Though the margins were comfortable, the fact that so many are ready to let evil completely overcome a major denomination is horrific. And it's believed that much of the opposition vote was from overseas, mostly Africa, where true Christian understanding hasn't been sullied like it has here in North America.
The good news is that the African churches wield considerable influence in the General Conference, and their influence will only continue to grow over the next four years as they expand and flourish.
And, of course, the UMC gets four years of peace until the next showdown.
The other good news is that just that--the UMC has the well organized and well financed Good News movement to fight the gaysbian agenda, as well as the backing of the Institute of Religion and Democracy (IRD).
For reasons that I have never been able to uncover, the IRD paid little attention to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), which unfortunately operates VERY independently of its African Counterparts.
So, for at least another four years, you have escaped our fate
Lutheran (EL C S*A) Ping!
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
The last UMC “Book of Resolutions” read like a DNC authored anti-GWB political screed. They proposed boycotting The Mt Olive Pickle Company and Taco Bell as well as espousing a very, very strong open border stance.
I’m not satisfied with their more recent discussions about “social justice” either...
Yes, there will now be 4 years of relative peace, until the next General Conference...but not entirely peaceful. Individual clergy and Bishops and Annual Conferences will continue ro push against our traditional Christian positions, and we’ll have to depend on the Judicial Council to play whack-a-mole with these liberals. The good news is that the Judicial Council HAS been standing guard for us, and the even better news is that African representation has been added to the Judicial Council.
The liberals really are fighting a rear guard action, and losing ground. This may yet end in a split in the church, but I don’t think so.
The Missouri synod is still here, and as biblically sound as ever.