Why Is the United Methodist Church Splintering? 

Its not about fitting with who you are it’s about fitting with who God is. Be assured Jesus said let the weeds grow with the amongst them because he will weed out the weeds from the wheat. I didn’t hear one biblical thought from scripture about righteousness but every thing was about self.

Most of my life I have been a member of and active in a beautiful and caring UMC in South Carolina. In that period of time, I have been proud of who we were and are in saving lives for Jesus and helping our community grow in a positive way. We have members of all age groups and a very active youth group. We are a large church with 1800 plus members. Thoughout my life I have been taught that there is a right and wrong way to act. We have certain actions/activitties that fall into right or wrong, good or evil. When certain "progressive" churches have decided they knew best on what was good and bad and they didn't give a hootabout how their actions/decisions might negatively impact other people, other churces. They vigoriously embraced the latest liberal ideas. After all, they had all the answers and all their answers were correct and only way. Sadly, for me and thousands of others, we saw the UMC leave us. We didn't leave the UMC- the UMC left us. Fortunately there are other choices for the people of God. Some have decided to become independent and some have joined the Global Methodist Church. Progressive politics has caused many problems in our country. We see the destruction of our culture in every aspect (crime, homelessness, higher taxes, lower standard of living, less respect for any authority, especially for law enforcement officers). And now the progressive destruction has entered our churces. Many foolish people have gone along with this. It's a go along to get along philosophy run amuck. So this is the sad state of affairs in our world and in the UMC. The cancer has spread but the patient is still alive. There is still hope. Thank you Jesus.

It’s so sad that the older congregants just sit there, cringing over what is being promoted, and yet are cowed into silence in a church tradition they have embraced all their lives and which they don’t know how to leave.

The thing is, Jesus didn't ordain any woman to the ministry, and he certainly wasn't bound by the conventions of the time. He also said to the woman taken in adultery, "Neither do I condemn you, but go and SIN NO MORE". Homosexualism is not only against nature, it's against God's ordinance, and that's all there is to it.

Yeah, after hearing this woman preacher's talk, I think I'd want to split, too.

Itching ears… we knew it would come but didn’t expect it so quickly.

The Bible is clear, we are saved by grace but should we continue in sin so grace may abound, certainly not. Jesus said we need to be born again...comprehend what that means.

As a minister ordained in the UMC, my biggest beef is how our leaders, especially the bishops, go blatantly against the book of discipline. The same book they have stated they will follow through ordination. Their "we will do it anyway" attitude is both sad and arrogant. Being a traditionalist in my teaching it saddens me also how the Bible gets thrown aside in this discussion. I have ministered to LGBT individuals, but I will not condone their sin just like I would not condone the sin of an unrepentant thief. Jesus did talk about it in Matt. 19 and Mark 10 when He reaffirmed God's plan of 1 man and 1 woman. It is a shame more pastors fail to see His own words when they read them.

Not only does the UMC not obey God’s commands, they don’t even obey their own Book of Discipline. That isn’t a legitimate church.

1Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality... The problem is so called church leadership not believing what the bible states. How can you even be a Christian without believing what the bible says?

From a front row seat: The United Methodists have been forced out of their church by "bishops" and "pastors" who have no interest in following the UMC's Book of Discipline, or the Gospel of Jesus Christ (except for the portions with which they agree). As to why seminary graduates would choose to be ordained into a denomination and lie when they promise to uphold the tenets of that denomination, even going so far as to rewrite scripture, including Jesus' own words, I will leave up to your own powers of reason. There are already plenty of choices for pastors who want to rewrite the Gospel: Unitarian, Episcopalian, etc. so there wasn't a great need to destroy the United Methodist Church. Being deceitful in tearing apart yet another Body of Christ isn't modeling Christ.

Im a former UM pastor. I left over over the issue of the authority of scripture and failure of bishops to enforce the rules. I was a solo conservative pastor in a liberal district. Ironically, i would likely join the Gobal Methodist Church but i wish to be sure they are who they claim to be. . Personally i grew up in a traditional conservative methodist church and would feel comfortable in another theological tradition.

