United Methodists to unUnite. . .

Pastoral Meanderings ^ | 10-18-2019 | Pastor Peters (LCMS)

[NRx]

According to reports, the 2020 General Conference of the United Methodist Church meeting in  Minneapolis will consider how to structure what is hoped to be an amicable and orderly breakup of the second largest Protestant church in America.  But of course, the breakup is not news since the Methodists have been anything but united when it comes to how to deal with the LBGTQ+ issues.  of what church leaders hope can be an amicable, and orderly, breakup of a worldwide church that is the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States. When the conference earlier this year failed to remove language barring LBGTQ+ from ordination or marriage, it was a pivotal vote that signaled the beginning of the end.  When in February the General Conference gave approval to the so-called Traditional Plan, the progressives refused to live with the decision (which is exactly the position the conservatives would have taken).  That left little in the future but schism.  The only question would be who would act first and whether or not the division would be friendly or rancorous.  In any case, the result of the February conference left a chaotic situation in which people who could not change the vote at the meeting would vote with the money.

It is an interesting end to a history of unity, merger, and reconciliation among Protestants.  The history of Methodism has contributed much toward the liberal goal of reducing the number of denominations by finding ways to forge a unity that would cover the diversity hidden under the surface.  What is most interesting, however, is that the doctrinal cracks were held together rather successfully (though Methodism itself was bleeding off members for decades) -- at least until the sexuality issues forced a choice.  That only goes to show how deep and profound the sexuality issues were dividing American churches.  In the end, those who have embraced the LBGTQ+ agenda have won control of the denomination but a denomination a hollow shell of its former self.  An example is, of course, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America which has bled off two church bodies and more members than the second largest Lutheran body in America ever had.  In the end, the ELCA was left to insist that it was a significant church, whatever that meant, as a consolation prize for its empty pews and church buildings.  It goes without saying that Methodism will find the same temptation to ignore the declining numbers and insist that it is significant simply because it says so.

Yet you have to wonder what the Lord of the Church thinks as He watches churches relativize their own confession and the Biblical witness in order to fit their truth to the trendy moment.  And it also goes without saying that this is not surely the end of the apostasy and heresy.  Just how far will churches go in their pursuit of perceived relevance?  I fear we have not seen the end of it -- not for Methodists or for Lutherans, for that matter.  And the future does not look promising for a Christianity that has exchanged the Gospel of Christ crucified for a gender of the day and a truth that feels good for the moment.

[YouGoTexasGirl]

great article. thanks for sharing! blessings to you!

[ealgeone]

Unlike the unity we see in the catholic church? You all are so united behind your pope.

Some don't even recognize a pope since 1958.

Some openly call for the removal of the current pope though RC canon law basically says it cannot be done....at least legally.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"You all are so united behind your pope."

NRx is Orthodox. You may need to tweak your snark accordingly.

[Conservative4Life]

I remember quite a few years back when another religious group did the same thing in Minneapolis. Just as they announced their decision to void the Bible and be inclusive. A tornado came out of nowhere and cleared the street of their celebration.

[Maudeen]

In our neck of the woods, Methodist churches who wanted to separate from the liberal theology lost their buildings . . .that they in fact paid for. Unbelievable. One church was a hundred years old and had been remodeled. . . They were told that the “higher ups” would rather see it turn into a coon hunters barn. Needless to say . . .the country building is vacant. They can’t choose their pastors either. . . they get what they get. We’ve had area pastors of that denomination performing same sex marriages.

[Midwesterner53]

The new Methodist Church will be stronger than ever and devoted to God rather than man. I am proud to be part of the new Methodist Church.

[Mom MD]

apologies. The lack of unity goes back even further then.

[Mom MD]

I am happy for you. May God preserve a remnant of the faithful Churches in every denomination until Christ returns.

[Maudeen]

May God preserve a remnant of the faithful Churches in every denomination until Christ returns.

Amen!

