I'm going to have to leave my church

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santuzza

santuzza

Senior Member
#1
Feb 12, 2013
1,609
38
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#1
I just found out that the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church just passed an Act of Non-Conformity that will allow clergy to marry homosexual couples and the Conference to ordain LBGTQ clergy.

I am the music director at a UMC church in Maine. Regrettably, I'm going to now have to leave that church. I cannot and will not serve in a church that allows that.

And from a legal standpoint, if I refuse to play at homosexual "marriage" ceremonies, I could be leaving myself open to a lawsuit. I ain't going there.

I'm so sad.
 
NotmebutHim

NotmebutHim

Senior Member
#2
May 17, 2015
2,919
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#2
The UMC leadership has been going in that direction for a long time. Most "rank and file" Methodists don't want to have any of it. It's yet another example of the growing disconnect between denominational leadership and the laypeople.

It's sad indeed. :(
 
santuzza

santuzza

Senior Member
#3
Feb 12, 2013
1,609
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#3
I do wonder if the local body is going to have any say in this matter. My pastor is still at the Conference, so I won't be able to talk to him until next week. I'm hoping the local body WILL have a say and turn it down. If that's the case, I'll be able to stay there (but we'll probably lose our pastor :( )
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#4
Feb 7, 2015
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It's getting that way at many churches. It is a shame they cannot accept them as people needing our love, without giving in to the pressure to somehow declare the sin they are ensnared in, as acceptable behavior for a follower of Christ.
 
Sirk

Sirk

Banned
#5
Mar 2, 2016
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#5
Seems that even churches suffer from the man pleaser sickness.
 
notmyown

notmyown

Senior Member
#6
May 26, 2016
4,640
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#6
i'm sorry. :(

and i will pray.
 
santuzza

santuzza

Senior Member
#7
Feb 12, 2013
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#7
Thanks so much everyone. I'm just SO sad. I'm almost to the point of tears. I was really enjoying myself in that ministry. And I know the congregation was lifted up by it as well.
 
resurrection33

resurrection33

Banned
#8
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
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#8
santuzza said:
I just found out that the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church just passed an Act of Non-Conformity that will allow clergy to marry homosexual couples and the Conference to ordain LBGTQ clergy.

I am the music director at a UMC church in Maine. Regrettably, I'm going to now have to leave that church. I cannot and will not serve in a church that allows that.

And from a legal standpoint, if I refuse to play at homosexual "marriage" ceremonies, I could be leaving myself open to a lawsuit. I ain't going there.

I'm so sad.
Click to expand...
I am a United Methodist, too, and see a lot of that out here in the California-Nevada Conference. I think our conference might be the most liberal of all. I have fought it in my church and think I've convinced my pastor that condoning the sin of homosexuality is the wrong thing to do. But someday we'll have another pastor ...
 
santuzza

santuzza

Senior Member
#9
Feb 12, 2013
1,609
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#9
What I don't get (and I have to admit, I've not spent a lot of time in denominational churches) is how the leadership can just all of the sudden believe that doctrine, which was established decades ago, is now somehow not relevant. How can they go from "homosexual behavior is inconsistent with the Bible" to "it's all okay now!"?
 
Oncefallen

Oncefallen

Idiot in Chief
Staff member
#10
Jan 15, 2011
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#10
This is one thing that I won't have to worry about within my denomination. Both my local church leadership and the national leadership have take a strong biblical stance on this issue within the last year or so.

It is sad that denominations that at one time were the backbone of American Christianity are caving to popular culture in an effort to "remain relevent."
 
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W

WarriorForChrist

Guest
#11
#11
I think you will see a lot more people leaving the Church and doing more home Church's. Too many Church's are conforming to the world around them.
 
santuzza

santuzza

Senior Member
#12
Feb 12, 2013
1,609
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#12
WarriorForChrist said:
I think you will see a lot more people leaving the Church and doing more home Church's. Too many Church's are conforming to the world around them.
Click to expand...
True. Even my hubby and I are thinking of starting a home church.
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#13
Feb 28, 2016
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#13
santuzza,

it is obvious that the Lord is bringing about a great separation of the chaff from the wheat,
all over the country....we admire you for upholding the Authority of God's Holy Word...
GBY and yours for believing and standing firmly upon The Rock of Salvation...
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#14
#14
Our presbytery has even taken the biggest step. To avoid being forced into having homosexual weddings in their church, they don't do any weddings anymore.

I can't imagine what young couples raised in those churches do for their weddings now.

This country is held hostage to the homosexual agenda completely.

Thomas Jefferson thought we should have a revolution against the government about once every 20 years. We're long overdo.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#15
#15
santuzza said:
I just found out that the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church just passed an Act of Non-Conformity that will allow clergy to marry homosexual couples and the Conference to ordain LBGTQ clergy.

I am the music director at a UMC church in Maine. Regrettably, I'm going to now have to leave that church. I cannot and will not serve in a church that allows that.

And from a legal standpoint, if I refuse to play at homosexual "marriage" ceremonies, I could be leaving myself open to a lawsuit. I ain't going there.

I'm so sad.
Click to expand...

Its probably unpopular changes and difference about doctrine which led to the differences
in the dominations in the first place. Maybe in the future the real church will be forced
underground like it has in many other countries.

If there are others in the congregation who feel the same, maybe you could all start up a
house church?
 
W

wwjd_kilden

Guest
#16
#16
It's sad that the churches have to adapt to the world in such a way

but... I am curious about one thing though:
- Has this church previously normally been OK with wedding straight couples where one or both of them had been through a divorce?
 
JennaLeanne

JennaLeanne

Senior Member
#17
Dec 26, 2015
411
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#17
Be encouraged sister that everything the enemy uses for harm our awesome father will turn into good. Be still and know he is God xx
 
Oncefallen

Oncefallen

Idiot in Chief
Staff member
#18
Jan 15, 2011
6,030
3,253
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#18
Depleted said:
Our presbytery has even taken the biggest step. To avoid being forced into having homosexual weddings in their church, they don't do any weddings anymore.
Click to expand...
To my way of thinking, this is the chicken's way out.

Rather than take a stand and fight for it, we'll just not show up for the battle at all and allow the enemy to take the ground.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#19
#19
Oncefallen said:
To my way of thinking, this is the chicken's way out.

Rather than take a stand and fight for it, we'll just not show up for the battle at all and allow the enemy to take the ground.
Click to expand...
So, your church has the money to fight it all the way to the Supreme Court? Because that's the agenda's plan. It has been, it is, it will be.

Personally? If a church can afford that, they're doing something wrong with the tithe.

I was serious about revolution, but, once again, it comes down to people wanting others to fight a battle. THAT is historically the American Way.
 
Pemican

Pemican

Senior Member
#20
Sep 27, 2014
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#20
We live in the Devil's world. Those who are faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ and to His Word must realize that they may have to pay a price for their belief. All of the disciples except John were martyred. Many others through the centuries suffered financial ruin, persecution, imprisonment and death. Is this life so precious that we would not give it up for the cause of Christ? Was our Lord not born to die for us that we might have eternal life?
 
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