The fact that a woman is up there as an ordained leader in this meeting is one reason for the splintering.

Through all this speech, did you notice what book was not brought before the congregation? Yes… the Bible. That speaks far more than her words.

7:26 .. Reason why the denomination is emptying out across the globe. Do not be lukewarm - Faith over Fun/Feelings

I don't understand the issue. The Bible clearly states that man shall not lay with man. Case closed.

You are a church that rejects the words of Moses, the words of Paul, the words of the Didache, Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr, Origen, Ignaseus, and nearly every other church father. Paul even created a new Greek word to express a man, any man SHALL NOT bed another man, any man as he would a woman. Jesus himself stated his Father's order of one man leaving his family and joining with one woman to become one flesh. Scripture is God breathed. Jesus believed it to be his fathers word and Paul emphasizes it. There is no higher source than the word of God.

Was a Confirmation Teacher for many years and saw the move away from the Bible, and tradition. Bishops were nothing but figureheads that supported the wokeness happening. Had a senior minister and assoc minister, both married, having an affair and nothing done. Sin is sin. I saw The BOD being ignored. Donations being shifted between programs. The UMC is not doing God’s work. Pastors just collecting pensions so they can retire to Lake Junaluska. Sad. I left and renounced my UMC membership. Christians do not need the UMC or any organized religion to find God or experience the love of Christ.

The Church of Word Salad. That’s what you have there. Kamala would love it.

This woman’s dismissive contempt for the Book of Discipline, in her comments, mannerisms and gestures, drips from her so obviously. It is THE ruling document of her denomination and yet she despises it. SHE should leave.

I would have stood up and walked out

The current focus has been on LGBTQ but the church has been normalizing sin for a while now. Divorce and remarriage were once taboo and was considered adultery since it was in the Bible. Now, it has become the new "norm".

Sounds like the new org is not a new thing but a continuation of what the denomination has always been biblically

This like saying, we have people who also worship Zeus, and everybody is included. We support Zeus believers because they dont hurt anybody. Those things in the Bible about idolatry? Nah, we are inclusive. And our feelings are more important so let us keep having fun!

Would Jesus have excluded anyone from worshipping in any denomination or gathering for the purpose of worship?

What gets ignored in this speech is you can't guarantee that your replacement will not over rule portions of scripture that calls certain activities a sin. The jurisdictional conferences are loaded with liberal bishops, many of whom, promote that under this "big tent " slogan, anything goes and no one is allowed to question it, let alone, do any thing about it. Churches adopt the latest cultural fads, regardless of whether or not it contrary the gospel of Christ. The Global Methodist does Church Church does not keep lgbtq people from coming to church anymore than some who are in adulterous relationships. But they do not condone such persons to take a role of spiritual education or leadership. All just that was conveniently ignored.

The biggest concerns is the down grading of the person and deity of Jesus Christ following the so called Progressives Christians denying the incarnation the crucifixion the burial and resurrection of Jesus.

Many of my relatives are Methodists. They know it is not Biblical, but their religion is so habitual they cant see any alternative.

As soon as they brought out a female pastor I would have ran.

The only 'Book that should be followed is the Good Book, it's called the Bible" the word of God. Any man that lays down with another man or any woman that lays down with another woman is pure sin and evil, also a marriage is between One man and One woman, period! Yes, as Christians we are to call out sinful ways in the church and to judge inside the church, God will judge the outside, we are to callout sin on the inside. If a pastor is not teaching and following the word of God, they will love their congregation right to hell.

