Posted on 05/10/2016 3:24:21 PM PDT by xzins
By Heather Hahn
May 9, 2016 | PORTLAND, Ore. (UMNS) On the eve of the 2016 General Conference, more than 100 United Methodist clergy and clergy candidates have come out as LGBTQ religious leaders.
“We are here because God has called us to serve in this denomination, and our souls are fed by the theology in which we’ve been raised,” the 111 United Methodists write in what they call “A Love Letter to Our Church.” The signers come from across the United States, and one signer is from the Philippines. They identify themselves as “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and Intersex” in the letter.
Their letter comes a week after 15 clergy and clergy candidates in the New York Conference took a similar step of coming out together. It also comes just two days after the Rev. David Meredith, a United Methodist pastor in the West Ohio Conference, married Jim Schlachter, his boyfriend of 28 years.
These actions could put these clergy at risk of losing their credentials under church law, just as 864 delegates from around the globe are embarking on a 10-day legislative meeting that will determine church rules for the coming four years. Some of the May 9 letter signers are among the delegates.
However, the letter also indicates that many United Methodists are moving forward regardless of what General Conference decides, said Matt Berryman.
He is the executive director of Reconciling Ministries Network, an unofficial United Methodist group that advocates for the church to be more inclusive. The network has coordinated publicity of this and other challenges to church law as part of the group’s “It’s Time” campaign.
“Since 2012, we’ve decided we would be the church no matter what,” Berryman told United Methodist News Service. The majority of delegates at the 2012 General Conference voted against a proposal to say United Methodists disagree whether homosexuality is against God’s will.
To read the entire UMNS story by Heather Hahn, click HERE.
Yep. I’m not arguing with anyone these next 2 weeks.
I am SO adding this to my sermon on Sunday (yes, UMC)
Might has well have been 666 of them.
Let the congregations decide.
I have always felt the leftward lurch of the church began
during the VN war when so many cowards decided to go to
divinity school to escape the draft.
“They identify themselves as “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and Intersex” in the letter.”
Only 6 of the 56 Faceebook gender identities represented? How can they be so insensitive?
Explain, please.
This church bears no resemblance to the Methodist church I grew up in in West Texas. I realize that times, morals and mores change and in these times I’m grateful for the guidance of my parents and their insistence for me to keep the Word of God near ... the Old Testament and the New. It has given me great comfort and kept me fairly sane over the last two years with the loss of my wife, my mother and my brother. And it’s a handy desk reference. ;o)
God Bless you xzins. I’ll be praying for the church.
If a congregation wants to be preached to and served by Reverand Limpwrist, let them. If they refuse, let them either form a different church, or boot Limpwrist out on his arse.
I’m leaving it, Liberty. I just can’t defend, special plead, argue any more. It just breaks my heart to do so, because I know everything is so rotting and in need of burial.
They are dishonest, they lied from the beginning.
They need to be defrocked and dememberized, IMHO. STAT.
It won’t happen. I know their MO.
Yes, it is. And these people are celebrating and prepping for his appearance by following a lie over acknowledging the truth of God's Word.
Ephesians 5:5-12:
For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
I am so sorry for your losses, Liberty. Sounds like it’s been a very hard two years.
He is appropriately named.... I wonder if he buggers the little kiddies....??
xzins, what do you expect to come out of this conference?
... And Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
I dislike being reminded of the tares or that they are permitted to grow with us, but ... remember ... there are tares.
You do not understand. It is all about the PENSIONS.
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