Poll: Sexuality issues insignificant in UMC

WiredSpirit

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When asked what the top priority of the church should be, making disciples tops the list. Other issues topping sexuality include youth retention, membership, poverty, and social justice.

This supports the point I made in another thread: no significant portion of the UMC pushing for a split over gay rights. That's the impression I get in a small town in a red state and it only gets more progressive from here.

Poll: Making disciples tops sexuality as church priority - The United Methodist Church
 

jacks

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I'm surprised it's that high (11%). It is basically a non-issue at our church. (Mid sized town, blue state.) The fact that it gets a lot of play however, doesn't surprise me too much. Small, active groups are often the driving force behind changes both within and without the church. And it is no secret that the gay community is currently a very active force.
 
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BryanW92

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When asked what the top priority of the church should be, making disciples tops the list. Other issues topping sexuality include youth retention, membership, poverty, and social justice.

This supports the point I made in another thread: no significant portion of the UMC pushing for a split over gay rights. That's the impression I get in a small town in a red state and it only gets more progressive from here.

Poll: Making disciples tops sexuality as church priority - The United Methodist Church

An active and vocal minority usually overrides a complacent majority, and the UMC is nothing if not complacent. Of course disciples, youth, and membership will top the list. There's nothing controversial there so all agree. Sexuality is a non-issue for most because they don't have to worry about having an openly gay pastor dropped on them on July 1st of next year. But, for the pro-gay lobby, it is the only issue and put them in a room full of old, conservative Methodists then give that same poll and hour later and I bet the results would be significantly different.
 
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GraceSeeker

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But, for the pro-gay lobby, it is the only issue and put them in a room full of old, conservative Methodists then give that same poll and hour later and I bet the results would be significantly different.


You probably just summed up why we've been wrestling with this at every General Conference for the last 40 years.
 
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GenetoJean

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An active and vocal minority usually overrides a complacent majority, and the UMC is nothing if not complacent. Of course disciples, youth, and membership will top the list. There's nothing controversial there so all agree. Sexuality is a non-issue for most because they don't have to worry about having an openly gay pastor dropped on them on July 1st of next year. But, for the pro-gay lobby, it is the only issue and put them in a room full of old, conservative Methodists then give that same poll and hour later and I bet the results would be significantly different.

Just curious, do Methodist Churches choose their pastors or do they get assigned?
 
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BryanW92

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You probably just summed up why we've been wrestling with this at every General Conference for the last 40 years.

I know. The problem is that we do a good job of keeping it at AC and GC and not letting the people in the congregations know what is at stake. The recent talk of a split is finally generating some buzz at the pew level.
 
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VolRaider

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Nothing is really an issue anymore in the UMC. We make a ton of resolutions, have a thick Book of Discipline, but then do nothing when somebody does their own thing. GC is a colossal waste of time and money. If you want to conduct a gay wedding as a pastor because - harrumph, harumph - you believe it's okay, by jingo - come on over to the UMC. S'all gooooooood.
 
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GraceSeeker

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VolRaider, I don't think it is as bleak as you paint it. For one, I note that the NY Bishop who said that he would not take any action against such pastors has been removed from serving in his office. The whole story behind that has not been made public, it may be completely for personal reasons, but it is curious that it was immediate after he went public on this that he needed to step down. Whether it be the Committee on the Episcopacy or God himself acting to correct things, it appears that such predetermined responses to ignore the Discipline of the UMC are not going to be allowed to stand.
 
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BryanW92

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VolRaider, I don't think it is as bleak as you paint it. For one, I note that the NY Bishop who said that he would not take any action against such pastors has been removed from serving in his office. The whole story behind that has not been made public, it may be completely for personal reasons, but it is curious that it was immediate after he went public on this that he needed to step down. Whether it be the Committee on the Episcopacy or God himself acting to correct things, it appears that such predetermined responses to ignore the Discipline of the UMC are not going to be allowed to stand.

There's an article floating around this week about some Hamas guys admitting that the God of Israel ("their God" as they put it) is redirecting rockets right before their eyes.

I think that modern humanity needs to see these works of God more than ever. If that bishop in NY had to step down, we need to hear about it publicly as a sign that maybe God does take direct action.

The UMC spends too much time on money, property, homosexuality, abortion, and other stupid things. By the time we get to holiness (Wesley Didn’t Say It: “Personal and Social Holiness” | Vital Piety), we're exhausted and we just agree to discuss that next time. If that NY bishop was smited with boils or something for his actions, I'd like to hear about it instead of keeping it quiet.
 
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