Posted on 01/04/2020 8:19:49 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Our First Amendment means that, even though the Supreme Court found a constitutional right to same sex marriage, that new right applies only to the government's relationship with citizens. From Obergefell forward, to the extent states and the federal government recognize traditional marriage, they must also recognize same sex marriage. Thanks to the First Amendment, though, religious institutions cannot be forced to change their doctrines to conform to the Supreme Court’s holding.
In the case of the United Methodist Church, the church opted not to recognize (or officiate at) same sex marriages. It also has refused to ordain openly gay people to the clergy. Many within the church objected to this stance, a position that led to continued debate. That debate has now resulted in a formal agreement in principle to divide the church in 2020:
The plan, if approved at the church's worldwide conference in Minneapolis in May, would divide the third-largest U.S. Christian denomination into two branches: A traditionalist side opposed to gay marriage and the ordination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clergy, and a progressive wing that will allow same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy.
The split would affect the denomination globally, church leaders said. The United Methodist Church lists more than 13 million members in the United States and 80 million worldwide.
In their Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation, a 16-member group of church bishops acknowledged that there was no way to reconcile the church’s differing factions, citing “fundamental differences regarding their understanding and interpretation of Scripture, theology and practice;” a failure at a February 2019 conference to resolve the differences; and the fact that the church and “its members are at an impasse, the Church’s witness and mission is being impeded,
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Can someone explain why it seems so necessary for the homo’s to be accepted by and have fellowship with the hetero’s?
RE: Can someone explain why it seems so necessary for the homo’s to be accepted by and have fellowship with the hetero’s?
The key is how to understand the words -— LOVE and COMPASSION.
If they somehow manage to get the ERA reanimated even Churches won’t be exempt.
At the 2019 "called" General Conference, the Traditional Plan won the most votes--powered by the overseas jurisdictions.
According to my senior pastor, the overseas jurisdictions have picked up more delegates while North American conferences have lost delegates going into the regularly scheduled 2020 Genral Conference in May.
Given these facts, why should the Traditionalists have to split off and get the consolation prize (fiscally speaking)?
The "Progessives" lost the supposedly binding vote--and they get the greater share of the spoils?
You are absolutely right.
As best I can tell, this Council of Bishops is more or less the same liberal cabal that came up with the “One Church Plan” that hyped in the press as the foregone solution for months ahead of the 2019 General Conference. That plan was voted down and the “Traditionalist Plan” was adopted that strengthened the commitment to the traditional definitiion of marriage.
I think it’s very likely that this separation plan will be voted down at the General Assembly and a different plan adopted that allows liberal conferences or churches to leave under some circumstances.
In 2 weeks, I am attending training at the home church of one of this cabal. I hope that I don't run into him because I don't want the temptation to tell him off. I had enough trouble refraining from telling two of my fellow parishioners on Facebook what I posted on this thread.
On another thread, someone referred to the Progressive Clergy in the UMC as the equivalent of the Deep State. I agree.
Misery loves company - it’s part of their pathology.
Bob Hope long ago said it when he joked about leaving California before homosexuality was mandatory.
It has fallen out of fashion to say the the Antichrist will probably be a poofter ... it should not have.
Love and compassion without holiness serve the wrong kingdom.
Just send the sodomites to the Unitarian Church? That should be the recommendation that there is already a place of acceptance.
Flipping a coin to see how my church will go.
If they somehow manage to get the ERA reanimated even Churches won’t be exempt.
That is also what the so-called “Equality Act” is about. Sure you can believe what you want, but you won’t be able to hold a job, own a business, or be in a profession unless you affirm homosexuality. If you don’t you will be classified as a terrorist and put on a surveillance watch list. Biden has already said he was going to do this if elected.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1182460792605728768
The writer of this article is horribly naive.
Crying shame. Christ is separating the wheat from the chaff. And will continue to do so until He returns in glory.
Honestly, I believe that, at some level, those engaging in homosexual acts know that their behavior is depraved and counter to nature. They demand that everyone accept and approve of their conduct mainly in a futile attempt to convince themselves of something that what they’re doing isn’t wrong. In trying to silence their critics, they’re really trying to silence their own consciences.
God’s way or man’s way. I choose the former.
Our pastor keeps reaching out to us for money, we tithe +, so we usually make it work and send him the money. They have a lot of outreach and missionary commitments and they do a lot of work in Africa.
There have been very public grumblings about how we need to be more “inclusive” and “accepting”. I keep reminding my fellow congregants that we have plenty of “open” and “welcoming” churches in the area, including Unitarians, UCC, Unity and other sects where they can pray to a homosexual god or the planet, or the tree or even Allah but we should remain Christ centered.
My wife and I just decided that those calls will go unanswered until we find a Christ centered church.
We must remember that the Church is the body of Christ, not any or all 501c3 corporations.
We certainly can leverage such social/political entities but must always remember that Christ files no income tax return or financial report.
Simply put: the DISunity of the United Methodist Church is in the "win" column of Satan.
What's next maybe? Sanctioning of:
1. Multiple marriage partners, limited
2. Multiple marriage partners, unlimited
3. "marriage" with favorite dog/cat
4. "marriage" with favorite vehicle
5. Disunity of as many Protestant denominations as Satan can manage, for whatever reason.
Is this far-fetched? I dunno; I sure hope not.
One of the hot topics these days is when men become "women" and then compete in women's sports. Naturally the "woMAN" wins because s/HE has the superior strength, etc.
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Amen.
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