[WPMN]Poll on whether to open up discussion of homosexuality and gay marriage

[Tallguy88]

"WP-M/N" Member Poll
Opening up Discussion of Homosexuality and Same Sex Marriage

In keeping with the recent updates to the Christian Forums rule regarding marriage and homosexuality (announcement), this poll is to determine what the members of the Methodist and Nazarene forum would like to do. Voting will be open for two weeks (14 days). At that time, votes will be tallied and the majority decision (2/3 majority, 67%) shall be implemented. This poll is only open to members who self-identify as Methodist or Nazarene, though you don't necessarily have to have such listed as your faith on CF. Please be honest and do not misrepresent your faith to vote in a forum that is not your home forum. IP checks will be performed on any member suspected of being a sock account of another member. Any tomfoolery will result in action against that poster and their vote being nullified. Here are the voting guidelines in more detail:

• Only active members of this forum may vote. A specific faith icon is not required, however, you must be a known member of this forum.
• Members are required to have been active at CF for at least three months and have at least 200 substantial posts.
• Votes are public, not confidential. This way the community can help police the results of the poll by contacting staff when they believe that a non-forum member has voted.
• Staff reserves the right to perform IP checks on questionable members.
• No other discussion is allowed in the poll thread.
• Each member may vote in one Christian Communities (denominations) forum and one Faith Groups forum. If a member votes in more than one Christian Communities forum and one Faith Groups forum, their vote will be discounted in all of the forums.

There are two options for the poll:

YES: A yes vote means that there would be open discussion of the topics of homosexuality and same sex marriage, in accordance with a few specific guidelines.
NO: A no vote means that discussion of homosexuality and same sex marriage is allowed, but there is no promotion* of these topics.

*Promotion is defined as encouragement of the progress, growth, or acceptance of something including advertising and publicity.


Guidelines for forums with open discussion:

• All posts must align with the sitewide rules, especially the rule about profanity and vulgarity (no discussions or images that are sexually explicit).
• Members may not make posts which could be considered blatant campaigning for the acceptance of homosexuality or SSM.
• Members may not distribute any blatant propaganda about homosexuality or SSM [propaganda: information of a biased or misleading nature used to promote or publicize a particular point of view].
• Members may not encourage another member to practice homosexuality or enter into a same sex marriage.

 

[Historicus]

I voted "yes." However it would appear that the guidelines ensure a one-sided discussion since it will be hard to disagree without being accused of "promotion"

 

[Tallguy88]

I voted "yes." However it would appear that the guidelines ensure a one-sided discussion since it will be hard to disagree without being accused of "promotion"

If the forum votes Yes it means they are allowing promotion of homosexuality and SSM in this forum.

 

[Nemo Neem]

I voted "no" because I'm sick and tired of this topic. Why can't we focus on saving souls and teaching the love of God?

 

[circuitrider]

Voted Yes.

 

[circuitrider]

Clarification question for the moderator? Does that mean we can't discuss the poll either? If so, I misread the post the first time to mean we couldn't discuss anything in this thread but the poll. A clarification would be much appreciated.

 

[Nemo Neem]

The UMC released and interesting article on this topic. See below...

http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/poll-small-changes-in-church-homosexuality-views

 

[Qyöt27]

Voted Yes.

 

[Tallguy88]

Clarification question for the moderator? Does that mean we can't discuss the poll either? If so, I misread the post the first time to mean we couldn't discuss anything in this thread but the poll. A clarification would be much appreciated.

I'll be happy to clarify about the poll or what the different outcomes would mean. But this isn't a thread to debate about homosexuality or SSM.

Hope that helps

 

[circuitrider]

Thanks Tallguy, that helps.

 

[Celticflower]

voted yes

 

[revanneosl]

Voted

 

[RomansFiveEight]

Cast my vote.

 

[JCFantasy23]

I voted yes because I always thought Christians should be able to discuss one of the most common topics today from all sides and without censure. I don't feel comfortable telling Christians they can't talk about this topic together from all viewpoints.

 

[Ada Lovelace]

I don't know if my vote will count because I haven't participated in this specific section as much, but I do attend a Methodist church at college now, and have been active in the Liberal Christian section for over a year. I voted yes.

 

[Tallguy88]

I don't know if my vote will count because I haven't participated in this specific section as much, but I do attend a Methodist church at college now, and have been active in the Liberal Christian section for over a year. I voted yes.

You can vote in one Denominational poll and one Faith Group poll. This is a Denominational forum, so as long as you haven't voted in another one, you can vote here.

 

[Anonymous]

I voted "no" because I'm sick and tired of this topic. Why can't we focus on saving souls and teaching the love of God?

Then don't participate in discussions that make you sick and tired. It's because I want to focus on teachings about the love of God that I am encouraged by the majority in this section thus far voting to allow mature and open discussions about this topic.

Edit - I have no idea why I showed up as Anonymous. I just submitted the post normally and had expected it to be under my user name (Stanfordella).

 

[circuitrider]

It is a shame we can't get this level of unanimity at General Conference. ;-)

 

[RomansFiveEight]

It is a shame we can't get this level of unanimity at General Conference. ;-)

No kidding.

 

[Ada Lovelace]

It is a shame we can't get this level of unanimity at General Conference. ;-)

The near-unanimity of the votes here is definitely encouraging.