Entire Methodist confirmation class declines to become members over anti-LGBTQ policies

[DURHAM D]

The entire confirmation class at First United Methodist Church in Omaha, Nebraska announced to their congregation that they have decided not to become members due to the church’s stance on LGBTQ issues.

The teenaged would-be members read an open letter in front of the congregation to explain why they couldn’t support discrimination despite the church’s recent controversial decision to crackdown on LGBTQ clergy and marriage equality.

The eight teenagers received a standing ovation from the congregation for their decision to stand up for Christian values in the face of systemic discrimination.

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2019/04/entire-methodist-confirmation-class-declines-become-members-anti-lgbtq-policies/

This event happened a couple of weeks ago. If it was posted here on DU I missed it.

Go kids.

[CDerekGo]

1. Always Nice

To see Values placed above Discrimination, even in a church.

[SCVDem]

2. Pick any major issue.

And the young shall lead!

Hell, we knew Vietnam and the MIC were bullshit in our day.

Good job 'kids'!

[LiberalLovinLug]

14. Everything except voting

[DownriverDem]

35. New young voters

helped with the midterms. They can be a tremendous help in defeating trump. I've been waiting since reagan for the country to change. Little did I know that it would take a new generation to help us out.

[Fla Dem]

3. I'm surprised at the Methodist taking that stance. I always thought they were one of the more

"liberal" Protestant religions.

[Evolve Dammit]

4. Me too. Not sure what happened but that is what the grads are reacting to. Rightly so.

[study war no more]

23. this is what happened

https://religionnews.com/2019/02/25/united-methodist-committee-rejects-one-church-plan-which-would-allow-lgbt-clergy/


United Methodist committee rejects One Church Plan, which would allow LGBT clergy

It was a giant step backward. So disappointed in the UMC.

[Ilsa]

8. The older evangelical-types in the denomination

(probably mostly ex-Southern Baptists) ran roughshod over the rest of the representatives at the national conference a few months ago.

I know lots of kind, generous, talented, godly Methodists who are rethinking their association, and trying to devise a plan to undo the latest circular firing squad. The churches cannot survive continued discrimination.

[DURHAM D]

9. American Methodists were for being inclusive.

Methodists from Africa and the Philippines were against. The church will probably split over this issue. They will survive.

[yardwork]

13. Hi Durham! I was writing when your post hit.

I wonder if the church will split.

[DURHAM D]

16. It should split and it would not be the first time.

They split in 1844 over slavery. All the local Methodist ministers (6) seem ready to move into the 21st century.

Note: I have sources inside the church. I am not a member of any organized religion.

[yardwork]

33. Splitting often hinges on the stuff.

Conservative Episcopalian dioceses threatened to leave when the church recognized equal marriages, but most haven't left. They found out that they would have to leave behind their sterling chalices and gold altar pieces and chapels on prime real estate. Cause nothing says "we follow Christ" like showing off the stuff.

[yardwork]

12. It was the African and Asian members who voted for discrimination.

The bigots who are no longer getting much traction in the U.S. are taking their message of hate abroad.

The dioceses in the U.S. are mostly in favor of equality.

[Blue_playwright]

17. And from what I understand ...

The African congregations insisted that they retain the option of polygamy. But we didn’t get our liberal requirements. 🤷🏻?♀️

[LisaM]

5. Good for them - but it's not the US church that drove this.

It's because of the much more conservative international Methodists (particularly from Africa) and my Methodist friends were absolutely devastated (one of them is in the clergy). I don't know if they'll eventually swing the more conservative Methodists back, or if there will be a schism. But I know that the majority of American Methodists didn't want this.

[Fla Dem]

6. Thanks for clarifying.

[kag]

11. That's good to know.

Still, it's nice to see young people taking a stand. Especially one that, for them, was probably very difficult.

[LisaM]

19. No, it's excellent, and it sounds like the congregation backed them up.

I'm following this all with interest.

[safeinOhio]

7. Lots of Methodist churches to pick from.

Methodists are members of denominations which are part of the international World Methodist Council, an association of 80 Methodist, Wesleyan and related united and uniting churches, representing over 80 million people.

Churches split all the time on issues like this.

[keithbvadu2]

10. It seems like the 'Methodists' are starting to split into two branches.

[MineralMan]

15. You go, kids!

[patphil]

18. I applaud their decision

It's good to see young people take a stand for true Christian values.
I've always seen the Methodists as being much more in line with the teachings of Jesus than some of the other sects.

Patrick Phillips

[mountain grammy]

20. Wonderful..

the best thing I've seen all day!

[AllaN01Bear]

21. eggscllent

[samnsara]

22. Our nearest neighbor is a Methodist Church Camp...run by a great family....

...we first met them when the kids were in grade school.. they are off and married now! The church camp published a letter to the Editor in the local paper rejecting the stance the church took and stated the church camp stands with their LGBTQ brothers and sisters. I hope the church doesnt decide this cpl needs to 'retire'.

[Kurt V.]

24. K&R

[Mickju]

25. My great niece did the same thing.

She was the only one in the group to do so at her church in Norman, OK.

[DURHAM D]

27. Good for her.

Oklahoma and Nebraska kids getting it right...go figure.

[jayschool2013]

36. As a native Nebraskan

I can say we get it right more often than not, at least in the cities of Lincoln and Omaha.

Voting for president ... not so much.

Peace, wherever you're from.

[dawg day]

26. Love these kids...

Going to be a great American generation of voters.

[warmfeet]

28. Best news I have heard in a while. NT.

[colsohlibgal]

29. Good For Them

This whole situation surprised me, I saw Methodists as one of the churches far, far removed from the blow torch and snakes types, as a more accepting and rational sect.

I would hope that less rabid Methodist leaders move to reverse course.

[DURHAM D]

30. I think they will need to split in order to fix this.

I have been asking around about who gets the real estate.

[BigDemVoter]

31. Good. The Methodist Church will need to hurt before it can heal.

[kiri]

32. churches are for 'pastors' preachers

I grew up amongst Methodists, Church of Christ, Catholics, and {gasp!} Unitarians.
They all claimed to be the one true 'faith' and path to salvation--whatever that meant--except for the UUs.

At age 12 I figured out that they could not all be right. And tithing was just to pay the minister's Mercedes car.

I have only rarely stepped foot in a church ever since, except to support some UU Humanists.

[radical noodle]

34. I attended a Methodist church

until I was grown. My mother was very active in the church, so I was there often. I got my liberal views from the Methodist Church, both locally and at conferences and workshops... and this was in Indiana.

Oh, and the minister drove a very old Chevy.