United Methodists Begin to Reverse Longstanding Anti-LGBTQ Policies

[Everlasting Life]

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/united-methodist-church-lgbtq-policies-general-conference/2024/04/30/id/1162993/

......The delegates voted to delete mandatory penalties for conducting same-sex marriages and to remove their denomination's bans on considering LGBTQ candidates for ministry and on funding for gay-friendly ministries.


The 667-54 vote, coming during their legislative General Conference, removes some of the scaffolding around the United Methodist Church's longstanding bans on LGBTQ-affirming policies regarding ordination, marriage and funding.

Still to come later this week are votes on the core of the bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage in church law and policy, which may draw more debate. However, the large majority achieved by Tuesday's votes indicate the tenor of the General Conference. The consensus was so overwhelming that these items were rolled into the legislative “consent calendar," normally reserved for non-controversial measures........

........With the absence of many conservative delegates, who had been in the solid majority in previous general conferences and had steadily reinforced such bans over the decades, progressive delegates are moving quickly to reverse such policies.


The article also states that this voting happened without a debate. And while that's puzzling, I do wonder about there being any sort of appointed Eldership in place to actually set biblical guard rails on important issues, rather than people voting?

Is that a better way to go with a church body? My impression when reading the New Testament is that this is how the Church put together leadership (after seeking the Lord in prayer).

 

[Greg]

As a former (recovering?) Methodist, unfortunately I know a little about this. I believe those voting are all elders, which in UMC terms mean they're all pastors or above (bishops, maybe district superintendents, etc.). Back when I was a member, even though there was a liberal majority in the US, the African vote largely kept things like this in check, as that is one area the denomination was growing and vibrant. Since so many conservatives have left recently, the enemy is really having his way with what's left. It's sad, and I'm sure the Wesley brothers would not be pleased.

 

[Hol]

It's sad, and I'm sure the Wesley brothers would not be pleased.

Yes, very sad.

Greg, do you know if the denomination owns individual properties of each church?

 

[Greg]

Yes, very sad.

Greg, do you know if the denomination owns individual properties of each church?

Yes -- they do, at least as a general rule... not sure if there are exceptions. Under the agreement they worked out several years ago, they made it easier for departing congregations to take their building/land with them. I think the time is about up on that though.

 

[Everlasting Life]

As a former (recovering?) Methodist, unfortunately I know a little about this. I believe those voting are all elders, which in UMC terms mean they're all pastors or above (bishops, maybe district superintendents, etc.). Back when I was a member, even though there was a liberal majority in the US, the African vote largely kept things like this in check, as that is one area the denomination was growing and vibrant. Since so many conservatives have left recently, the enemy is really having his way with what's left. It's sad, and I'm sure the Wesley brothers would not be pleased.

I'm sorry Greg, this must be difficult for you. I've not attended a Methodist church myself (by happenstance) and have a heavy heart reading about this.

Thanks for explaining a little more what's most likely happening with the voting.

May the Lord work in this somehow and comfort those who grieve to see this play out.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

When I was a teenager, I sang one summer in the adult choir at my then-boyfriend's church (Methodist), as my church (Lutheran) didn't have choir in the summer.

Wonder if the denomination will split, like so many others, over this/these issue(s).

 

[Greg]

I'm sorry Greg, this must be difficult for you. I've not attended a Methodist church myself (by happenstance) and have a heavy heart reading about this.

Thanks for explaining a little more what's most likely happening with the voting.

May the Lord work in this somehow and comfort those who grieve to see this play out.

I don't know... I think in a way it's good. I think for the portion of that denomination that held more closely to biblical values, it has been a wakeup call and they have left to pursue a closer walk. For the rest, well I guess welcome to Laodicea in all its earthly splendor. I don't have a good feeling when I drive by most umc churches these days, but that's about it.

