Posted on 06/03/2011 5:30:01 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Same-sex marriage is illegal in Minnesota but 70 United Methodist clergy in the state have signed a statement saying they will marry gay couples.
"We joyfully affirm that we will offer the grace of the Church’s blessing to any prepared couple desiring Christian marriage," reads the statement introduced this week at the 2011 Minnesota Annual Conference.
"We are convinced by the witness of others and are compelled by Spirit and conscience to act. We thank the many United Methodists who have already called for full equality and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the life of the Church."
The Rev. Bruce Robbins, pastor of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, read the statement to clergy Wednesday during a time of personal privilege, the United Methodist News Service reported. By the end the day, 40 clergy members had signed the statement. As of Friday, the number of signers reached 70.
"We repent that it has taken us so long to act," continues the statement, entitled "Equality for All in Christian Marriage."
"We realize that our church’s discriminatory policies tarnish the witness of the Church to the world, and we are complicity. We value our covenant relationships and ask everyone to hold the divided community of the United Methodist Church in prayer."
Order Online: Homosexuality and the Christian: A Guide for Parents, Pastors, and Friends
The United Methodist Church holds that homosexual practice is incompatible with Christian teaching. The denomination affirmed its stance at its latest legislative meeting in 2008 despite calls by some to change the body’s constitution.
In 2009, UMC’s top court also ruled that clergy, active and retired, cannot perform same-sex marriages or civil unions. The ruling came after more than 80 retired clergy from northern California said they would conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies on behalf of clergy who cannot perform them.
Bishop Sally Dyck said that simply making a statement in support of same-sex unions did not break any denominational rules. But she indicated that officiating at a gay wedding would be a chargeable offense, according to UMNS.
Under the 2008 Book of Discipline, same-sex unions are not to be conducted by United Methodist ministers or in its churches. Clergy who are convicted of officiating a homosexual union would face revocation of conference membership or clergy credentials.
The voluntary statement was open to any United Methodist persons in the Minnesota Conference who conducts Christian marriages, and was not endorsed by the denomination's General Conference.
are there 70 Methodist churches in Minnesota?
RE: are there 70 Methodist churches in Minnesota?
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There are already scores of Methodist Churches in Minneapolis alone.
See here :
You obviously did not read the entire article to arrive at your statement: "What is it that the Methodist church follows now that it is now know to definitely not be the Bible?"
The italicized quote above accurately reflects the position of the denomination. Anyone conducting same-sex unions is to be fired.
The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church have not changed, either. The Holy Scripture is our Divinely-inspired book.
Now, let me not take you to task, because I believe your heart is in the right place. I think what you're really asking is "how" our church got to this point.
Jesus answered that: "an enemy has sown tares amidst the wheat."
It is our job to oppose them, and we have successfully done that for longer and with better results than any other mainline denomination.
There is hope for this denomination if God's people will pray.
They also support gun control and abortion. I remember watching c-span several years back when the President of NOW was on presenting her new book on abortion and womyns rights. She was introduced by a joyous Methodist Minister. I knew never to set foot in a Methodist church. Never have.
While the Methodist Church has long recognized the right of self-defense, it also does not have a binding position on gun control although it encourages gun control. (See the following)
"In 2000 The United Methodist Church's General Conference published a Resolution entitled: "Gun Violence" which addresses many of the issues surrounding gun control. Specifically relating to Gun Control and to legislation on the subject, this Resolution states:"In light of the increase of gun violence affecting the lives of children and youth, we call upon The United Methodist Church to:...
(5) support federal legislation to regulate the importation, manufacturing, sale, and possession of guns and ammunition by the general public. Such legislation should include provisions for the registration and licensing of gun purchasers and owners, appropriate background investigation and waiting periods prior to gun purchase, and regulation of subsequent sale;
(6) call upon all governments of the world in which there is a United Methodist presence to establish national bans on ownership by the general public of handguns, assault weapons, automatic weapon conversion kits, and weapons that cannot be detected by traditionally used metal-detection devices;"
This Resolution is not binding upon Methodists and does not establish any kind of requirement that United Methodists agree with or support it, though many do."
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