Once Declared "Evil To The Core" African Methodists Make A Stand

Thanks largely to the African Methodists of one of the United States largest denominations, the United Methodist Church will maintain the integrity of the scriptures by refusing to extend rights of membership to homosexual couples and individuals seeking such without repenting or turing from their lifestyle.

What was effectively rejected was known as Amendment 1. Under this amendment all one had to do was affirm or establish a relationship with Christ. They would then be "eligible to become professing members in any local church in the connection". The amendment failed to receive two thirds support of the membership in 27 out of the 44 conferences reporting results.

How Did Such Amendment Get On The Table?

According to the United Methodist Church website, A Methodist Pastor refused to receive a homosexual man into membership in 2005, because the proposed member would not repent nor seek to live a different lifestyle. According to the article a report was made to the Bishop and the pastor was placed on a leave of absence.

Later that same year (10/2005), the Judicial Council ruled that United Methodist pastors have authority to decide who becomes a member of a local church and reinstated the pastor. That case triggered appeals to the Judicial Council, but the court declined to reconsider its ruling.

Leading Up To This

The United Methodist Church seems to have been balancing this issue for a number of years in their General Conference's establishment of rules regulations and resolutions. In the 2000 Book of Discipline and 2000 Book of Resolutions the following statements were made:

Section: Inclusiveness Of The Church
"The United Methodist Church is a part of the church universal, which is one Body in Christ. Therefore all persons shall be eligible to attend its worship services, to participate in its programs, and, when they take the appropriate vows, to be admitted into its membership in any local church in the connection."

Section: "Human Sexuality"
Subsection: "The Nurturing Community,"
"Homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth. All persons need the ministry and guidance of the church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship that enables reconciling relationships with God, with others, and with self. Although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching, we affirm that God's grace is available to all. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn their lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons."

What could possible have saved this organization was the policy adopted in Aug. 1998 which states the following:

Section: Law Dealing With Clergy
Sub-Section: Unauthorized Conduct
"Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches."

According to the Judicial Council clergy in violation of this rule could be charged with violating the order and discipline of the church. They can be tried in a church court, and penalties upon conviction can include loss of ministerial credentials.

Soulforce, a Christian gay rights activist group headed by apostate theologian Mel White, has previously stated:

"It is as much our moral responsibility not to cooperate with evil as it is to cooperate with good. The United Methodist Church has become evil at its core."

These statements were in response to the United Methodist rejecting gay inclusion by a vote of nearly 2 to 1 in May of 2000. 191 gay activists and one United Methodist Bishop were arrested as a result of the General Conference's vote. The Soulforce website says the following about The United Methodist church:

"The United Methodist Church, with over 10 million members, condemns homosexual persons by calling all sexual activity between people of the same gender as "incompatible with Christian teachings." The denomination also forbids its ministers from performing both marriages and commitmitment ceremonies for same-gender couples. Additionally, United Methodist Church doctrine bans "self-avowed practing homosexuals" from the clergy.

Delusion and Misdirection

One of the greatest delusions of the homosexual agenda is the confusion as found in the writings of Soulforce. To assert that the United Methodist Church "condemns homosexual persons" by not allowing them membership to the church is a LIE and obfuscation of the truth.

The only "person" that would be condemned under the United Method Church rule would be the person who love their SIN more than they love God. The real question is why should homosexual individuals be given preferential treatment in membership? For example in 2004 the United Methodist Church adopted the following regulations regarding REPENTANT pedophiles and their participation within the church:

ADOPTED 2004 READOPTED 2008 (Resolution # 8009)Resolution #355, 2004 Book of Resolutions:

"We encourage the Church to provide a safe environment, counsel, and support for the victim. While we deplore the actions of the abuser, we affirm that person to be in need of God’s redeeming love."

"Welcoming a child sex offender into a congregation must be accompanied by thorough knowledge, careful planning, and long-term monitoring..."A convicted and/or registered sex offender who wishes to be part of a church community should expect to have conditions placed on his or her participation. Indeed, offenders who have been in treatment and are truly committed to living a life free of further abuse will be the first to declare that, in order to accomplish that, they must structure a life that includes on-going treatment, accountability mechanisms, and lack of access to children"

The repentant pedophile is welcomed similar to the repentant homosexual. This is simply an example that issues of sexual immorality of all kinds have been addressed by this church. What is really at question by the dissenters is the word of the Lord against homosexuality. Unfortunately too many believers are not convinced that the bible condemns the practice of homosexuality and have no idea as to how to navigate the scriptures regarding such activities. I have addressed one aspect of that question in my article Homosexuality In The New Testament.

