UMC.org - Latest Comments in DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Efalata — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:48:21 -0000

God loves everyone and everything He has created. Come to Jesus just the way you are. It is not for us to judge but to love. Two things that I learned from Jesus's teachings. Remember the woman who was being accused by religious leaders (they claimed they obeyed the laws and the 10 commandments etc) they brought this woman to Jesus accusing this woman of committing horrible sins? Jesus asked the accusers that if they had not committed a sin then they must pick up the stone and stone this woman. You and I know what happened. All the accusers left without throwing a singel stone at the woman. Another beautiful teaching by Jesus was " Whatever you do to the least, you're doing it to me. Jesus did not come to hang out with the so called " religious and law abiding folks. He came for the sinners and those who don't fit into the mold of our society. Actually Jesus was accused and put to death by those who "lived by the laws". I love and respect homosexuals and everyone. Jesus is the only holy one and he taught us not to judge. Let's channel our energy and focus on good thougts and deeds so we can make a difference in this world. We need to follow Jesu's call to love one another and our enemies. Our call is to transform the world to the image that God had intended it to be. Full of love, peace, joy and holiness. Homosexuals or nonhomosexuals. We are all childeren of a forgiving and loving Father. What each human being does is not for us to judge but let us allow God and His love and forgiveness bind us all in love, respect, understanding and in His spirit of oneness in Him.
May God guide the thoughts, hearts and minds of everyone who will be participating in DeLong's trial. It sounds unchristian, unloving to be called "trial" but Jesus was on trial. I pray for God's peace, understanding, forgiveness and Grace to be present during this fellowhip of Soul Searching(trial). Peace be with you all.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Cowboy Up — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:41:22 -0000

Sociological findings? Medical Findings? Where has any research definitively been able to determine someone to be born with any sexual preference orientation? God states he made them male and female and for that reason man will leave home to be with his wife and they will become one flesh. Thats as far as the research should go.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Unknown — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:27:00 -0000

Guess the UMC only wants its members to think what they are told to think and not hear when they're wrong!

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Olivia — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:48:00 -0000

I feel that it is completely wrong for a regilious group to judge anyone. In all regilions people are taught that God loves all people and yet this church is judging. I thought that the goal of this church was to let ALL people join and feel accepted, but how can that happen if you are putting one of your own memebers on trial. Many people say that they want world peace. How do any of you except that to happen when you put people on trial based on their sexuality. It is wrong and I hope that the day comes when you have to answer to a higher power for what you have done. I wonder if any of you really understand what your motoe means. When I read it now I think it is a slap in the face to anyone who would think of going to our churchs. You claim to have open hearts, minds, and doors. REALLY!!!!! Maybe you should re think that one. Lastly, I hope that you are able to sleep at night knowing that your day will come when you are asked if you loved all Goda children and you will not be able to say yes. I support DeLong and want she did.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Unknown — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:38:00 -0000

If we are the Body, why aren't His arms reaching?

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Unknown — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:37:00 -0000

VERY insightful, Allen!

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Pattie — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 07:31:00 -0000

Really? are you that ignorant of sociological findings? People are born that way. Some people choose it, yes but the majority are born that way. Go back and do more research....unbiased medical research.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Pattie — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 07:29:00 -0000

I am a member of the UMC and I am ashamed that you have convicted a person based on the fact that she is following her heart. I believe that my God is a just God and he loves and created all of us. He wants all of his children to be happy and love. What kind of Christian feels that they can sit in judgement of other human beings and what they feel? No one had the right to judge but God and believe me we will all meet him and atone for whatever HE feels are sins. I thank God everyday for the loving people in my life who accept me and cherish me as a person. Shame on that church and the clergy that operates with such a narrow mind. Things are changing people, laws are changing and ALL people will have the same rights in my lifetime and my children will not have to deal with prejudice and ignorance. Ignorance is bred by other ignorance..(ie. slavery, segregation and bigotry), this is another form of oppression and I am ashamed to say that my church had a hand in it.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Allen Ewing-Merrill — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:30:00 -0000

