Posted on 11/07/2018 7:45:59 AM PST by SeekAndFind
A large congregation in South Carolina has requested to leave the United Methodist Church over the mainline Protestant denomination's debate over homosexuality.
In February 2019, the UMC will hold a special session of its General Conference to determine if the denomination will maintain its official position against homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
Christ United Methodist Church of Myrtle Beach, which is said to have approximately 1,600 members, has sent a request to the South Carolina Annual Conference to leave the denomination.
While their departure from the UMC has not been finalized, the congregation has already changed the church's name to simply "Christ United," as seen on its website and social media accounts.
The Rev. Jeff Dunn, lead pastor of Christ United, explained in an interview with local media published last week that he did not want his church to appear to be in either a camp that shunned homosexuals or one that appeared to welcome homosexual acts as acceptable.
"We've always been a church that doesn't condemn and it doesn't condone. We're never going to make somebody feel that we don't love them," said Dunn, according to The Sun News.
"We deeply love, particularly, people who are same-sex attracted, but at the same time we'll never condone something that God said don't do."
The Christian Post reached out to Christ United on Tuesday, however, the church did not return comment by press time.
Dunn added that to "maintain our position," his church must "distance ourselves from this fight, because we don't want to be associated with either condemning or condoning."
Christ United is in the Marion District of the South Carolina Conference, which the Rev. Tim Rogers oversees as superintendent.
In comments emailed to The Christian Post on Tuesday, Rogers described Christ United's decision as "heartbreaking," especially since Dunn is a friend of his.
"I know that he has been remarkably effective in offering the Gospel to people, and I would be truly saddened to see him leave our church," said Rogers.
Rogers also told CP that Christ United is the 17th largest church in the 978-church annual conference, and that to his knowledge no other churches were planning to leave the UMC.
Rogers also directed CP to an official statement released late last month from Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, head of the conference, in which he explained that in response to Christ United's request, he must "uphold The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church in all matters."
"Clergy, at the time of their ordination, enter a covenant to remain loyal to the United Methodist Church and commit themselves to be accountable," said Holston.
"Laity, in their membership vows, make a covenant to faithfully participate in the ministries of the United Methodist Church by their prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness."
Why any Bible-believing church of Christ would be associated with the radical, atheistic UMC is beyond me.
So let me get this straight, they don’t want to stay in a denomination that would condone homosexuality, but they don’t want to stick it out to fight for what’s right in February, because they don’t want to be perceived as condemning anybody if they lose and end up leaving. Seems cowardly to me.
As often as Yeshua made it clear He loved the sinner, and he sat and supped with sinners, He also said "go and sin no more". Yeshua would never tell sinners to not listen to Him preach, but he would never tell the sinner he wasn't sinning.
I’m surprised they didn’t leave years ago from all the offering plate money that went to abortion lobbyists...for decades.
No kidding.
There is a stairway to heaven, and a highway to hell. It’s based upon anticipated traffic.
The Church adopting to the ways of the world, instead of the word of God is a sign of the end times.
Soon, the organized Church will by an oxymoron as it will be fully owned and occupied by Satan and his earthly supporters.
This is for sure the case in my country of origin already, as Sweden has a state run church that is pervertedly anti God.
Cowardly? Noooooo, see....there’s a lot of money and power at stake and...
The future’s best churches will have ZERO money, and people will meet in the mountains and woods to truly discuss the word of God.
“. . . and that to his knowledge no other churches were planning to leave the UMC.”
Either artfully said, OR he has his head in the sand. I guarantee, regardless of the outcome of the February conference, individual churches (and individuals) will be leaving at the conclusion of the conference.
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."-Jesus in the Revelation of St. John 3:15-16
Bkmrk
Problem is that in the UMC, the individual congregations do not own the church building, the State Conference does.
They can change the name of the congregation, but, then they will be forced to leave the building. It’s held up in court.
The Episcopalians do this too.
Xzins to the courtesy phone.
I belong to an Anglican Church here in SC that split with the Episcopalians over homosexuality.
Beautiful church too.
The feminization of the UMC has brought moral equivalency into its pulpits and pews. The vigorous defense of morality, the touchstone of historical Methodism, is completely missing in the UMC. Today morality means supporting abortion, homosexuality, and reducing Christ to the status of a prophet. Going along to get along is the new password for entry into membership.
The UMC is no longer a Christian Church. Its bishops pander to their privilege. Its mission is to promote Marxist globalism. Its pulpits are cardboard cutouts of Christian fakery.
Fire and brimstone, Bible thumping, even quoting scripture are shunned in favor of saccharin pablums that keep pew sitters comfortable in the sin.
Wasn’t it the UMC recently which featured a dyke “minister” who claimed that Jesus had to get his act together and learn to be inclusive?
The pastor is probably a good guy, but his response sounds very wishy-washy to me. We don’t condemn or condone? That can mean anything depending on Whose hand you put it in.
There is a meeting of our general conference in 2019 to determine if we will stay together as a denomination or weather will split or change into some other relationship with each other. My sense is that there’s some hope in that but the real hope would be the denomination simply allowing churches to leave who want to leave. That way any political scheme they come up with can be subjected to by any church simply by voting to leave.
Sorry about that last post, Gamey. I used the voice writing capability and didn’t proofread so
Weather = whether
Subjected to = objected to
So, would pastor Dunn allow an active, non-repentant homosexual to become or continue to be a member of the Church? If so, how does he square this with 1 Corinthians?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!
You can’t be serious!!!!!!!!!!!!
Telling people who want to leave the UMC because of homosexuality to go to ROMAN CATHOLICISM with the priests you guys have, and your *who am I to judge* pope?
Talk about jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
Just..... wow......
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