The Mississippi Conference has reached a financial crisis. Apportionments have risen higher than our churches can afford. One of main reasons for this is the rising cost of health insurance and pensions for our clergy. This alone now makes up about 46% of our apportionments, which leaves too few dollars for ministries.
A proposal will be presented to the 2008 Annual Conference which offers a possible solution. This proposal is to simply remove health insurance and pensions from the apportionments and bill each local church directly for its own clergy’s health insurance and pension. This would be (at the present time) about $16,000 per clergy. This change would be made in four phases, and the time table for each phase is not yet decided. However, by the end of the process, apportionments would be lowered some 46%, and the local churches would face an increased cost of $16,000 per clergy. (Of course, the increase would really be more assuming a continuing increase in the cost of insurance.)
Here is a proposal that actually lowers apportionments without the conference having to cut spending. However, before we jump on this solution, we should seriously consider the consequences.
First, this proposal would devastate many medium and small membership churches. For example, there is a very vital small United Methodist Church in Winston County with a full time pastor. They are in ministry to the needy in our community. They give to missions. They have a great children’s program. They minister to the elderly. Their pastor gives leadership to the District. They faithfully pay their apportionments, which are about $17,000 per year. Their apportionments are determined by the very same formula that that determines the apportionments of the biggest churches. Direct billing would result in approximately an $8,100 increase in costs to this vital small church. (That is about a 16,000 in direct billing plus 9,180 in other apportionments.) This would be an impossible burden for this vital small congregation to bear. Every charge with a full time pastor whose apportionments are less than $35,000 per year is going to be hurt by this.
At the same time, one of our largest churches would get a reduction in costs of about $300,000. We would really be shifting apportionments from the big churches to little churches. While this might allow some big churches to do more ministry, the ministry in many more small and medium size churches would be crippled. Personally, I do not believe that all effective ministry takes place in big churches.
Many small to medium size churches which now have full time pastors would be forced to switch to part-time pastors. This would put them, and our conference, on the road to rapid decline. This has been the experience in Arkansas since switching to this Direct Billing system.
Second, the proposal would weaken our connectional system. It has been a part of our connection that the stronger churches help the smaller ones have effective ministry. Personally, I believe that no money which my church sends to Jackson is better spent than the dollars that help some smaller churches have a full time pastor.
If the local church pays all of salary, all of the insurance, and all of pension of the pastor, then the local church and the pastor will grow to see the relationship as employer / employee. Loyalty to the connection will inevitably be weakened.
Many small churches already feel the conference does not care about them. Direct billing will pour gasoline on this smoldering fire of resentment. Direct billing of pensions and insurance will deeply divide the Mississippi Conference.
Third, the proposal would endanger our hospital insurance program. In the former North Mississippi Conference, health insurance was direct billed until the mid 1970’s. There came a crisis point because anyone under 50 years of age could (and still can) get insurance cheaper from private companies. Young and healthy people were getting out, and the conference hospital insurance was crashing. It was clear that an insurance program which included all the pastors was needed to save the program. The only way to make that happen was to apportion the pastor’s hospital premiums. This saved our insurance program.
What will keep the same the same thing from happening again?
Fourth, the proposal simply will not work. The small and medium size churches will simply not be able to pay apportionments if they are given a $16,000 plus increase in cost for their pastor’s insurance and pensions. Many will pay their pastors insurance and pensions and not pay apportionments. The result will be less money for apportioned ministries, not more.
The fact is that direct billing does not reduce costs one penny. Insurance and pensions will still cost the same amount. It will only shift those costs to the smaller and mid-size churches.
Direct billing is simply a way to avoid making the real structural changes that are required to reduce costs.
For these reasons, I urge everyone to reject the Direct Billing of insurance and pensions.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
GENERAL CONFERENCE: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
General Conference 2008 has come and gone. As I look back upon what happened at this General Conference, I see the good, the bad, and the ugly.
THE GOOD:
In the face of an unprecedented attack by the pro-gay movement, the United Methodist Church stood firm on its scriptural position regarding homosexuality. Delegates upheld the church’s stance that homosexual practice is “incompatible with Christian teaching” by a vote of 501-417. General Conference also retained the language with defines marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman. The church continues to prohibit the ordination of practicing homosexuals.
