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Archive for the ‘Social Issues’ Category

Riley Case: The future of the United Methodist Church is at stake

Posted in Bishops, Book of Discipline, Christian/Methodist History, Church Renewal, General Conference, Holiness, Politics, Social Issues, UM Higher Education, United Methodist Church, tagged , on July 16, 2010 | 13 Comments »

The following commentary is by Riley B. Case, associate executive director of the Confessing Movement Within the United Methodist Church. Dr. Case served many years as a pastor and district superintendent in the UMC’s North Indiana Conference (now the Indiana Conference). He has been a delegate to five UM General Conferences. (Links below have been [...]

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In GBCS article, UM elder argues against celibacy for single clergy

Posted in Book of Discipline, Ethics, Holiness, Social Issues, United Methodist Church, tagged , on June 30, 2010 | 9 Comments »

For the second time in less than a year, the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), an official agency of the denomination, has published an article arguing that sexual relationships outside the covenant of marriage are not necessarily improper. “An Ordained Single Woman and the Discipline,” published June 7 as part of [...]

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UMW leaders, UM bishops disparage Arizona immigration law, rally for ‘comprehensive immigration reform’

Posted in Bishops, Politics, Social Issues, United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, tagged , , on May 19, 2010 | 13 Comments »

This post is by Liza Kittle, president of the RENEW Network, a renewal group that “advocates on behalf of evangelical women in the United Methodist Church” and “promotes mission outreach that offers Jesus Christ.” — Ed. In March, when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi publicly thanked the United Methodist Church for helping secure passage of a [...]

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Bill Bouknight: What I wish the Council of Bishops would say

Posted in Bishops, Book of Discipline, Church Renewal, Doctrine, Evangelism, Holiness, Revival, Social Issues, United Methodist Church, tagged , on April 26, 2010 | 4 Comments »

The United Methodist Council of Bishops issues occasional statements and letters intended to “provide spiritual leadership” to the church. Most recently (November 2009), the bishops issued a “pastoral letter” (PDF) asserting that “God’s creation is in crisis” and calling United Methodists to practice “social and environmental holiness by caring for God’s people and God’s planet [...]

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UM renewal leader: ‘The UMC is worth fighting for’

Posted in Church Renewal, General Conference, Politics, Social Issues, United Methodist Church, tagged , on April 7, 2010 | 17 Comments »

Two weeks after many United Methodists were dismayed to discover that a General Board of the United Methodist Church was closely involved in passage of the sweeping new health-care law that has vastly expanded federal power and could lead to doctor shortages and medical delays, many evangelicals in the denomination are receiving a letter from [...]

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United Methodist Church facing health bill fallout

Posted in Bishops, Book of Discipline, Ethics, General Conference, Politics, Social Issues, United Methodist Church, tagged , on March 31, 2010 | 18 Comments »

In the wake of enactment of costly and controversial health-care legislation that will significantly broaden the federal government’s power over the U.S. health-care system — as well as over states and individuals — United Methodist bishops and other church leaders are attempting to mollify laity and clergy unhappy about the UMC’s role in supporting the [...]

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House Speaker thanks UMC for help in passing health bill

Posted in Book of Discipline, Ethics, General Conference, Politics, Social Issues, United Methodist Church, tagged , , on March 24, 2010 | 17 Comments »

Moments before Sunday night’s passage of a mammoth health-care bill that the New York Times described at the “most sweeping social legislation enacted in decades,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi specifically thanked the United Methodist Church for “endorsing” the controversial bill. [W]e are proud and also humbled today to act with the support of millions of [...]

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Why the United Methodist Church cannot condone homosexuality

Posted in Book of Discipline, Christian/Methodist History, Doctrine, Ethics, General Conference, Holiness, Judicial Council, Social Issues, United Methodist Church, tagged , on March 15, 2010 | 25 Comments »

“The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching. We affirm that God’s grace is available to all.” (¶161F, The Book of Discipline—2008) A recent MethodistThinker post (“Defying denomination, UM church in D.C. offers to perform same-sex weddings”) elicited responses from several readers who argued [...]

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Defying denomination, UM church in D.C. offers to perform same-sex weddings

Posted in Bishops, Book of Discipline, Christian/Methodist History, General Conference, Holiness, Judicial Council, Social Issues, United Methodist Church, tagged , on March 4, 2010 | 22 Comments »

Hours after a new law permitting homosexual marriage took effect in Washington, D.C., the oldest United Methodist church in the District issued a news release stating its intent to “celebrate same-sex weddings,” defying General Conference actions and Judicial Council rulings that expressly prohibit such ceremonies. The offer to perform wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples came [...]

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UM pro-life group urges Sen. Ben Nelson: ‘Do no harm’

Posted in Bishops, Book of Discipline, Doctrine, Ethics, Politics, Social Issues, United Methodist Church, tagged , on January 27, 2010 | 2 Comments »

The United Methodist pro-life organization known as Lifewatch is urging Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), a United Methodist layman, to reconsider his support of the recently passed Senate health bill, even as passage of a final health bill grows increasingly unlikely in the wake of last week’s U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts. In December, Sen. Nelson [...]

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