The fight with the devil and his disciples is loud demonstrations in the public arena, not behind closed doors with paper responses. May God seek strong-hearted/willed believers to promote God’s salvation outside the church.

To The General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church:

In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and in the name of the church founded by John Wesley, we prayerfully insist that you publicly retract your support for the so-called “Freedom of Choice Act.” We have learned that you have written President-elect Barack Obama in support of this proposed legislation. We insist you inform him that you have withdrawn your support because this proposed legislation is in direct conflict with the official position of the United Methodist Church concerning parental authority and partial-birth abortion.

The “Freedom of Choice Act” is intended to and would have the effect of invalidating all state laws requiring parental notification or approval of abortions on minors. It would also invalidate all state laws restricting or banning partial birth abortions.

The official position of the United Methodist Church on these issues is contained in Paragraph 161 of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, as amended at the 2008 General Conference:

— “We support requirements for parental, guardian or other responsible adult notification and consent before abortions can be performed on girls who have not yet reached the age of legal adulthood.”

— “We oppose the use of late-term abortion known as dilation and extraction (partial-birth abortion) and call for the end of this practice except when the physical life of the mother is in danger and no other medical procedure is available, or in the case of severe fetal anomalies incompatible with life.”

The “prime responsibility” of the General Board of Church and Society, stated in Paragraph 1004 of The Book of Discipline, is “to seek the implementation of the Social Principles and other policy statements of the General Conference on Christian social concerns.”

We respectfully and lovingly insist you correct your error and withdraw your support for “The Freedom of Choice Act.”

Signed:

It took much prayer and reflection for us to get actively involved in this issue, but, if we are to be true to our faith, we must stand up. After all, we are the Church.

The Book of Discipline, in the Social Principles, basically states that while we are reluctant to approve abortion, we do support legal means (though we support certain guidelines for what would be considered appropriate conditions). You can’t be pro-life and pro-choice.

The way I read the statement (in the Social Principles of the Book of Discipline, approved by the GC) it appears as though the UMC would be a pro-choice denomination. Therefore, I’m not surprised that the GBCS issued such a statement.

Only when events / news of this kind reaches the common church attendee and those people complain will things begin to change.

I suggest that some entity, renewal group, etc., take on a topic such as this as a cause for accountability of those leaders who are are egregiously not following the Bible and polity of the Church.

Our Church cannot long endure under the positions it is now taking. Something must happen to awaken people the precepts of our foundation.

Dan Down’s comments are right on the mark! Although I have identified myself as a Christian for more than 40 years, it is only by the grace of God and the encouragement of my wife and my local church that I began to really study the Bible and (finally) find the Lord during the past year.

As I learn more and my eyes and heart are opened, I am routinely shocked by General Board and UMW actions that are so distant from apostolic teaching and our Wesleyan roots. You have to wonder if there will be a point when people will just watch Oprah instead of attending a UM church.

My wife and I left the Methodist Church and have watched over the years as what was once a great tool of evangelizing for Jesus Christ our Lord, turn to a liberal, political machine. God help what is left of the Methodist denomination to repent and come back to its first Love.

When I think of what the Methodist denomination has become I am reminded of the passage in Matthew 7: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”