Posted on 07/05/2011 11:11:48 PM PDT by Cronos
The Rev. Amy DeLong, a Methodist pastor from Osceola, Wisconsin, decided to come clean. She brought to the attention of her local bishop that she had officiated over the same-sex union of a lesbian couple... She also told the bishop that she might as well be prosecuted for something else: she is in a lesbian partnership.
And so, last week, DeLong, 44, faced a jury of church elders in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. At issue was whether she violated the Book of Discipline, which guides the church's teachings, by blessing the same sex union and for being a "self avowed, practicing homosexual." The 13-member jury acquitted her on the second charge. But it also found her guilty of the first. But that's where something historic happened. The elders handed down the first sentence in 20 years of United Methodist jurisprudence that did not indefinitely suspend or defrock an elder for officiating a same-sex union.
Instead, DeLong's sentence is a 20-day suspension that also calls on her to draft a document that will outline procedures for the Methodist clergy to resolve issues that "harm the clergy covenant, create an adversarial spirit or lead to future clergy trials." ...
DeLong's trial materialized just as hundreds of U.S. Methodist clergy have been signing petitions declaring they would officiate over same-sex unions. It's creating a rift in a church that's increasingly looking more conservative than its mainline Protestant peers, which have become more accepting of gay leaders and practices. ...
The ranks of professing U.S. Methodists have been shrinking, with 2009 membership down 1.22% from 2008, at 7.8 million... "My trial doesn't change anything at all," DeLong says. "We just don't have the votes to overturn the rules right now."
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
Wisconsin has a liberal bishop and largely liberal pastors. This will be an “in your face” to the rules of the United Methodist Church.
Note that she admits she’s in a lesbian partnership but wasn’t convicted as a “self-avowed, practicing homosexual.”
I don’t know the details of the case, but I’m sure they danced around the meaning of those words, or she told them she isn’t currently “practicing” or some such nonsense.
Now, how do I become an Eastern Orthodox priest? :>)
It's because Methodism has been on a long campaign with the culture to emasculate men. They don't want men with testosterone....they're not touchie-feelie enough. They want estrogenated men.
I have a statement about my minidstry with the UMC at my home page. Click on my name to read.
Get ordained by an Eastern Orthodox Bishop :)
you would of course need to become Orthodox firstly, then, as I'm sure you have the required knowledge, you still need to pass through an Orthodox seminary.
But do you agree that there is a logical cause and effect? I think every other denomination should learn from this. I see with sadness that the EPC hasn’t (it just voted to allow pastoresses)
Instead, DeLong’s sentence is a 20-day suspension that also calls on her to draft a document that will outline procedures for the Methodist clergy to resolve issues that “harm the clergy covenant, create an adversarial spirit or lead to future clergy trials.” ...
What are we,in 2nd grade?
Next you'll tell me that they're holding to the idea that Christianity should be more focused on social justice than it should be on holiness in the lives of the believers. This is the kind of sickness that infects a Church when it abandons the teachings of Christ and His Apostles. The word "Apostate" comes to mind for some reason...
1Cr 16:22 KJV - If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
If a feminine female is attracted to a 'male' type female, why not just go for the real deal??? It's a mystery to me...
i cannot for the life of me understand how denominations like the EPC just allowed women priestesses knowing this history?
Do they want to make the same mistakes? It's incredible. If I was a pastor in the EPC I would at least notice what's going on in other denominations and LEARN and prevent my denomination from taking that first step on the slippery slope. How blind must one be not to learn from the mistakes of others?
Honestly Cronos, we’re making the assumption that the leadership of these Denominations is actually interested in preaching the Gospel, or are even saved for that matter.
You can’t get this level of rebellion out of a converted heart, we all know this. It goes back to asking if a man gathers figs of thistles, so should we even be considering Churches which do this kind of thing Christian any longer?
Bluntly, we need to consider them as containing Christians. I was once ready to say that "Anglicans" and "Methodists" are like this and that, but there are many deeply believing Methodists and Anglicans still in these churches.
I think we need to believe that there are some still remaining
Mad Dawg brought his deep thoughts and prayerfulness to us from the Anglican Church and he related a story some time ago that he as a member of the clergy there protested against a strong transgression by the Anglican Church. He got no response and that's when he moved stock-lock-and two smoking barrels.
So, I do believe that there are still good people left, but their numbers are diminishing, sadly
I have no problem with that, as every Church has a remnant in it if it was ever alive in the first place. I'm starting to really wonder if the teaching about the Seven Churches mentioned in Revelation being the Seven Church Ages may be correct. This seems very similar to what Christ said to the Church of Thyatira.
[18] And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass; [19] I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last [to be] more than the first. [20] Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. [21] And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. [22] Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. [23] And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. [24] But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. [25] But that which ye have [already] hold fast till I come. [26] And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: [27] And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. [28] And I will give him the morning star. [29] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. - Rev 2:18-29 KJV
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