[MacNaughton]

24 I remember quite a few years back when another religious group did the same thing in Minneapolis. Just as they announced their decision to void the Bible and be inclusive. A tornado came out of nowhere and cleared the street of their celebration.

8/09/2009 - Tornado hits American church and convention center- at same moment Lutherans were voting to accept same-sex relationships

During the week, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was holding its annual convention in downtown Minneapolis. Attendees were using the facilities of the Minneapolis Convention Center and Central Lutheran Church which is directly across the street. At this year's convention, a blatant pro-homosexual position validating "chaste" same-sex relationships was to be voted on. It was to be voted on at 2 PM on Wednesday, August 19.

Then for the first time in decades, a tornado touched down in downtown Minneapolis at, you guessed it, 2 pm. The tornado went through the western section of downtown, causing damage to the Central Lutheran Church building, which was being used as a central meeting place for the convention. There was extensive roof damage at the Minneapolis Convention Center where the actual conference was assembled as well as votes on same-sex issues were actually cast. The church steeple on top of Central Lutheran Church was struck and split in two. It was left hanging upside down. The church was built in 1929 and certainly has had no tornado activity near it to date.

The vote was delayed past 2 PM but it did pass that same day. It passed by just one vote and it acknowledged the validity of same-sex relationships that are "chaste, monogamous and lifelong." There was a whirlwind outside of the convention center and inside -- to the degree that one person said, "We trust that the weather is not a commentary on our work." Conservatives in the ELCA, also observing the weather aberration, said it could have been a warning from God and an expression of His anger.

The ELCA went on to vote two days later to allow homosexuals to serve as pastors. If the tornado was a warning from God -- and we don't know that it was, but one could make a case for it -- those voting for abomination didn't get the message.

[Albion Wilde]

In the end, the ELCA was left to insist that it was a significant church, whatever that meant, as a consolation prize for its empty pews and church buildings. It goes without saying that Methodism will find the same temptation to ignore the declining numbers and insist that it is significant simply because it says so.

Methodist / former Methodist ping!

To be added to or dropped from this list, freepmail Albion Wilde

[Jane Long]

Is that the official name? New Methodist Church? Is this the Traditional Plan side?

Thanks.

[Wuli]

I think the UCC did the same thing long ago - insisted it was significant in spite of extremely declined numbers. From over 2 mil in 1965 to under 1 mil in 2015 - 1985-1995: -12.6%, 1995-2005: -16.5%, 2005-2015: -25.6%. In fact, their decline accelerated over time.

The difference and the importance vis a vis the Methodists, is they were in the past and are now a much bigger denomination. Outside of the Baptists they are the largest “main line” protestant denominations.

[oldplayer]

If the libs stay in the Methodist Church as a disgruntled and constantly complaining and rebelling faction, the rest of us will leave. The church and the greater CHURCH, certainly have some politics involved, BUT libs are politics 24-7 to the exclusion of all else.

“nobody’s got time for that!”

[lightman]

Mrs. L and I attendedd an Episcopal service recently solely for the concert that was set within the liturgical framework.

The music was great.

Only the music was great.

The preaching was more about “justice” than about Jesus. In fact, I think He was mentioned only once. There was a lot more about “the higher power who some may call ‘God’”.

Of course this was preached by a babe in a bob sporting a rainbow stole.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"The lack of unity goes back even further then."

And continues in 1000 Christian denominations --- and multiples of that --- to this very day! !

[Albion Wilde]

Tradition Methodists have been asking the sexually disordered and unrepentant to leave for decades. But no. Their point has been not to form their own church with their point of view, but rather to stay and destroy the church that preaches the Biblical truth.

[Albion Wilde]

My condolences. It’s hard to sit through a big helping of steaming apostacy.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"The lack of unity goes back even further then."

And continues in 1000 Christian denominations --- multiples of that --- to this very day! !

But this is a lamentable thing. I do not think this glorifies God.

Ask yourself: why doesn't the world believe that the Father sent us Jesus? It's because we are not one, as Jesus said.

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[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Yuck!