The UMC has a book of rules. The 2019 General Conference voted to keep those rules in place. Any pastor or congregation that chooses to ignore those rules should leave the denomination, but that is not happening. Because the senior leadership is afraid to confront the difficult societal issues, they have kicked the can down the road so far that congregations that support the Book of Discipline are asking to leave the denomination. In the end these weak leaders will have their way. As more and more traditionalist congregants and congregations leave the UMC, the non-biblical congregations will become the majority and the Book of Discipline will be changed. What will those remaining with the redesigned UMC get out of this? A continued decline of the denomination as is happening to other mainstream denominations, eventually becoming irrelevant.

I remember when the United Methodist Church was about learning the scriptures and seeking the word of God. When the church leaves the Bible that was when I left the church.

Luke 12:57 Jesus said: why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right!

Interesting the focus of the pastor is on joining the GMC when many churches leaving the UMC are becoming independent and growing churches in congregational numbers. And, while this church may stay UMC and not ‘intangibly’ supporting the transgressions of the UMC, their financial resources will be tangibly supporting those whose beliefs and transgressions they do not condone. Such continued support of radicalized ‘Christianity’ will spell the demise of the denomination and, so too, all those churches who continued to remain under the banner of the UMC.

Mostly its just blowing up because you have left your first love and are reaping what you have sown in your embracing sin.

But how can you go alone with something that the Bible clearly said was wrong

Every member of the UMC clergy that has commented of this issue totally ignores what the Bible says. Traditional views on the Bible? No it is an accurate view of the Bible.

Alright, people's.... I'm 63, gay, methodist. I left the US and spent a wonderful, successful life in Europe. I returned to the United States recently to discover this split. As a kid my father invited a Jewish congregation to use the church while a synagogue was being built. A large segment of the congregation left.... honestly, 40 years later, in hindsight, there was no loss. The global UMC, well, it's there task to replace whatever it is they've gained with something substantive. Discrimination seems the flavor of the month, I'm sitting by and reading about the decline of Christianity à la Tim Alberta. Good riddance. 🎉

"A newly formed expression of Methodism" no, you mean the original expression of Methodism.

Thru out this whole thing not once was the Bible introduced or referred to although the book of discipline was referred to. I would advise running from that place!

please show true love to the community. making personnel choices as your criteria idolizes yourself over the Creator.

Anything that threatens the promotion or protection of humanity is sin. It's just that simple.

I’m an Episcopalian but I have high respect for the UMC for the live and compassion you have, just like we have in the Episcopal Church, that we don’t discriminate against anyone. We are all children of God in all of our iterations. Jesus didn’t discriminate against anyone, isn’t He who we should be following?

When a congregation allows themselves to have their ears tickled and desires preached to them, this is what you get. Oh, that’s in the Bible. 2 Timothy 4:3-4, For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth,.

At 4:02 Bishops and Clergy who are committed to the teachings and words of Jesus Christ.

Wow, I am surprised to see so many negative comments here. Pastor Mary, THANK YOU for your leadership. I very much appreciate everything you are saying here.

I'm pastor Shahbaz Rafiq from Pakistan keep in prayer 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 May God bless you more in Jesus name

I think all people should be able to go to a church but the church should help them see the light .

Women in leadership is unbiblical. This was the beginning of the end for Methodism.

I’m a British Methodist. I just came across this and think the minister spoke powerfully and with love for all her congregants. I’m quite shocked by these comments. There is plenty in the Bible you could shift to justify a position if you want to. But…I’m not too keen on keeping slaves or banging babies heads on rock!! We all have our views but let’s be kind, honest and not terrified by othering people. So, What would Jesus do? Do. Thats the key word. Where’s God in the world. Right now. Jesus would not leave Christians who love him to be condemned in the margins. I live in a very small English village and two Christian men are marrying in our Methodist chapel as they want to thank God for love shared with us. Praise the Lord! Please don’t call me woke! Being valued and included in love with Christ is more important. God Bless.

They are splintering because neither side are Methodists? The original Methodists were so named because they had a method of worship. The founding Wesley brothers and their American leaders taught the people to raise their hands and speak in tongues during worship, e. g. they were early Pentecostals 140 years before the generalized outpouring began. How often do either faction's churches do that today? When you reject God, he rejects you.

