Posted on 04/30/2008 7:05:29 AM PDT by mbarker12474
Yesterday, 29 April 2008, at 3:32 PM, the United Methodist Church formally and explicitely rejected it's long held and Biblically-based mission to make disciples of Christ by saving souls, and declared officially that its mission is to transform the world. This codifies in the Book of Discipline of the UMC, its book of law, what was already the de facto case in practice.
Here's the new text:
The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Here's the previous text:
The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Here's a rejected amendment:
The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the salvation of souls and the transformation of the world.
http://calms.umc.org/2008/Menu.aspx?type=Petition&mode=Single&number=271
Legislation Tracking Petition Search Calendar Search Plenary Action Petition 80271 << Back Mission of the UMC (80271-FO-¶120) Petition Status: Calendar Item Petition Text: Submitted Text ADCA p. 917 References: Book of Discipline: ¶120 Committee: Faith and Order Financial Implications: No Submitted by: Council of Bishops (General Agency) Ernest S. Lyght Washington, DC, USA Task Force to Study the Episcopacy Carolyn Briscoe Washington, DC, USA
Calendar Item Status << Back Mission of the UMC (FO1-¶120-A) Calendar Item Status: Committee Voted (Printed in DCA p. 2049) Calendar Item No: 171 Petitions on Calendar: 80271 Consent Calendar: Not assigned to a Consent Calendar. Committee Motion: Recommendation to Adopt Committee Vote: For: 48 Against: 22 Not Voting: 0
Vote Date and Time: 4/25/2008 8:16 PM Legislative Committee Report: The Petition is Adopted As Submitted. Click here to view full text
Plenary Action Status << Back Last Vote Action: Vote on Main Motion This motion was Adopted, with 776 votes for and 102 votes against. Plenary Motions: 4/29/2008 3:23 PM Amend the Main Motion REJECTED 295-548 Amend discipline ¶120
At the end of the first paragraph bolded statement "for the transformation of the world..."
Add "through sharing and living out the Gospel".
4/29/2008 3:31 PM Amend the Main Motion REJECTED 193-690 Add bolded text -
for the salvation of souls and the transformation of the world....
4/29/2008 3:32 PM Vote on Main Motion ADOPTED 776-102
It’s liberation theology.....and completely OFF THE MARK for Christians.
Surprisingly blatant. It’s amazing that the compromise language was rejected by what is presumably a majority.
Interestingly enough, she made it clear that she would not visit sick parishioners -- they "brough her down". But, you know, she cared deeply about humanity. Especially homosexuals. She was very big on homosexual marriage.
Your perspective?
A denomination that is dying continues to drink hemlock.
My Mother in Law was a lifelong Methodist for over 80 years.
After a gaggle of lesbian pseudo ministers and left wing ministers, she stopped going to the church where she had attended since her birth and had worked in and for over the decadees.
She did not want her funeral in the Church, nor was a Methodist Minister invited to do her funeral service. Her family abided by her wishes and the funeral was held in a funeral home 7 miles away from her former church with a Baptist Minister in charge of her funeral.
By this it is abundantly clear that they are no longer a religious organization, but a political one.
The IRS should ensure that their tax compliance reflects this.
Their parishoners should understand that they are no longer receiving sermons, but rather policy statements.
No true religious organization should take them seriously ever again.
Seriously, anyone remaining in the UMC is putting their soul at risk.
I keep joking with my wife that before this is done, we're all going to be Catholic again. Liberals are destroying every mainline denomination.
I hope we don’t see any Freepers defending this.
My perspective is as I stated in the post: The UMC codified what it already believes and practices. It believes Jesus was a socio-political figure, and his mission was to make changes based on class divisions and worldly human interests. It rejects, as an institution if not in every local church, the notions of a supernatural God and Christ and salvation of souls.
Mark Tooley suggests the UMC is beginning a slow turn to the right. Perhaps.
In the mean time, this is a last straw for me personally. I will now try to distinguish (much more carefully) church activities that support the institution of the UMC church from those that strengthen the catholic body of Christ and personal faith. And more carfully avoid all acts and givings that support the institution, including support of the professional clergy, property growth, church plants, etc. I will in some form renounce my membership. And continue to do what little I can to bring folks to Christ and strengthen the catholic Christian church universal.
My thoughts exactly. The UMC, and churches that follow suit, should be stripped of their tax-exempt status.
A few years back, I was invited to and attended a 150 year celebration of a Methodist Church of which my great great grandfather was one of the founders. It pains me to see how far the Methodist has veered from a course that was an important part of my ancestors spiritual lives. The Methodist Church has never been a part of my adult life and this article is no surprise but that makes it no less painful.
Liberals have had too much influence with Catholicism as well but the Pope is not one of them and they will never destroy it [the Church]. Come on over.
ping
It’s about time that we all recognize the anti-denominational nature of the body of Christ.
Liberals are destroying every mainline denomination.
Method in the madness?
Only Jesus can save the world. Christians that want to play God are dangerous.
It seems to me that what they have is neither a religion nor a political party. They’ve actually got the worst of both worlds. It’s a Political Cult: a social agenda without hope and spirituality, a baseless and forlorn ethic.
I can’t think of anything more meaningless or pointless than that.
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