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Special Report
United Methodists Transition from Liberal to Global
The ongoing empowerment of millions of African United Methodists.
The global 12 million member United Methodist Church, now likely the world’s 9th largest communion, is no longer a predominantly liberal U.S. denomination. Its quadrennial governing General Conference, which met for 10 days in Tampa ending May 4, refused to alter the church’s official disapproval of homosexual practice.
Some news stories huffed disapproval and surprise. After all, the Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA), and United Church of Christ have all surrendered to American culture on sexual ethics. Their membership spirals subsequently accelerated into formal schisms. But United Methodism, unlike these other historic denominations that once dominated American religion and liberalized in the early 20th century, is now a growing church and has a record number of members.
Unlike the other traditionally liberal-led Mainline denominations, United Methodism is fully global in membership. (The 2 million member Episcopal Church of the U.S. does include the small churches of Latin America, Europe and Taiwan but is still 90 percent U.S. persons.) There are 7.5 million United Methodists in the U.S. and 4.5 million overseas, almost all in Africa, mostly in the Congo. With the U.S. church losing about 100,000 members a year (down from 11 million 44 years ago) and the African church gaining over 200,000 a year, the denomination likely will become a majority non-U.S. church in about 10 years or less.
These statistics frustrate United Methodist liberals who have dominated the domination for 50 years or more. Homosexuality has been debated at the church’s General Conference every four years since 1972. And the church consistently decreed that homosexual practice was “incompatible with Christian teaching.” Over the years, the denomination formally prohibited clergy who were actively homosexual (as well as any clergy sexually active outside traditional marriage) and banned same-sex unions. For the last 12 years it has even supported “laws in civil society that define marriage as the union of man and woman,” though normally loquacious bishops and other church elites decline to articulate this stance even as the nation debates it.
United Methodist liberals always assumed their church would follow American culture on sexual permissiveness, just as the church had followed on so much else across the 20th century, starting with divorce and contraception. They always consoled themselves, “If not this time, then next time!” Sounding like deterministic Marxist Hegelians, they believed history sided with sexual inclusion.
But this year in Tampa, the church once again rejected any dilution of his disapproval of homosexual practice, despite a full court lobby campaign. Liberal caucus groups pitched a full size tent outside the Tampa Convention Center, served daily lunches to any delegates, mobilized hundreds of volunteers in rainbow stoles, and distributed a full-size daily newspaper, sometimes translated into other languages. As chronicled by the just released Forgetting How to Blush: United Methodism’s Compromise with the Sexual Revolution by the Rev. Karen Booth, pro-gay caucus groups have received hundreds of thousands of dollars from non-church philanthropies.
It was largely wasted money. A record 30 percent of delegates came from Africa this time, up from 20 percent just 4 years ago (and 10 percent 8 years ago), and they voted uniformly against any liberalization of the church’s sexual teaching. Combined with many Filipino and European delegates, plus U.S. evangelicals, who were themselves about 20 percent of the total, there was an insurmountable conservative majority on key issues. The final vote on homosexual practice’s “incompatibility” with Christian teaching showed 61 percent supporting the current stance.
Two prominent, formerly conservative evangelical clergy who now oppose the church’s stance offered a seductive substitute that left the church’s current disapproval in place while merely acknowledging disagreement within the church. Even this admission was rejected by 53 to 47 percent. After the defeats, pro-gay demonstrators angrily disrupted the conference, as they always do. But remarkably, there were no more votes on petitions about sex.
Summoning conservative and liberal caucus groups, United Methodist General Conference leaders, including two bishops, suggested that evening in a closed meeting that further votes regarding ordination standards and same-sex marriage issues, among other items, be effectively tabled. Realizing they only faced further defeats, even the liberal caucus groups largely agreed. It was a historic first across 40 years of debate. And the tabling of sex issues perhaps presages future United Methodist General Conferences.