Nearly all remaining UMC ministers and bishops lied in their ordination vows before God. As Christians, we must go to scripture and look at church history to tell us what marriage is. For the church to change that covenant and offer God's blessing through a change in His ritual, without scripture is a huge deal. But I have never heard any traditionalist Methodist pastor or congregation single out anyone or exclude anyone from church life. To say otherwise is bearing false witness and is emotional manipulation, "It's not who we are." The clergy and episcopacy continue to flagrantly defy Biblical law and church law (meant to uphold Biblical law in practice), and scoff at those who call them out. John Wesley preached about sanctifying grace that frees us from sin, and organized class meetings to help members walk the walk. How did we lose our way so badly?

How often have we seen a road race on television or in person, and one of the runners collapses from exhaustion a short distance before the finish line? Some runners just keep running past the compromised runner and complete their races. However, some runners give up their chance to log in a record time by stopping to help a fellow runner that fell and could not possibly continue the race. Often the runner or runners that stopped to help will carry the exhausted runner to the finish line so that the runner can be included among those that finished the race. It is an excellent example of charity on the part of the helpful runners. Imagine for a few moments that the road race is a type of metaphor for a church community. We are all running a race to the finish line, the Kingdom of God. I can’t help but believe that most of us if not all, would stop to help our fellow traveler that fell down and help to carry the person over the finish line. I think this is where we all need to grow as a church community with respect to inclusion versus exclusion. Does our Christianity oblige us to say to our neighbors that they are not welcome to run in this race with us because our neighbors are gay, transgender, addicted, had an abortion, etc.? Or does our faith compel us to help our neighbors reach the finish line regardless of all those negative attitudes that caused them to feel excluded from our church? In the Bible, we see that Simon of Cyrene was compelled to help Jesus carry His cross to the finish line. Little did Simon know that by helping this suffering condemned man, he was doing his small part for the salvation of all humankind. Although Simon was compelled to help Jesus, he acted and thus did his part to help. We can do our part by choosing to include and not exclude those that have historically been shamed and shunned by the church. May we learn to understand that we are all running in the same race, and by helping our fellow runners, we welcome all to our faith community without judgment. We are doing our part like Simon.

Bible basic instructions before leaving earth😊

Since we are all sinners, needing to be saved and cleansed in Christ and by the Holy Spirit, we all have a place in Christ's Church, regardless of what our sins are. This includes people who are homosexual and no one should feel that this cannot be the case. But quite another thing is when a particular congregation/denomination claims and seeks to bless sin(and I mean, for example, by blessing homosexual marriage) instead of helping with the healing. For as Saint Paul makes clear in his letter to the Romans, homosexuality is the result of sin that has entered us, corrupting the likeness of God in us, as are other things that are rooted in our way of being, being this likeness what all of us are called to recover by the Grace of God and the redemptive work of our Lord. And even when God takes us in his Mercy just as we are and we are made just in his eyes through Christ, the apostle clearly tells us that we should not use that freedom to continue sinning or, in other words, to justify or even bless sin. I am not saying with this that a person should be forced to stop being what they are or abandon their orientation, just as none of us can completely abandon other characteristics of ours, but the truth must be told with all its syllables and like everyone else, be aware of the reality and why we need Christ and his Church. From the love and mercy that we ourselves have received but never abandoning the Truth and being united in it, not surrendering to the spirit of time; seeking that people find inclusion in Christ and his redemptive work, and not that his Church and its faithful being inclusive in sin. May God have mercy on us and guide us.

Laodicea

It is so heartbreaking to see the cruel and self serving way the leftist liberal conferences are treating churches that do NOT want to follow the liberal's love of the LGBTQ community. God NEVER said Adam and Steve or Alice and Eve! He calls this perverted lifestyle an abomination. He hated it so much He wiped Sodom and Gomorrah off the face of the planet for being so perverted. I left the UMC because of the leftist leanings the church was beginning to take on.

