Posted on 07/20/2021 9:45:14 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Two congregations in Georgia have left the United Methodist Church over the denomination’s opposition to homosexuality and merged into one church.
Asbury Memorial Church and Wesley Oak Church, both based in Savannah, recently voted to disaffiliate from the UMC South Georgia Conference.
Asbury, which averaged 387 attendees in weekly worship in 2019, finalized its process of disaffiliation last fall. Meanwhile, Wesley Oak, which averaged 29 attendees, finalized disaffiliation earlier this month.
Asbury Memorial Pastor Rev. William Hester told The Christian Post on Monday that the decision to leave came soon after the 2019 special session of the UMC General Conference.
Delegates at the special session voted to reaffirm the theologically conservative stance of the UMC regarding homosexuality, rejecting a compromise proposal that would have allowed more regional variance.
Hester explained to CP that "it became clear after this event that the denomination was not heading in the direction we had hoped."
"Since we disaffiliated last year, Asbury Memorial is a nondenominational, independent church continuing to be rooted in Wesleyan theology," said Hester.
Regarding the merger with Wesley Oak, Hester noted that the two churches have a long history of fellowship and agreed to combine their ministries once Wesley Oak left the UMC.
"When both congregations felt called to disaffiliate, we both recognized that our ministries would be more effective if we combined our efforts and resources," the pastor said.
At present, Asbury Memorial and Wesley Oak retain their respective church properties, though each church holds Sunday morning worship at a different time.
The Rev. David Thompson, the conference's coastal district superintendent, told CP that he was part of conversations between the regional body and the two departing congregations.
“We are never happy to see local churches depart from our fellowship, but understand their desire to do so and pray for their future ministry,” Thompson said. He described the process as being “gracious” in nature.
“Even though changes in church status and connection can occur, we are still bound together in the body of Christ, and I am thankful for the ministry Asbury Memorial and Wesley Oak have done and will do in the name of Christ.”
For decades, the UMC has debated its stance on LGBT issues, as the mainline Protestant denomination officially labels homosexuality “incompatible with Christian teaching,” bars non-celibate homosexuals from being ordained and prohibits the blessing of same-sex marriages.
After failed efforts to reach a compromise between theological liberals and conservatives within the UMC, many congregations have decided to leave the denomination.
These include conservative churches who dislike the open defiance to UMC rules by many liberal leaders and progressive churches who do not believe the denomination will ever change its official position.
Next year, the UMC will hold a general conference, which many believe will see the approval a measure to allow conservative churches to amicably separate from the denomination.
Good. I hope more join the battle and leave the apostates
Well, at least someone is moving this divorce along.
What is taking the Gen Conference so long to make the split? Why next year to finalize?
Funniest aspect of the UMC gay battle is that it’s young, growing, diverse churches in Africa and South America leading the fight against sanctifying homosexuality; older, white, declining churches in the US are pushing the gay agenda.
Funniest aspect of the UMC gay battle is that it’s young, growing, diverse churches in Africa and South America leading the fight against sanctifying homosexuality; older, white, declining churches in the US are pushing the gay agenda.
If you believe in something, you take a stand. Good for them.
Good. I hope more join the battle and leave the apostates
I think this IS the apostates leaving. That’s how I read it, anyway.
I haven’t yet heard of any of the conservative churches leaving the conference.
Is it a matter of waiting on the liberal ones to make the move (out of conference)?
I could be reading this wrong, but I think these 2 congregations left because the UMC was not apostate enough on the issue of homosexuality.
God is eternal and unchanging. He has made his opinion on homosexuality quite clear. The word “abomination “ is infrequently used in the Bible. Sodom and Gommorah were effectively nuked for this sin, and homosexuality had some role in his decision to flood the earth
God is probably not going to be favorably impressed with those who take his church down this road, nor with the sheep who follow
Reread it. I know I had to. The “churches” leaving are pro-homo.
I left the UMC decades ago because it was pro-homo.
I’m surprised the denomination changed its stance, at this point.
At least, this is according to what’s written, above…
Nothing about Wesleyan theology is permissive of homosexuality.
They may try to carry the trappings of the organization but that’s a different matter.
When someone is boldly displaying the specific fruit associated with being turned over to a reprobate mind don’t try to rationalize it away. Run away from them.
Would you stay in a mine after the canary has died?
When they’re not poofter friendly enough … scary isn’t it?
This is incredibly short sighted. So now you’re a church that doesn’t stand for any sexual morality. So I’d have to be a ‘Christian’ that believes in PRIDE and LGBTQIA+ ‘community needs’, which inevitably brings with it political opinions on things like abortion, to want to be part of this ‘church’?
They’re just declaring themselves irrelevant to 99% of the population. Liberal atheists, in general, will still hate them and most Christian’s don’t support their view.
The conference was supposed to happen last year but was postponed due to covid.
“...still bound together in the body of Christ”.
Although I would never presume to say any particular individual is damned to hell, I question whether a person who believes a homosexual can be a minister, or in same sex marriages can, while holding those views or practicing those beliefs, be considered a part of the body of Christ.
The word abomination is the stro gest word of condemnation given in the Bible. It describes sins that are so aggregious, that they must be called abominations.
“Funniest aspect of the UMC gay battle is that it’s young, growing, diverse churches in Africa and South America leading the fight against sanctifying homosexuality; older, white, declining churches in the US are pushing the gay agenda.”
The non-western societies you mentioned are societies that are building themselves up now, largely on Christian principles, while so many western Christians are tearing down the foundations, including the Christian foundations, of all that once made them strong, healthy, and growing.
Covid19 caused them to cancel this year’s conference.
Did I read this wrong? The 2 churches left because they DIDN’T AGREE with the UMC’s stance AGAINST homosexuality. .
[[Would you stay in a mine after the canary has died?]]
How old was the canary? J/k
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