The UM church has certainly had its share of struggles in the past years over the issue of homosexuality. While I support gay rights to civil marriage and partner benifits, I also support the Methodists in their continuing rejection of the gay lifestyle within the Church. The Bible is perfectly clear about homosexuality and the Church cannot fail to recognize that. Homosexuals should have the same civil rights as any other American, in my opinion. But the Church is not a civil institution, it is a spiritual one which makes very specific claims about what we believe is acceptable and what is not.
The more conservative members of the UM church (at least 90% of the total population) have been under seige lately by the work of a tiny vocal minority who continue to act directly in the face of the accepted laws of UM polity. The conservatives growing response? This is the wrong direction in every way. If a few radicals aren't willing to follow the rules, it doesn't mean that the rest of the denomination should leave. It means the ones who aren't living by the set standard should. The UM church has guidelines for those who go against church laws but every time some one is brought up for ordaining or marrying homosexuals...they're acquited! Of course! The UM church is in dire straights. But it's becuase the vast majority have given up on trying to actually put down this rebellion. Unless the church actually starts enforcing its laws, this will continue to happen and the conservatives will be forced to leave. Then they will really have lost.
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