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www.foxnews.com/us/united-methodist-delegates-reject-recognizing-gay-marriageI've spent some time in Ghana & Liberia & from all of the people that I know who are national ministers this was a no-brainer. In fact it's mostly regarded to be against the law to practice same sex relationships in both countries & for most of the Ivory/Gold Coast of West Africa. Some of the larger cities are a little more tolerant but you won't see a lot of rainbow flags flying around Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!

The articles seem ...

The articles seem to show the votes were very close and it was leadership (Bishops) who were most in favor of the liberalization of the UMC. The very nature of the UMC is hierarchical, so one would think as the Bishops go, so will the denomination go in the future. For the Bible-believing churches, it seems paradoxical to say there will be independent UMC local churches, but they could retain the Methodist and perhaps form some network with oversight in the future. Looking at the influence of the Methodist on the Holiness Movement and the form of government found in the denominations which rose from that movement, one has to be concerned about the future. Among the denominations in the COG Movement we are drawn like a magnet to stronger hierarchical structure, with the Bishops at the top having more and more influence and the assembly of the whole body (including laity) becoming little more than an after-thought or rubber-stamp for the leadership. I suggest we do this at our pearl.

The COG is several ...

The COG is several generations from emulating the issues in the UMC, if ever. There are some denominations that rose from the Holiness Movement, like the Church of the Nazarene or the COG, Anderson, IN, that bare watching. There are branches of the COGIC movement that seems to be very inclusive and social justice focused. Some of those raised in the COG Movement who have gone independent have within a generation or two embraced inclusiveness. Before Jesus returns who knows what/which denominations and churches will still be Bible-believing. Mat

The UMC voted to adhere to Biblical teachings. I don't understand the shock and outrage at their decision.In my opinion, people simply don't believe that homosexuality is a sin, regardless of what the Bible says. Some say, one is born gay, and a person can no more change their condition, than they can change their race.So, if you are born gay and cannot change.....And Scripture teaches homosexuals won't inherit the Kingdom of God....1 Cor. 6:9......Then God created people who are incapable of being saved. I don't understand how people reconcile homosexuality with the Bible.If you are born homosexual and cannot change.....How can it be a sin?If you say homosexuality is NOT a sin....what about the Scriptures that specifically say otherwise

To which the Calvinist says: AMEN! (just like they have been telling you all along

There's a huge difference between experiencing same-sex attraction and acting on it. As an example, if I see a very attractive woman who is not my wife I may experience an involuntary physical attraction to her. If I am following Christ, I will crucify that desire and remain faithful to my wife.

There's a huge difference between experiencing same-sex attraction and acting on it. As an example, if I see a very attractive woman who is not my wife I may experience an involuntary physical attraction to her. If I am following Christ, I will crucify that desire and remain faithful to my wife.In the same way, I know a few guys (a couple of whom are super Reformed, NBF) who experience same-sex attraction and have zero attraction to women, and yet live their lives crucifying that desire. I cannot imagine how difficult that is, and I am deeply moved by the faithfulness to Christ demonstrated by their commitment to do so. Agreed. But the struggle in the Methodist church was not over same sex attraction. They were dealing issues of practicing homosexuals....who don't see anything wrong with their actions and intend to continue in their relationships.They were asking themselves:Should we ordain openly gay ministers?Should we perform gay marriages

Very true. Just didn't want to miss an opportunity to point out the SSA distinction.I have a friend who himself has a friend who experiences SSA and crucifies his flesh daily, yet has been turned out of several churches because of something that actually may be beyond his control. That's just infuriating. A dude who follows Christ, honestly, closer than any of us, through greater trial than any of us -- forced by some churches to do so alone, because of their ignorance about what constitutes sin.