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HondurasKeiser wrote:A reminder to be in prayer for the upcoming United Methodist General Conference in February.
My uncle is a pastor in the UMC in Southwestern PA; at Christmastime there were hushed and consternated conversations between some of the aunts and uncles about which way the Conference would go: One Church Plan or Traditional Plan.
I know must of us have few if any ties to the UMC and so it may seem inconsequential to us.
I suggest though that the UMC, as the last of the Mainline Churches to hold out on full-inclusion of LGBTQ+ congregants, still has real cultural clout in certain regions of the country.
If yet another institution is knocked over by the steamroller of LGBTQ+ celebration, the ripple effects will definitely be felt.
The Institute on Religion & Democracy has been tirelessly covering the lead-up to Conference.
If you want some eye-opening insight into the stratagems of the LGBTQ+ lobby and how it has been so effortlessly deployed in institutions as disparate as the APA, New York Times, MCUSA, MCC, EMU & the New York City Penal Code; read the following
article
and be sure to click the attendant links.
My principle interest in the Methodist church situation is reading HK’s insights.
i have no plans to attend or join a Methodist church, altho, i’m sorry to say that.
No matter what pretty, PC, diplomatic words are chosen, the bottom line is as HK describes, and, they aren’t playing games. The public statement is something, but, bottom line, it doesn’t conflict with what the now sadly alienated older members are experiencing.
In the last 10 years or so, there has been plenty of chatter about, “We just have to wait for the old people to die” .. it’s not uncommon to hear this kind of thing from those in responsible positions, even in political office. Evidently, some are tired of waiting.
This pastor has $250,000 and a young appointee whose only goal, by their own words, is to remake the church into their preferred vision. They throw in various Bible-speak words to legitimize it.
i have witnessed in my life, older people who were active, vital, contributing members of churches become alienated and pushed aside. it’s not unusual for them to say, “i don’t know anyone at my church anymore.” this happens without formal plans to discontinue services, or large grants to overhaul churches.
what goes around comes around.
for these investing all they have into their new visions, they will one day be the older ones being pushed aside. possibly worse, when younger people witness elders treated this way, altho convenient for them in the moment, they may be unlikely to invest themselves as they might have wanted to ..
witnessing “home” churches become obsolete, like everything else in their disposable worlds.
(i believe) serious disruptions began in the 1990’s, with women in ministry, and normalizing everything homosexual. others may know better. since, MANY have felt, “i did not leave my church, my church left me.” i am one. when the investment is great, there may not be any getting over it. many live with a lot of sadness. there is plenty of it on this forum.
it might have been more dignified for all to let the small church die a natural death, the others could have started what they wanted without traumatizing this small group.
“a death is easier than a divorce.”
Lead Pastor Wetterstrom wrote:
.. “This project is rooted in our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for transformation of [to] the world.” .. ..
i would change that one preposition.
Slate Religion:
.. This suggestion that members delay their return to the church by up to 18 months was the main source of the controversy.
“It was a bolt from the blue, handed down from on high and very shocking to the current members,” said Jim Baker, 82, who founded the church in 1989 and now attends as a member.
“The congregation was eager and totally open to a new approach, and particularly to [the idea of]
a new minister [being] appointed or to start[ing] a renewal process. But they really wanted to be included in that.”
(Wetterstrom insisted that the timeline is a suggestion, and that no one will be turned away.) ..
When people are in their 80’s and 90’s, they do not take for granted they will live or be as well functioning 15-18 months down the road, neither are they certain about their friends’ needs and lives. life is precarious.
as well, is there any scriptural basis to stop+restart a church group in this “Methodist way to congregational bliss?” if so, i’m foggy on it. it does sound “methodical.”
That’s why the members are so fiercely loyal, he said.