I remember being on a construction related mission trip one year. We were staying at a school in Kentucky for a week with people from a few other churches and doing home repair and relational stuff at homes in the area. One morning, a female pastor from one of those other churches opened a prayer by saying "mother and father god...." God was still at work though because at the end of the week during a whole group reflection time on the week she did share something that made sense. I think I had already left by that point, but was still going on this particular trip for a few years after. Yet on the way down (that year or another around that time), we stopped; overnight in Lexington and attended a very solid church. God still has His people in all different kinds of environments. And lets not forget what happened at Asbury last year. What has to be will be though, I guess.

 

[LightOfMyLife]

It is a shame that these churches are going against Gods word. We are not to add or take away from his word. These people are more concerned about pleasing people than God. The tells us some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.

 

[Tall Timbers]

The message I get from this from the United Methodist Legislative General Conference: "We prefer the world. There is no God. Church is just a business."

 

[lismore]

It is a shame that these churches are going against Gods word. We are not to add or take away from his word. These people are more concerned about pleasing people than God. The tells us some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.

Yes. It's possible to show kindness to gay people and to share the gospel with them without affirming the LGBTQI lifestyle, being a good samaritan but also clearly standing for the truth. Too many denominations seem to be caving in to everything and anything- a sign of the End Times. It's expected but still sad to see. God Bless All

 

[Tall Timbers]

United Methodist Church Loses 1 Million Members in a Single Day over LGBT Affirmation​

The United Methodist Church (UMC) lost more than a million members in one fell swoop last week, with a large West African conference voting to leave the organization due to its acceptance of LGBT clergy and marriages.

The United Methodist Church of Ivory Coast (Eglise Méthodiste Unie Côte d’Ivoire or EMUCI) renounced their UMC membership on May 28 “for reasons of conscience before God and His word,” La Croix International reported.

After holding UMC membership since 2008, EMUCI said the church “deviates from the Holy Scriptures” and prefers “to sacrifice its honor and integrity to honor the LGBTQ community.”

United Methodist Church Loses 1 Million Members in a Single Day over LGBT Affirmation

The United Methodist Church lost over a million members in one fell swoop last week, with a large West African conference voting to leave.

www.breitbart.com

 

[LightOfMyLife]

United Methodist Church Loses 1 Million Members in a Single Day over LGBT Affirmation​

The United Methodist Church (UMC) lost more than a million members in one fell swoop last week, with a large West African conference voting to leave the organization due to its acceptance of LGBT clergy and marriages.

The United Methodist Church of Ivory Coast (Eglise Méthodiste Unie Côte d’Ivoire or EMUCI) renounced their UMC membership on May 28 “for reasons of conscience before God and His word,” La Croix International reported.

After holding UMC membership since 2008, EMUCI said the church “deviates from the Holy Scriptures” and prefers “to sacrifice its honor and integrity to honor the LGBTQ community.”

United Methodist Church Loses 1 Million Members in a Single Day over LGBT Affirmation

The United Methodist Church lost over a million members in one fell swoop last week, with a large West African conference voting to leave.

www.breitbart.com

These churches are not following the Word of God for sure. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of homosexuality. They are more interested in following the worlds ways not Gods.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

United Methodist Church Loses 1 Million Members in a Single Day over LGBT Affirmation​

The United Methodist Church (UMC) lost more than a million members in one fell swoop last week, with a large West African conference voting to leave the organization due to its acceptance of LGBT clergy and marriages.

The United Methodist Church of Ivory Coast (Eglise Méthodiste Unie Côte d’Ivoire or EMUCI) renounced their UMC membership on May 28 “for reasons of conscience before God and His word,” La Croix International reported.

After holding UMC membership since 2008, EMUCI said the church “deviates from the Holy Scriptures” and prefers “to sacrifice its honor and integrity to honor the LGBTQ community.”

United Methodist Church Loses 1 Million Members in a Single Day over LGBT Affirmation

The United Methodist Church lost over a million members in one fell swoop last week, with a large West African conference voting to leave.

www.breitbart.com

I'm glad the Parents of an old high school boyfriend didn't live to see the shenanigans in the UMC, It would have broken both of their hearts

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

I don't know... I think in a way it's good. I think for the portion of that denomination that held more closely to biblical values, it has been a wakeup call and they have left to pursue a closer walk. For the rest, well I guess welcome to Laodicea in all its earthly splendor. I don't have a good feeling when I drive by most umc churches these days, but that's about it.

I remember being on a construction related mission trip one year. We were staying at a school in Kentucky for a week with people from a few other churches and doing home repair and relational stuff at homes in the area. One morning, a female pastor from one of those other churches opened a prayer by saying "mother and father god...." God was still at work though because at the end of the week during a whole group reflection time on the week she did share something that made sense. I think I had already left by that point, but was still going on this particular trip for a few years after. Yet on the way down (that year or another around that time), we stopped; overnight in Lexington and attended a very solid church. God still has His people in all different kinds of environments. And lets not forget what happened at Asbury last year. What has to be will be though, I guess.

Here, the liberal churches proudly fly "pride" flags and banners. Code words like "affirming," "reconciling," and "all are welcome here" appear on their message boards

Interesting to see LGBTQABCXYZ and islamic stuff side-by-side outside some ELCA churches around here
Wonder when the muslims will give them an ultimatum?

Thankful at least some denominations and churches are holding the line

I think, eventually, the government is going to "approve" perversion-friendly and muslim-friendly churches, and "disapprove" or outright ban the others as terrorist or hate-groups
Hope we're out of here before that happens

 

[3Nails4Given]

I was raised in the Methodist Church. After my parents divorced, when my family started going back to church we all started going to Baptist churches.

 

[Everlasting Life]

You know, I'm of the persuasion that this just may be a sifting of the churches to divide those who will and won't follow God.....before the Rapture (not trying to set a date or time, just surmising). A testing of hearts to see who will follow the World System or God Almighty of the Universe.

'We grieve': UMC responds to 1 million member conference leaving denomination

The United Methodist Church Council of Bishops has issued an official response to the news that a regional body with over 1 million members had voted to leave the denomination

www.christianpost.com

....The Côte d'Ivoire Conference, based in West Africa, voted last month to leave the UMC over the denomination removing rules that prohibited the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of people in same-sex relationships from its Book of Discipline......

 

[mattfivefour]

You know, I'm of the persuasion that this just may be a sifting of the churches to divide those who will and won't follow God.....before the Rapture (not trying to set a date or time, just surmising).

I believe that you are correct.

 

[3Nails4Given]

Here, the liberal churches proudly fly "pride" flags and banners. Code words like "affirming," "reconciling," and "all are welcome here" appear on their message boards

Interesting to see LGBTQABCXYZ and islamic stuff side-by-side outside some ELCA churches around here
Wonder when the muslims will give them an ultimatum?

Thankful at least some denominations and churches are holding the line

I think, eventually, the government is going to "approve" perversion-friendly and muslim-friendly churches, and "disapprove" or outright ban the others as terrorist or hate-groups
Hope we're out of here before that happens

When and if that happens I will Homechurch!

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

When and if that happens I will Homechurch!

It's happening here, right now, and has been.

But it's not all churches or denominations. It's the apostate ones that seem to get all the press, unless a conservative church has to stand up against or for something, and someone doesn't like it. When the churches work together, like they did after George Floyd, the secular press doesn't make a big deal out of denominations, but it does make a big deal about the good/impact the churches are doing/having in the community.

There's home churches, but some you have to be invited to. Others are like any regular church, in that they have open internet and/or directory presence. It wouldn't surprise me if the ones that require an invite or sponsor are getting ready for persecution.

 

[3Nails4Given]

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” | New King James Version (NKJV) | Download The Bible App Now

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

bible.com