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Loading ...Methodists bar gay marriage ceremonies
04.29.2009 4:13pm EDT
(Denver, Colorado) United Methodist clergy cannot perform same-sex marriages or gay civil unions even if their regional church district supports the idea, the denomination’s high court ruled.
The Judicial Council said that a church district or annual conference cannot “negate, ignore or violate” churchwide discipline, even if they disagree with the policy.Last year, the top church legislative body, or General Conference, voted to retain its ban on same-sex marriages and ban clergy from performing the ceremonies or consecrating same-gender unions in the church. Pastors who violate the discipline risk losing their clergy credentials.
The council decision, released Monday after a court meeting in Denver, came in the case of two regional Methodist groups that had issued resolutions supporting clergy who perform same-gender marriages.
The California-Nevada Annual Conference had backed retired pastors who perform the ceremonies. The California-Pacific Conference had recognized “the pastoral need and prophetic authority of our clergy and congregations to offer the ministry of marriage ceremonies for same-gender couples.”
The state Supreme Court in California had approved gay marriage last year, but voters reinstated a ban on same-gender marriage last November through the Proposition 8 ballot measure.
Testing
I was baptized in the United Methodist Church as an infant. But now I feel compelled to officially rescind my membership.
If I’m not worthy of life-long love, then they are not worthy of my time and talents.
Well..then if they insist on going with the bible…then I hope they aren’t eating bacon…(eating pork is also an abomination)..and yep..according to the bible it is okay to have slaves. God gave us a brain!!! Holy cow!!!! Let’s use it! I did not choose to be gay in this crazy society..who would? AND!!!! As Christians..in the bible….Jesus never said anything about homosexuality..sigh!
The more that shrinking, mainstream Protestant denominations refuse to move into the future, the more they seal their own fate. People who go to church want, in large measure, to be entertained and be told what to do. That’s what (frequently nondenominational) megachurches do, and they do it even better than the Catholics. Meanwhile, you have the internal conflicts among Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians, and all are on shaky demographic ground. Thinking people don’t want to be told what to do, and dimwits want sound and music to grab their short attention spans.
Thinking churches–like the Unitarians and the UCC–will never be the majority. They will always be small and noteworthy for assuming that congregants can think for themselves and are fully capable of individual communication with their god. The Methodists will never regain the power they had in American society in the ninieteenth century; if they want to survive, they need to embrace the future instead of hiding from it.
The huge Pew Center poll found that a majority of United Methodists believe homosexuality should be accepted. So this decision by the Council, in my view, doesn’t reflect the views of the denomination.
As a United Methodist who is questioning, this is disappointing, but not unexpected considering previous policies. I personally believe this is a failure of church government to accurately represent the views of many members and congregations. As to why I stay in the United Methodist Church: I firmly believe that our triune God calls us to community, and that we humans are most fully ourselves in community with God and with one another. So while I dissent what the UMC policies, I remain a part of it, urging it to change.
RE: “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You”
That isn’t universal, but I believe the GLBTQAI Episcopalian organization, Integrity, DOES maintain a list of “affirming” congregations (I believe that’s what they’re called).
In the Episcopal diocese of San Diego, the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul IS an affirming congregation (Integrity meets there, and is listed in the cathedral bulletin), though the bishop doesn’t yet permit the blessing of same-sex civil marriages that took place June-November of 2008.
Rumor has it that St. James Church in La Jolla is ignoring him.
The flagship anglo-catholic church, in the midst of the Hillcrest gay ghetto, All Saints’ on 6th Ave., is playing a two-faced game. The rector “welcomes” the neighborhood, but is steadfastly opposed to gay ordinations and gay marriage.
How that’s welcoming escapes me.
I am always glad when the bigots show their true colors. Anyone who would remain in such a bigoted Church ipso facto endorses the bigotry.
Out the doors guys. Why won’t you go to gay-affirming churches???!! You can’t all be that dumb!
The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!
I really don’t think name-calling is an effective or informed response to intolerance. Opposing prejudice with prejudice is a little like saying, “I’m opposed to violence, and I’m gonna beat the #$%& out of anyone who disagrees with me.”
The massive Pew Center survey showed that most mainline Protestants think homosexuality should be accepted: 56% compared to only 34% who think it should be discouraged. Mainline Methodists are a bit more reticent on the issue, but 51% think homosexuality should be accepted. Incidentally, positions on specific issues like ENDA tend to be much more favorable than on this general question.
To me, it doesn’t make sense to call people idiots when a majority of them support us.
Overall results:
http://religions.pewforum.org/comparisons#
Results for mainline Protestant denominations:
http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=245
What if they rang the bells and no one showed up? What would happen if the collection plates came back empty? How many of the Church elders or decision makers have been unfaithful? What is it that they are afraid of that they must enact such ridiculous bans? What if the GLBT commumnity decided to stop sharing their resources? It’s ok to let us in your doors and take our money to support your cause, but it’s not ok to allow us the same opportunities that you all take for granted….. Hmmmm, maybe the Elders & Lawmakers need to rethink or re-read the book of Conscience…..
Anoteh Christian cult shows its true colors. Honestly, who ever cares anymore about what these brainwashed idiots think?
What a bittersweet day. I log in to find that the NH Senate did vote for gay marriage. Here in our own state of Colorado, legislation is on the way to the Governers desk to give benefits to partners of state employees, but yet, in my own backyard, in my own church, the Methodist Judicial Council says that I don’t count.
Well I do, we all do and I will not let this erode my faith, in God, my congregation and that we can yet someday change the church as a whole.
For those of you with bad experiences, please know that there is amongst the Methodist a grassroots organization of Reconciling Ministries. I am the chairman of our Reconciling Committee at our church here in Denver.
We are a loving, faith based congregation that does not care who or what you are in the secular world, but when you enter into our building, you will be valued for your sacred worth.
So if you are looking for a church home, go on line, look up the Methodist Reconciling Ministries, find a congregation near you and find out what true Christain love is all about! And then you can help change the injustice from the inside.
Blah, blah, blah. Do whatever you want in your cults. Just keep your religious dogma out of secular institutions, okay?