In 2016, the Africans will likely have about 40 percent of delegates, making any inroads for sexual liberalism almost impossible. Church liberals in the past have tried to manipulate or marginalize the Africans. In 2008, with support from the U.S. bishops, they even proposed creating a new U.S. only governing convention to exclude the Africans. Even the regional bodies in the U.S. church voted against it, and the African churches rejected their proposed exclusion by over 90 percent.
With over 4 million and soon to be 5 million members, the African churches are now too large to ignore. A few liberal activists, in their blogs, complained about Africans from impoverished countries who don’t contribute dollars into the denomination now having so much power. But disenfranchising the poor is not a successful battle cry for progressives. Some U.S. liberals quietly try to paint the Africans as primitives who reject enlightened Western liberalism.
These canards will only backfire. More so than ever, the African delegates were organized as a bloc and were effective legislatively. They gained 25 percent of the legislative committee officer seats, previously typically getting none. They also filled two of four open slots on the church’s top court, the Judicial Council, with a Congolese pastor and a Harvard Law trained Liberian, as well as electing a Congolese university president to the oversight body for United Methodist seminaries.
When church liberals tried to persuade the General Conference to divest from firms doing business with Israel, Africans overwhelmingly opposed it, sending divestment to defeat by 2 to 1. One Nigerian delegate unapologetically argued that such anti-Israel measures would only encourage Israel’s Arab and Muslim enemies to seek its destruction. During the General Conference, the Islamist terror group, Boko Haram, attacked several Nigerian churches, killing over two dozen Christians. Although there are over 400,000 United Methodists in Nigeria, the General Conference said not a word.
As at every General Conference for the last 50 years, dozens of far-left political resolutions were passed with nary a debate. Most United Methodists would be surprised to know their church favors socialized medicine, Global Warming regulation, unilateral disarmament, and open borders for the U.S. These utopian stances will disappear into a 1,000-page Book of Resolutions ignored by all except for the denomination’s busy Capitol Hill lobby office, which even liberal legislators largely disregard.
A traditionally liberal dominated legislative committee approved by a significant margin withdrawing United Methodism from the archaic and radical Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, founded by the church in the wake of Roe v. Wade in 1973 to rally religious support for abortion rights. With African support, including the bishop of Nigeria, withdrawal almost certainly would have passed in the plenary, except for a legislative log-jam on the final night. It will happen next time.
About the Author
Mark Tooley is president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy in Washington, D.C. and author of Methodism and Politics in the Twentieth Century. You can follow him on Twitter @markdtooley.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (88) | Leave a comment
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Appleby| 5.14.12 @ 6:57AM
Our family had a significant experience with the Methodist Church's clear repudiation of the homosexual lifestyle, back in the early 1980s -- I was brought up in the Methodist church and although I have not attended it since I left home (having been tossed from Sunday School in Grade 8 for inquiring whether or not Catholics worshipped graven images, and insisting on a straight answer), I held from my Presbyterian Bible College viewpoint that the Church's strictures ought to be obeyed by those who proposed to shepherd its flock. I am relieved to hear that the Church is steering its ship away from the rocks, and am positive that my Mama, who still attends the Church as a lifelong member, would be scandalized to hear what positions it officially holds. (She expresses irritation only with her female pastor's endless focus on fund-raising.) Good for the Africans if they can wake up and give courage to those in America who would support their views if they knew about them.
Jack Walsh| 5.14.12 @ 12:09PM
Oh how I welcome our simple African brethren into the fold.
Hallelujah!
I sincerely hope they completely take over Methodism, replacing the putrid European hymns with their own indiginous rhythmic, trance-like songs.
It's high time the hymns of Charles Wesley are trashed along with other white, European hymnists.
Fifty years from now, I hope that when we drive by Methodist churches, we hear the loud, insistent beat of drums along with the shrill ullulations of women. What a thrill that will be!
And let's all pray that the Africans demand their pagan beliefs be inculcated into the services here in the USA, just as they are in Mother Africa.
The primitive African style of worship will save the Methodist Church. Glory to God and Onward Christian Africa! Onward to primitive oblivion!
