Skwim
Veteran Member
.
Good for them.
"The United Methodist Church, the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States with more than 12 million members, looks like it will soon split up over the question of whether or not to embrace bigotry.
It’s the right move. Some relationships need to end in divorce.
The entire controversy stemmed from the question of whether individual UMC churches should be allowed to ordain LGBTQ members as ministers and perform same-sex marriages. While the majority of UMC churches in the United States supported that a la carte option, many in other parts of the world actively opposed that idea. Last year, 53% of UMC delegates voted on a plan that basically rejected LGBTQ inclusion for everyone formally affiliated with the church.
That meant pro-inclusion churches were going to have to make a decision: Accept the new rules and say goodbye to LGBTQ leaders in relationships and those who wanted to perform same-sex unions — along with all those younger people who would never voluntarily join such a bigoted denomination. Or make a break and try to run a church with no support from a larger body. That latter option would’ve been difficult for many churches that rely on financial help from the UMC.
Today, however, a new proposal was put forth by UMC leaders. The “Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation” would effectively create a “traditionalist” Methodist denomination — for the bigots — and seed it with $25 million over four years. Because they’re family and I guess you can’t let them go without a peace offering.
The flip side of that is that pro-inclusion churches can remain within the UMC fold and continue supporting LGBTQ members.
Friday’s announcement came as new sanctions were set to go into effect in the church, which would have made punishments for United Methodist Church pastors who perform same-sex weddings much more severe: one year’s suspension without pay for the first wedding and removal from the clergy for any wedding after that.
Instead, leaders from liberal and conservative wings signed an agreement saying they will postpone those sanctions and instead vote to split at the worldwide church’s May general conference."
source
It’s the right move. Some relationships need to end in divorce.
The entire controversy stemmed from the question of whether individual UMC churches should be allowed to ordain LGBTQ members as ministers and perform same-sex marriages. While the majority of UMC churches in the United States supported that a la carte option, many in other parts of the world actively opposed that idea. Last year, 53% of UMC delegates voted on a plan that basically rejected LGBTQ inclusion for everyone formally affiliated with the church.
That meant pro-inclusion churches were going to have to make a decision: Accept the new rules and say goodbye to LGBTQ leaders in relationships and those who wanted to perform same-sex unions — along with all those younger people who would never voluntarily join such a bigoted denomination. Or make a break and try to run a church with no support from a larger body. That latter option would’ve been difficult for many churches that rely on financial help from the UMC.
Today, however, a new proposal was put forth by UMC leaders. The “Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation” would effectively create a “traditionalist” Methodist denomination — for the bigots — and seed it with $25 million over four years. Because they’re family and I guess you can’t let them go without a peace offering.
The flip side of that is that pro-inclusion churches can remain within the UMC fold and continue supporting LGBTQ members.
Friday’s announcement came as new sanctions were set to go into effect in the church, which would have made punishments for United Methodist Church pastors who perform same-sex weddings much more severe: one year’s suspension without pay for the first wedding and removal from the clergy for any wedding after that.
Instead, leaders from liberal and conservative wings signed an agreement saying they will postpone those sanctions and instead vote to split at the worldwide church’s May general conference."
source
Good for them.
.
Last edited:
