United Methodist Church to Grant Benefits to Employees in Same-Sex Marriages

Washington Times ^ | 4/30/14 | Meredith Somers

[marshmallow]

The United Methodist Church has announced the approval of insurance benefits to some of its employees in same-sex marriages, a decision that could further divide the splintering denomination over the issue of gay rights.

The church’s definition of “spouse” now includes “same sex-spouses” with regards to the General Agencies Welfare Benefits Program for employees. The change was first approved in October by a financial board, but officially recognized by the church’s highest court last week and first reported by the Religion News Service.

[Viennacon]

No one suspects the Inquisition.... now where the hell are they?

[melsec]

So if you are a paying member of this church you now know your dollars are going directly towards supporting this “lifestyle”. I have to ask - why are you still there? Get the heck out!

[SADMILLIE]

That club has collapsed. They don’t even know the fundamental Word of God right there in Leviticus about the “abomination” of homosexuality. This club is right in there with new age sun worshipers.

[AppyPappy]

Ironic since the UMC is officially an anti-gay Hate church.

[Jane Long]

So if you are a paying member of this church you now know your dollars are going directly towards supporting this “lifestyle”. I have to ask - why are you still there? Get the heck out!

******
Not to mention the money they provide for their foundation that supports Planned Parenthood/abortions.

[workerbee]

I went to a wedding last year at a UM church. The minister was a young woman. She gave a beautiful sermon on marriage, how it reflects Christ's love of His church, and seemed to stress that it is a union of one man and one woman. In fact, I remember how surprised I was at how "conservative" she sounded.

I met the minister and her husband at the reception that followed, but didn't feel it was the right time to get into the specifics of doctrine.

[MasterGunner01]

I did not leave the United Methodist Church. The UMC left me and became the spawn of Satan. Something Evil come this way.

[lurk]

The gospel left the UMC church decades ago. Today’s news is just more flies buzzing on the carcass.

[melsec]

It staggers the imagination really how anyone can see these actions as Christian - it seems rather than help people through a tough situation and in turn encourage 1) Commitment to God 2) Submission 3) love and empathy for others 4) Spiritual strength all they seem to do is try to get rid of the problem by either killing it or calling it a blessing. God help us there are none so blind as them that cannot see!

[Secret Agent Man]

should surprise no one. umc has been pro-gay for a long time now.

[chajin]

I was halfway towards becoming a diaconal minister (music) in the UMC back in the mid-80s, when I switched to college teaching, and also to the LCMS (Lutheran) denomination; seeing what the UMC has become in the last 25 years, it was providential in both senses of the word.

[NullPointerException]

I grew up in this denomination. Most people I met there were not serious about following the teachings of Jesus. It was more about “being nice” and doing something on Sundays to make yourself feel like a better person. I would imagine Jesus’ parable about the seeds sprouting up quickly due to shallow soil would apply here.
I wonder if this is more due to the fact that the denomination has such a lack of passionate people for Jesus and are trying to bolster their numbers. Most likely they just think Jesus is too “nice” to require the hard sacrifice
of resisting desires where there is no “mean outcome.” Like murder or theft.

[Salvation]

Because of Obamacare? How much money did they get?

[Sioux-san]

my experience is the local churches are conservative, but the hierarchy in the regional and national churches are the ones going down the rabbit hole - this is also true for the Episcopalians, some of the Lutheran denominations, the Presbyterians (PCUSA). When I attended a Methodist church out in the country a few years ago, I asked that all my donation money be kept in the local church - most churches will let you do this. If they won’t, then that’s the church to leave.

[SomeCallMeTim]

This is going to cause a HUGE split in the Methodist church. There are still a large number that do NOT accept this anti-Bible behavior.

I will be asking about this in my local church. Either they separate away from this? Or, I separate way from them.

[teletech]

As Christians we are taught to hate the sin but love the sinner. If a Church, any Church, teaches you to love both, RUN and don’t look back!

[melsec]

I was in the comparative organisation here in Australia for over 10 years - Youth Leader, Elder, P/T Preacher etc. People behaved like they got what you were talking about - they even trusted me with their youth but they must have thought I was just saying the right things too along with a few of my friends. At least there was some long term effect on some youth and some of the newer converts but as for the old stayers well lets just say we felt like being George Bush at a Code Pink convention. When this homosexual thing came about it really laid it on the line as to who were religionists and who were brothers and sisters. As with Liberals most of those in power or seeking power were pro-gay all those I would call servants were pro-bible. I resigned that week. It is sad to see people who have faithfully served others maybe for 50 or 60 years in the one spot be torn apart over this but how can a person sit in the pew for that long and not grab a hold of the Word of God or be apprehended by it. My lack of understanding or maybe moreso comprehension in this area is enormous - that is why I shake my head!