Seem forward leading like she was telling the people what they think and feel not asking them

Part of the reason stands as a pastor. The Bible states a women is unqualified to be a pastor or to preach but you went against gods word and allowed it anyway. So now you are doing it again with homosexuality allowing it in after god said it was and abomination. Get the sin out of the camp. Take gods word for what is says not what you want it to say.

If you really want scripture to come alive, you have to believe that everything God says is true.

I didn't agree with the Pastor. Church isn't about who we are it's is about Jesus and his word. I think that all churches are going through this. We need prayer as a people of faith.

You have to follow the Bible and marriage is between a man and a woman. Teach truth the right way or no way

Of course all people should be welcome but it’s totally unnecessary & wrong to celebrate or encourage lgbtq sexual desires.

She never actually stated what the conference actually voted in! Such a farce! Get out now!

She’s said a bunch of nothing.

The woman pastor didn't open her Bible, why? because she didn't bring it, that's why also many others Methodist churches and members are going out because they generally speaking, don't read the Bible, I am leaving very soon also with the Global Methodist Church.

A church is formed upon the Word of God and His Truth. A church is not about where the Word of God comes alive (according to how you have applied it over the years). It's about an absolute Truth that never changes. Take absolute Truth away and all you have is everyone else's interpretation and feelings - good luck finding any Biblical unity in that. As a pastor of many years I too do care what my flock THINKS is true. I do care what people and societies BELIEVE to be true. BUT I care far far MORE what the Bible SAYS to be true. And The Truth will always correct and offend many. Those that live in any sinful lifestyle will absolutely know, by the Word of God, that it is wrong... that it is a sin. And they will know it because it was presented clearly and it is preached solidly from the pulpit with love. I will not skip it, dodge it, cover it up or hide it. If it is in God's Word it will be preached, taught, wrestled with and hopefully applied. It's a sad thing to see what was once such a solid church denomination continuing to split over things such as this. But sadly this has to be done because Truth of God is paramount. God's Truth is worth it and this is just God continuing to refine His church through generations and generations of sinful thinking and corruption. Everyone who reads this post know this... you are responsible for what you believe to be true. You. Be VERY careful what you believe... because you are going to believe it! Remain humble, and search the Scriptures for what is true. Remain teachable, so you are reachable for God's glory not your own.

Attention she said a a more traditional position, sorry, not true, it is a scriptural, in other words, do we believe the Bible or no, she refers to living acrotures a conteodoction to Biblical authority, so dad do we believe the Bible or wokness

Hey Johnny White, I appreciate your response but am a bit confused as to why you think that a church has to be all one way or the other. I agree that there needs to be a vision to unify a church and to set goals by. And as our Pastor stated in this video our church is defined by our commitment to mission, music, youth, and bringing scripture to life in the 21st century. I think that one of the strongest assets here at Sylva FUMC is the diversity of people who come to our worship service. There are not many churches where both traditional and praise music can live in the same service. Our church is a rare exception and I find it amazing that it works week in week out! We’re definitely not all the same mindset, but there’s a beauty to that because we learn to compromise and be aware of each other’s views. Hopefully what unifies us all in the end is a love of God above all else! Peace be with you.

A caring and courageous pastor. Her comments are the start of sincere Christian conversations. There is so much more to the Holy Bible than what one group or another wants to quote. Prayering for this congregation.😊

Romans 1

Those leaving the UMC are the ones responsible for all the publicity. ,but most congregations are. Not going anywhere My family church congregation is thriving.,and have no plans to change, and not leaving the church to the destructive moves by those not compatible with Christian Teachings.

That is why the Catholic Church is the only option

The prayers should ask for guidance. "Lord, what is your Will?" Was this discussed with the Congregation ? No... probably not. The book of Discipline is not the North Star. The Bible is. "Thou shalt add nor take away from his Word."

