A group of leaders of the United Methodist Church, the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States, announced on Friday a plan that would formally split the church, citing “fundamental differences” over same-sex marriage after years of division.
The plan would sunder a denomination with 13 million members globally — roughly half of them in the United States — and create at least one new “traditionalist Methodist” denomination that would continue to ban same-sex marriage as well as the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy.
It seems likely that the majority of the denomination’s churches in the United States would remain in the existing United Methodist Church, which would become a more liberal-leaning institution as conservative congregations worldwide depart.
A separation in the Methodist church, a denomination long home to a varied mix of left and right, had been brewing for years, if not decades. It had become widely seen as likely after a contentious general conference in St. Louis last February, when 53 percent of church leaders and lay members voted to tighten the ban on same-sex marriage, declaring that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.”
The above comes from a Jan. 3 story in the New York Times.
Excellent that at least some of our separated brethren got this right: homosexuals should never, ever, be married. Further, homosexuals should never, ever, be ministers (and certainly never priests). We must treat our SSA people with human respect and fellowship. However, our charity must also work to encourage SSA people to reject acting on their impulses, and seek God’s mercy for their past transgressions.
The Methodist “split” is a good thing. First, it shows the Africans and Asians to be the most Faith-filled of the Methodists (and possibly Catholics). Second, it is necessary that believers stand up and state their belief in the Bible and Christian Tradition. Sadly, the “traditional” Methodists did not seem to set up the best of procedures, but at least they went public with the truth.
“SC” states: “it is necessary that believers stand up and state their belief in the Bible and Christian Tradition.” Just a caveat that in Catholic dogma, “SC”, authentic Catholic teaching stands on three pillars: Scripture, Tradition, and the teachings of the Magisterium (the Holy Father and the bishops). You got two out of three. That probably explains why on certain important matters of faith and morals, your beliefs are deficient.
“jon,” you’re correct. And, magisterial teaching is consistent with and in continuity with both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. I know you judge me as insincere, but, this is one other thing upon which we agree. And, magisterial teaching is not what is expressed in press conferences or footnotes. I am glad to learn that you wholeheartedly accept Humanae Vitae and the consistent Christian Tradition rejecting artificial contraception and affirming that sex belongs only in marriage between one man and one woman. Although Methodists lack a magisterium and even a little tradition, John Wesley would be turning over in his grave to find out what happened to the denomination he started.
Good post, St. Christopher! Don’t pay any attention to the selfish, egotistical bully, “jon!” Everyone and his dog knows, that Methodists do not believe in the three Catholic “pillars” —Sacred Scripture, Tradition (nearly destroyed in the post-Conciliar era!) and the Magisterium!
So sorry that so many churches in the modern era (including ours!) seem to have lost all common sense, on Christian Morality! Hope the morally-goofed-up branch of the United Methodist Church will someday “wake up,” and embrace Christ’s true teachings! Very, very important! America badly needs to be re-Christianized!
Though we are currently experiencing a wave of gayness in the Church hierarchy, no amount of shenanigans on the part of bishops, cardinals or even the pope himself will will make the sin of homosexual activity OK in Christ’s Church. Unlike these protestant sects, the Catholic Church remains ONE holy catholic and apostolic church, against which the gates of hell will not prevail. Praise God!
Kristin you made me laugh. I’m visualizing that great gay wave about which you speak. I’m sure it’s fabulous and VERY colorful!
Open doors, open hearts open minds. Oh well, at least it sounds good
Mike M the road to Hell is paved with good intentions……
mike m. — Open to what?? Open to repentance of sin, accepting Christ, and giving your life to Him??
By today’s standards, John and Charles Wesley sound almost more Catholic than Methodist.
One Protestant author writes: The great surprise is the strength of the Wesleys’ idea of sacrifice in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. They were of course reluctant to give credence to what they saw as the Roman Catholic teaching on sacrifice in the Mass. But the hymns they published in 1745 were accompanied by John Wesley’s abridgement of a tract by Daniel Brevint called The Christian Sacrament and Sacrifice (published in 1673). Wesley chose to include sentences such as: “This Sacrament, by our remembrance, becomes a kind of Sacrifice, whereby we present before God the Father that precious Oblation of His Son once offered.” It is hard to think that Cranmer would have been happy with this statement.
One of the accompanying hymns says: “With solemn faith we offer up, / And spread before Thy glorious eyes, / The only ground of all our hope, / That precious bleeding sacrifice, / Which brings Thy grace on sinners down, / And perfects all our souls in one.”
Wesley, all his life a priest of the Church of England, came from a High Church position. Wesley advocated frequent Communion for his followers – each Sunday, in their parish churches, if they could, even if at the time Communion was often celebrated only quarterly in the Church of England.
Maybe some Methodists might now consider the fulness of the Faith and enter into the Catholic Church. Let us pray.
Some of them could possibly come into the Catholic Church through the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.
Anne, That’s a very good point. That said, many contemporary Methodists are not quite that “High Church,” to use an Anglican phrase. I’ve attended an Ordinariate Mass. It was beautiful. It’s another example of the legitimate diversity of worship we have as Catholics. Many are blessed by our Byzantine Divine Liturgies (Masses). Since any Catholic (properly disposed) can receive Holy Communion at any Catholic Mass, why not? People entering the Catholic Church should be one of our top priorities.
Deacon Craig– Revs. John and Charles Wesley were talented at writing beautiful poetry and hymns!
The Englush language of the 18th century, in which they lived, was much more excellent! John Wesley wrote about 6500 beautiful hymns. It is such a shame, that many churches in America, have drifted away from their foundations.