Compassionate, progressive Methodists be damned!
Ooh La La| 5.14.12 @ 12:18PM
And how the Christian Africans hate their gays. They even demand the death penalty for them! Thousands of gays have fled their native Africa for more "civilized" countries.
Indeed! We need that old-time, primitive, ignorant, and hateful religion of darkest Africa.
At last, thank Gawd, the Africans are going to save us all!
Let the African chruch roll on! Roll on, roll on, roll on!
Conservative Christian| 5.14.12 @ 12:23PM
Kill the gays! Kill the gays!
In the name of Christ, kill the gays!
Love it! Love it! Love it!
Africa and AmSpec have the right attitude. We just hate the queers and all and if they are allowed to marry then goddamn this country and goddamn the liberal churches and goddamn the socialists and goddamn and goddamn . . .
Sorry, I'm runnin' out of goddamns . . .
Somebody give me some help, goddamn it!
Pogo| 5.14.12 @ 12:24PM
goddamn
Aleena| 5.15.12 @ 3:14AM
Your post is disgusting but not unexpected. You contribute nothing to the discussion and only hurl insults which indicate that you have no meaningful arguments.
El Steve-O| 5.14.12 @ 2:42PM
Jack Walsh, Racist much?
Jack Walsh| 5.14.12 @ 5:41PM
No. Realist much.
El Steve-O| 5.14.12 @ 6:35PM
I am sure that would be the reply from George Wallace, Lester Maddox, Ross Barnett, and Orval Faubus.
Seek| 5.14.12 @ 6:43PM
None of whom murdered anyone, which is not what I can ssay on behalf of Joseph Kony.
tommyboy| 8.24.12 @ 2:49PM
I stand alongside you Jack. We need conservatism in our churches. Now more than ever. We don't need our ears tickled. We need to hear the Gospel or Jesus Christ. Preach salvation and justification. Faith alone by grace alone. Not of works.
Anna K. from Emory U.| 5.14.12 @ 12:45PM
Mr. Tooley,
Please answer my question:
What relational, social, ethical difference does it make, in a continent filled with the savagery of wars, rape, corruption, despotic leaders (cold-blooded murderers, many of whom call themselves ‘Christian’)? Is there any evidence that Christian conversion is making a difference?
Chim Chim Cheroo| 5.14.12 @ 12:47PM
Thank you, Anna K., for asking THE thought-provoking question of the day.
Ed White| 5.14.12 @ 12:50PM
Anna K.,
Your question throws a little light on this ridiculous celebration of the "Christians" in Africa, and how they will impose their Christian beliefs (actually anything but Christian) on the American Methodist Church.
They will, in my opinion, destroy it.
Aleena| 5.15.12 @ 3:16AM
No, they will keep it from being destroyed.
Quartermaster| 5.15.12 @ 8:31AM
Hardly. The Church hasn't made much difference in the US, but "making a difference" is not the mission of the Church. The mission is to " Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you...."
Christ also said "...narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." The majority of mankind rejects the gospel. That includes the regressives in this country who are doing everything they can to remove the influence of Christianity from our land.
The mission of the Church is to evangelize. "Making a difference" is for the regressives. Usually that means destruction, not building.
Appleby| 5.14.12 @ 1:27PM
It is certainly making a difference in Uganda. Their rate of AIDS is much lower than the rest of Africa, and their rate of marriage is higher. Considering what Uganda was under Idi Amin Dada, it's come a long way, and I am convinced that Christianity has done its part.
Ed White| 5.14.12 @ 1:37PM
Appleby, why do you deliberately lie?
HIV is on the rise in Uganda among monogamous HETEROSEXUAL couples. Google it.
In the 1990s, Uganda was globally seen as the African role model in the fight against AIDS. But, as recently released figures from the Uganda Aids Indicator 2011 show, it is currently the only country in East-Africa where HIV infections are on the rise. What is happening?
