Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Dear Colleagues: Due to recent actions by some district leaders and the Board of General Superintendents related to disciplinary actions of clergy calling for discussions and conversations related to LGBTQIA+ inclusion, the 1908 Project is sending the attached letter. The letter is addressed to the BGS and district leaders expressing our concern and frustration with their lack of engagement on critical issues facing our faith community.
The arbitrary action claiming the Covenant of Christian Character is now on par with the Articles of Faith has given them a platform for revoking clergy credentials; as most recently illustrated in the removal of Rev. Dee Kelley credentials. Kelley is the pastor of the San Diego First Church of the Nazarene. Their action was based primarily on his article in the book edited by Tom Oord and Alexa Oord, Why the Church of the Nazarene Should be LGBTQ+ Affirming.
We ask you to sign this letter in the I-Petition below. We will release the letter on Monday, August 21, 2023.
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Updates
August 19, 2023
We hit 250 signatures and the Board of General Superintendents can no longer pretend this is just a minor disagreement. They are stripping credentials from leaders like Rev. Dee Kelley to silence us but this response proves they are failing.
Reached 250 supporters
August 18, 2023
August 17, 2023
The Board of General Superintendents continues to silence dissent and revoke credentials while hiding behind their arbitrary rules. We are gaining momentum toward our goal but the leaders of this church will ignore us if we stop now. Send this link to everyone you know to ensure the BGS feels the weight of our demand for accountability.
Reached 100 supporters
August 17, 2023
August 14, 2023
The Board of General Superintendents is banking on our silence while they strip credentials from anyone who dares to speak out. We are knocking on the door of 100 signatures and need you to blast this link out to your networks right now to force their hand.
113 Comments
Lifelong Nazarene, son of 2 ordained Nazarene ministers finding it harder and harder to believe that the Church is interested in discussion around issues facing our society and culture today. My kids are watching us and how we might learn to have these difficult conversations and how we might disagree Christianly.
I have been a Nazarene since 1963, serving the local church, the WV and Pittsburgh District and ENC trustee for 11 years. Now we must do the conversations and become more reasonable on this issue.
I am appalled and dismayed at the the action taken against Dee Kelly by the district leaders. Since when is a call for discussion and addressing concerns of a loving pastor a "sin" that warrants removal of that pastor's credentials? This action aligns more closely with the Pharisee's, than it does Jesus.
Sharing an opinion about a major social issue in an essay is an act of scholarship and not a challenge to the denomination’s position on LGBTQ affirmation. This is a serious overreach by the disciplinary structures and should be reversed.
One wonders where any of us would be if the Jerusalem council had demanded silence and unquestioning conformity from Paul and the Gentiles rather than listening to those with who they disagreed.
This action is wrong, unwarranted and certainly outside any kind of civil discourse. A Christ centered church isn't represented in this action and there is see Jesus in these action. Reinstate Dee.
Dialogue should not be feared.
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Dear Colleagues: Due to recent actions by some district leaders and the Board of General Superintendents related to disciplinary actions of clergy calling for discussions and conversations related to LGBTQIA+ inclusion, the 1908 Project is sending the attached letter. The letter is addressed to the BGS and district leaders expressing our concern and frustration with their lack of engagement on critical issues facing our faith community.
The arbitrary action claiming the Covenant of Christian Character is now on par with the Articles of Faith has given them a platform for revoking clergy credentials; as most recently illustrated in the removal of Rev. Dee Kelley credentials. Kelley is the pastor of the San Diego First Church of the Nazarene. Their action was based primarily on his article in the book edited by Tom Oord and Alexa Oord, Why the Church of the Nazarene Should be LGBTQ+ Affirming.
We ask you to sign this letter in the I-Petition below. We will release the letter on Monday, August 21, 2023.
Updates
August 19, 2023
We hit 250 signatures and the Board of General Superintendents can no longer pretend this is just a minor disagreement. They are stripping credentials from leaders like Rev. Dee Kelley to silence us but this response proves they are failing.
Reached 250 supporters
August 18, 2023
August 17, 2023
The Board of General Superintendents continues to silence dissent and revoke credentials while hiding behind their arbitrary rules. We are gaining momentum toward our goal but the leaders of this church will ignore us if we stop now. Send this link to everyone you know to ensure the BGS feels the weight of our demand for accountability.
Reached 100 supporters
August 17, 2023
August 14, 2023
The Board of General Superintendents is banking on our silence while they strip credentials from anyone who dares to speak out. We are knocking on the door of 100 signatures and need you to blast this link out to your networks right now to force their hand.
113 Comments
Concerned that the church has taken this action while continually ignoring others. Concerned that we have elevated behavioral admonitions to the level of doctrinal belief. Wrestling with our inability to create space for meaningful and necessary conversations.
Lifelong Nazarene, son of 2 ordained Nazarene ministers finding it harder and harder to believe that the Church is interested in discussion around issues facing our society and culture today. My kids are watching us and how we might learn to have these difficult conversations and how we might disagree Christianly.
I have been a Nazarene since 1963, serving the local church, the WV and Pittsburgh District and ENC trustee for 11 years. Now we must do the conversations and become more reasonable on this issue.
I am appalled and dismayed at the the action taken against Dee Kelly by the district leaders. Since when is a call for discussion and addressing concerns of a loving pastor a "sin" that warrants removal of that pastor's credentials? This action aligns more closely with the Pharisee's, than it does Jesus.
Sharing an opinion about a major social issue in an essay is an act of scholarship and not a challenge to the denomination’s position on LGBTQ affirmation. This is a serious overreach by the disciplinary structures and should be reversed.
One wonders where any of us would be if the Jerusalem council had demanded silence and unquestioning conformity from Paul and the Gentiles rather than listening to those with who they disagreed.
This action is wrong, unwarranted and certainly outside any kind of civil discourse. A Christ centered church isn't represented in this action and there is see Jesus in these action. Reinstate Dee.
Dialogue should not be feared.
Share Petition
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Concerned that the church has taken this action while continually ignoring others. Concerned that we have elevated behavioral admonitions to the level of doctrinal belief. Wrestling with our inability to create space for meaningful and necessary conversations.