A family feud
Published February 21, 2019
By Tom Campbell
by Tom Campbell, Producer and Moderator of NC SPIN, February 21, 2019.
Do you remember the TV game show Family Feud? It was good fun as one family competes with another for cash prizes, but we all know that real life family feuds can be bitter, divisive and cause great damage.
For many years the United Methodist Church, along with many other denominations has been having differences over human sexuality, specifically about whether to ordain homosexual pastors, as well as whether or not to marry gay couples. Those discussions have become heated and emotionally charged, pitting families and congregations with different beliefs against each other. It has reached a point where the issue now threatens the unity in the United Methodist Church. Methodists comprise the third largest faith organization in our nation.
Next week, in St. Louis, Methodist delegates from four continents gather to attempt to resolve those differences. Among the thousands of delegates attending this special session of the General Conference will be traditionalists, contextualists and progressives. Traditionalists believe in marriage between one man and one woman. They want greater accountability and fidelity within that union and disallow the ordination of and marriage of homosexuals. Contextualists acknowledge there are differences within various settings and are willing to allow those disparate beliefs and practices. Progressives want full inclusion of all persons in the life of the denomination and believe the church can celebrate same-sex marriages.
For almost two years 32 people representing 9 countries have been praying about, meeting and discussing this issue. They represent a cross section of the Methodist faith and have been tasked with finding “a way forward,” a solution that will cause the least damage to the denomination, result in the fewest loss of members or financial support, and have the least impact on the overall mission of making disciples for Jesus. It should come as no surprise that after two years this group has been unable to find a solution that can be universally embraced. Now they are taking it to the church as a whole for a solution.
Already this issue has torn asunder the Episcopal and Presbyterian denominations. In both instances the resulting survivors are smaller in numbers, less influential and significantly weaker financially. Next week’s St. Louis conference threatens that same outcome for Methodists.
This gathering is symptomatic of society today. Nobody admits to wanting to widen divisions among races, sexes, religious faiths or political parties, yet few are willing to compromise or yield their positions significantly enough to prevent the resultant damage. The feuds rage on.
We continue to fight these cultural, philosophical and religious battles, an acknowledgement that we never really learned from feuds from the past.
Nobody knows for a certainty what will happen at the Methodist summit. You don’t have to be a Methodist to be in prayer that people of faith and good will can summon the grace, compassion, understanding and wisdom to find a solution that will continue them united. And, if they are able to do so, that they will come home and demonstrate to us how to reconcile differences and heal wounds.
The family feud might make a good game show, but in real life there are losses on all sides and the experience can wreak damage for years to come. Hopefully all will agree that at this moment we need some reconciliation and peace.
February 22, 2019 at 10:38 am
Norm Kelly says:
It will truly be a shame if the United Methodist Church is no longer united. It will be a loss for all involved, and could have repercussions across many denominations.
I find it interesting that 'progressives' in religion are as confused and situational as 'progressives' in politics. The Bible specifically says that homosexuals are a sin against God. It's in the OT & the NT. Even though it's in plain sight, progressives choose to ignore it. And want everyone else to come along on the wrong side with them, want everyone else to give up their faith in order to be 'politically correct' and 'progressively wrong'.
'Contextualists' just seem to want to get along, prevent the Church from fragmenting. This is the group that is always saying 'can't we just all get along'. What it means is that some are allowed to believe what they want regardless of how wrong it is, and this group will ignore where/when the wrong-ness is committed. This could be a financial position, could be a unity position. But it's the wrong position.
Revelation tells us that those who try to get along with the world are 'luke warm'. They have given up their first love, Jesus, in order to get along with the sinful world. The luke warm are spit out of Jesus' mouth! Throughout the Bible there is consistency on many issues. The sin of homosexuality is one of them. This is not my opinion. Perhaps the UMC delegates should read the entire Bible before their conference.
God did not allow for public opinion when stating what is right and what is wrong. The US Constitution also does not allow for public opinion when it comes to central planner control. Central planners are specifically restricted as to what they are allowed to do. 'Progressives' are the socialists that choose to ignore the restrictions on them. They claim that since their opinion is superior to Constitution and the opinion of those who are right/correct, their opinion is the only one that matters. Progressives are all the same, it seems. Totally confused, totally in love with themselves, totally willing to flex to public opinion on EVERY matter. With 'progressives' there seems to be no gray areas, and certainly no wrong or right. There is only 'what feels good'.
February 22, 2019 at 2:58 pm
Bennie Spencer says:
As a 39year Methodist and raised a babtised Baptist I am dead in the battle. After two meetings with pastors, Lay leader Delegates, and a cleragy deligare, They made these points:
What is voted in, after amendments, will not be one of three options
At each General Conference going forward, there will be an ongoing argument.
We are guided by something larger than the book of discipline. The inherent infallible word of God. The conversation seems to be more about what the book of discipline says and not the Bible, which is our ultimate guide. Those that are going to be on one side and those misguided "progressive " are will remain on the other. Will the USA be the next Soddum and Guarmara or not!
(Pleas over look the spelling. In the 50's NC didn't know how to teach boys to read or spell.)
February 24, 2019 at 6:10 am
Bro Tony Call says:
United Methodist Church, along with many other denominations has been having differences over human sexuality, specifically about whether to ordain homosexual pastors. This is not a debate this is a open defiance of God and Gods word. This is not for man to choose for Jesus said you are ether for me or against me,his word is for ever settled,and what God said is a abomination,how can God bless it. The Churches has left there first love God. These churches are not of God but of the world.
