I pray that The UMC won't turn into the Southern Baptist Convention but only God knows. Time will tell. I don't expect the conservative voting bloc to stop at defeating gay rights. Next they will probably try to restrict theological discussion and police preaching and seminary education. I know they mean well but that doesn't mean I will roll over and play dead. As Patrick Henry said, "Give me liberty or give me death!" Speaking of Patrick Henry, he also said the time to resist tyranny is always now. Waiting only allows your opponents to grow stronger and to fasten chains upon you. "There is a just God who presides in the affairs of nations and God will rise up allies to fight for us. The battle is not always to the strong but to the vigilant, the active and the brave." I may not be quoting him exactly but that is the gist of it. God bless Patrick Henry and all those who inspire us to stand up for what is right, be it popular or unpopular.
Here are some other quotes that I find helpful in the struggle for equality:
“The derogatory rules and restrictions in the Book of
Discipline are immoral and unjust and no longer deserve our loyalty and
obedience. It’s time for us to act in defiance of unjust words of immoral and
derogatory discrimination and laws that are doing harm to our GLBT sisters and
brothers.” Bishop Melvin Talbert
“The manner in which we deal with the concern of
homosexuality affects all of ministry in the U.S., and we are the poorer for
it. It is time for us to let go of our wrong position and be the church of
Christ Jesus, a church that excludes no one.” Bishop Minerva Carcano Desert
Southwest
“I also personally grieve over our United Methodist Church
polity that will not recognize same-sex marriage. I believe that it is wrong,
and we should work for a more inclusive and humane response.” Bishop Grant
Hagiya Pacific Northwest
■Romans
13:8-10. “Love does not wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling
of the law.
■Matthew 7:12. So whatever you
wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the
Prophets.
■Romans
13:9. The commandments … are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
■Matthew
22:36-40. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And Jesus said
to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a
second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two
commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
“We remember the conviction of Martin Luther King, Jr., that
‘freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by
the oppressed.’ “
“We remember Martin’s lament that ‘the contemporary church
is often a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. It is so often the
arch-supporter of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of
the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the
church’s silent and often vocal sanction of things as they are.’”
“We remember Martin’s insight that ‘injustice anywhere is a
threat to justice everywhere. ‘“
The United Methodist Book of Worship Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day
“Out of concern for the welfare of all God’s people, and,
out of special concern for the people of The United Methodist Church, we,
United Methodist Bishops – retired, believe The United Methodist Church should
remove the following statement from The Book of Discipline (2008):
“…The practice of
homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals
are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to
serve in The United Methodist Church.”
¶304.3” United Methodist Episcopal Leaders-Retired Sharon Z. Rader,
Donald A. Ott et al.
No comments:
Post a Comment