This is a prime example of the devil dividing the church

You forget to mention God. The Bible comes alive at your Church yes but what does it say about sin. Stop sugar coating your words and preach God's word not forgetting to preach about sin.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” Leviticus 20:13

Those leaving the UMC. are the only ones desponsible for the. Publicity . MyUMC vhurch is thruving Most are not leaving tbe Traditoonal UMC are waiting for hopefully no change in tve next 2024 Juridictional Conference.

I wish those advocates of UMC, like this pastor, would not speak falsely about GMC to make their case. The UMC and GMC BOD are similar on the subject of homosexuality are similar. The difference is GMC churches and bishops abide by that while UMC leaders do whatever they wish. We had homosexual members when we were UMC and we have them now as GMC and they are welcome. What GMC doesn’t have is Bishops for life who can do whatever without consequences (until they reach judgement by God).

Is the new pastor gay?

It makes me sick. Taking God's word and trusting like Satan does to suit your beliefs. May God gave mercy you for desecration his word.

You as a pastor stated that some of you are of a traditional mind and some of you aren't of a traditional mind. Which present a serious problem. The Word Of God explicitly states: James 1:8 (KJV). 08. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Which interprets as: 08. A double minded (church congregation) is unstable in all (their) ways. So you need to stop fooling yourself and your congregation. A pastor and a congregation who are "unstable in all their ways" are not capable of providing families and community what they need. And if you can't provide what the community needs then you have no purpose within the said community.

Just make your own religion. This isn’t following Christ and The Word of God.

Women priests is a problem, too.

I’ve heard it for years from people wanting to justify their sins saying, GOD understands. The truth is, we have to understand GOD, not GOD understanding us!!!! And it’s all written in the Bible!!!!!!

The only one qualified to be a pastor in a church is one above reproach in every way. The Bible books of Timothy, Titus, Ephesians 4, etc; explain the requirements for a pastor/elder. They cannot be a man who desires to be rich. (Titus 1:7, 1 Timothy 3:4-5) They can only be men, not women, and men of sexual purity, the husband of one wife. Their children have to be Christians and not rebellious. Pastors are to be equipping the saints for the work of service, teaching the Bible from cover to cover with no additions or subtractions and no teachings of men. God teaches in Jeremiah that many men ran to be pastors, but they were not called of God and they taught false doctrines as many do today in the name of the styling churches. These false pastors in Jeremiah's day taught the wealth and prosperity false gospel. Jeremiah is completely applicable to today. The false pastors of today include John Piper and the likes, they being of the reformed/Calvin churches who teach the false teachings of Calvin and Augustine-the father of the Catholic church who was an idolator, praying to the false Mary of idolatry. They are anti-semites, removing the Jews from the Scriptural picture. However, one day all the Jews will be saved as the Bible teaches and the Messiah of the Bible will rule the world from Jerusalem, and people will grab the garment of a Jew and ask to worship God with them. Stephen is an example of what a pastor and deacon should represent. He taught through the Bible. He provided a walk through the Bible before he was stoned to death. He was a man of character, being above reproach. The arriving 144,000 male, virgin Jews of the tribulation period will never compromise the Word of God. They represent the heart of true pastors who will die for the faith. They will not take the mark of satan and his talking idol. (Revelation chapter 13) Many false teachers, including Franklin Graham, walk as one with idolators. They walk with idolatrous Catholics as if Christians are one with them. God commands come out and be separate and this includes separation from idol worshippers. (Please study 2 Corinthians chapter 6, etc.) God declares, idolators will be cast into the lake of fire. God judges the churches as we read in the first three chapters of Revelation and this addresses idolatry as well. Please study these chapters and the book of Jude. Plus, 2 Peter chapters 2-3. Learn your Bibles from cover to cover so you are never led astray by the ways of sinful men who claim to be pastors or evangelists. This is the day of the worldly/styling false church as God predicted would arrive. Married women are to wear the head-covering in church, have long hair (1 Corinthians chapter 11), dress modestly so men look on them as sisters in all purity. (1 Timothy 2, and 5:2) And they must be silent in the churches (1 Corinthians 13:34)

As a former lay leader attending Houston conference. All I saw was old elderly broken down people bitching about modern life. No joy in their hearts. I tell my staff don't bring me problems bring me solutions. Old people talking about how great America was in the 50s. Dear Lord!!!

