Comments on: Methodists Reject Inclusive Theology

By: Zeke

Zeke — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:54:50 +0000

Why any self-respecting gay Christian would stay in a denomination like this is beyond me.

I left the Southern Baptist church for the Episcopal Church the minute I came out. That was the best option available to a young adult in Mississippi. Now that I have left the state and found that I don’t have to settle for being treated as an uwanted step child of God by my church I have found myself, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, 100% fulfilled in my faith at the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST.

For those gay Christians out there who are unhappy with the way their church or their denomination treats gay people, check out the UCC. It’s like coming home.

By: PSUdain

PSUdain — Sat, 03 May 2008 17:15:11 +0000

I’m not so sure about your thoughts on a united protestant christian church body in the US. Full Communion is nowhere near to a statement of theological or doctrinal agreement. Full Communion “agreements” basically just say that we feel that we have similar enough theology about Holy Communion for members to partake in the meal in each others congregations (and often for pastors to officiate over Communion at churches of the other denomination). Beyond that there may be (and are) numerous other theological differences. I would also note that for a long time the ELCA has practiced Communal Hospitality; in other words, any baptized member of the church of Christ (theological not denominational) who believes in the real presence of Christ in the Host is invited to partake of the meal with us.

So while many mainline protestant churches and congregations are engaging in closer relationships with each other these days, I don’t see any evidence that this is anything more than ecumenism, at least not anywhere in the near future, and certainly not in the next ten years.

Even here on the Penn State campus, where the Episcopalians and Lutherans join each other for many functions and services (and where many of the Episcopals are also members of the Lutheran Student Community) we remain ourselves. We are one in Christ, one Church, but not one congregation.

By: GDad

GDad — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:36:13 +0000

That’s one of the reasons I formally left the UMC. That and I’m an atheist.

By: queerunity

queerunity — Fri, 02 May 2008 02:42:00 +0000

sad. i was really hopeful. the vote was close thought, maybe next convention?

By: David

David — Fri, 02 May 2008 02:22:07 +0000

“One man from Africa said that “we love homosexuals, but we detest what they do.”

This is considered a Christian perspective, and yet, if only two words were changed, the denunications and outraged would burn for months or years:

One man from Alabama said that “we love africans, but we detest what they do.”

That the second version is unChristian is crystal to clear, but then, the first version is unChristian as well.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:08:27 +0000

Thank you Craig for that clarification.

By: Craig L. Adams

Craig L. Adams — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:38:56 +0000

Yeah, but I think even us conservative-leaning types are tired of this debate and becoming increasing willing to simply acknowledge our deep differences of viewpoint and move on.

Just for clarity’s sake: the alternatives before the General Conference were basically to (a) retain the current “incompatibility” position or (b) acknowledge that we are conflicted on the issue. Alternative (b) is not any ringing note of acceptance either. (And it wouldn’t have been in practice even if it passed.)

The vote was as close as it was (I think) not because people’s positions have changed, but because there are more evangelically-inclined people in the church who are are wishing we would stop debating this, acknowledge our differences and move on.

Just a different perspective.