Methodist conservatives to launch breakaway group in May

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Agroup of theologically conservative United Methodists plans to launch a new worldwide denomination on May 1, impatient to get started after yet another pandemic-related delay to a formalized divorce agreement with their denomination.

The creation of the Global Methodist Church, announced Thursday, was long in the making, organized by conservatives who were fed up with liberal churches' continued defiance of the United Methodist Church's bans on same-sex marriage and the ordination of openly gay clergy.

Global Methodist Church organizers had originally expected to launch the denomination only after the next General Conference of the UMC. That legislative body is the only one that could approve a tentative agreement — unveiled in 2020 after negotiations between conservatives, liberals and centrists — to allow churches and regional groups to leave the denomination and keep their property.

But the General Conference, originally scheduled for 2020, was already delayed for two straight years by the pandemic. On Thursday, the United Methodist Church announced it was pushing off the next gathering yet again — to 2024 — due to long delays in the U.S. processing of visa applications. Nearly half the denominations' members are overseas, notably in Africa and the Philippines.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/methodist-conservatives-to-launch-breakaway-group-in-may/ar-AAUC4mT

[mahina]

1. Bye. Definitely start the name with "Global", that'll give everybody the right idea

Ugh.

When things were rough and I needed some light I reached out to see if there was a church around I could go and just listen and I found one near me. They accept welcome everybody regardless of faith or creed or atheism or neutral, believe in God or just want to listen and be quiet, anything. They are wonderful. They help people.

But I can see why hard core conservatives wouldn’t want to be part of it. I bet it goes both ways.

[gratuitous]

2. This is happening in denomination after denomination

For years, conservatives have had their way in several denominations, fighting tooth and nail against according basic human dignity to all persons. "If you don't like it, tough," was the refrain I heard over and over from these practitioners of bad theology. Our response, quiet and persistent, has been "This fight isn't over until we say it's over, and we say it's over when we win."

Conservatives are slipping into the minority in denomination after denomination, and increasingly they take their ball and flounce off. It's happened in the Church of the Brethren, the Mennonites, and now the Methodists. These people are sore losers who can't abide living under the conditions they forced on others for so many years. Their theology is fear, and their greatest fear is that they will be treated as they've treated others. You know, like the Lord's Prayer says.

[Stallion]

3. Southern Methodist University Severed all ties with United Methodist Church due to Concern...

over this rift-they didn't want any part of a possible takeover by the conservative wing. This was just about a year ago

https://www.umnews.org/en/news/judge-rules-for-smu-over-church-conferencehttps://www.umnews.org/en/news/jurisdictional-conference-sues-smu