Segoraduhin nyo lang na matotolongan yung manga nagtratrabaho sa panginoon sa pamahalaan sa agreement ng ilio lema chabachani na kanyang templo adress asian summet law intl temple law pls help amen

This is a Christian Church who knows how to do it right.

Your church is not of God, Satan has entered your church and smiles, seated in the last pew, you let in homosexuality and through the word of God from the window and mock gods house, god will not be mocked, you will answer

It can't happen to us . The Bible should be the first thing all church's follow and this proves your not following the Bible

You know somewhere else everyone belongs with no discrimination? HELL

Are you for truth or what please tell us you have to follow the Bible . I admit I have sin but the Bible is the whole truth.

I think all people should be welcome in the church . Homosexuals as well. They need Jesus also . I do believe that God made man for a woman . So as far as homosexual weddings or homosexual preachers in the church that is an abomination to God . God word says so ..

Have church committees come to the realization that young people wouldn't darken the doors of our Middle Ages churches: circa 1500 (like the United Methodist Church and the Catholic Church)? In my own family (6 brothers and sisters) absolutely none of our young people become church members (Catholic Church) once they move out the family home. Science modernizes! Medicine modernizes! Christianity doesn't need to modernize??? The reality is that once our middle and old age church members die off, there will be no one to take their place and Christianity will die out!

This church is done

I think actions speak louder than words (and some of the commenters here have a lot of words but I doubt fruitful action). Sylva First UMC is known for being a force for God's love and goodness in their community and that's truly what matters. And Rev. Mary Brown is a far better preacher and leader than some of the male pastors I have met and known in my life. I hope and pray that someday Christians everywhere will actually live by the words of Jesus, rather than judging one another on their gender, whether they said the right words or followed the rules to the letter and start bearing fruit. Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:7-8, NIV)

So interesting, Johnny White, and misleading, that you would pick one single verse, OUT OF CONTEXT, to support your contention that differences of opinion make our church "unstable". The context of James 1:8 has to do with a person's faith in God, who God is, and God's willingness to hear and answer our prayers. It has nothing to do with belief about right or wrong when it comes to homosexuality!! If one is TRULY trying to live out the gospel and reflect the love of God, as shown through the example of Jesus, it seems to me that God is MUCH more concerned with being compassionate than God is with being "right". As Micah 6:8 states: But what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God". This says NOTHING about sexuality, nor about being "right"(eous). In the end, and according to Jesus' own example, people need to be welcomed and included and to feel that they belong and then, between each person and God, they can work out their own salvation. The church's job is to offer invitation and love - not judgement. I am glad that Sylva FUMC has decided to stay the course as a member of our inclusive denomination!

First, pastors, elders and deacons, those who lead the church and preach the word (teaching bishop), are only to be male. The downfall of any church is if it allows women this role. The reason Paul forbade women to teach men is that their role is to be housewives and mothers, and to keep silent in the church, asking their husbands questions at home. Of course, women can lead the choir, play the instruments, teach women's and childrens groups, etc. but are forbidden to have the teaching authority over men. This is very clear in I Timothy and Titus. When a church become apostate, as has the UMC, Episcopal, PCA, ELC, etc it abandons Biblical doctrine in favor of a watered down message that the "itching ears" Paul refers to, then apostasy sets in and God's spirit abandons the church, not wanting to follow "sound" biblical doctrine, as churches are commanded to do, especially with sexual ethics and marriage.

The people splintering off will never be happy. These people always live each looking for issues to be aggrieved. Next up abortion? Immigration? Role of women in not just church but society?