Methodists, is this true?
BTW, dollars to donuts this so-called minister is a homosexual.
the Methodisit Church (of which I am a member) was one of the founding organizations of RCAR ("Religious Coalition of Abortion Rights"), now called the "Religious Coalition of Reproductive Choice" (RCRC); and
there is a pro-life organization within the Methodist denomination called "Lifewatch" (Lifewatch.org), of which I am a board member. Lifewatch gets no recognition, money, or support from the denomination, but we exist "to win the hearts and minds of United Methodists, and to engage in abortion-prevention through theological, pastoral, and social emphases that support human life."
In short, though this woman is a Methodist and works for Planned Parenthood, please know that not all Methodists share her opinion!!!
It is true that the UMC has been anti-life for some time. During that period, the evangelical movement in the church has made STEADY headway. See Evangelical opposition page for United Methodist Church; click here
First, one must understand that decisions in the church can ONLY be made once every 4 years at the "General Conference." Anyone pretending to speak for "the Methodists" in the interim is simply speaking their own opinion....even if it's a bishop, an agency, a group, or a church.
The evangelicals have STEADILY hacked away at the anti-lifers until the official position of the church is now almost equivalent to "abortion only in the cases of 'rape, incest, and life of the mother.'" While this isn't satisfactory to many, it is steady progress for those who have waged the battle.
In the area of homosexuality, the General Conference has from the beginning opposed homosexual clergy and is on record saying that homosexuality isn't behavior a Christian would engage in..."incompatible with Christian behavior." In this area the GAINS are what should impress. The number in opposition has steadily increased.
As always, our problem is a hierarchy that is liberal and insensitive to the people. They became entrenched in power in the sixties and have used all legal means to keep their hold on the denomination. They are, many of them, mere political activists in sheep's clothing. Many are universalist, wiccan, closet gay, anti-resurrectionist, anti-christian, or just plain power hungry.
They will in one breath argue that the scriptures are corrupt and irrelevant, and in the next argue 'til blue in the face that "rebaptisms" shouldn't occur due to x, y, or z scripture (that they don't believe in.)
In other words, they are ALL FORM and zero substance.