United Methodist Church To Split Over Same-Sex Marriage

Post Reply New Topic

I support whatever decision the Methodist church makes. I feel each congregation should make their own decisions as to whether to perform same-sex ceremonies, provided they don't interfere with ceremonies performed elsewhere.

As for hate speech, I don't think merely saying it's a sin should be considered hate speech, since the consequences they speak of are of a strictly spiritual nature. However, if they're advocating violence or impeding civil rights, then it should be considered hate speech.

Hmmm apart from Ezra's trolling about muslims people seem to have missed the point and are getting triggered

My parents are members of the traditionalist methodists in Australia they are called Wesleyans (named after John Wesley). This group primarily split because they opposed the ordination of female clergy but they also oppose membership of gay parishioners or ordination of gay priests.

In Australia there is still a law that allows christian based schools (such as Wesley College) and by default applies to any religious school (including jewish or islamic)

Our current Australian prime minister is a conservative christian (pentacostal) and had been dragging his feet over this legislation for a couple of years.
http://rightnow.org.au/opinion-3/legali ... s-schools/

It would be correct from the perspective of the judiciary that is a religious organisation chose to i) refuse marriage on the basis of sexual orientation ii) refuse admission of a child based on their sexual orientation or iii) remove a teacher from employment on the same basis then by default this organisation should conversely lose their tax free status and any individual acting in this manner (within this church) charged under Australian law for discrimination as would be applied if the victim/s were racially vilified or if they were discriminated because they were female etc....

This has nothing to do with jailing somebody for their religious belief?? there are many traditional methodist (including my parents) who are open minded but choose to stick to their old church. I would hardly want them thrown in jail

I have heard of states in the United states where it is legal to not serve customers because of their sexual orientation - such as a wedding cake for gay marriage
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2018/ju ... ion-latest

The federal law in the US seems to leave it open for a business to refuse to serve people over their sexual orientation. Yet on June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage, legalized it in all fifty states, and required states to honor out-of-state same-sex marriage licenses. Australia did the same on Dec 9th 2017.

Given this law has changed so recently in both countries then why is it legal for the United Methodists (and other religious organisations) to ban gay marriage??

As usual the elephant in the room isn't being addressed

The U.S. law applies only to ceremonies performed in courthouses.

The main point of the article was reformation and forward change. It was not a newsflash to tell us some parts of the church are against gay marriage. That's common knowledge.

I wish people would focus on the positive here, which was the point of the thread.

There are countries in the world where the state dictates what religions can and can not do and can or cannot say and with serious consequences, I might add. China comes to mind.

That said, I am a Lutheran, which *does* perform same-sex marriages, and also ordains gay pastors.

I'm glad I live in a time and place where freedom of religion (or atheism) are protected. I may not agree with all tenets of every religion, but I certainly believe everyone has the right to their own faith without being criticised for how they live their lives. If the church splits because some members embrace gay marriage and some don't, I'll go with those who do. I've already done so. This article shows that others will as well. If I want to fight the lawmakers in government, that's my right too.

Of course this is a global discussion. I'm not American, and I don't know why some people automatically Americanise every news story they read.

There's another thread criticising Islam and mocking Muslim culture with sarcasm.
Ezra didn't participate in that at all.

The “sky-Gods” didn’t allow slavery, etc.

It’s humans who allowed slavery, etc., by manipulating the words of the Bible and other Books for their own purposes.