Uganda received worldwide praise in the late 1990s when it managed to lower HIV infection rates from around 15 to 6 percent. But as the recently released figures from the Uganda Aids Indicator 2011 show, the HIV prevalence rate in Uganda increased from 6.4 percent to 6.7 percent last year and over 500,000 more Ugandans became infected with the virus over the past five years.
Surprisingly, an estimated 43 percent of those new infections occur among people engaged in monogamous heterosexual relationships. It is not the young or the poor, but the married couples in urban areas who are most at risk.
Anna K. from Emory U.| 5.14.12 @ 1:40PM
The truth is irrelevant on American Spectator. The commenters will say anything, no matter how reckless and false, to denigrate liberals and all others who fall under the liberal umbrella: intellectuals, artists, gays, etc.
Evelyn R.| 5.14.12 @ 5:54PM
Have you AmSpec morons read about the modern torture and killing for Christianity that is happening right now in Africa?
Look up "Witch" hunting in Nigeria. Read all about it.
The torture and killing of "witches" in Africa, many of them innocent children, is perhaps the worst killing for Christianity in the world today.
Good God Almighty, open your eyes to the evil inherent in African Christianity.
Witches do not exist. But people who abuse children due to their belief in witchcraft do.
Witchcraft and sorcery related child abuse in Africa, and among African immigrants in the West is rampant.
Ingram Marth| 5.14.12 @ 6:28PM
Mr. Tooley,
I'd like for you to answer Anna K.'s substantive and provocative question.
Pretty please in the name of Jeez.
Quartermaster| 5.15.12 @ 8:35AM
It's already been answered. And her question is actually an ignorant question.
Aleena| 5.15.12 @ 3:18AM
It increased .3 percent. That's a staggering increase.
Quartermaster| 5.15.12 @ 8:34AM
If those couples were faithful, that is, actually monogamous, then Aids would be nearly eradicated in less than a generation. That married couples seem to be the most at risk, is an indicator that fidelity is the norm.
Susan Benton| 5.14.12 @ 1:43PM
Is this sarcasism or are you an idiot? What difference does the style of music matter - it is the adherence to the bible that matters. As for those 'compassionate, progressive Methodist' no one is damning them - but why are they calling themself Methodist or Christians when they want to reject Methodism and Christianity. That is what 'progressivism' is all about after all.
Susan Benton| 5.14.12 @ 1:44PM
Without identifying myself thru to much detail I'd just like to say that I have seen it with my own eyes - real Christianity does make a difference.
Methodists Against Child Abuse| 5.14.12 @ 6:00PM
More damage from religion:
Persecution of child “witches” by African Christians
You’ve probably heard that there’s an especially nefarious effect of some Christian sects in Africa: they have combined earlier superstitions with modern ones, and believe that some of their members are witches. Children are often singled out as being possessed, and in a misguided attempt at “exorcism,” are beaten, tortured, and even killed. Watch this short but horrific BBC video of how a child was tortured and killed by African Christians—in LONDON—after accusations of “Kindoke,” or witchcraft.
Go to BBC News Online and type Kindoke in London.
Afro Diaspora| 5.14.12 @ 6:22PM
It plainly says in the bible (and the bible don't lie)
THOU SHALL NOT SUFFER A WITCH TO LIVE.
There. The Bible says it, I believe it, and that settles it.
Seek| 5.14.12 @ 6:46PM
So by that logic, I guess we should kill Stevie Nicks for singing "Rhiannon." The Bible also says all "disobedient" children must be stoned to death. Hey, the Bible says as much, so that ends all discussion. Right?
Occam's Tool| 5.17.12 @ 11:56AM
All I know is that, as a Jew, I feel a hell of a lot safer among evangelical Christians than I do around the Presbyterianazi Church (USA) members, or other "Liberal" denominations. I'd rather have KyMouse as my next door neighbor than Jack or Clint---she would do a good job babysitting the world's Two Cutest Childrem.
Occam's Tool| 5.17.12 @ 11:57AM
"children."