It's funny: These are the exact comments people made when the Methodist Church began to ordain African Americans. And they did go and start their own church, too. Generations later, we realize how wrong we were. The same comments were made when the Methodist Church began to ordain women, or to allow divorced pastors to continue to serve. Decades later, we realize we were wrong. Social change is hard, and complicated, and divisive -- but when we listen carefully to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and when we allow perfect love to cast out fear, we're often surprised how God will reveal new things to us. There are many, many faithful followers of Jesus within the United Methodist Church who love the Word of God and strive to order our lives around its teachings, who want to follow God with all our hearts, who have come to a different understanding of the witness of Scripture around this issue. Like those who struggled with desegregation and the rights of women in society, we can't see all of this clearly right now, but it's pretty clear where the Spirit and social change are leading us. I know that is really painful for many who feel deeply that this change is detrimental to our church and to society, but I have a feeling one day, future generations will look back at this time in history and shake their heads. For now, in this in-between time, we see in a mirror dimly, so let's strive to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God. And for now, I'm going to pray for truly open hearts, open minds, and open doors.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

HHH — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:14:00 -0000

The decision on this process makes our Book of Disciple and decades of General Conference, simply a JOKE. A person that openly admits to being a lesbian, and that will not uphold church law, is merely given 21 days of suspension. This is a sad day in our denomination - whether one agrees or not with the law in place, it is the law - shame on us UMC.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Ur Worstnightmare — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:41:00 -0000

It is true that a gene controlling sexual desire/orientation has not been found, but that does not mean it does not exists. Nor does your theory address epigenics. The ideas of treating gays with hormones is antiquated, and has been shown many times to not produce heterosexual tendencies.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Ur Worstnightmare — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:35:00 -0000

Who are we to question the love that God has given to homosexuals. They are born that way. May God have pity and mercy on them...and us.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

MarieS — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:40:00 -0000

This is sad. Just as I am sure that there are some who claim this is another case of "unjustified discrimination" and are hiding their reasoning behind "love," I am also sure there are those against homosexuality who declare themselves to be Christians, but logically cannot defend their beliefs. I am not one of them. I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and all of my views on this issue are based on reason and scripture, not emotion. Amy DeLong is using this church as a platform to belie the view she shares with a great number of people including some professing Christians, in that they think the Bible only teaches that Jesus was loving and tolerant. They apply that reasoning to homosexuality as justification for that sin. Jesus' message is NOT that he created homosexuals and therefore they are justified. His message is that he created us all to love Him and be loved by Him, but that we are all sinners - homosexuality being just one of many sins - and that unless we turn from our sins, we can have no part in that love. We should never put it out of our mind that Satan will use the church to try to destroy faith in Jesus Christ. God takes that offense very seriously. Satan gets to church before everyone else! Please make the mental connection that the world isn't asking us to be "tolerant" of thievery, lying, murder, and adultery. But homosexuality should be ok? It's in the bible, homosexuality a sin (regardless of who it is), just like the rest of the list. It's about time a church stood on the firm foundation of the Truth instead of the "feel good" version of the gospel. Good work. I will pray for the UMC-I'm sure there will be many more developments on this front.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

johnroberts — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:55:00 -0000

Amy DeLong must really hate the UMC. I can not imagine anyone intentionally dragging this church into so much mud. Her trial should be about the church riding itself of a elder that has a heart for disorder, strife, recognition at any price, and confusion. Where are the peacemakers?

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Martha Berry — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:50:00 -0000

Why should there be any question about her sentence. She has openly defied and disobeyed Church law and should be defrocked. If she doesn't like to adhere to the laws of our Church, then let her go to one that has no such law. It seems that most interest groups who claim they want fairness, don't want fairness but want special treatment.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Royce Logan — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:02:00 -0000

The Book of Discipline is quite clear. This woman is damaging the UMC and the Body of Christ with her self-centered perversions. She should be removed from the pulpit and her superiors should be examined too. That marriage she performed is not legal in the United Methodist Church and really has no Christian foundation as long as the UMC remains part of the Body of Christ. I am a sinner too and some of mine may be worse than hers, but at least I know they are sins and I know I need forgiveness and that there are limitations to what my leadership role should be in my church because of my failures. She is in the dark and doesn't see her sins. If our process fails it will severly damage our church probably forever. They better think this through carefully.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Tim — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:42:00 -0000

