Quantcast
Published On: Fri, May 29th, 2015

United Methodist Church approves of gay marriage, ok for same-sex weddings in churches

The United Methodist Church leadership has voted to submit a proposal to the 2016 General Conference that would remove “prohibitive” language about homosexuality from the United Methodist Book of Discipline.
In response to readers, it must be noted that this is NOT the entire Methodist Church, that decision will be made 2016 at the latest, but there is a growing movement of acceptance in the denomination (BBJ, The Dispatch)
The proposal removes homosexuality and the performance of same-sex weddings from the church’s list of chargeable offenses. Under the proposal, United Methodist pastors would be able to perform same-sex marriages in churches.
The Connection Table group voted 26-10 with one abstaining to submit the proposal.
Bishop Bruce R. Ough, chairman of the Connectional Table, said the group had a “very thoughtful, respectful heartfelt discussion and earnest desire to discern God’s will.”
Jennifer LeClaire, senior editor of Charisma, disagrees. She says pastors are supposed to teach people the “difference between the holy and profane.”
“If we’re going to condone the practice of homosexuality, what’s stopping us from allowing pastors to commit adultery without rebuke?” she wrote in a column for Charisma. “Why not let drunken revelers lead kids church? Why not give greedy thieves and extortioners the responsibility for church finances? The point is, practicing homosexuality is not the only sin the Bible calls out in this verse, as so many gay rights activists like to stress,” she added “So why does the sinful practice of homosexuality, then, get special protection?”
 photo  Julyo based on work by Gilbert Baker, 1979 via wikimedia commons

photo Julyo based on work by Gilbert Baker, 1979 via wikimedia commons

On the DISPATCH: Headlines  Local  Opinion

Subscribe to Weekly Newsletter

* indicates required
/ ( mm / dd ) [ALL INFO CONFIDENTIAL]

About the Author

Displaying 31 Comments
Have Your Say
  1. Your Name... says:

    Do you follow the scripture word for word teaching for teaching? Obviously not when you call out “your” own bible and passages that do not apply because you are not Jewish or revert to it not being applicable or not how it was intended. Where you there when it was written? Where you there to speak to Jesus and ask what his intent was? For people to claim that they follow Jesus and find so much hate and not love is the real thing that is upsetting. You clamor and fall back upon Leviticus 18:22 against gay marriage…but you sit next to and accept openly those that you know are adulterers, abusers of man kind and more which is against the teachings of 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

    • Brandon Jones says:

      Hate?

      It’s hate to not condone homosexuality? It’s hate to not widely accept gay marriage?

      Who is the “WHO” in your statement: “You clamor and fall back upon Leviticus 18:22 against gay marriage…but you sit next to and accept openly those that you know are adulterers, abusers of man kind and more which is against the teachings of 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.”

      The church is very divided on divorce and reconciliation, but softening the doctrine further will never be a good solution. Jesus was all about love, the perfect love that we cannot even understand, but he also came to divide according to the truth.

  2. Bunker Junk: This Week’s Intel Report | Pulpit & Pen says:

    […] United Methodists Propose Full Acceptance of Gay Clergy by The Global Dispatch […]

