Posted on 12/17/2014 5:25:11 PM PST by Oliviaforever
ALEXANDRIA -- The First United Methodist Church in Alexandria, which lost some members about a year ago after a dispute involving its gay choir director, will close its doors for good at the end of 2014.
David Mantor, pastor of the church, said the decision to close the church resulted from falling attendance, membership and financing problems. Mantor said statistics he's seen from United Methodist Church headquarters show a "downward spiral" of membership and donations across the whole UM church for the past 30 years.
"This is a problem that's going on everywhere," Mantor said. "And that's why we're closing."
(Excerpt) Read more at heraldbulletin.com ...
According to the article, they left after the musical director (not the pastor) was refused to be rehired because he is homosexual. The article says “United Methodist Church doctrine states gays are welcome but cannot serve in positions of leadership, including music director.” So the people who thought that was wrong left according to the writer. The current pastor claims it’s the economy, etc. Sounds like spin to me. Presiding over the demise of your church doesn’t look good on your resume, even if it’s over principle.
She was playing with two organs.
She was
I remain nondenominational, and un-churched, because I can simultaneously respect and disbelieve in the tenants of the various religious denominations, and not be interested in causing disharmony in any established church.
I appreciated the invitations I have received from various members of various churches to attend services, and have occasionally attended, as an invited guest.
I have “debated” with a few friends the wisdom of their always extending open arms to doctrinally hostile nonbelievers.
As an invited guest? Yes, certainly all seekers and sinners are welcome.
Open unbelievers allowed to become members of any church?
No, I don't think that's a wise choice for any congregation.
Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Presbyterian etc...
“The story says they lost 80% of the congregation when he was fired. Any business that loses 80% of their customers won’t be around long.”
That is true. However it looks as if that 80% just did not believe. Gotta cut them lose. Sad it means the end of that church but that is what has to be.
**First United Methodist Church in Alexandria**
Which church is next?
Better than roses on the piano.
Probably some Catholic parish in the northeast, that's been going on for decades.
The UMC hecame nothing more than a liberal Sunday club.
At one service the minister was giving his sermon about how he had attended a seminar on white racism and how shocked he was to discover he’s a racist. All white people are. My son whispered too loudly, “This guy is a nut.” It made the people around us giggle.
Are there any truly social conservative churches north of the Ohio
Lol
That’s not what Catholic avenger meant
But funny anyhow
......Or a conservative Bible-based Evangelical Protestant Church?
Is there a "denomination", rightly defined, that is not dying?
Signs of the times.
I think the Assemblies of God is growing.
There is the Orthodox Church and there are a lot of them North of the Ohio although I am thinking on the shores of Lake Erie.
The UMC hecame nothing more than a liberal Sunday club.
...we can say the same for the typical affluent Novus Ordo catholic church...
uhm...same thing isn't it?
I wonder...sounds like this pastor is on the "progressive" side as opposed to the "conservative" side of Methodism. Might this pastor also be one of the eighty or so who are trying to rewrite the Book of Discipline in regards to the UMC's stance on homosexuality and same sex marriage?
Did you go to a different church or another denomination?
God works in mysterious ways...doesn't He?
Mantor said statistics he's seen from United Methodist Church headquarters show a "downward spiral" of membership and donations across the whole UM church for the past 30 years
hmm...seems to me that's about how long the "liberals/progressives" have been holding office so to speak within the denomination...thus we see Father's hand at work. The people need to wake up.
>>Did you go to a different church or another denomination?
I left the UMC. There were thousands of Methodists in that arena and most of them supported him.
When I got back home, I started looking for a new church that had Wesleyan theology. But then I realized that it is the theology that is the problem. The heavy reliance on Free Will makes them believe that they are free to do anything or think anything and that, since God gave them free will, then it must be godly.
I’m now a member of a PCA church.
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