This is the result of a failure in leadership in the UMC. According to the UMC official website (www.umc.org): What is the denomination’s official policy on homosexuality? The United Methodist Church, in the 2008 Book of Discipline, states “all persons are of sacred worth.” However, the denomination regards "the practice of homosexuality as incompatible with Christian teaching.” The church forbids the ordination and appointment of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” It also forbids the celebration of same-sex unions by its clergy and in its sanctuaries. I have understood that homosexuals could hold no leadership role in the church. In numerous news reports it states that The United Methodist Church allows gay and lesbian clergy but only if they are celibate, and it prohibits all pastors from blessing same-sex unions. Nowhere have I found that rule stated in The Book of Discipline. Amy Delong is in direct violation of church policy and should be dismissed from the clergy. Anything less will do harm to an already fractured church.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Tim — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:42:00 -0000

fractured church.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Bob Mayer — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:21:00 -0000

Do we follow the Book of Discipline or not? When folks are ordained they say they will uphold it are they lying if they say yes and do whatever they want? Isn't this a chargeable offense? No matter how you feel about this situation, this is a chargeable offense. If there are no consequences then we might as well throw the BOD out completely.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Unknown — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 06:58:00 -0000

Homosexuality Dena Bodian http://serendip.brynmawr.ed... It is a proven fact there is no "gay chromosome". A fetus that receives too much or too little testosterone can display behavior opposite of their birth gender. With treatment, birth gender characteristics are restored and normal activity ensues. The constitution clearly states that we each have unalienable rights granted to us by our Creator. All men (people) are created equal. There is nothing in the constitution about group rights, and wisely so. However, today's officeholders (vs: representatives of the people) have formed a vast movement not only tearing away from the constitution but seemingly launch great efforts to destroy it. Homosexuals who force their group agenda and those sympathetic to them are in violation of the law of the land, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. I am French, English, German and Native American. Which makes me a Fegna. Or perhaps I should say Fegna-American to be "politically" correct. Shall I form a group and demand that all text books be re-written to tell about the impact that Fegna-Americans had in developing the United States? Should the curriculum be restructured to suit the Fegna's demands, rantings, ravings and parades? Should Fegnas be included in television programming and commercials to make sure everyone knows It's okay to be a Fegna and that you must change to make us happy? Absolutely NOT. Why? Because in this country we ALL have the right to life, liberty and to pursue happiness as we each see fit. Not as some group sees fit. Allowing homosexual marriage, etc. was a hot topic at conference. One young man spoke and he hit the nail right on the head when he said: We welcome the alcohol into church, but we don't offer him a beer. We welcome the prostitute into our church, but not with her appointment book. We welcome the homosexuals into our church when they repent, get help, and sin no more. You can't have it both ways. If the Methodist Church changes the status on homosexuality I will resign as certified laity and as a member of this faith.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Al McGowen — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 06:18:00 -0000

Look at her history: She clearly held to these positions for some time; furthermore her "superiors" (in violation of Sacred Scripture, Traditions of the UMC and it's Discipline, clear data demonstrating that persons of homosexual orientation and practice can indeed experience being transformed, and reasonable understanding of 2000 years of church history) continued to allow her to serve... Allowing her to openly or privately do so is the greater travesty. Why not put them on trial?

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

iptl4evr — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:35:00 -0000

I am praying that the jury will judge based on what the Book of Discipline says, not on what the want it to say. To rule according to their bias and agenda will be devastating to the church.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Nick — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:21:00 -0000

As disciples of Jesus Christ, and for some as pastors/preachers, we must obey God rather thn men; and, in the case of knowing whether to obey God rather than men, should we not stand on Gods's Word as revealed in Scripture and in Jesus Christ, the Living Word? God says homosexuality is an abomination and not part of His Will as revealewd in creation.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

Creed Pogue — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:35:00 -0000

This is really another attempt at jury nullification. Rev. DeLong, of her own accord, came forward to say that she is in a same-sex relationship and that she officiated at a same-sex union ceremony. Usually, when you admit to the offense, the only question is the penalty and that is clear in the Discipline. Here, the jury is being asked to disregard the Discipline.

Re: DeLong Church Trial: Questions and answers

cdoscher — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 06:40:00 -0000

I don't understand why there is a trial if she admits openly to the offenses!