RMN

LGBTQ Activists: UMC Must “Immediately Halt” Discipline

on May 31, 2016

At their General Conference (GC) this month, United Methodists agreed to table the issue of human sexuality until a special commission makes its recommendations in the next two to four years. But LGBTQ activists don’t want to wait that long. They are pushing bishops to officially stop disciplining rogue clergy in the United Methodist Church (UMC) during the interim.

During GC in Portland, Ore., delegates agreed to forming the special commission on May 18 at the bequest of the UMC’s Council of Bishops (COB). That was despite widespread support to retain the biblical understanding of the denomination that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.” But the delegates decision wasn’t enough for the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), a major pro-LGBTQ coalition active in the UMC.

Following close in the wake of the vote, RMN started a petition asking the COB to “immediately halt all legislated harm towards LGBTQ people” before even forming a commission, much less before that commission deliberates or makes its recommendations. RMN alleged that the UMC has been guilty of “discriminating against LGBTQ persons and punishing allies” for the past 44 years.

RMN specifically called for the COB to suspend the denomination’s rules “barring qualified candidates for the ministry and active LGBTQ clergy, prohibiting same-sex marriages within UMC sanctuaries and forbidding UMC clergy from officiating same-sex weddings.” These rules “contradict God’s love and justice,” according to coalition.

The RMN-sponsored petition had 5,793 signatures at the time of this writing. RMN said it will send the following letter to the COB:

We demand that the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church (UMC) immediately halt all legislated harm towards LGBTQ people and their allies as it moves expeditiously on the work of the special commission on “human sexuality.” This includes barring qualified candidates for the ministry, prohibiting same-sex marriages within UMC sanctuaries and forbidding UMC clergy from officiating same-sex weddings.

Punishment of LGBTQ persons and allies is at the heart of the growing divide in The United Methodist Church. Immediately stopping all such actions is the only way to ensure the work of the special commission has credibility and can work towards a solution or set of solutions that will finally mend The UMC.

  1. Comment by Eternity Matters on May 31, 2016 at 3:20 pm

    These wolves have been actively violating the rules for years and causing great disruptions in the denomination. These pawns of Satan should have been fired long ago.

  2. Comment by Dan on May 31, 2016 at 3:49 pm

    When I first read the headline I thought, wait a minute, is the LGBTQ group now hating on S&M Methodists and harming them through denying them the “discipline” they ardently desire? Oh well, as Emily Litella used to say on Saturday Night Live, “never mind.” 🙂

    I’m again reminded of the Donna Summer lyrics that should be put on a RMN bumper sticker – “Give me your unconditional love, the kind of love I deserve.”

  3. Comment by Mark Brooks on May 31, 2016 at 4:47 pm

    This is actually a good thing.

    This will put the bishops the spot, so to speak, and force them to identify their loyalties.

    Those who choose the world can then be identified without question, and removed from office, if not immediately, then eventually.

    Evil is harming itself.

  4. Comment by Nutstuyu on June 2, 2016 at 2:22 pm

    I can tell you one: Bishop Sally Dyck of the Northern Illinois Conference where the entire Board of Ordained Ministry is disobeying the BOD.

  5. Comment by ken on May 31, 2016 at 5:04 pm

    For the Christian, a “must” can only come from the New Testament.

  6. Comment by Puddleglumm on May 31, 2016 at 9:55 pm

    Apparently they will happy if and when the UMC ceases to be Christian.

  7. Comment by Gregg on June 1, 2016 at 7:52 am

    It’s the only Christian thing to do . . .

  8. Comment by David F. Miller on June 1, 2016 at 9:14 am

    The Book of Discipline and Biblical teaching must be enforced. Think of the mischief that an additional thousand gay clergy can do.

  9. Comment by Philip on June 1, 2016 at 9:42 am

    “Bishops also have the responsibility to see that the rules and regulations developed by General Conference are carried out.” For the bishops to carry out such an action, it would render the GC meaningless and create a legislative crisis in the church.

  10. Comment by John "Kahless" Taylor on June 1, 2016 at 11:11 am

    Let me get this straight, this group wants a Christian organization to stop preaching about a certain sin and then advocate that this sin is not a sin anymore? So should they stop preaching that adultery is sin? How about bestiality? More and more the prophecies in the book of Revelation are coming true.

  11. Comment by Joan Watson on June 1, 2016 at 3:12 pm

    “Punishment of LGBTQ persons and allies is at the heart of the growing divide in The United Methodist Church.”

    This makes me laugh. We can’t even agree on what is dividing the United Methodist Church. From my perspective, at the heart of the growing divide in The United Methodist Church is those that flaunt the authority of General Conference which is the only thing we have that is designated to speak for the whole church. And since 1972 it has spoken loud and clear on this issue. And I am beginning to hear talk that this current commission is the fourth since 1988; the previous three recommended acceptance of same gender relationships and three General Conferences disagreed with their findings. Shortly before GC2016, I realized they don’t get that the Bishops can not give them what they ask for; only General Conference can. And we are supposed to go forward in unity?

  12. Comment by MJ on June 1, 2016 at 7:29 pm

    “They are pushing bishops to officially stop disciplining rogue clergy in the United Methodist Church (UMC) during the interim.”

    This is exactly the strategy that worked so well in the ELCA. Discontinue the discipline, create the new LGBTQI facts on the ground, chase off the opposition, then take a vote. Don’t fall for it!

  13. Comment by Nutstuyu on June 2, 2016 at 2:18 pm

    Cool lets stop punishing all the folks “born with” desires to lie, streak, be violent, adultery, drunkenness, etc. BTW when is RMN going to advocate for bisexuals right to marry who they love (i.e. more than one)?

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