Peter Pillinger| 5.14.12 @ 3:37PM
One of our retired Methodist Ministers died earlier this year. Merfyn Temple had been a mission partner in Zambia and to his funeral in the small Devon town of Honiton came Kenneth Kaunda, first president of Zambia.
The Methodist influence Kaunda's life, in his stepping down from power - and in that of Nelson Mandella is in stark contrast to Mugabe in Zimbabwe.
Praise God for Methodism in Africa. It has had significant impact for good.
Romney = McCain| 5.14.12 @ 8:26AM
As one who grew up in The United Methodist Church & still attend one I can tell you the Methodist churches themselves do not adhere to the left wing lunacy the leadership does. Some in far left areas like Berkeley, CA may, but the church I attend now & the one I grew up in were strictly committed to God's Word. The leadership are a minority & their views where I go to church anyway are a joke. I tip my hat to my brethren in Africa who stand tall for The Lord & won't accept the leadership's left wing idiocy, but are helping to turn it around. Everything is possible with God, if He is made the main focus of worship.
Harry the Horrible| 5.14.12 @ 9:36AM
I can second this!
We know the Methodists' "echelons beyond reality" are looney social justice nuts.
But at the ground level Methodist practice sound Christianity and pursue ministry, and service to the local community and even to the world beyond.
H.N.| 5.14.12 @ 12:27PM
Yeah, you're committed to God's word when it supports your hateful political beliefs, don't you?
Quartermaster| 5.15.12 @ 8:40AM
Yeah, God really does hate people. Hated them so much that he sent His son to Die so that they could be forgiven and saved form their sin.
Note well, "saved from their sin" not saved in them. God is the one that defines Sin and he did so in reference to His character. If warning you of the consequences of your sin is "hateful" then you have an extremely strange definition of hate.
The wages of sin is death. God even lets you choose, but in choosing to sin, you incur the penalty of eternal death. If warning you of it is hate, then make the most of it.
Refugee| 5.14.12 @ 8:34AM
The liberals operate like Ghengis Khan's roaming hoardes, swooping in, passing resolutions and then moving out as the denomination collapses. I happen to be a refugee in a Methodist church currently. This article is encouraging.
P.Smith| 5.14.12 @ 10:14AM
The fact that the Methodists are even bringing aberrant stuff like this up for a vote shows how far they have fallen from GOD’s Word. We should be thankful for the “savages” that are holding the line and even pulling it in some. Who would have ever thought that Americans would need to receive moral guidance from Africa.
Romney = McCain| 5.14.12 @ 10:31AM
"Who would have ever thought that Americans would need to receive moral guidance from Africa."
American Methodists are receiving guidance from God through His people in Africa. The UMC "leadership" has fallen far from God's Word, but not all of the parishoners have. May God go with the African churches & continue to use them as a light to guide those in American UM churches who want no part of modern liberalism. The UMC's "leadership" may have lost it's way, but most of the church's body listen to God, not the UMC "leadership". The day they stop listening to God & buying into the "leadership"'s liberal worship of Gaia is they day I leave.
H.N.| 5.14.12 @ 12:28PM
Savages? African "Christians" savages? You got that right.
Greg Scandlen| 5.14.12 @ 10:33AM
Thanks for this article. I am on the verge of leaving the PCUSA over many of the same issues. Curious that Presbyterian denominations in other countries are disassociating from the PCUSA because of its cultural chauvinism. If our denomination had a global polity like the Methodists do, we too would be saved by our African, Asian, and Latin members.
Vern Crisler| 5.14.12 @ 10:51AM
It's interesting that one of the first Gentile converts to Christianity (if not the first), was an Ethiopian, showing that at that time Africans were a superior people.
Since then Africans have suffered for 2000 years because of tribal warfare, Islamic oppression, and Western slavery. It's heartening to see that Africans have come full circle and may yet save the modern church from its descent into the inferno of modernism and liberalism.
