Coverage of Conservative Methodists’ Victory over Homosexual Activists Missing in Newspapers

Whenever homosexuals win a victory, it is trumpeted all over the media.

At the world convention of the United Methodist Church in Tampa this week, the homosexual agenda took a beating, however, and I couldn’t find a line of type in the Chicago Tribune today.

The theme for the 2012 Methodist world conference.

That, even though there was a major article on which religions were growing and which were declining in Illinois, complete with county-by-county maps for (in descending order of Illinois membership) Roman Catholics, Evangelicals, Muslim, Methodists and Southern Baptists.

The Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline “does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching” and does not allow “a self-avowed practicing homosexual” to be a pastor.

However, as a commentator for Good News puts it, the church “affirms the ‘sacred worth’ of all persons even while acknowledging that as Christians we cannot affirm every expression of human sexuality.”

Two days ago (Wednesday) a resolution supported by the Love Your Neighbor Coalition to dilute Methodist policy was defeated 53%-47%.

Another resolution to eliminate the statement that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching” failed 61%-39%.

Moderates offered a compromise similar to one defeated four years ago which would state Methodists agreed to disagree on the issue, but that was defeated by a similar margin.

Breaking the rules against convention demonstrations, homosexual interrupted a prayer to express their displeasure at losing. Photo from IRD video linked below under "Temper Tantrum."

Afterwards the homosexuals took over the convention floor to demonstrate their frustrations (or “Temper Tantrum,” as the Institute for Religion and Democracy puts it.)

Although neither the Chicago Tribune or Sun-Times could find space.

Neither could the Northwest Herald or the Daily Herald.

The New York Times, however, ran an article:

Methodists Keep Stricture on Homosexualitys

USA Today also ran an article, written by Associated Press:

Methodists vote to keep stand against same-sex relationships

In other mainline Protestant denominations, The Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the homosexual agenda has held sway of the position of theological conservatives.

One of the groups in the winning, Good News, issued the following statement:

Pain and Protest

For ten previous General Conferences (1972-2008), the issue of homosexuality has absorbed increased time and energy and caused deep division in the church.

This General Conference was the tenth such time.

Veterans of previous General Conferences come prepared for the drumbeats of protest, the rainbow stoles designating us vs. them, and the tears that accompany the vote of the General Conference.

A Good News photo of the homosexual demonstration.

Although we do not agree with those who would change United Methodism’s stance on homosexuality, we do not take their tears lightly.

It is grevious that General Conference has become a place of such pain and protest. The sorrow is profound and will not be healed easily.

We know that the protesters and their supporters are hurt and upset at the direction, once again, that our denomination has taken.

We do not celebrate in their pain.

Most would agree that the orchestrated protest is not what John Wesley had in mind when he spoke of holy conferencing.

For first-time visitors, the experience can be overwhelming and dramatic.

For many of the Central Conference delegates, it is difficult to comprehend.

There were ceremonial arrests in Cleveland and a broken African communion chalice in Pittsburgh.

In Fort Worth, it was

  • the chalk outlines,
  • a lesbian wedding in the park, and
  • a funeral shroud over the communion table.

Protesters against United Methodism's stance on homosexuality surrounded the bar of the conference on Thursday. Photo by Good News.

One need not be a sacramentalist to find it exasperating to see the elements of the Lord’s Supper once again used as political theater.

When well-known, inspirational hymns are sung as a means of promoting a gay-rights agenda, delegates and observers are placed in the undeniably strange position of singing along with a protest that they may not have supported or observing in silence.

Yet after

  • numerous dialogues,
  • at least two General Church study commissions,
  • official study resources,
  • dozens of convocations,
  • piles of books,
  • demonstrations and
  • disruptions of the General Conference business, and
  • extended impassioned debate,

our denomination has consistently affirmed a holistic position that is pastoral and biblical, compassionate and redemptive.

Retired Bishop Jack Tuell joins the protesters who occupied the center of the conference floor. Photo by Good News.

United Methodism’s statement is a balanced and nuanced position that affirms the “sacred worth” of all persons even while acknowledging that as Christians we cannot affirm every expression of human sexuality.

After all, there are certain sexual practices that contradict biblical standards and as faithful disciples we must be willing to declare them to be incompatible with Christian teachings.

The United Methodist position does that with mercy and grace.

To a watching world and local churches at home, it is a statement of ethical stability in an age of murky morality.

It is a statement of theological honesty in an age of religious ambiguity.

It is a prophetic statement to a world that offers no boundaries to sexual expression.

To young people, our statement may provide a necessary guardrail to protect them from sexual brokenness.

The biblically prophetic message has always been more interested in truth and transformation than in consensus and conformity to mob-rule morality.

What the world often finds excusable and acceptable, the church does not and cannot.

In the interest of reaffirming our stance on human sexuality, we must admit that we have not always shown love for those who struggle with same-sex attraction.

In far too many of these highly-charged denominational gatherings, the temptation has been to view one another in the “us vs. them” mentality.

Sometimes our words and actions weighed heavier on “incompatible with Christian teaching” than on “persons of sacred worth.”

That was never our intent.

Despite that, we apologize.

This is not to paper over legitimate differences of opinion that we have regarding

  • sexual ethics,
  • the authority of Scripture, and
  • the role of boundaries in the UM Church.

We probably will not change one another’s minds.

Nevertheless, we are grieved that what has been lost in the debate over homosexuality since 1972 is the potential for ministry to those who struggle with sexual brokenness.

Even though our denominational debates usually focus exclusively on homosexuality, United Methodism must begin to learn how to provide effective and compassionate ministry to all persons who struggle with their sexuality-whether it be heterosexual or homosexual.

We live in a hypersexualized culture and United Methodism must deal seriously-and here we are speaking to conservatives as well as liberals and moderates-with the crippling spiritual devastation that sexual brokenness brings into our local congregations.

Many who sit next to us in our pews have been victimized by sexual abuse or by an unfaithful spouse.

Others in our congregations

  • struggle with promiscuity,
  • are addicted to pornography,
  • suffer with sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS,
  • are confused about their sexual identity, or
  • wrestle with same-sex attractions.

They all need to know that the United Methodist Church is prepared to minister to their needs. Right now, we are woefully ill-prepared.

In the midst of our sexual brokenness, the Bible says,

“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear!” (Isaiah 59:1)

The United Methodist Church was birthed as a Holy Spirit movement that believed in the power of God to transform the lives of all those who struggle with sin–homosexual or heterosexual.

Through a biblical ministry of mercy and grace, we must be a church that welcomes the sexually broken and confused.

We must be a church that stands with those who seek

  • healing,
  • wholeness, and
  • holiness

in their sexuality.

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Comments

Coverage of Conservative Methodists’ Victory over Homosexual Activists Missing in Newspapers — 4 Comments

  1. Frankly, I am surprised YOU are covering it so extensively Cal. It’s a non-story: they were doing this, they talked about it and decided to keep things the same.

    If it makes you feel any better, if you Google Tampa, Methodist, Homosexual you get something like 250 stories about their decision to keep things the same.

  2. “To young people, our statement may provide a necessary guardrail to protect them from sexual brokenness.”

    How about reassuring gay teens that they might not be “broken” at all?

  3. John – Gay teens are broken.

    It is an excellent description.

    Broken just like any other individuals engaged in sexual perversion.

  4. Chris, you and people like you are the reason the attempted suicide rate among gay teens is 1 in 4.

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