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1 posted on 11/21/2023 9:12:42 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I wish Catholics would do the same.


2 posted on 11/21/2023 9:17:34 AM PST by SaxxonWoods (Successful People Have a Sense of Gratitude. Unsuccessful People Have a Sense of Entitlement)
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To: SeekAndFind

It’s hard to believe that denominations face splitting over homosexuality, but that is happening.

Why is this happening? Are activists trying to force homosexuality and change established religious theology on the subject? I have not kept up with everything that’s happening in this area.

But concerning the Methodists, for example ,are there big numbers of homosexual Methodists who are trying to change that denomination?


3 posted on 11/21/2023 9:19:00 AM PST by Dilbert San Diego
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To: SeekAndFind

I’ve got a leftist Karen cousin, who was recently gushing about her “church” and its new gay pastor. How wonderfully “welcoming” and “spiritual” it is.

I told her, this church of hers probably won’t exist in 5 years. So don’t get too attached to it.

Needless to say, it induced a lot of leftist, self-righteous indignation questioning and I was happy to explain it to her.

Is it wrong that I enjoy such reactions?


5 posted on 11/21/2023 9:21:07 AM PST by PGR88
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To: SeekAndFind

There is a historic church in Auburn that was a Baptist Church but the building was taken over by Unitarian-Universalists. They have the usual trendy-set signs out front: Love is Love, No human is illegal, Black Lives Matter, and special protest signs when Alabama carries out an execution.

Liberal Methodist Churches are equally trendy. That is why my congregation voted 190 to five to disaffiliate from the UMC.


9 posted on 11/21/2023 9:24:22 AM PST by Monterrosa-24 (Saludemos la patria orgullosos)
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To: SeekAndFind

Take 55 gallons of poop and add a drop of wine, nothing is changed.

Take 55 gallons of wine and add a drop of poop, and everything is changed.


13 posted on 11/21/2023 9:33:35 AM PST by Jim Noble (The future belongs to those who show up)
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To: SeekAndFind

My church disaffiliated, along with 117 other UMC churches (roughly 20%) in Florida.

We are now affiliated with the Global Methodist Church where NO homosexual clergy or unions will be recognized.

AND, Bishops can be fired! They cannot be fired in the UMC, which is how the homosexuals gained power in the church.

Were it not for the AFRican UMC churches voting it down, homosexual clergy and unions would have been “officially” recognized by the UMC — the American bishops were in favor of that policy.

It will be interesting to see how many more Florida UMC churches disaffiliate in the coming years.


21 posted on 11/21/2023 10:00:11 AM PST by Taxman ((SAVE AMERICA! VOTE REPUBLICAN IN 2024! SAVE AMERICA!))
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To: SeekAndFind

The whole gay marriage, gay clergy, lbgtq... agenda has never been about inclusion, it’s always been about greed & destruction. If those people and their supporters were honest and sincere about their stated goals (diversity, inclusion, equity), they would have founded their own churches and denominations. Their goals are pretty simple: gain access to the money, distribute the funds to the left’s organizations (they don’t have a clue about creating wealth, only looting the wealth others have created), and destroying the church as purveyors of morals, ethics, etc. These are not righteous people, they are odious and destructive.


31 posted on 11/21/2023 10:45:19 AM PST by Rlsau1
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To: SeekAndFind

Satan sad to see so many go. “Relaaax”.


33 posted on 11/21/2023 11:06:14 AM PST by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It ( )
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To: SeekAndFind

OK, can someone help me out? Please? After three long articles read on this I still can’t figure out who are the “breakaway” congregations.

Are the breakaways the “Fruity Men and the Lezz-be-Friends” tribe?

And are the “We’re stickin’ with the Bible” folks still the mainstream church?

About how many congregations are on each side?

And do the breakaways have a new name? (You know, like the “NOT the Episcopal Church” group.)

Thanks


34 posted on 11/21/2023 11:16:37 AM PST by QBFimi (It is not your responsibility to finish the work of perfecting the world... Tarfon)
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To: SeekAndFind

Churches run on $$$ and you would be surprised how much it costs.
Belivers need to take their $$$ and find a place that doesn’t treat them like fools or monsters for not following the lemmings.


42 posted on 11/21/2023 1:29:11 PM PST by Zathras
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To: SeekAndFind

America’s Cultural Revolution


43 posted on 11/21/2023 1:30:49 PM PST by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: SeekAndFind

Excellent news.


45 posted on 11/21/2023 3:27:56 PM PST by cyclotic (Don’t be part of the problem. Be the entire problem)
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To: SeekAndFind
I was raised in a UMC and graduated from 2 UMC universities. Both parents very active - at church any time the doors were opened until graduation day. Grandfather was a circuit rider in the UMC. All of this is provided for context for my following comments.

The UMC used to be a somewhat charismatic congregation in my youth. Bible study/teaching was a top priority. Spiritual gifts were appreciated and encouraged - although in the minority. Some pastors were anointed by God and preached powerful sermons under that anointing. Many knew the HEAD of the Body, and knew that those led by the spirit were children of God. That was then.

By the time I graduated high school, three of the last four pastors at my home church couldn't tell the difference between the Holy Ghost and Casper the friendly ghost - Only a slight exaggeration. Many who were "spooky" (spiritual) were chased away, or worse, accused of heresy. Sermons that resonated in your spirit, were replaced with quiet talks about being nice or helping the poor. Nothing wrong with a social gospel, but those works come from being Born Again, and are most effective when God is leading. The UMC, from my experience, became overly focused on works and outward actions, rather than spiritual maturity first.

The seminaries (or cemeteries if you prefer), kept graduating kids that know how to act like a Pastor, but know little about the Word, and even less about Spiritual things. They get in churches and instead of being led by the Spirit, and preaching the Word, they start doing worldly things to grow their church. And if you see the Bible as nothing more than some helpful advice, its not long before you start doubting God's Truth. All it takes is a little worldly pressure to cause you to compromise.

IMHO, that is why the UMC is where it is today. I hope the split will grow life back into some churches, but I have concerns. The last one I attended, on my last day, played a Disney film and used it to reinforce that Sunday's message. This church voted to split.

My oldest sister is the music minister for a "Reconciling" church as it is called. We spent a few hours discussing the issues that led to the split, but made no progress either direction. I do believe there are good people on both sides. They are so eager to keep the Love commandment and not "hate" that they compromise the Word. For me the key is simple. Jesus dined with sinners. He knew Judas was stealing, yet gave him plenty of chances (mercy) to repent. When He met the woman caught in adultery, He told her to go and sin no more. To me that is the key. Are they even attempting to set people free from the bondage of sin, or simply normalizing it, like fornication, adultery and many others.

On the other side, the danger is becoming self-righteous, and adopting the attitude of the religious Jews of Jesus day, and wanting nothing to do with those dirty sinners.

Either side could do good, if they go back to the Word, and let God be in charge. If not, I expect many of these churches to fade away, and the property sold. My sister's church has downsized to a PT pastor (semi-retired) and will likely be forced to merge with another congregation if they want to survive. She has given 20 years to this congregation, and about a third left over the vote to not split.

None of this makes me happy. But God is in control, and good will come from this. I am confident that HIS CHURCH, the Body of Christ, is expanding every single day!
46 posted on 11/21/2023 4:39:34 PM PST by Kandy Atz ("Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want for bread.")
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