  3. Linda S says:

    I don’t understand why the Methodist church should be expected to change its core belief system for those who don’t agree with it. If it does, it will seriously hurt Methodism as a church, because who can trust a church that does not stand by its beliefs? The Methodist church is a private organization, basing its beliefs on the Bible, which specifically does not uphold same-sex unions. By definition, it calls marriage a union between a man and a woman. As a private organization, it has the right to have its own creed and function by it, and anyone who doesn’t agree with it chooses not to be a part of it, like any other private organization. If you don’t believe like the Hindus, you are not a Hindu. If you don’t believe like the Muslims, you are not Islamic. You would not force an organization to change its creed in order to join the Kiwanis, Masons, Latter Day Saints, Buddhists, Shintos, etc. If you don’t believe like the Methodists, you are not a Methodist. It is not a slam on you, it is your free choice. You are also free to begin your own church, design your own creed, and register yourself and like-minded members as your own denomination if you want to base your beliefs on a different system. That’s the beauty of living in this country. The right thing to do here is not to coerce an existing private organization into changing its Bible-based creed for a few members who don’t believe the Bible is right. The right thing for these and like-minded people to do is to simply create their own private organization, based on their own belief system. That way we can all exist peacefully together, whether or not we agree. If people of other sexual preferences want the same legal rights and privileges as “married” people, let the states and federal gov’t issue “civil union” certificates, and designate their relationships as “civil unions,” and they can function legally the same way as a marriage. But don’t call something a “marriage” when it isn’t. Marriage is an institution set up by the church that implies procreation as well as sexual union. Mother Nature doesn’t make babies that way. So I think homosexuals should simply call their unions by a different name. Biologically, it is a different type of union that does not produce children. I don’t say this to degrade anyone, it is simply a scientific fact, and thus should be defined differently from a marriage. If homosexuals want the same legal rights as marriages, the states or Feds can be authorized to do that; a church’s sanction is not necessary for legal and fiscal rights. To force the Methodist church into giving marriage certificates for something that isn’t really a marriage is wrong and is an act of bullying, just like forcing Catholic hospitals to perform surgeries for birth control, or forcing a Muslim woman to expose herself, or forcing a vegetarian to eat meat, are all wrong. You should be respectful and supportive of the belief system of an organization when you choose to join it. As a Methodist, you should not force me to accept homosexual unions as marriages. Thank you.

  4. Gary denham says:

    First, EVERYTHING IN THE BIBLE MUST BE ADHERED TO…but talking about old testament laws and using them as things “we can ignore” so we can also ignore homosexuality as a sin shows a severe lack of understanding. Most of those laws do not apply to us but it has nothing to do with it being 2015. It is because we are not JEWISH. Those laws were given to the Hebrew people by God, and Yes, as Christians, we need to do EVERYTHING God asks. Secondly, God commands us to submit to authority and at that time, slavery was permissible both by kings AND by God. God also required that slave Masters treat their slaves with kindness as God had shown them Kindness. The ONLY reason things have changed is because GOD ASKED OR ALLOWED IT and if you read the bible you will see that to be 100% accurate. However, he has NEVER condoned homosexuality. The ONLY PARTY THAT CAN TAKE A SIN OFF THE SIN LOST IS GOD, NOT A “CHURCH”..NOT THE POPE..ONLY GOD. And he hasn’t. Went did I need to repent from my sin but gays don’t? Are they better than me? Do they have more of God’s favor than anyone else that their sin is ok? The truth is that they hate the real God and have made up an alternate version and they call him the same name, but their “god” is not the REAL GOD. And funnily enough, God predicted that would happen….again, if you’d actually read the bible then you’d know this.

  5. heaven says:

    Being in an interracial for 10+ years, I feel the judgements coming from all directions or the obviously rude looks and a couple have had the nerve to mumble hurtful things,Not cool.What makes any of you feel like,you should pass judgement on 2 people who care for each other?? There are many small minded people out there that can’t love outside the box but regardless God has got me and mine 100% no matter who my heart loves

    • Brandon Jones says:

      So you believe race and sexual behavior are the same? And why do you make the moral statement

      What makes any of you feel like,you should pass judgement on 2 people who care for each other??

      Is three people ‘bad’? What about an older man loving a consenting minor or even a relative (incest)?

  6. Your Name...Moses says:

    We Need To Pray About This

  7. Danny Dunson says:

    If it were not for the conservative African churches it would have already passed. If and when it does, the Bible Belt will withdraw from UMC or loose thousands of members. I will be one of the first to go!

  8. Paul says:

    only General Conference can change the stance the church has long held on this issue and that has not happened. This is only one committee’s recommendation and it will not pass.

  9. Ruth says:

    God’s Wrath will come to those who defy him.
    Its going to get crowded in hell….

  10. Rob says:

    The BIBLE supports slavery at times and a man should have children with his brother’s widow if the brother dies before having children. Should we follow these laws?

    • Brandon Jones says:

      Slavery is much of the Bible was not the same as today or that of recent years. A bondservant would work off their debt or obligations to another. The Jewish Law also adhered to the seven year cycles, the Shemitah and Year of Jubilee to wash away those debts, freeing many of those slaves.

      This is a sharp contrast to 2015 and modern culture.

