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modrepub

(3,469 posts)
Sun Mar 3, 2019, 11:14 AM Mar 2019

United Methodists could learn something from Southern Baptists' conservative takeover

For years, mainline Protestant denominations in America have creeped toward theological and political liberalism on hot-button issues such as race, gender and sexuality. But the largest of the mainline denominations, the United Methodist Church, now appears to be experiencing something of a conservative renaissance.

The UMC has been divided over homosexuality for more than a decade, with many American churches tilting to the left but most African and South American congregations holding to traditional views. But at a special gathering in St. Louis, Missouri, this week, conservative delegates gave progressives the ecclesial stiff-arm by rejecting the One Church Plan, a compromise that would make space for churches of varying perspectives by letting individual regions whether they would ordain or marry LGBTQ congregants.

Instead, they strengthened the church's position that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching," upholding bans on same-sex marriages and ordination.

The United Methodist Church is not the only denomination to experience a conservative revival amid a time of cultural division. The 15-million-member Southern Baptist Convention made a similar pivot away from progressive theology decades ago during a period some call the "conservative resurgence." This triggered a mass exodus of moderate voices, which resulted in a convention lacking diversity of thought, and subsequently, the tools needed to respond to cultural controversies arising in a more progressive society.

Methodists should heed Southern Baptists' story as a cautionary tale.


https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2019/03/united-methodists-could-learn-something-from-southern-baptists-conservative-takeover-opinion.html

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United Methodists could learn something from Southern Baptists' conservative takeover (Original Post) modrepub Mar 2019 OP
Remember the Southern Baptists split off from the main body to support the Confederacy and slavery. Girard442 Mar 2019 #1
Ahhh...and they say bigotry is not alive and well still in this country, eh? A church of god, ... SWBTATTReg Mar 2019 #2

Girard442

(6,059 posts)
1. Remember the Southern Baptists split off from the main body to support the Confederacy and slavery.
Sun Mar 3, 2019, 12:01 PM
Mar 2019

Not many apples have fallen far from that particular tree.

SWBTATTReg

(21,859 posts)
2. Ahhh...and they say bigotry is not alive and well still in this country, eh? A church of god, ...
Sun Mar 3, 2019, 12:33 PM
Mar 2019

in plain sight (like so many others out there too, I don't discriminate), discriminating against the LGBTQ community.

Nice! (sarcasm)

That this occurs against fellow Americans makes it even more pathetic.

This is why a lot of 'established' religions are failing in keeping membership numbers up, for they are showing all of us that they are bigoted towards some of their fellow Americans because of language written over 2000 years ago with NO physical evidence.

One can find evidence of every single kind of depravity out there for every single kind of person, straight, gay, whatever. Which I suspect is why rump is running scared (several of his buddies have been indicted for such crimes against minors).

Especially with all of the depravity I seen recently with the Southern Baptist and Catholic church sexual abuses scandals, as well as the hiding these abuses from others...hypocrites.

All I can say is 'judge not, least thee be judged?'

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