Seek| 5.14.12 @ 12:21PM
Africans haven't "suffered" from tribal warfare; they've also inflicted it. And still are. I say "no" to both the white Left and the "traditional" Afros among the Methodists. And the last thing I want is to import large numbers of African blacks to this country. I don't care how "Christian" they are. Their behavior, far more than that of whites, is violent and unpleasant.
H.N.| 5.14.12 @ 12:35PM
Thanks, Seek, for a little common sense.
These ignoramouses on here know nothing about the fierce tribal brutality of violent Africa. These African Methodists are supersticious, practically-illiterate people whose grandparents were indeed savages. And the savage instinct still runs in their blood.
Read the book by V.S. Naipaul on Africa--especially the chapeters on African Christians. You will turn from its pages in horror.
El Steve-O| 5.14.12 @ 2:47PM
"And the savage instinct still runs in their blood."
Wow, what a prejudiced thing to write. Just what I would expect from someone who esposes his own "tolerance."
Jack Walsh| 5.14.12 @ 5:47PM
Exodus 22:18
King James Version
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Here's one of the bible's gems the African Christians really take to heart.
El Steve-O, go to google search and type "African Christians Declare War on Child Witches."
Savages? Hell Yeah!
El Steve-O| 5.14.12 @ 6:44PM
Is the savagery "in their blood?" Is it a function of their skin color?
H.N.| 5.14.12 @ 6:33PM
READ THE BOOK BY NOBEL PRIZE WINNER
V.S. NAIPAL
Vern Crisler| 5.14.12 @ 1:03PM
Wow, someone's channeling Madison Grant here, or maybe Carleton Putnam.
Quartermaster| 5.15.12 @ 8:44AM
The article is not about importing African Christians. This is about a church body and representatives of the African Branch saving the UMC libtards from themselves. The Africans are staying where God called them so they can reach others.
Susan Benton| 5.14.12 @ 1:49PM
I have first hand experience of Ethiopians, and American blacks and I certainly don't see them as a superior people. But the fac is that most of them don't see to buy into moernisn and liberalism and if they actually believe the bible they do take it seriously. And that is what makes the difference - no question on that.
Seek| 5.14.12 @ 6:49PM
So that makes them good people? Name me one genuinely successful black African country which has succeeded on its own, minus the usual international World Bank/UN/government relief package. I can't think of one.
tommyboy| 8.24.12 @ 2:51PM
That is one of the most racist things I have ever heard. Where is YOUR Christian love? When you point a finger, remember you have 3more pointing back at you.
Chris Tiedeman | 5.14.12 @ 10:59AM
You can find my comments to this article here:
http://notesfromthepastorsoffi.....ctory-lap/
Mike| 5.14.12 @ 12:09PM
Thank God for the Africans! The main disappointment at GC was the failure to require all UMC agencies to leave the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. Many of our seminaries are also in theological shambles, but at least the local church lives. And when it follows the Bible, it thrives.
H.N.| 5.14.12 @ 12:39PM
"When it follows the Bible . . ."
Do you mean when it follows the ugly, angry, violent, immoral "God" of the Bible? Or do you mean when it follows the compassionate teachings of Jesus Christ?
tommyboy| 8.24.12 @ 2:56PM
Jesus is God. Are you saying he is ugly, angry violent, immoral? God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one and the same. God never changes. America has. Thank God for Africa!
Seek| 5.14.12 @ 6:52PM
I've got a great idea: Move to Africa. See how wonderful these people really are. I guarantee you'll be begging for mercy within a year -- if you're still alive.
Richard Baker| 5.14.12 @ 12:41PM
See the American lefty members getting frustrated and breaking away to start their own branch. Poor babies, the African members don't agree with the US socialists. Ah, well.
The Cousin of Idi Amin | 5.14.12 @ 12:54PM
You, obviously, know nothing about African Methodists, Mr. Baker.
(Yes, I'm living in U.S. now)
I know Ugandan Christians, and as a whole, they are a nasty lot.