      Regarding the widow’s children: this was about maintaining the lineage, something that Christ never addresses, nor is there a need to. We shouldn’t pick out a teaching for the ancient tribes of Israel and try to apply them to today – we should apply the PRINCIPLES, which are very much needed today.

  11. Rob says:

    The BIBLE supports slavery at times and a man should impregnate his brother’s widow if he dies before having children. Should we follow these laws?

    • Your Name... says:

      Man was the sinner and God was leading the culture away from the culture the people adopted. Read and study the text, who it was written to, as well as the history of the time and culture. You cannot just pull bits and pieces. God has always used the circumstances to teach and change, but man has alays been stubborn.

    • Jet says:

      Whenever I see this old testament practice mentioned by someone, they always present the practice in such a way as to give the impression that the unnamed “brother” is doing something immoral. Why is it always assumed that this practice was done against the will of the woman? It was not. Why is there a rape connotation? It was no such thing. Why do you undermine faith and assume terrible things? A Levirite marriage was considered honorable for the neither and his brothers wife. It was a protection for women, not an abuse.

  12. Patrick Campbell says:

    Ms. Jones, the UMC has done no such thing. This proposal comes from the Connection Table committee, one of many committees, that submit proposals for approval at General Conference every four years (the next General Conference is in 2016). Proposals similar to this have been presented at every General Conference for at least 20 years. These proposals have been defeated every time and I expect this one to be defeated as well. Your headline is misleading and condemns an entire church before any action has been taken. I respectfully ask that you print a retraction and correct your misleading story. If you would like to discuss further, feel free to email me.

    • Brandon Jones says:

      Couldn’t disagree more…In 2012, a majority of American Methodists supported same-sex marriage and now in the wake of US Supreme Court case, we expect the Methodists to be vocal in their call for acceptance, just as this group did.

      I’ve added a disclaimer in the body of the text to clarify that this is NOT the “entire church”

  13. Aliceinwonder says:

    How do I go about resigning? I cannot belong to a false faith that does not follow the gospels.

  14. darrel yonker says:

    that fact that the world and the non christian do it…is fine, I mean they are supposed to sin, some don’t even believe in God, but someone with the bible in hand, and have the audacity to say that had an honest interest in knowing God’s will? I think God’s will is pretty clear about homosexuality

  15. Laurie says:

    I am not God..Therefore I judge no one but myself..

    • Your Name... says:

      You are not God so why judge yourself?

      • Your Name... says:

        Yes, but if you were to read further in the passage it reads, “but if you must judge, judge righteously.”

    • Ray says:

      The Bible says judge as you shall be judge: Matt 7:2

      “For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you again.”

    • Craig says:

      Laurie, this sounds good but it’s not Scriptural

    • Sandi Trusso says:

      I am not God. I judge no person. However, I can and do judge certain chosen behaviors. Why would God have been so specific regarding his rules of behavior if we were not to judge the right or wrong of those behaviors?

  16. judy petty says:

    God made Adam an eve not Adam an Steve,,,my bible says that it is an abomination in the sight of God….my Jesus us not happy with this life style ,,it is a sin….he did not intend on men layin down with men nor women layin down with women….how can y’all call urselves Christians when ur sayin that it’s ok…IT IS NOT OK…THAT IS NOT A CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE….I WUDNT WANT YALL PREACHEIN TO ME,,,YALL WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SOULS THAT YALL R SENDIN TO HELL…

  17. PK says:

    Its gets the special attention because its one of the very few sins God Himself called an “abomination” and the fact that its the only specific sin that God has destroyed entire cities over and added a warning caveat to any others who would practice such evil:

    “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.” – Jude 1:7

  18. Your Name... says:

    I. Whole heartedly agree . So give Gay folks rights …insurance etc . But not sanctioned by God

    • Your Name... says:

      One thing for sure. This denomination does not serve our GOD the FATHER of JESUS who died on the CROSS to save us from our sin..

Leave a comment

XHTML: You can use these html tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

like_us_on_facebook

 

The Global Dispatch Facebook page- click here

Movie News Facebook page - click here

Television News Facebook page - click here

Weird News Facebook page - click here 

DISPATCH RADIO

dispatch_radio

THE BRANDON JONES SHOW

brandon_jones_show-logo

Archives