All the Years of Methodist Missionaries was for Naught


For several years now, the Methodist denomination has had an internal struggle about homosexuality. Instead of splitting, as have most of the other large "mainline" Protestant groups, the Methodists stayed in one organization. I think both sides thought ultimately their side would prevail and they could impose their views organization wide.

In the U.S. there has been majority agreement people in gay relationships could be Methodist pastors. But because of missionary work, the Methodist denomination in Africa has grown and sends delegates to its world wide gatherings. This past week, in a show-down vote, a majority of the delegates voted to exclude gay pastors. All the money spent sending missionaries to Africa resulted in the worst kind of theology imaginable. That theology is to pick out groups you hate and use the Bible to justify your hatred. U.S. based Methodists voted to accept gay ministers, those of Africa voted no.

I read today Methodists who do not want to be identified with a denomination that discriminates are considering their options. One, of course, is to do what others have done. It is to leave behind this version of Methodism and form a new one. Some day the current fad of discriminating against gay people will die away in a generation or two and these factions can unite again. When I was a Methodist around 1970 the Southern Methodists, the black version of the denomination, united with the white version.

Using the Bible to justify all manner of views, even one that seems not of the Bible, is as old as the faith itself. New selfish uses of the Bible no doubt will be seen again.


https://www.christianpost.com/voice/divided-methodists-will-sexual-colonialism-split-umc.html

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