Posted on 01/25/2015 3:13:56 PM PST by Morgana
Bill Mefford, Director of Civil and Human Rights at the UMC’s Washington office, used the March for Life last week to mock the event with a sign, and picture he posted on Twitter, saying “I march for sandwiches.” Many are upset a church leader used a solemn event to liken an unborn baby to a sandwich.
The next day, UMC Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe General Secretary General Board of Church & Society, issued a statement about Mefford’s “march”:
“Affirming human dignity is central to the witness of Jesus Christ. Christians are called to watch over with care the lives of all persons and creation. We must strive to lead by example through our words and actions. We seek Christian compassion when we fall short in our actions with one another.
“A recent action involving a staff member of GBCS did not reflect our culture of respect, openness and hospitality. Appropriate conversations and action have been taken. We at GBCS recognize the special responsibility we have to cultivate respect, trust and hospitality among those who hold a variety of opinions on social issues.”
However, Henry-Crowe is speaking out of both sides of her mouth when she insists the UMC affirms human dignity while likewise having a culture of “openness.” It’s so open, in fact, that it is open to abortion.
The UMC is a longstanding member of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), which is, put simply, is Planned Parenthood with a twist of God. rcrc.orgPhoto via rcrc.org
The UMC General Board of Church and Society, Henry-Crowe’s office, is the very branch of the UMC that participates on the frontlines with the RCRC. Her statement neglects to note that they give money to and support the RCRC which vocally and blatantly advocates for abortion right and Roe V. Wade being upheld.
Lest anyone believe that’s just a fringe belief of a few in the UMC, it only takes a look at the official church document, to see the advocacy of abortion is clear. The UMC’s Book of Discipline actually says that life and death are in our hands, and abortion is permitted. The same document is copied to the UMC page where it lists its stance on various social issues:
“The beginning of life and the ending of life are the God-given boundaries of human existence. While individuals have always had some degree of control over when they would die, they now have the awesome power to determine when and even whether new individuals will be born.
“But we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child.
“We recognize tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion, and in such cases we support the legal option of abortion under proper medical procedures by certified medical providers.”
No words of regret for abortion can be counteracted by statements that say we are able to decide life and death. The UMC has never pretended to be pro-life. In fact, in Texas, “the healthcare group affiliated with the UMC, the Methodist Healthcare Ministries gave Planned Parenthood $443.000.
Thus, to see a leader in the denomination making a joke of death, hosting a sarcastic sign and pretending it was all in good fun, is not really a surprise.
It is, however, a shame. As one story notes:
“A great proportion of the pro-life marchers are young people. They are volunteers, unpaid and untrained. Mefford, on the other hand, is a grown man, one whose actual job is to represent Christians in the public square. How is it, then, that if we compare Mefford and the young marchers, the adolescents are the ones who come out looking like adults?”
Mefford apologized and insisted it was a joke and part of his sense of humor, that he meant no harm. But one reader , David Fischer, responded:
“Ask yourself this: how would you have responded if the marchers in Ferguson or New York this past fall had been met with mockery? I suspect you would not have appreciated it. Even if one disagreed with them, the seriousness of the situation demanded respect. Same with the March for Life.”
Rod Derher adds:
“If he had mocked the marchers at either of those places, Mefford probably would have been fired.”
But he wasn’t because his organization stands with him. Mefford may have deleted his Twitter account, but this isn’t the cause of one random joke gone bad. It was a statement of the UMC on the issue of abortion, which only allows for the rights of the woman, but not the child.
YOUR question has been asked by many united Methodist clergy already!
He does NOT speak for the church. The United Methodist Church does have liberals under its large umbrella.
I am not a member of a church. My religion is private to me. I have two pastors as friends, and they understand me. But,,, abortion is murder. Period. I’m not happy about it, but I guess I can accept an exception when the mother’s life is in SERIOUS danger. No BS like inconvienance, mental issues, etc., just extreme danger. And it must be done very early in the pregnancy,,,,and I still don’t feel well about it. The whole topic makes me uncomfortable.
A female hyphenated reverend. Ugh.
I lived in a Methodist-owned town (Ocean Grove, NJ). I found that the hierarchy of the church was unbelievable - they tried to ban the American flag from our gorgeous Great Auditorium but that the rank and file were good and decent people.
The Bishops that tried were brought up on charges within the judiciary branch of UMC.
Not picking on UMC...........................
Every time a woman announced she was expecting, it was a joyous event. Everyone congratulated her and there was real happiness at such a blessing. In my youth, I never once heard an expression of displeasure at the news of a new baby.
Don't get me wrong, there could be worry about bills and what the future would be like, but the news of a new life was always greeted with excitement.
It's hard to believe, but its true.
It actually seems he is being paid to speak for the church.
That said I know he isn’t speaking for all Methodists.
That’s how Satan works his magic, through leftist activists.
I am a member of a United Methodist church led by a pastor whose thought is thoroughly grounded in the Bible. I know that many members of the congregation are pro-life.
United Pagan Church
I really don’t blame leftists for their leftism. It’s what they are and what they do. Evil. I blame their receptive audiences that know better and ignore it while using ‘peace and coexist’ BS to get along with diametricaly opposed enemies.
Thats far worse.
Your comment is not reasonable.
If a Roman Catholic person said I believe humans should be allowed to marry monkeys...that would not mean they were spokespersons for the Roman catholic church. In fact, the General Conference that issues the REvised Book of Discipline every 4 years is the ONLY BODY that speaks for the denomination! Even the BISHOPS are NOT ALLOWED to speak for the church or even VOTE at General Conference!
The Methodist church was created really because of the Revolutionary War. The Christmas Conference was the founding conference of the newly independent Methodists within the United States in 1784. Before the revolution American Methodism was itinerant preachers commissioned by John Wesley in England! We even have 3 Branches just like U.S. Gov’t. Administration/ Representative/Judiciary
You all need to do some house cleaning and kick jokers like this out. That’s all I’m gonna say. I had members of my family who were Methodist but, they are all in heaven now. I know they would have not gone for this crap.
I think I see the problem here^^^^
Throw in the fact of being "open" to abortion and it's clear God has nothing to do with the UMC.
Blah blah blah- the Methodist Church is dead! You are it’s apologist like so many before you. It’s always about church law or conference law. Bullshit! What about God’s law? Count the empty pews... 5,4,3,2,1... ??? My grandmother and mother were baptised in the UMC, therefore I attended, until I grew into a man capable of discerning right from wrong. The lavender mafia in Wash., DC, has firm control over the church. Good riddance to ANOTHER heretic, apostic, feel good denomination.
NOT the church my Granny went to, that is for sure!
You hit the nail right on the head. Unfortunately, most of the so-called mainstream denominations have become nothing more than revenue generating corporations, religion is far back in the list of priorities.
bump
UMC ping.
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