Richard Baker| 5.15.12 @ 12:35AM
The Cousin of Idi Amin:
When the leftists complain about anyone derailing their agenda the screaming starts. I still say that the lefties will break away and start their own denomination. Do you speak for all African Methodists or do you just hate Christianity regardless of who they are?
Anthony M| 5.14.12 @ 1:04PM
Homosexuality is completely inconsistent with Christianity. Any church that embraces homosexuality is no longer Christian. The US is a free country and people can associate with anyone, form a club of like-minded individuals if they like, but if they believe homosexuality is moral they aren't Christian.
Kool-Aid Lime| 5.14.12 @ 1:22PM
Homuhsexuality is worse than worse than Nazi death squads I mean worse than cooking them jews in ovens worse than charles manson or whatever that dude's name was i mean worse than what was I sahing/ i'fe fogotten my train of throught
Vern Crisler| 5.14.12 @ 4:37PM
Actually, you never had a train in the first place.
F.J. Parker| 5.14.12 @ 1:06PM
The day the United Methodist Church accepts as normal that which the Bible explicitly prohibits, is the day my family will leave the UMC. Dumbing down deviancy is not a part of God's plan.
Kool-Aid Lime| 5.14.12 @ 1:25PM
i agree Parker deviancy is nasty Have you ever been to that porn sight called swingersxxx nasty i tell you right in the middle of the orgy one of them women start gettin it on
dumb deviancy check it out thats what ik'm going to do right now
Kool-Aid Lime| 5.14.12 @ 1:26PM
i forgot to say that ik'm a christian
tommyboy| 8.24.12 @ 2:57PM
Amen. Count me gone also.
Pulse| 5.14.12 @ 2:00PM
Great news Methodist it right!
Peter Pillinger| 5.14.12 @ 3:31PM
It is interesting to read of the United Methodists in Nigeria and to read that the UMC are probably one of the World's largest Christian communions. But why do you ignore the 2 million Methodists in Nigeria of the Nigerian Methodist Church or when mentioning the Methodist communion not mention the World Methodist Council? I realise the context is the UMC General Conference but the UMC is not World Methodism.
James Lee| 5.14.12 @ 5:53PM
Why hasn't the troll "H.N." been turned off? He's obviously ticked that the usual storm trooper tactics failed at GC2012, and will likely never work again. Trying to make the Africans into some kind of heathen like sub-christian is just another sorry tactic of the left.
H.N.| 5.14.12 @ 6:15PM
Why don't you get a few facts on Christianity in Africa, Mr. Lee.
You can start by reading "African Children Denounced as Witches by Christian Pastors."
Then you can go on from there. African Christianity is barbaric . . . . unless, of course, you, too, subscribe to that verse from Exodus--Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Pass the Intelligence, please| 5.14.12 @ 6:19PM
THOU SHALT NOT SUFFER A WITCH TO LIVE.
Another exquisite example of the bible's moral instruction. Lovely.
Makes my heart leap for joy.
Y'all keep quotin' the bible and chompin' down on them pork rinds. And here's the GOOD NEWS: there'll be pork rinds in heaven for all you biblical heterosexuals.
James Lee| 5.14.12 @ 5:53PM
Why hasn't the troll "H.N." been turned off? He's obviously ticked that the usual storm trooper tactics failed at GC2012, and will likely never work again. Trying to make the Africans into some kind of heathen like sub-christian is just another sorry tactic of the left.
Seek| 5.14.12 @ 6:55PM
His point, and mine, is that Christianity isn't some sort of vaccination against barbaric behavior, regardless of race. And barbarism, regrettably, comes to the Afros all too easily.
Bill| 5.14.12 @ 6:01PM
FL has a constitutional amendmend banning gay marriage (I'm a proud Floridian). Why cannot we have one in the federal level? Gay marriage is an epidemic and must be stopped.
uppy & in your face| 5.14.12 @ 6:26PM
Yaaaawwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnn.