Closing Remarks:

Thank God there are individuals such as Bishop James Stanton of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, willing to stand against sin as referenced by Gcmwatch.com, it is incumbent upon the church both leaders and its members to stand and continue to stand against evil of all kinds and sorts. Homosexuality is not the ONLY issue facing the 21st century church but it is a major and one that challenges the future morality of the nation and the church. Whether science ever finds a homosexual gene or not, homosexuality is immoral and a practice that should be repented of so that fellowship with Christ and his church can be established. Those who reject the gospel truth against unrighteousness are the ones that are "evil to the core" not the ones who desire to uphold biblical morality.

Blessed!

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A Blast From The Past: Recap Of 2008 Mega Church "Americas Family Outing"

"Our relationships are just as sacred to us as yours,...The only difference, at the end of the day, is instead of a man and a lady, we are two ladies." ~ Michelle Freeman 42

"I am taking a stand for the God I love, who I know made us all equal," ~ Georgia Chambers 39

1 year ago there was an event known as the "American Family Outing" in which 6 mega churches were targeted for visits by gay activists underwritten by groups such as Soulforce, The National Black Justice Coalition; MCC; and COLAGE. Their aim was to challenge anti-gay messages in places of worship seeking to prove that gay families are every bit as important and morally and biblically right as heterosexual based families. According to Soulforce.org the churches and Pastors that were targeted for visits from Mother's Day to Father's Day 2008 were as follows:

Mega Churches Known To Avoid Gay Issues:

Lake Wood Church in Houston, Joel Osteen, pastor (Who gladly met with them)

Saddleback Church in Southern California, Rick Warren, founding pastor (Who says Soulforce lied about the visit)

The Potter's House in Texas, Bishop T.D. Jakes, pastor

Two Others Serve Up A More Familiar Anti-Gay Message:

Hope Christian Church in Maryland, Bishop Harry Jackson Jr.

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, Bishop Eddie Long,

Lastly One Church Deemed With A Traditional Message Against Homosexuality:

Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois, Bill Hybels, senior pastor

From the original Soulforce article:

• "the Outing visitors hope to sow seeds of love and understanding so that, one day, mega-churches will help to end physical and spiritual violence against gays." ~ Deb Price

Now the physical violence part I believe we all agree with...but what is spiritual violence? Maybe it's name calling etc...but to tell someone that they are in SIN is exactly what the church is called to do. Please don't tell me that "spiritual violence" is to preach the bible???

2008 Results:

According to The Dallas News.Com representatives of the Americas Family Outing had the following to say after making the rounds through various mega-churches:

• "We also learned that an openly gay or lesbian person cannot become a member or serve in most of the churches we visited. When LGBT people hear that 'all are welcome' at a mega-church, we encourage them to investigate the quality of that welcome...On the other hand, we also learned that support for reparative therapy and other kinds of ex-gay programs seems to be diminishing. We heard more talk about celibacy and less talk about change."

The Good:

Although some of the pastors chose not to directly address the issue, most of the churches seemingly displayed their abibility (at least when put on the spot) to stand for traditional Christian and moral values. That was an encouraging thing as mega-churches often take the hit for being liberal in their views of Christian living. So kudos to whomever the representatives were that displayed to the Outing Visitors that the change of the church would not be had through the mega church.

The Bad:

There was less talk about deliverance and being set free and more talk about just avoiding the activity of homosexuality. In line with what many think of mega-churches, there was not a push to bring individuals caught tempted by sin into true deliverance. The question I have is what have these churches done or said in response to homosexuality and in particular this effort to indoctrinize the church since then?

Homosexual & Lesbian Presuppositional Thinking:

One thing is obvious. The Outing visitors thought that they were on a Christian missionary journey in order to spread the "good news" of gay inclusion. The statements of two of the organizers listed above, reveal that part of the gay agenda is to create a sense of moral equality along with physical equality. For instance, to say something like "our relationship is just as sacred as yours" (contrasting homosexual relationships to heterosexual relationships) is very telling. These individuals think their biblically defined SIN, is something that is blessed and ordained by God. They also reduce the difference of their relationships to being only a physical "body" not a spiritual and moral value. In other words, the thought is that homosexuals can maintain equivalent and valid heterosexual moral values.

The problem and question is on what basis are those judgements made? What is the standard of that judgement? Is it a subjective value, subject to change, or is it an objective value, one that is absolute at all times and in all ages? Further, I have heard commentary from those who believe in homosexual moral equality suggesting that they "know" that homosexuality is right. The bible is absolutely clear in both the Old Testament and New Testament that is is condemned and is a SIN. So I would like to know from those who are homosexual advocates, how is your knowledge of homosexual moral equality and acceptance gained and what is the basis for how that is known?

One may think that I just want an argument, but I do not. I really want to have a forthright conversation based on how this behavior is reconciled both spiritually and naturally.

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