SAN FRANCISCO – News of the offer from more than 80 retired Northern California clergy in the United Methodist Church to perform same-sex “marriages” has riled conservative Christians who say such an action is “silly” and merely a move toward “the latest fad.”
"These retired clergy are turning their backs on two-thousand years of church belief and practice as well as the United Methodist Discipline they agreed to uphold as part of their ordination vows,” commented Mark Tooley, who directs the United Methodist committee (UMAction) of the conservative Institute on Religion & Democracy.
“As failed clergy of dying churches, they are attempting to jump on the latest fad. Trying to seem relevant, they instead look silly,” he expressed in a news release.
Late last month, 82 retired Northern California clergy from the United Methodist Church offered to perform same-sex “marriages,” saying they want to help out active ministers who would risk more severe consequences for presiding over these ceremonies.
The move came a few weeks after California became the second state in the nation to allow same-sex “marriages.”
“We're willing to challenge the injustice and contradictions of this," said the Rev. Don Fado, retired pastor of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Sacramento, according to the Sacramento Bee, referring to the UMC’s law forbidding both active and retired clergy from performing gay “marriages.”
The ministers made the pro-gay vow during the annual meeting last month for the California-Nevada conference of United Methodists. Retired clergy from other denominations, including Presbyterians and Episcopalians, have told the Bee they also are considering performing same-sex “marriages.”
"Having long since abdicated their responsibility as evangelists and predictably left with dwindling flocks as a result, many retired California United Methodist clergy are now offering to spend their golden years performing same-sex 'marriages,'” lamented Tooley in the press release Thursday.
In the release, the IRD noted that the California-Pacific Conference of United Methodism is one of the denomination's most liberal and fastest declining regions, having lost about half its members over the last 40 years, while California's population has boomed. Less than 3 percent of the United Methodist Church in the United States lives in California.
"When churches attempt to transform their surrounding culture with the Gospel, they thrive. When churches surrender to popular fashion, they become increasingly inconsequential,” Tooley explained. “Much of United Methodism in California has sadly proved this."
Because the United Methodist Book of Discipline – Church law – forbids churches and clergy from performing same-sex unions, the clergy who disobey could be defrocked if disciplined.
The IRD noted, however, that retired clergy are much less likely to face church discipline.
Fado, the retired Methodist pastor, said his fellow clergy believe they are following Church law by reaching out to all of their flock.
Comments
There will be a cleansing of the church in the west, probably in the form of persecution.
I watch in shame as these stories unfold in the west.As a christain i never thought these things will happen in my days. this is not about church and denominations ,anglican or whatever name you call it, rather it is the fruit of your so called freedom and democracy without boundries. perhaps you all need to study the muslim religion carefully, although there prophet did not give up his life for thier sake like Jesus did, yet they are willing to defend thier believe with the last drop of blood. we are quick to critise them for been too extreem,or often frown at thier faith, but don't be surprise if on the last day,God eventually will say, these are my people. Jesus said who ever will deny me, he will i deny before my father. to what extent are you willing to defend the truth?
Millions dreamt of studying in the us or Europe, but not anymore. even the Americans are now sending there children to Asia for studies, becouse of the total breakdown of family ,moral,and christain values. The west came to Africa with the bible, we believed and trusted and ever since have remained faithful to the original doctrine, and have felt in our hearts that God is real, and his words are true, but from the same messangers of God,another massage of deception is been preach and widely accepted from the Government to the ordinary person in the street.
My prayer is for God to deliever Africa and all those who strong believe the first message of truth.
The Lake of Fire has no occupancy limit..... Just something to think about.
I am on God's side. I am very allegic to fire, hehe. Better to fear God than be a fool and fight against him.
Exodus 9:27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
Exodus 9:28 Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
Exodus 9:29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S.
Exodus 9:30 But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God."
that statement is what is wrong with the so called christian church today. They would rather do what they feel is right than what God says is right.
good for these clergy. they are doing what they feel is right.
A quote from Rev. John Wesley the one who began the Methodist movement in the 1700s.
“I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.”
The Methodists have come a long way from what they used to be. Once powerful movement they have now become what John Wesley warned could happen. He would be so disappointed today if he saw what happened to his beloved holiness Methodist movement.
But then maybe not completely...it still survives in another name...the Pentecostal movement which came out of the Methodist movement.
when rolln4him met the young bald pastor, i think he might of considered that she was suffering from chemo, but then he clearly knows all.
Gal 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
Thats nothing compared to the rebuke their going to get from God.
john14-6
Sad story for you, but it brings to surface that there are so many churches acting the part, but are merely make believing. How empty for them.
Great point Dan about distinguishing denominations and ties. Often times, we do the "friendly fire" thing.
By the way, I forgot to mention that SHE was a lesbian in my little story.
"the Methodist Church is Apostate Central"
One must be careful here. There is a difference between Methodist and the UMC. Although there are not as many different kinds of Methodists as there are Baptists...there is still a difference.
With that said...the UMC even has factions within it that are going to cause a split. This is one of them. There as some very traditional UMC's that do NOT like what some of these others are doing.
Well, this kind of stuff I think is our Christian duty to stand up: Call them wicked heretics in utter defiance, and leave the building.
Or if that is a little too nerve racking, leaving the building is the next best act in our Christian duty.
It's funny that this is happening in the heartland though. For the most part, the West Coast is the most depraved (I know this, because I live out on the West Coast).
Me too. Years ago, we were scheduled to do a youth concert at a UM church. As we pulled up to meet the "pastor" of this incredibly beautiful and huge building, it wasn't long before we realized that that all it was - a beautifully huge building. The "pastor" approached adorned in a long decorated robe (though no services were scheduled that day), ear rings down to the shoulder, young and bald. SHE obviously was out to make a statement - robe and all. Contract had already been signed, so we stayed and played. How were we to separate the name we were traveling under with these wolves. I say wolves, because they "pastor" and "elders" were the only ones in attendance.
John 14:6,
Ya, it's bad. We live in a wicked and perverse generation. Generally, the heresies that rampage the entire Church originate in the UMC (or at the very least are the strongest and most visible).
These homosexuals, when they take communion, are only treasuring up God's wrath on their heads. "Open hearts, minds, and doors" alright, open to all kind of perverse wickedness, idolatry, adultery, and every other fornication and sin imaginable. Damnable heresies and doctrines of the devil they are so 'open' to.