Posted on 11/27/2011 6:32:47 PM PST by massmike
The United Methodist Church's Council of Bishops said in a Nov. 10 letter they would continue to uphold the denomination's ban on blessing same-sex unions.
"As the Council of Bishops we will uphold the Book of Discipline as established by General Conference," the denominational assembly that meets every four years and is the church's highest policymaking body, said the letter, which was addressed to all Methodists.
Paragraph 341.6 of the Book of Discipline says, "Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches." The book also calls homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching" and bans its churches from hosting, and its clergy from officiating at, "ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions."
Earlier this year, about 1,000 clergy signed a letter declaring they would bless a gay marriage if they believed the couple was sufficiently prepared. They were joined by 36 retired Methodist bishops who called on the denomination to end its ban on ordaining "self-avowed practicing" gay clergy.
In response, more than 2,500 other Methodist clergy and 11,000 laypeople signed petitions urging the Council of Bishops to uphold the gay marriage ban.
The United Methodist Church has about 7.8 million members in the United States and more than 12 million members worldwide, with 44,000 ordained clergy.
In June, one Methodist minister was suspended for 20 days and ordered to enter into a yearlong process "to restore the broken clergy covenant relationship" after being convicted by a jury of her peers, as called for in the Book of Discipline, of officiating at a same-sex marriage.
(Excerpt) Read more at thebostonpilot.com ...
Methodists standing up for their beliefs - surprise.....
This is interesting, considering the number of gay pastors they have out west. They pride themselves on “open minds, open hearts”. I left them years ago.
Why do they need a Book of Discipline? It states in the Bible quite clearly that homosexuality is a grave sin. And therefore anything that comes from homosexuality, like same sex marriage, is also a sin.
I am glad to hear this is happening.....but it it sad this is even an issue in any church.....but as we know churches of today are making their own rules and not following God’s teachings......
happily amazed
Only good until the next General Conference though.
I’m amazed.
It means nothing if they are not going to defrock the clergy who say they will ‘bless’ same sex unions.
“Why do they need a book of discipline”
When John Wesley organized the movement that would be known as Methodism, he introduced a variation of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer which was called the Methodist Book of Discipline. It has the laws and the general doctrinal position of the denomination. It is how the Methodist Church has always operated since the 18th century.
The position stated in the Book of Discipline has been there for many years. Although the noisy minority have tried to get a change, they have been unsuccessful.
Wow - my experience is that Methodists continuously hold the liberal line on things. I just assumed they allowed %$%#%$#@ to be pastors by now.
If so, they have already apostatized.
Exactly. The last "chastisement" was barely a hand slap, to a woman pastor (yet another heretical problem with modern Methodism.)
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Being a Christian means more than simply acknowledging that Christ lived and died and lived again. We must know He is Lord and that we must follow His commandments. This can be a problem if we don't know what His commandments are.
I don't personally believe that “love thy neighbor” means having sex with him. I also believe that when God told Adam and Eve to be the first husband and wife and told them to multiply and replenish the earth that he wasn't talking about math.
Queers, no matter what their sex cannot reproduce. They can be husband and husband or wife and wife but queers cannot be husband and wife as long as they practice their homosexuality.
The Methodist church, the one I belonged to some sixty years ago or so has changed much in the last several decades. I am surprised that they drew a line at homosexuality, that they did is good but it presents a real problem. Some “Christian” churches allow homosexuals to marry and even to be married by practicing homosexual ministers of the faith, that is ordained pastors or priests. Some other Christian churches say that that is wrong. They can’t both be right. Why is that a problem? Well according to the Savior we must be perfect to enter in to God's presence. None of us are perfect. Fortunately Christ has already paid for our sins, the punishment for sin is death and Christ did indeed die. So do we automatically all get a free pass to Heaven? I think not. There is a catch. We have to ask for that forgiveness for the punishment of Christ to count for payment of our sins. In order to receive forgiveness we must repent of our sins and quit doing them. If we make a mistake He will allow us to try again, and again and again as long as we live. We must try. If we live in a sinful relationship that is an abomination to Christ's laws how can we approach him in repentance? We can't. We can approach Him and ask Him to help us out of the relationship or out of the sin but we can't ask forgiveness for something we know we will keep doing, that would be a lie.
What if homosexuality is ok, then the pastors that will not allow it are in sin, it can't be both ways. Either is is wrong or it is right. There is a third option, that it simply doesn't matter but I don't take that one seriously.
God gave Adam, Eve, not Fred or Bill or Ben. Eve was a helpmate to Adam, not Gwen or Alice or Elisha.
In my honest opinion, homosexuality is an abomination that will keep those that practice it away from the presence of God for eternity if they don't repent and beg forgiveness.
Those Priests who practice or condone this evil sin will be just as guilty as the worst offender.
I hope my old church never allows this evil in its walls.
A very good sign. Good for these Christians.
Freegards
placemark!
I know at least one female bishop who is not happy about this.
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