Horrible no good terrible day

[kayre]

My former denomination, the United Methodist Church, is holding a big conference, and it appears that by the end of the day they'll begin the process of disuniting. The big issue is acceptance of homosexuality

The conservatives in the church are carrying the day, and they are using a lot of strategies that remind me of the November 2016 election. The Conference is mostly now deciding what financial arrangements will be made with congregations that choose to leave the UMC. I realized this morning that the resulting conservative church will likely move even further backwards at the next General Conference, revoking even membership for homosexuals; in fact they are already pressing amendments about that, and divorce/remarriage.

My heart is breaking for my past churches, and for the message this sends to so many people, including many of my friends. Though I have left the UMC already, my theology is rather Wesleyan, and I can't bear to see it perverted this way.

And my brain is uncomfortably remembering how many Protestant churches in Germany lined up with the Nazis, and looking at what the UMC is about to become with terror. (And I hope they will at least immediately drop "United" from their name.)

Comments

[sine_nomine]

Weeping for you. And for all of us.

Have other thoughts but probably better shared personally than in your journal

[gingicat]

That’s really hard. I remember you saying that the biggest issue you had with your Anglicans was their doctrine on homosexuality, and now you have to see it happen in your own denomination.

[amaebi]

It's a terrible day.

Possibly good will come of it. But the cost to LGBTIQ United Methodists is horrible. As it always has been.

Jesus weeps.

[bethynyc]

::hugs you:: I'm so sorry.

[silkensteel]

I haven't been on here much lately, but I immediately thought of how much hurt you and others will experience.

[cellio]

I am so sorry -- for what they are doing to their congregations and the LGBTQ members therein, and also for you because they are managing to hurt you even at a distance. Ugh.