Posted on 10/10/2005 5:16:29 PM PDT by wagglebee
The issue of homosexuality continues to put pressure on mainline Protestant denominations. Here is a brief recounting of what has happened among some of those churches over recent months:
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Delegates to ELCA's 2005 national convention in August angered homosexual activists in the 4.9-million-member denomination when they rejected a proposal to allow the church, under certain circumstances, to ordain homosexuals in long-term, committed relationships.
The convention upset conservatives, however, by refusing to vote for a resolution that would remove the ambiguity from the denomination's regulations regarding whether or not a minister could bless same-sex unions.
Episcopal Church in USA (ECUSA)
The fallout from ECUSA's 2003 consecration of openly homosexual Rev. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire continues to roil the denomination, home to 2.5 million of the worldwide Anglican Communion's 77 million members.
Six Episcopal congregations in Florida have asked Rowan Williams, archbishop of Canterbury and figurehead leader for worldwide Anglicans, to allow them to report to a new bishop. The row was caused, the congregations said, because their current bishop, John Howard, approved of Robinson's consecration. The parishes, with about 4,000 members, said Howard's stand caused a "serious theological dispute."
In Connecticut, 19 Episcopal lay leaders and clergy in Connecticut have formally charged their bishop, Andrew Smith, under provisions of canon law, according to the American Anglican Council (AAC). The AAC is trying to help conservative Episcopal denominations bring themselves under theologically orthodox bishops.
Smith is charged with breaking church laws when he took actions against six conservative priests in the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, after they objected to Smith's stand in favor of Robinson's ordination.
Smith entered St. John's Episcopal Church in Bristol and announced his suspension of Rector Mark Hansen, one of the six, and installed a pro-homosexual female priest in Hansen's place. Then Smith allegedly dismantled the church's website, hacked into its computers, and gained access to financial records.
United Methodist Church (UMC)
Rev. Edward Johnson, pastor of South Hill United Methodist Church in Virginia, was placed on a year-long leave of absence by his UMC district superintendent. His ecclesiastical crime? He refused to allow a non-repentant homosexual into church membership.
Johnson's district superintendent, the Rev. William Layman, had twice ordered Johnson to accept the homosexual man into membership. Layman acted with approval from the head of the Virginia Annual Conference, Bishop Charlene Kammerer.
When the pastor refused, he was removed from his position without salary. Johnson, who has been in the pastorate for 24 years, had pastored at South Hill for six years.
Meanwhile, the Rev. Irene Stroud, who had lost her credentials last December following an ecclesiastical trial over her admission that she was in a committed lesbian relationship, will have a new day in court. In April, a UMC appellate court reinstated her ministry credentials after overturning her conviction on an 8-1 vote.
That case will top the docket of the UMC's supreme court, according to United Methodist News Service.
Presbyterian Church (USA)
A special PCUSA panel recommended that next year's General Assembly not change a 1997 church law that limits clergy and lay officeholders to sex within marriage.
The battle over the issue has grown heated in the PCUSA. Homosexual activists continue to submit bills to repeal the rules. Meanwhile, conservatives have been frustrated that congregations continue to defy current church law and that the denomination allows ceremonies to bless same-sex couples.
An example of such open defiance occurred in the Pittsburgh Presbytery, where a female minister, Dr. Janet Edwards, performed a "marriage" ceremony for two lesbians. The ceremony integrated the couple's Buddhist and Christian traditions.
That why my tagline reads as it does: There is clearly a case for the Exorcism and binding of the dark spirit of the age.
As disgusted as I am with the ELCA, it seems like those in the ECUSA are fighting an intense evil directed at them personally. I pray for us all.
They must not have looked in North Carolina. There have been several SBC churches there who have headed in that direction.
http://www.rainbowbaptists.org/news/news_nc_church.htm
Warning - be careful when you Google on this issue.
Totally agree.
The more the priests increased,
the more they sinned against me;
they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful.
They feed on the sins of my people
and relish their wickedness.
And it will be: Like people, like priests.
I will punish both of them for their ways
and repay them for their deeds.
"They will eat but not have enough;
they will engage in prostitution but not increase,
because they have deserted the LORD
to give themselves to prostitution,
to old wine and new,
which take away the understanding of my people.
They consult a wooden idol
and are answered by a stick of wood.
A spirit of prostitution leads them astray;
they are unfaithful to their God.
Hosea 4:7-12
This has to be the Apostasy that the Lord warned us about. The Bible tells us there will be a great falling away from the Faith not long before the Lord returns.
Isn't that so special? How inclusive!
False prophets.
Homosexual Agenda Ping.
If you want on/off the ping list let me and little jeremiah know.
• African Methodist Episcopal Church
• The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
• Alliance of Baptists
• American Baptist Churches in the USA
• The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
• Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
• Church of the Brethren
• The Coptic Orthodox Church in North America
• The Episcopal Church
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• Friends United Meeting
• Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
• Hungarian Reformed Church in America
• International Council of Community Churches
• Korean Presbyterian Church in America
• Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
• Mar Thoma Church
• Moravian Church in America Northern Province and Southern Province
• National Baptist Convention of America
• National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.
• National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
• Orthodox Church in America
• Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA
• Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
• Polish National Catholic Church of America • Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) • Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
• Reformed Church in America
• Serbian Orthodox Church in the U.S.A. and Canada
• The Swedenborgian Church
• Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch
• Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America
• United Church of Christ
• The United Methodist Church
See also:
• The Standing Conference of Canonical
We reject moral relativisim, homosexuality, the watering down of the Gospel, and the NCC!
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"
LOL! But it could not possibly be the fault of "bishop" Gene-Gene Robinson!
In many ways that is what is happening here. In politics, you often have to compromise. Give a little away for a little in return. In Faith, we can't do that. To give a little of Christ away for some multicultural pablum is nuts.
Yes, it is. However, seeing the reaction among conservatives who want to separate from their secularist brethren is hopeful. This issue may well be the winnowing fan that separates the wheat from the chaff.
14 Bear not the yoke with unbelievers. For what participation hath justice with injustice? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath the faithful with the unbeliever? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God: as God saith: I will dwell in them and walk among them. And I will be their God: and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore: Go out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: 18 And I will receive you. And will be a Father to you: and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
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