POST American| 5.14.12 @ 10:41PM
IMPORTANT to ever bear in mind,
and hold before us, the REALITY that
ALLLLLL religions, yes ALLLLLL of them,
at the top, are 'in the game' and 'on board'
for the unfolding world 'governance' and
orderly MASS DEMOCIDE agendas.
-------------------YESSSSSSIREEEE-------------------
Melanie| 5.14.12 @ 11:04PM
The African context is drastically different from the USA's. Your myopic view is just that - a view. I'm thankful to God that there are many who do not hold your worldview or theology....and we are still United Methodists AND we are Wesleyan in spirit. And YOU are NOT the voice of God....in case you need to be reminded. There will be many of our sisters and brothers around the world who will also echo our call for full inclusion of ALL of God's children. The Spirit of Christ cannot be contained within your very small box!
Melanie| 5.14.12 @ 11:14PM
Just reading the responses here of those who agree with you sickens me.
POST American| 5.14.12 @ 11:57PM
AGAIN, those earnestly wishing to cut
through the Rockefeller 'Eck--you--men--ICK
---ALL' ----shmuck op --really MUST do the
background on the Arminian Heresy, and
its KEY use by 'May-Sin--re'---esp. in the
early 1800's, to infiltrate, compromise,
neutralize and DESTROY genuine, scriptural
Christianity here and worldwide.
'Aquired Immune Deficiency' injected into
the very WORD of GOD.
NO kidding!
CHECK IT OUT!
Indispensible!
Your blinders will melt ---like 'Magi--ICK'.
SEEEEEE the monsters.
BEEEEEEEEEEE AWARE!
Tom Griffith| 5.15.12 @ 2:31AM
For Mr. Tooley: Since when did homosexuality and abortion become the sole litmus tests of the Christian faith?
For the editors of American Spectator: when are you going to get honest, and report that Mr. Tooley is the executive director of a conservative think tank in the business of bashing liberal Christianity in the mainline Protestant Churches in the U.S.---and that the owners of American Spectator are major contributors to that Think Tank?
Quartermaster| 5.15.12 @ 8:53AM
This is at the end of the article,
"Mark Tooley is president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy in Washington, D.C"
Anyone can click the link later in the block and go to the website and see exactly what Tooley heads. They've done their part, but you aren't too happy about that. To a libtard, bashing is telling the truth. And given they tell the truth and you get your little feelings hurt because they, and historic Christianity back to its founding, disagree with the immorality that God condemned from the Old Testament on, you think Christians are just so full of hate.
It will be doom on you when you are faced with the consequences of your rejection of Christ and the Gospel. If warning you of the consequences of sin is hate, well then, make the most of it.
Alan| 5.15.12 @ 9:01AM
"61 percent supporting the current stance" -- 39% wolves...61% sheep
somnolence| 5.15.12 @ 11:06AM
I grew up in the UMC, but with some of these comments I can visualize the crazy preacher Bob Mitchum portrayed in "Night Of The Hunter", when he told Shelly Winter's character, "woman that body was made for bearin' children, not flauntin'". Somewhere in here I suspect that somebody's contrition might be suspect, if you know what I mean.
Greg Scandlen| 5.15.12 @ 2:13PM
TRUE COLORS
I have never seen such a vile, hate-filled, racist, chauvinistic collection of comments in my life. And this is from "progressives?" This level of desperation suggests they are losing the debate and lashing out like cornered rats. I am heartened.
tommyboy| 8.24.12 @ 3:01PM
Greg. Progressives always talk like that when they're losing. Praise God for Conservatives.
Historian| 5.17.12 @ 9:43AM
This story has the advantage of being true. A Nigerian Christien Minister asked how has Christianity helped Nigeria said. "we no longer murder twins."
Check out Anamist and Moslem Africa before you start stoning African Christians.
For that matter, check out the objective reports of "Native American" religious and manhood ceremonies before adopting neo-pagan styles. OK this is dirty pool--you can find anything you want among the disparete practices of various "Native Americans"