More on the Methodists
I keep thinking about Elizabeth Stroud's trial in the Methodist Church. There are so many issues involved.
On the one hand, I believe I have to accept, and even respect the right of the United Methodist Church to act according to its Book of Discipline on matters pertaining to homosexuality. I don't think that the polity (or the theology behind it) of denominations and congregations should all be vetted according to my individual beliefs.
On the other hand--this is fundamentally wrong. I'm not going to argue what the Bible does or doesn't say about homosexuality; this has been done by many people before, and individuals rarely, I believe, move from one camp to another. There are those who would examine what the Bible has to say about sexuality (or anything) in light of what were the perceived norms of the communities that produced the scriptures, and there are those who would believe that the Bible speaks absolute truths in everything it states. I am clearly not in the latter camp.
I really feel for the Methodists though. I know of a number of gay Methodist seminarians whose future in the professional ministry are impacted by this and are forced to remain professionally closeted. Those that have the courage to speak out, ultimately, face exile. Elizabeth Stroud preached, in her "coming out" sermon:
She's a lifelong Methodist; the church, she states, is her family. What has happened is not as simple as rejection from a professional association; it is rejection by her family. Sure, she could be ordained elsewhere and serve other churches elsewhere. Sure, she can still work at her church but no longer in a sacramental post. The message here from the United Methodist Church is, quite simply, "you're not good enough for us. We don't want your kind."
Again, I go back to "open hearts, open doors, open minds." There is a profound disconnect between this slogan and what the Church has done. And sadly, it isn't the first, nor will it be the last. As a Christian I can point the finger of blame at my Church and say
A beloved community or a club of bigots? How often is the Church striving for the former but realizing the latter?
My thoughts and prayers are directed toward Beth Stroud and other LGBT within the United Methodist Church, the Christian Church, and the world, who have tried to live the life that God has given them and are punished for it.
On the one hand, I believe I have to accept, and even respect the right of the United Methodist Church to act according to its Book of Discipline on matters pertaining to homosexuality. I don't think that the polity (or the theology behind it) of denominations and congregations should all be vetted according to my individual beliefs.
On the other hand--this is fundamentally wrong. I'm not going to argue what the Bible does or doesn't say about homosexuality; this has been done by many people before, and individuals rarely, I believe, move from one camp to another. There are those who would examine what the Bible has to say about sexuality (or anything) in light of what were the perceived norms of the communities that produced the scriptures, and there are those who would believe that the Bible speaks absolute truths in everything it states. I am clearly not in the latter camp.
I really feel for the Methodists though. I know of a number of gay Methodist seminarians whose future in the professional ministry are impacted by this and are forced to remain professionally closeted. Those that have the courage to speak out, ultimately, face exile. Elizabeth Stroud preached, in her "coming out" sermon:
I have come to a place where my discipleship, my walk with Christ, requires telling the whole truth, and paying whatever price truthfulness requires. (via bethstroud.info)And now she has had to pay the price. We could speak, pragmatically, that the congregation says she will remain employed, or that a handful of more liberal Christian denominations would jump at ordaining her, but that's not the point.
She's a lifelong Methodist; the church, she states, is her family. What has happened is not as simple as rejection from a professional association; it is rejection by her family. Sure, she could be ordained elsewhere and serve other churches elsewhere. Sure, she can still work at her church but no longer in a sacramental post. The message here from the United Methodist Church is, quite simply, "you're not good enough for us. We don't want your kind."
Again, I go back to "open hearts, open doors, open minds." There is a profound disconnect between this slogan and what the Church has done. And sadly, it isn't the first, nor will it be the last. As a Christian I can point the finger of blame at my Church and say
look at what you have done to this world
A beloved community or a club of bigots? How often is the Church striving for the former but realizing the latter?
My thoughts and prayers are directed toward Beth Stroud and other LGBT within the United Methodist Church, the Christian Church, and the world, who have tried to live the life that God has given them and are punished for it.
posted by Peregrinato at 12/03/2004 03:25:00 pm
2 Comments:
AMEN!
This once again makes me wonder why people get up out of bed on Sundays to go to church.. maybe thats just me though.
Why did they stop with just the gay thing.. if they wanted to maybe they could have accused her of witch craft and then burn her at a stake.
Have these people not been reading there bibles again? Maybe we should send them a letter explaining that if they by a Bible and not one of those "B-I-B-L-E" books with the pretty pictures of Noah and Jesus with the lambs that there is a lot of other lessons to be learned.
Shouldn't they be out testifying to get people into the church and not turning them away?
I remember going to church and they taught that only God could judge people. Guess I was taught wrong.
These have been random thoughts from Derek. Posted in response to James post and what they provoked in my mind. I take no responsibility if they offended you or make no sense to you. May God have mercy on the Methodists for they know not what they do.
P.S. I also take no responsibility for the spelling errors in that last comment... I was going in and out of consciousness cause of how crazy this world makes me.
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