General Conference upheld language in the Book of Discipline supporting the pastor’s authority to determine readiness for church membership by a narrow 446-438 vote. This was a crucial decision because it maintained the integrity of the vows of membership.
General Conference struck a proper balance by passing a resolution condemning homophobia and opposing “all forms of violence or discrimination based on gender, gender identity, sexual practice or sexual orientation.” We oppose the sin of homosexual practices, just as we oppose any other sin. However, we love all sinners, including homosexuals. We are all sinners in need of God’s grace. Christ is able to forgive and set one free from any sin, including homosexual practices.
Another good decision by General Conference was to determine the number of bishops on the basis of membership. Bishops will now be assigned on the basis of one for 300,000 members. This will result in a decrease of one bishop in every United States jurisdiction except for the Southeastern Jurisdiction. Until now the Western and the Northeastern Jurisdiction have had more voice than their membership should entitle them to have. This action will help correct this inequity, and it will strengthen the voice of our Southeastern Jurisdiction. The Church will realize a savings of 4.8 million dollars as a result, which can be used to fund new episcopal areas overseas where the Methodist Church is growing.
Delegates rejected a petition to reduce the size of future General Conference sessions from about 1,000 delegates to number between 500 and 600. The problem with such a reduction is that General Conference would become less representative. Small membership conferences in the Western and Northeastern Jurisdictions would get a disproportionately large voice if the number was reduced. General Conference was wise to reject this.
General Conference rejected three petitions calling for church divestment from companies doing business with Israel. The General Board of Church and Society had already withdrawn a petition to divest from Caterpillar Corporation for the same reason.
A wonderful action by General Conference was to streamline the ordination process for ministerial candidates. When I entered the ministry, the process was straightforward and clear. It is now so confusing and complicated that few District Superintendents understand it. We have a severe shortage of young pastors, and many are discouraged from United Methodist ministry by the process. General Conference passed new legislation allowing people to enter the discernment process for candidacy after one year (instead of two years) of involvement in a United Methodist church, and, may now enter the process through their campus ministry. That is significant because many young people are called to ministry through the work of Wesley Foundations. The probationary period of candidacy will now be known as “provisional membership” and be shortened from three years to two years. I believe these are very positive steps.
A constitutional amendment was passed giving Local Pastors who have completed the Course of Study the right to vote for delegates to future General Conferences. The amendment also gave these voting privileges to deacons, associate members and provisional members. To qualify to vote, Local Pastors must have been under appointment two consecutive years preceding General Conference elections. The Mississippi Conference had petitioned General Conference to give Local Pastors these voting privileges. Like any constitutional change, this must be approved by two thirds of the annual conferences before taking effect.
The delegates approved a $642 million budget for the next four years, which is 4.8 percent higher than the spending plan for the 2005-2008 period. A 4.8 percent increase over four years is not unreasonable. Delegates took their financial responsibilities seriously.
THE BAD:
I was very disappointed with the Judicial Council elections. The Judicial Council has stood between the United Methodist Church and schism during the past four years. They courageously upheld the prohibition on practicing homosexuals serving as United Methodist ministers. At this General Conference a much more liberal Judicial Council was elected. I asked one of the evangelicals, who was voted off the Judicial Council, “How much trouble are we in with this new Judicial Council.” She replied, “Lots of trouble. The firewall is gone.”
This new Judicial Council will be quickly tested by those with radical agendas for our church. Let us pray that this new Judicial Council upholds the Discipline. Otherwise, decisions by this Judicial Council may result in schism in the United Methodist Church within a very few years. This is the most immediate threat to the survival of the United Methodist Church.
I am glad that Mississippi’s Joe May was elected as first alternate on the Judicial Council. Joe should get to vote on the Council often, and he can be depended upon to support the Scripture and the Discipline of our Church. Joe was nominated by Bishop Ward, and he was supported by the Confessing Movement and other evangelical groups. Joe was the one bright spot on a very disappointing Judicial Council election.
Another disappointment was that General Conference passed 23 amendments to the constitution of the United Methodist Church to prepare for the creation of a U.S. regional conference. The goal is to make the five United Methodist jurisdictions in the United States a regional conference, similar to the church’s central conferences that currently exist outside of the United States. The result would be to remove the overseas influence from what is now General Conference. This battle is not yet lost because the amendments must now be ratified by two-thirds of delegates at all annual conferences. Hopefully, we can stop this at the Annual Conference level in 2009.
Why is this important? Without the help of the African delegates, evangelicals would have lost the votes on homosexuality. Remove the international delegates and the liberals win. It is that simple. This will be the big issue at the 2012 General Conference.
Another tragic decision by the 2008 General Conference was the 416 to 384 vote to retain membership of the General Board of Church and Society and the Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is a radical pro-abortion lobby which never met an abortion that it did not like. The decision was made in spite of the fact that the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice even supports partial birth abortion, which our Discipline condemns.
THE UGLY:
I should begin by apologizing for raising my arms in victory after a very close vote. That was inappropriate and not in the spirit of “holy conferencing.” It was an emotional response that I sincerely regret.
However, there were other ugly incidents. Against conference rules, an anonymous group distributed a voting guide to the delegates before the Judicial Council elections supporting the more liberal candidates. The guide claimed their candidates were “not political.” The elections followed this guide completely. This was a breach of ethics, and it should not have been allowed. It slandered good people and distorted the Judicial Council election results.
Someone drew a swastika on the notebook of the leader of the Mississippi delegation. This happened in the committee which was debating the homosexual issue.
The Mississippi delegation was also slandered and accused of using obscene language to describe homosexuals. This turned out to be absolutely false.
The Mississippi delegation was also falsely accused of manipulating the vote of the Liberian delegation, which was seated behind us. It was even suggested that someone (me?) was signaling the Liberians how to vote by the way he scratched his head during balloting. That is so ridiculous that it is funny. It is also an insult to the Liberians who needed no one to tell them how to vote. Have you ever notice how racist liberals can be?
Well, that is my summary of what happened at General Conference – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let us not be discouraged. There was more “good” than “bad” or “ugly”. The battle for Biblical faith has not yet been lost in this denomination. Let us be faithful “to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude verse 3)
Methodism has a great heritage. From his conversion at Aldersgate until his death some 53 years later, John Wesley preached a thoroughly evangelical gospel. He was "a man of one book" who tested the truth of every doctrine by the Bible. The real theology of Methodism is Biblical. Wesleyan theology is the greatest understanding of scripture that the world has seen. As one of my friends recently said, “I am not going to give the ship to the pirates.”
What if we lose the struggle for scriptural truth in the United Methodist Church? Well, win or lose, I want to be able to say to Jesus Christ that I gave my best in the fight for Biblical faith in our Church. We have not yet lost this fight, and I signed on for the duration.
THE GOOD:
In the face of an unprecedented attack by the pro-gay movement, the United Methodist Church stood firm on its scriptural position regarding homosexuality. Delegates upheld the church’s stance that homosexual practice is “incompatible with Christian teaching” by a vote of 501-417. General Conference also retained the language with defines marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman. The church continues to prohibit the ordination of practicing homosexuals.
General Conference upheld language in the Book of Discipline supporting the pastor’s authority to determine readiness for church membership by a narrow 446-438 vote. This was a crucial decision because it maintained the integrity of the vows of membership.
General Conference struck a proper balance by passing a resolution condemning homophobia and opposing “all forms of violence or discrimination based on gender, gender identity, sexual practice or sexual orientation.” We oppose the sin of homosexual practices, just as we oppose any other sin. However, we love all sinners, including homosexuals. We are all sinners in need of God’s grace. Christ is able to forgive and set one free from any sin, including homosexual practices.
Another good decision by General Conference was to determine the number of bishops on the basis of membership. Bishops will now be assigned on the basis of one for 300,000 members. This will result in a decrease of one bishop in every United States jurisdiction except for the Southeastern Jurisdiction. Until now the Western and the Northeastern Jurisdiction have had more voice than their membership should entitle them to have. This action will help correct this inequity, and it will strengthen the voice of our Southeastern Jurisdiction. The Church will realize a savings of 4.8 million dollars as a result, which can be used to fund new episcopal areas overseas where the Methodist Church is growing.
Delegates rejected a petition to reduce the size of future General Conference sessions from about 1,000 delegates to number between 500 and 600. The problem with such a reduction is that General Conference would become less representative. Small membership conferences in the Western and Northeastern Jurisdictions would get a disproportionately large voice if the number was reduced. General Conference was wise to reject this.
General Conference rejected three petitions calling for church divestment from companies doing business with Israel. The General Board of Church and Society had already withdrawn a petition to divest from Caterpillar Corporation for the same reason.
A wonderful action by General Conference was to streamline the ordination process for ministerial candidates. When I entered the ministry, the process was straightforward and clear. It is now so confusing and complicated that few District Superintendents understand it. We have a severe shortage of young pastors, and many are discouraged from United Methodist ministry by the process. General Conference passed new legislation allowing people to enter the discernment process for candidacy after one year (instead of two years) of involvement in a United Methodist church, and, may now enter the process through their campus ministry. That is significant because many young people are called to ministry through the work of Wesley Foundations. The probationary period of candidacy will now be known as “provisional membership” and be shortened from three years to two years. I believe these are very positive steps.
A constitutional amendment was passed giving Local Pastors who have completed the Course of Study the right to vote for delegates to future General Conferences. The amendment also gave these voting privileges to deacons, associate members and provisional members. To qualify to vote, Local Pastors must have been under appointment two consecutive years preceding General Conference elections. The Mississippi Conference had petitioned General Conference to give Local Pastors these voting privileges. Like any constitutional change, this must be approved by two thirds of the annual conferences before taking effect.
The delegates approved a $642 million budget for the next four years, which is 4.8 percent higher than the spending plan for the 2005-2008 period. A 4.8 percent increase over four years is not unreasonable. Delegates took their financial responsibilities seriously.
THE BAD:
I was very disappointed with the Judicial Council elections. The Judicial Council has stood between the United Methodist Church and schism during the past four years. They courageously upheld the prohibition on practicing homosexuals serving as United Methodist ministers. At this General Conference a much more liberal Judicial Council was elected. I asked one of the evangelicals, who was voted off the Judicial Council, “How much trouble are we in with this new Judicial Council.” She replied, “Lots of trouble. The firewall is gone.”
This new Judicial Council will be quickly tested by those with radical agendas for our church. Let us pray that this new Judicial Council upholds the Discipline. Otherwise, decisions by this Judicial Council may result in schism in the United Methodist Church within a very few years. This is the most immediate threat to the survival of the United Methodist Church.
I am glad that Mississippi’s Joe May was elected as first alternate on the Judicial Council. Joe should get to vote on the Council often, and he can be depended upon to support the Scripture and the Discipline of our Church. Joe was nominated by Bishop Ward, and he was supported by the Confessing Movement and other evangelical groups. Joe was the one bright spot on a very disappointing Judicial Council election.
Another disappointment was that General Conference passed 23 amendments to the constitution of the United Methodist Church to prepare for the creation of a U.S. regional conference. The goal is to make the five United Methodist jurisdictions in the United States a regional conference, similar to the church’s central conferences that currently exist outside of the United States. The result would be to remove the overseas influence from what is now General Conference. This battle is not yet lost because the amendments must now be ratified by two-thirds of delegates at all annual conferences. Hopefully, we can stop this at the Annual Conference level in 2009.
Why is this important? Without the help of the African delegates, evangelicals would have lost the votes on homosexuality. Remove the international delegates and the liberals win. It is that simple. This will be the big issue at the 2012 General Conference.
Another tragic decision by the 2008 General Conference was the 416 to 384 vote to retain membership of the General Board of Church and Society and the Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is a radical pro-abortion lobby which never met an abortion that it did not like. The decision was made in spite of the fact that the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice even supports partial birth abortion, which our Discipline condemns.
THE UGLY:
I should begin by apologizing for raising my arms in victory after a very close vote. That was inappropriate and not in the spirit of “holy conferencing.” It was an emotional response that I sincerely regret.
However, there were other ugly incidents. Against conference rules, an anonymous group distributed a voting guide to the delegates before the Judicial Council elections supporting the more liberal candidates. The guide claimed their candidates were “not political.” The elections followed this guide completely. This was a breach of ethics, and it should not have been allowed. It slandered good people and distorted the Judicial Council election results.
Someone drew a swastika on the notebook of the leader of the Mississippi delegation. This happened in the committee which was debating the homosexual issue.
The Mississippi delegation was also slandered and accused of using obscene language to describe homosexuals. This turned out to be absolutely false.
The Mississippi delegation was also falsely accused of manipulating the vote of the Liberian delegation, which was seated behind us. It was even suggested that someone (me?) was signaling the Liberians how to vote by the way he scratched his head during balloting. That is so ridiculous that it is funny. It is also an insult to the Liberians who needed no one to tell them how to vote. Have you ever notice how racist liberals can be?
Well, that is my summary of what happened at General Conference – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let us not be discouraged. There was more “good” than “bad” or “ugly”. The battle for Biblical faith has not yet been lost in this denomination. Let us be faithful “to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude verse 3)
Methodism has a great heritage. From his conversion at Aldersgate until his death some 53 years later, John Wesley preached a thoroughly evangelical gospel. He was "a man of one book" who tested the truth of every doctrine by the Bible. The real theology of Methodism is Biblical. Wesleyan theology is the greatest understanding of scripture that the world has seen. As one of my friends recently said, “I am not going to give the ship to the pirates.”
What if we lose the struggle for scriptural truth in the United Methodist Church? Well, win or lose, I want to be able to say to Jesus Christ that I gave my best in the fight for Biblical faith in our Church. We have not yet lost this fight, and I signed on for the duration.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
AFRICA SAVES THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Thank God for the international delegates at General Conference! They saved the United Methodist Church at the 2008 General Conference. General Conference voted to uphold Biblical standards on sexuality, and the international delegates made the difference.
Wednesday was a day filled with heated debate as General Conference debated resolutions relating to homosexuality for most of the day.
For example, General Conference rejected a change to the Discipline (Paragraph 161.C) which would have considered homosexual “committed unions” as marriage. A resolution that attempted to redefine marriage a relationship between “two adults” instead between “a male and female” was defeated.
There was a big push to have General Conference replace the language that describes homosexuality as “incompatible with Christian teaching” with a statement that church members "disagree on homosexuality". After much emotional debate, General Conference voted to retain the language in the denomination’s 2004 Book of Discipline describing homosexual practice as “incompatible with Christian teaching.”
General Conference voted not to allow practicing homosexuals to be ordained as United Methodist pastors.
In the closest vote of the day, General Conference upheld that the pastor has authority to determine a prospective member’s readiness to take the vows of membership. This has been the church’s policy for over 200 years, and it has been upheld by the Judicial Council. This issue became controversial after Virginia Bishop Charlene P. Kammerer removed Rev. Ed Johnson from his church because he would not receive into church membership an unrepentant practicing homosexual. The Judicial Council reversed the Bishop’s decision. Now General Conference has refused to overturn the Judicial Council's decision.
It was a very significant day for the United Methodist Church. Had the votes gone the other way, the result might have been schism. There is no doubt that we owe the margin of victory to the African delegations.
Thank God for Africa. Africa saved our United Methodist Church!
Wednesday was a day filled with heated debate as General Conference debated resolutions relating to homosexuality for most of the day.
For example, General Conference rejected a change to the Discipline (Paragraph 161.C) which would have considered homosexual “committed unions” as marriage. A resolution that attempted to redefine marriage a relationship between “two adults” instead between “a male and female” was defeated.
There was a big push to have General Conference replace the language that describes homosexuality as “incompatible with Christian teaching” with a statement that church members "disagree on homosexuality". After much emotional debate, General Conference voted to retain the language in the denomination’s 2004 Book of Discipline describing homosexual practice as “incompatible with Christian teaching.”
General Conference voted not to allow practicing homosexuals to be ordained as United Methodist pastors.
In the closest vote of the day, General Conference upheld that the pastor has authority to determine a prospective member’s readiness to take the vows of membership. This has been the church’s policy for over 200 years, and it has been upheld by the Judicial Council. This issue became controversial after Virginia Bishop Charlene P. Kammerer removed Rev. Ed Johnson from his church because he would not receive into church membership an unrepentant practicing homosexual. The Judicial Council reversed the Bishop’s decision. Now General Conference has refused to overturn the Judicial Council's decision.
It was a very significant day for the United Methodist Church. Had the votes gone the other way, the result might have been schism. There is no doubt that we owe the margin of victory to the African delegations.
Thank God for Africa. Africa saved our United Methodist Church!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
SOUTHEASTERN JURISDICTION GETS STRONGER VOICE
One of the most significant decisions made by the 2008 General Conference was made on Tuesday. It has to do with proportional allocation of bishops. Proportional representation is a key issue being debated this week.
The Southeastern Jurisdiction has more members than the other four Methodist Jurisdictions in the United States. Membership has decreased over the years in the Western, Northeastern, North Central, and South Central Jurisdictions. The result is that these Jurisdictions have far more representation on Church boards and agencies than their membership justifies. These Jurisdictions are also more liberal than the Southeastern Jurisdiction.
Delegates from the Southeastern Jurisdiction believe that every Methodist deserves equal representation. The Southeastern Jurisdiction is for “one man – one vote.”
On Tuesday, after heated debate, the General Conference voted that bishops would be apportioned on the basis of one bishop for every 300,000 members. As a result the Western, Northeastern, North Central, and South Central Jurisdictions will lose one bishop each. The Southeastern Jurisdiction is entitled to one additional bishop; however, the Southeastern Jurisdiction has voluntarily declined to add another bishop in order to save the United Methodist Church money.
This reduction in bishops will result in big savings to the United Methodist Church. These funds can be used to add bishops where needed in Africa and other Central Conferences where the Church is growing rapidly. This is putting mission ahead of politics.
Also, the Southeastern Jurisdiction will have much more influence as a result of this. Some conferences in the other Jurisdictions will be merged under one bishop and they will lose some representation on boards and agencies.
I believe that is good for the church.
The Southeastern Jurisdiction has more members than the other four Methodist Jurisdictions in the United States. Membership has decreased over the years in the Western, Northeastern, North Central, and South Central Jurisdictions. The result is that these Jurisdictions have far more representation on Church boards and agencies than their membership justifies. These Jurisdictions are also more liberal than the Southeastern Jurisdiction.
Delegates from the Southeastern Jurisdiction believe that every Methodist deserves equal representation. The Southeastern Jurisdiction is for “one man – one vote.”
On Tuesday, after heated debate, the General Conference voted that bishops would be apportioned on the basis of one bishop for every 300,000 members. As a result the Western, Northeastern, North Central, and South Central Jurisdictions will lose one bishop each. The Southeastern Jurisdiction is entitled to one additional bishop; however, the Southeastern Jurisdiction has voluntarily declined to add another bishop in order to save the United Methodist Church money.
This reduction in bishops will result in big savings to the United Methodist Church. These funds can be used to add bishops where needed in Africa and other Central Conferences where the Church is growing rapidly. This is putting mission ahead of politics.
Also, the Southeastern Jurisdiction will have much more influence as a result of this. Some conferences in the other Jurisdictions will be merged under one bishop and they will lose some representation on boards and agencies.
I believe that is good for the church.
Monday, April 28, 2008
HANG IN THERE!
The success in the “Faith and Order Committee” was followed by disappointment in the “Church and Society #2 Committee.” It voted to remove all language prohibiting homosexuality. It voted to ordain homosexual clergy. This was a troubling defeat.
Obviously the two Committees are in conflict, and it will be fought out in the General Conference plenary sessions over the next few days.
Actually, this is exactly what happened four years ago. In 1984 the Church and Society Committee approved homosexuality, only to be overturned on the General Conference floor. We are working hard to see that the same thing happens again. I believe by the end of the Conference, God will prevail. Do not be discouraged!
The Judicial Council elections did not go as well as we had hoped. Candidates recommended by “The Confessing Movement” and “Good News” did not win many positions. We will likely have a less conservative Judicial Council, and that is very troubling.
Keep praying! We will keep working for scriptural truth. The Mississippi delegation leader, Turner Arant, was still working at 12 midnight. Pray for Turner’s physical stamina.
The next few days will determine our Church’s future. Hang in there! God is in control. Someone said, "The Trinity has never had to call an emergency meeting!"
Obviously the two Committees are in conflict, and it will be fought out in the General Conference plenary sessions over the next few days.
Actually, this is exactly what happened four years ago. In 1984 the Church and Society Committee approved homosexuality, only to be overturned on the General Conference floor. We are working hard to see that the same thing happens again. I believe by the end of the Conference, God will prevail. Do not be discouraged!
The Judicial Council elections did not go as well as we had hoped. Candidates recommended by “The Confessing Movement” and “Good News” did not win many positions. We will likely have a less conservative Judicial Council, and that is very troubling.
Keep praying! We will keep working for scriptural truth. The Mississippi delegation leader, Turner Arant, was still working at 12 midnight. Pray for Turner’s physical stamina.
The next few days will determine our Church’s future. Hang in there! God is in control. Someone said, "The Trinity has never had to call an emergency meeting!"
Sunday, April 27, 2008
THE REAL STRUGGLE BEGINS
The Committees finished their work with the 1,600 petitions today. Now the petitions will be sent to the full plenary session of the General Conference for final action. Many petitions have been amended and changed by the committees. Each resolution is sent by the committee to General Conference with a recommendation to “accept” or “reject”.
Also, voting begins tomorrow for the Judicial Council. The Judicial Council is the “supreme court” of our church. Everything accomplished at General Conference could be overturned by a liberal Judicial Council. These elections are crucial.
It seems like we have been here forever, but in a sense, it all starts over Monday morning. This time it is for “keeps.”
Keep those prayers going!
Also, voting begins tomorrow for the Judicial Council. The Judicial Council is the “supreme court” of our church. Everything accomplished at General Conference could be overturned by a liberal Judicial Council. These elections are crucial.
It seems like we have been here forever, but in a sense, it all starts over Monday morning. This time it is for “keeps.”
Keep those prayers going!
INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES STAND TALL
The Faith and Order Committee dealt with a petition to remove the prohibition of the ordination of practicing homosexuals, and the statement that homosexuality is incompatible with a Christian lifestyle.
There were several “gay” speakers who addressed the committee today. They made very emotional appeals in the attempt to sway the committee. One lay delegate told three emotional stories about lesbians, and then she said, “That last one was me.”
However, the African and International delegates stood tall for Biblical truth.
One African lady said that “we must be mirrors to the rest of the world” reflecting Jesus. “If we approve this what would they see?” she asked.
To those who argued that we must approve homosexuality in order to be loving, another African lady said, “No. Sometimes when we say we love, we love not. That is using ‘love’ as an excuse.”
Another African pastor said, "The trouble with all this is that we are asking the church to conform to our image, not what God says to do."
An African delegate read from the book of Jude 3-7: “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe… In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”
Then he said, “We will liken ourselves to Sodom and Gomorrah if we approve this… Our job is to be obedient.”
A Russian missionary said, “If this is adopted I could no longer be a missionary.” He said that no one would listen to him if we approved homosexuality. “I could not face them,” he declared.
At the end of the day, the attempt to remove the prohibition to ordain homosexuals was overwhelmingly defeated in the Faith and Order Committee. Thank God for our international United Methodist brothers and sisters. They stood tall for Christ and for us today!
The issue will now go to the full General Conference for a final decision. Don’t stop praying.
There will be an attempt at this General Conference to change the United States Methodist Church into a “regional” conference, separate from the international United Methodist Church. It is obvious that we must not let that happen. We need the African and international Methodists.
There were several “gay” speakers who addressed the committee today. They made very emotional appeals in the attempt to sway the committee. One lay delegate told three emotional stories about lesbians, and then she said, “That last one was me.”
However, the African and International delegates stood tall for Biblical truth.
One African lady said that “we must be mirrors to the rest of the world” reflecting Jesus. “If we approve this what would they see?” she asked.
To those who argued that we must approve homosexuality in order to be loving, another African lady said, “No. Sometimes when we say we love, we love not. That is using ‘love’ as an excuse.”
Another African pastor said, "The trouble with all this is that we are asking the church to conform to our image, not what God says to do."
An African delegate read from the book of Jude 3-7: “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe… In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”
Then he said, “We will liken ourselves to Sodom and Gomorrah if we approve this… Our job is to be obedient.”
A Russian missionary said, “If this is adopted I could no longer be a missionary.” He said that no one would listen to him if we approved homosexuality. “I could not face them,” he declared.
At the end of the day, the attempt to remove the prohibition to ordain homosexuals was overwhelmingly defeated in the Faith and Order Committee. Thank God for our international United Methodist brothers and sisters. They stood tall for Christ and for us today!
The issue will now go to the full General Conference for a final decision. Don’t stop praying.
There will be an attempt at this General Conference to change the United States Methodist Church into a “regional” conference, separate from the international United Methodist Church. It is obvious that we must not let that happen. We need the African and international Methodists.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
