Mark Tooley predicts, "no":
Nearly 1,000 delegates representing 12 million church members are on hand in Tampa for [the] start of the 11-day 2012 United Methodist General Conference, where homosexuality is the top issue of controversy.
The General Conference, the only body that officially speaks for the denomination, meets every four years to determine the denomination's future direction. Mark Tooley of The Institute on Religion & Democracy (IRD) is there, and he says the potential ordination of actively homosexual clergy and the issue of same-sex "marriage" are major concerns.
"Currently, the church's official stances are biblical and require clergy to be monogamous in traditional marriage, or celibate, if single, and also [prohibit] any celebration of same-sex unions in Methodist churches," he reports. "Obviously, the liberal side of the church very much wants to change that and will be pushing very hard and knows that time is running out for its cause."
One of the reasons for those advocates' concern, he explains, is the growth of the church in Africa.
"The U.S. church, where all the liberals are located, is declining and losing representation, while the Africans, who are very conservative, will probably become a majority within the denomination within ten years or less," Tooley predicts. "So, this year, 2012, may be the last opportunity for the liberal side to win on sexual issues." -- OneNewsNow
10 Comments
Thank God for the African Methodist Church. I believe the same will reflect from the African Episcopals as well.
African church goers are closer to the struggle then are their American counterparts who have become so used to receiving God's bounty that they have completley forgotten about the tanants of their faith.
This is unfortunate. I must say though that these people (the methodists) as a whole are not following Christ but a man made religion. It wouldn't matter if they endorse homosexuality or condem it, they simply are not abiding in the doctrine of Christ for all of there beliefs and therefore do not have God on there side. They have blind leaders leading blind people and both will fall into the ditch of condemnation to hell. Christ warned of people who will call on his name but God does not know them because they have not regarded God and his word. He will say to people, such that do not follow God but man made religions that seem to be Christ following but there hearts are far from them, depart from me who practice lawlessness. The Methodists do not keep God's laws but their own set of doctrines. Their decision on homosexual marriage will make no difference to there ultimate distruction.
The church has lost their shame.
Well lets just say, that in our day, it would not be surprising to learn that chicken do have teeth.
I sometimes ask myself the question, is it possible to be left-wing and a Christian at the same time. First response is "no".
yes
Daniel is ignorant about Methodist theology. Perhaps he does not understand the polity of church government. This is the place where we struggle. Each person in this world must choose whom he will serve and what he believes. Methodist doctrine is basic Christianity. The statements which come out of a General Conference are from man, sometimes inspired and sometimes not.
"The U.S. church, where all the liberals are located"
Don't forget the European UMC - though they are a small minority
Isn't it interesting....that in all the areas that support/propose changing the UMC doctrine to embrace gay clergy and gay marriage (NE jurisdiction, California/western jurisdiction, upper midwest jurisdiction) are all areas where United Methodism is in sharp decline while all the areas that oppose gay clergy/marriage (SE states, Texas, etc. along with Africa and Asia) are areas where United Methodist is strong or exploding. Is there a connection?