On the flight to Tampa, I changed planes in
Atlanta. Dozens of delegates, mostly
Methodist preachers from Virginia, Ohio, etc., were on the plane. I said (loud enough for all to hear),
"If I had known this plane was going to be full of Methodist preachers, I
would have taken another flight. I have
known Methodist preachers all my life, and they're all a worthless
lot!" Had an interesting visit with
two of the Virginia preachers.
We hit the ground running in Tampa. The first night we argued until 10:30 p.m.
over whether or not to end sessions at 9:30 p.m. Go figure!
The issue of homosexuality is front and center. Personally, I am convinced that the Bible
teaches the homosexual practice is a sin.
(1 Cor. 6:9-11, Romans 1:26-27).
Homosexual practice is no worse than any other sin, but it is still sin. We must love and offer Christ's forgiveness
to both homosexual sinners and heterosexual sinners, but we cannot grant
approval of homosexuality without denying Scripture. That is why for forty years the United
Methodist Church has declared that "homosexual practice is incompatible
with Christian teaching", and we
will not allow a practicing homosexual to be a United Methodist minister.
This General Conference will vote on resolutions to
change that. We are debating resolutions
that would not only approve homosexual practice, but remove all prohibitions of
gay ordination and gay marriage ("covenant services"). Resolutions also call for redefining marriage
to no longer be just between and man and a woman, but between any "two
consenting adults."
The bishops and other leaders are clearly promoting
this gay agenda. Gays are front and center
in the General Conference worship services.
The Worship and Music leader is a known lesbian. One of the three "Laity Address"
speakers is a lesbian, who has openly campaigned for this agenda. In nearly every worship service, the bishop
who preached has repeatedly declared that the church must "open its doors
to all." That is a code phrase for
accepting the gay agenda, and always draws applause from their supporters. All delegates were divided into small groups
to discuss homosexuality, which began with a video presentation by a bishop. The bishop gave a hard sell for the
homosexual agenda. Pro-gay demonstrators
are always present.
Another important matter is the "Call to
Action", which is a restructuring of the Church that will greatly increase
the role and authority of bishops. Dr.
Tim McClendon of South Carolina calls it a "power grab by the
bishops", and I agree.
This week we are in committees (just like congress)
dealing with all the proposed legislation.
My committee (the Superintendency Committee) is dealing with the
resolution that my church sent to General Conference concerning term limits for
bishops rather than the present lifetime appointment as bishops.
Let me tell you how things are going. Remember, all these battles in committees
will still have to be fought out next week before the entire General
Conference. So far it is going well from
my perspective.
In committee today, the delegates just said
"No" to the bishops, rejecting their "Call to Action" restructure
plan for "Plan B" proposed by a number of evangelical leaders.
The attempt to remove the statement that
"homosexual practice is incompatible with Christian teaching" was
overwhelmingly defeated.
Our resolution proposing term limits for bishops was
not expected to have much support. Yet
in committee it lost by just three votes (28-25). We have worked gathered the required
signatures to bring it up before the entire Conference next week. So this battle is not over yet. We may not win this one, but certainly gave
them a wakeup call!
By the way, a few weeks ago I told this story about a Methodist
missionary in Vietnam. The communist
government of Vietnam has been very hostile to Christian missions. It is very difficult to get permission to
work there. Joseph
Bishman, a United Methodist District Superintendent
from southern Ohio felt called by God to begin missions in Vietnam. He met the Vietnamese official who had
authority to permit or deny our mission teams into the country. This Vietnamese official was an atheist, and
would allow not any Christian missions in the country. Joe Bishman was making no progress with
him. Somehow it came up that this
Vietnamese official's little daughter was very sick, and near death. So Joe asked for permission to pray for the
little girl. With a stone face the
official nodded consent. The Methodist
minister prayed for the official's little girl to be healed in the name of
Jesus. And in fact, the child was healed. That Vietnamese official approved the
Methodist missions in Vietnam and cut through all the red tape. It was because a missionary minded DS boldly
called upon great and awesome God who sits on the throne of heaven and rules
all things!
I sat by this missionary minded DS in my committee at
General Conference. Joe has a passion
for winning souls for Christ. He shared that they have started 30 churches
in Hanoi in the last 6 months. They have
planted more than 200 churches in Vietnam in the last few years. In his words, "It is the book of Acts
all over again!" I am so encouraged
by this! God is not through with the
Methodists yet!
So far, that is about all I have to report. The days are busy and hectic. Breakfast strategy meetings at 7 am are
followed by committee meeting from 8 am to about 10 pm. Keep us in your prayers. We are fighting for the cause of Christ and
the future of the United Methodist Church.
Jude verse 3
says, "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."
