This is in part a lie:
“congregations from leaving amid a denominational schism over homosexuality”
No, it is not about “homosexuality”.
This, form the same report, is the more truthful statement:
“The disaffiliations come in large part amid the denomination’s ongoing debate on whether to allow the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of people in same-sex romantic relationships.”
From the Methodist traditionalist perspective, to say the issue was about “homosexuality” one would think the congregations were going to go into the lives of all congregants and chase “gays” as well as adulterers and other moral sinners out their doors. Which no one thinks is the case. It is not about whether the sinner sits in church (we are all sinners and fall short of God’s commandments). It is about what role(s) in the church do true believers give to those admitting to living in sin with no repentence or change to be expected for it.
The hate that is spread about traditionalist (biblical) Christians is that they most of all understand that God does not “hate” the sinner (and neither does the true Christian) but does hate the sin. What God “feels” towards the sinner is love, compassion and hope for the sinner’s redemption from sin. It is the anti-Christians that are full of hate.
Surely, you do not expect the opponents to do anything other than lie?
It is going to have to come down to those sitting in the church simply getting up and meeting somewhere else — no money to the overlords. either the overlords can continue to pay fees and such for an empty building or accept the transfer of the asset to the departing folk.
This is like a boycott, only much more impactful.
“The hate that is spread about traditionalist (biblical) Christians is that they most of all understand that God does not “hate” the sinner (and neither does the true Christian) but does hate the sin. What God “feels” towards the sinner is love, compassion and hope for the sinner’s redemption from sin. It is the anti-Christians that are full of hate.”
Well said.
It also does not stop with the push to ordain homosexuals or allow clergy to marry mam to man or woman to woman. The Grace of God is totally absent in this removal of Scripture as primacy within Wesley Quadrilateral as source of faith. Some ‘ordained’ UMC clergy question Jesus as Son of God, etc.
The United Methodist Church just crossed a serious line. Is it surprising? Unfortunately, no.
Earlier this month, the United Methodist Church’s Western Jurisdiction elected the first “openly partnered gay bishop” in the 13-million-member global church’s history.
Her name is Karen Oliveto of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco. Even though the denomination, unlike some other mainline churches, has not changed its official teaching on what a marriage is, Oliveto’s legal union to another woman in California was no barrier to her ascension in the church hierarchy. Anyone paying attention knows why.
“The fact is, no denomination, pastor, or church embraces so-called “same-sex marriage” without already having abandoned biblical orthodoxy. The great G.K. Chesterton once said, “Heresy always affects morality, if it’s heretical enough.” https://www.christianpost.com/cartoon/is-the-methodist-church-sailing-into-heresy.html
Our church voted today to disaffiliate from the UMC. It is all about money, power and control. Some clergy are not handling or sharing the information completely with the membership... loss of pension?