By Barton Gingerich
So this happened after the first petition (among several) approving homosexual activity within the United Methodist Church got shot down.
This came at the tail end of several notable defeats for revisionist groups (under the umbrella Love Your Neighbor Coalition): the conference rolled the incredibly left-wing GMCORR/GCOSROW into GBCS, overwhelmingly opposed divestment against Israel, and again gave more representation to predominately conservative Central Conferences. In reaction to all of this and to reaffirm their position, LYN once again interrupted the General Conference. This time they stayed so long that even after the half-hour break, the meeting had to be postponed for about another 3 hours, thus burning precious time. Adding insult to injury, this same dissident cadre hosted a protest Communion service. Since several of them are openly living in sexually promiscuous relationships, this activity may be construed as a desecration of the Lord’s Table.
No doubt these protests sadden faithful Christians. Such attention-seeking or the critique thereof rarely end fruitfully. However, I think there are a few helpful questions to ask. First, what kind of emotional and spiritual development yields such behavior? Do we want to adopt LYN’s policy recommendations as they throw temper tantrums whenever the rules work against their favor? Do we want to be formed by God’s Word or rather form it? Could the bishops have done more to preclude this feckless activity? What can be done to reduce the disruption and harm against the General Conference?
Comment by eMatters on May 4, 2012 at 11:05 am
“What can be done to reduce the disruption and harm against the General Conference?”
Simple: Get the names of those disrupting the proceedings and refuse admittance at future conferences.
Like the men of Sodom, these people are blinded to the truth but keep groping around in the dark.
Comment by SHE on May 4, 2012 at 11:23 am
Yes, what was it the Serpent said to Eve?
Comment by Howard Merrell on May 4, 2012 at 12:01 pm
“Do we want to be formed by God’s Word or rather form it?”
Core question.
Comment by Creed Pogue on May 4, 2012 at 12:20 pm
When they refused to disperse, they should have been arrested. Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly mean nothing if others are allowed to act in a thuggish way to disrupt it.
The bishops made and continue to make a major mistake because they continue to appease which results in more and more outrages.
Comment by Mike on May 4, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Amen. As Chamberlain learned at Munich, and as all of us learn when our kids are about 2, appeasement never works.
Comment by Jeff on May 4, 2012 at 1:41 pm
the protests will end when the rules about sex end.
Comment by Creed Pogue on May 8, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Those willing to face the truth fully understand that to be the stance of those who wish to change the ordination standards. Which is why it is the height of folly and naivete to continue to negotiate or for the bishops to continue to operate under the idea that letting them blow off steam is somehow healthy.
They should not have been allowed on the floor to begin with. When they stormed into the midst of the proceedings and refused to leave then they should have been arrested and detained. Those who are clergy should have had additional consequences.
The only “persuasion” that is being applied is simply intimidation (aka “bullying”). The leadership of the United Methodist Church should stop tolerating it.
Comment by Ray Worsham on May 4, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Amen. There are plenty of denominations for those who believe there is no sin, let them go there and not have to feel the “pain” of not having their sin validated. Who is the bully? Praise God. May we be his people.
Comment by Mike on May 4, 2012 at 12:23 pm
The problem is a failure of leadership. The Bishops were running the meeting, and basically let this happen. The responsibility for the wasted time is theirs. Anyone who cannot run a decent meeting does not deserve to be in leadership.
Pingback by McHenry County Blog | Coverage of Conservative Methodists’ Victory over Homosexual Activists Missing in Chicago Papers on May 4, 2012 at 1:16 pm
[…] the homosexuals took over the convention floor to demonstrate their frustrations (or “Temper Tantrum,” as the Institute for Religion and Democracy puts […]
Comment by Rev. Andy Oliver on May 8, 2012 at 10:06 am
My thoughts on the matter: http://alturl.com/aadip
Comment by Creed Pogue on May 8, 2012 at 12:44 pm
I don’t know about your “personal leave” or the identity of the person with their hand on your shoulder.
“Holy conferencing” and demonstrations are mutually exclusive activities. The demonstrators should have been arrested and spent a night in jail. If you are going to claim that they have anything in common with the civil rights protesters of the 1960s, then they shouldn’t be angry about that.