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.
Good for your MIL. God bless her for eternity.
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.
Yes, indeed. They are moving toward liberal secular humanism.
Funny. We send people to far lands to do mission work and we won’t even send people to a church in our own hometown to do mission work.
If you think the UMC is “lost”, it would make sense that a committed Christian would RUN to go to a UMC church to preach the Gospel.
I understand your position. I was asking xzins as he is a UMC pastor and has fought the good fight against the liberal takeover of the denomination.
My heritage is strongly Wesleyan/Methodist. But I have not attended a UMC since college
United Methodists choose Globalism over Gospel of Jesus.
Excellent point ... why not work to reclaim the church from those who have steered it wrong?
Wow. I admire your mother-in-law’s courage. But what a loss after 80 years of investing herself in the Methodist Church. Thanks for telling of this.
Because that is HARD and you might be criticized for it. I know too many ex-Methodists who now attend Barcolounger Baptist Church. I don’t think they left over theology.
Or they find a church where everyone thinks alike and dissension is not allowed.
> If you think the UMC is “lost”, it would make sense that a committed Christian would RUN to go to a UMC church to preach the Gospel.
True. Though not to join and contribute to apportionments, but to preach the gospel.
There is much to be done within. Some folks are trying really hard.
> Funny. We send people to far lands to do mission work and we won’t even send people to a church in our own hometown to do mission work.
>
> If you think the UMC is “lost”, it would make sense that a committed Christian would RUN to go to a UMC church to preach the Gospel.
“A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”
Me and my family left years ago and haven’t looked back at their social indoctrination which included accepting and celebrating(promoting?) homosexuality, environmentalism and earth worship.
Sadly, the Methodist Church seems to be turning its back on much of its rich musical tradition. Some of America's greatest hymn writers, including James M. Black (When the Roll is Called Up Yonder), Leila Morris (Sweet Will of God, The Fight is On, Oh Christian Soldier), Charles H Gabriel (He is So Precious to Me), Phillip Bliss (Let the Lower Lights Be Burning, It Is Well With My Soul), and William Kirkpatrick (Jesus Saves) were Methodists.
Few of their works can be found in the current United Methodist hymnal. However, the book does include the civil rights anthem We Shall Overcome and the pacifistic Oh, Young and Fearless Prophet ("forbid false love of country..."). Some old favorites have also been altered to conform to standards of political correctness. God of Our Fathers is now God of the Ages, and Good Christian Men Rejoice is now Good Christian Friends Rejoice. And in This Is My Father's World, the phrase "the battle's not yet done" must have seemed too militaristic, so it has been replaced with "why should my heart be sad."
I have to get past the Mary thing, first.
:::sigh::: It appears the “Confessing Movement” within the UM church hasn’t had much impact. Time for the confessors to either rise up and do something signficant or leave the UM church.
:::sigh::: It appears the “Confessing Movement” within the UM church hasn’t had much impact. Time for the confessors to either rise up and do something signficant or leave the UM church.
It matters that Wesley (and many Methodists still) was post-millennial. He really did see a "transformation of the world" until it is the kingdom of God on earth.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure that post-millennialism works well with post-Christian Arminianism's ignoring of the depravity of man in favor of an overly fawning God. It will always become a political kingdom that gets built.
Conversion and The Mission of the ChurchA General Conference petition to expand the mission of the church would add the words “for the transformation of the world…” so that the mission statement would read: The purpose of the annual conference is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
The petition comes from the Council of Bishops with the rationale that it reflects more adequately our understanding of the mission of the church. The bishops also link this expanded definition with mission initiatives adopted by the Connectional Table. The initiatives are leadership development, congregational development, ministry with the poor, and global health.
One certainly cannot speak against the idea of transforming the world but one might raise the question as to how the world is to be transformed. One hundred years ago the church spoke about the “conversion” of the world and “the salvation of the human race.” A few years later the language shifted so that instead of seeking the conversion of the world we were working for the bringing of God’s kingdom on the earth. This reflected a theological shift away from evangelism toward social justice.
Either way our sights were high. A couple of world wars and the rise (and fall) of communism tempered our vision. Never mind. We’re back again with a big vision, a vision of transformation. But the question still remains: Are we about social betterment or conversion?
The Africans might come to our rescue. There is evidently a petition coming from one of the African conferences (this material is not in the Advanced Christian Advocate) to insert a phrase something like “for the conversion of eternal souls” to the transformation phrase. The Africans have the most to gain by an emphasis on leadership development, work with the poor, and dealing with global health. But they are also very much aware that these emphases must not be considered separately from the salvation of souls.
It will be interesting to see how General Conference deals with these proposals.
I would love to see if Thomas Oden has a comment on this.
John Wesley must be spinning in his grave.
Thanks.
None of the conservative groups I read is thrilled with the change. The words themselves are innocuous. It’s how the liberal wing will interpret them that is the deal killer.
Yeah, that’s kinda what I thought when I first read it.
At the same time, I don't really see anything wrong with the words, per se; only perhaps with how those words might be twisted.
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.
A solid postmillenial approach to life is Scriptural, IMO. We are called to work towards transforming the earth back into the garden of God as much as possible by steadily "making disciples of Jesus Christ." Logically, the more disciples of Christ, the more the garden blooms and God's sustenance is revealed throughout all creation. Men's sanctification cannot but help to have a positive effect on the world around them, by definition.
Perhaps phrases like "winning souls" was discarded because only God can and does "win souls" as we've learned from another garden analogy...
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." -- 1 Corinthians 3:5-7"Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
Unfortunately, I'm not sure that post-millennialism works well with post-Christian Arminianism's ignoring of the depravity of man in favor of an overly fawning God. It will always become a political kingdom that gets built.
Yes, that's true. But what's wrong with a "political kingdom" built soundly and purposefully on the principles of "God's kingdom?"
That's the trick. That's what's difficult. But IMO that remains a worthy goal, even if ultimately impossible to completely attain.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power" -- Colossians 2:9-10"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Calvin preached a separation of church and state. But in that preaching he was careful to stress that the state was not to impinge on the church. Instead the state was called on to protect the church while acknowledging that the principles of the church are right and true and should guide every citizen and every leader, according to Scripture...
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." -- Romans 13:1"Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." -- Psalm 150:6
One way or another, by His will, for His glory.
Sad how many of the things George Whitefield warned John Wesley about have come to pass.
And for background, here's a good link...
Machen was right once again.
Social Gospel was a movement led by a group of liberal Protestant progressives in response to the social problems raised by the rapid industrialization, urbanization, and increasing immigration of the Gilded Age. The social gospel differentiated itself from earlier Christian reform movements by prioritizing social salvation over individual salvation. Although the ministers and activists of the social gospel based their appeals on liberal theology, which emphasized the immanence of God and the doctrine of Incarnation and valued good works over creeds, they usually showed more interest in social science than in theology. Believing that laissez-faire capitalism’s understanding of labor as a commodity and its sole reliance on mechanisms of supply and demand to determine wages and allocate resources was un-Christian, social gospel advocates supported the labor movement and called for an interventionist welfare state. They differed from secular activists in that their ultimate vision was not just a more equitable balance of power within society, but a Christianized society in which cooperation, mutual respect, and compassion replaced greed, competition, and conflict among social and economic classes. Despite all of their efforts to reach the working class and to cooperate with the labor movement, though, the social gospel failed to reach far beyond its middle-class liberal Protestant milieu. Ultimately, the greatest achievement of the social gospel was to prepare the ground of middle-class America for progressivism.,CSM
THIS HAS BEEN A 100 PLUS DOWN-GRADE AND IT MAKES THE NEWS NOW!
MARANATHA!
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