I didn’t need that breakfast, anyway.
How are two percent (or less) of our population running roughshod over traditional values and standards of decency?
They’re either afraid of God’s wrath or the 1.5% sodomites’or baby killers’ wrath. Pathetic.
My former pastor (because I left in disgust) said he didn’t want to offend anyone by making a stand.
I would suggest a REAL bible based church where biblical doctrine can't be changed on a whim or a majority vote. Go BACK to HOW Christ said to worship. Keep HIS commandments and HIS holy days. Try UCG.ORG
...Splinter...splinter...splinter
divide divide divide
I was hearing about the apostle Polycarp’s martyrdom on the radio earlier this week. What of these ministers of today have the guts to lay down their lives in that fashion?
Once it even becomes discussable, it’s only a matter of time.
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