This isn’t hard. Freedom of thought to disagree and work towards changing beliefs within the church is allowed. We’ve done it before.
Especially if pastors are choosing to live within the bounds of our given theology and polity.
Moving goal posts to oust affirming pastors is unethical.
How this has occurred is beneath those who claim “holiness”.
B
Bruce Hefner
3 years ago
These are real issues that most have not all of us are dealing with. To have conversation and dialogue in the spirit of true Christian unity as God's very Spirit guides us can have nothing with the effect of drawing us closer together. We don't have to go very far into a search of various iterations of Manuals of the Church of the Nazarene to see that special rules / covenant of Christian conduct has morphed over the years many times. Our doctrine has remained essentially the same from the beginning. These are perilous times if we are to allow our doctrine to be refined it must be by the fire of holiness not the heat of popular opinion...
C
Christa Jamison
3 years ago
The only way we (the COTN) remains as theologically accurate as possible is by theologians like Dr. Kelley raising questions that need to be explored. That is not a sin. Even our criminal justice system considers things like intent and character before convicting and sentencing. I don't see how either of those were considered in the case of Dr. Kelley. Are we people of love and grace? Or people of laws and crucifixion?
C
Cox Linda
3 years ago
The Code of Christian Conduct should not have been elevated to be essential doctrine. This document is problematic at best in many ways.
A
Anonymous
3 years ago
In all honesty, I am no longer in faithful service as I have recently left the Church of the Nazarene for the reasons stated. I hoped for at least a discussion on these topics. But I've lost hope.
P
Patti Dikes
3 years ago
When a mere loving request for a conversation is, by itself, perceived as heresy, one has to ask if the stance has not been built on sand rather than on on rock and a childhood song I learned in Sunday school taught me whether that will last. Pastor Dee is a wonderful man who has served the church and God faithfully his entire life. Please reconsider the foolish decision of fearful misguided people to avoid losing yet another one of your best.
C
Christopher Pollock
3 years ago
The grace with which Dee Kelley lives is a model for me.
G
Gerald Moran
3 years ago
Featured
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.
A
Alexis A Shay
3 years ago
This is a travesty of injustice and it breaks the heart of this now ostracized Brezee Award winning, Regional Quiz Captain, Nazarene University graduate.
A
anonymous
3 years ago
The rules from John Wesley are simple: Do No Harm. Do Good. Stay in Love with God. As a former Nazarene Pastor, I have seen and experienced the pain of recent choices with regard to how the CotN treats their LGBTQIA+ family members. What will it take for the CotN to have these critical conversations? How many individuals must first be harmed? And in doing so, in the name of God, is this really staying in love with God or is it playing a self-fulfilling, fear based version of God? Are such actions and teachings really doing good? At what point will those with authority (and money) stop to consider context when reading and exegeting "clobber" scripture passages? May the Holy Spirit move mightily and as John Wesley would say, may the church become more vile - yes, vile! Look it up - this is how the church gained traction and grew . . . by listening to God and going TO the people - the least, the last, and the lost.
K
Katrina Klohn
3 years ago
I stand with Dee Kelly.
L
Linda Smith
3 years ago
Praying for my church! This breaks my heart!!
E
Erin M Sudduth
3 years ago
Nazarene pastor’s daughter here. Attended a Nazarene university. Did all the “Nazarene” things I was supposed to do. My father must be turning over in his GRAVE about all this, but he wouldn’t have said anything publicly during his life for fear of losing his meager pension and his life insurance benefits. He’s gone now, so I’ll say it for him—STOP. Do not go on. Turn back. He loved this church. *I* loved this church. You are losing the best, kindest, smartest people you ever had with this nonsense. You can still turn the ship around, and Lord, I pray that you will. Don’t let all this good go to waste. Amen.
J
JD Woods
3 years ago
The very fact that the church refuses to even listen to a call for conversation on this, or any issue for that matter, is extremely disappointing.
K
Kendall Hughes
3 years ago
Please return to Wesley’s primacy of love
A
Andrew Magnuson
3 years ago
May this help us more forward in healthy conversation.
K
Kim Nebel
3 years ago
Discussion is needed. It is very disrespectful to deny it.
S
Steven Burns
3 years ago
I have been discouraged by the high-handed behavior of our denominational leaders. The punitive actions that are in process are the fruit of an ill-conceived BGS letter in spring of 2023. It is my belief that that letter was in retaliation for a book that was published, and what we are seeing now is the reactionary actions of a denomination that is failing its members.
S
Stephen Thun
3 years ago
Great grand parents were both pastors. I'm heart sickened! Been attending this church for almost 40 years. This action is disgusting.
A
Ashley
3 years ago
Another religion ruining the idea of God for those of us who want to believe, but can't because we are already condemned to a lifetime of burning flames and brimstone because of whom we love.
This isn’t hard. Freedom of thought to disagree and work towards changing beliefs within the church is allowed. We’ve done it before. Especially if pastors are choosing to live within the bounds of our given theology and polity. Moving goal posts to oust affirming pastors is unethical. How this has occurred is beneath those who claim “holiness”.
These are real issues that most have not all of us are dealing with. To have conversation and dialogue in the spirit of true Christian unity as God's very Spirit guides us can have nothing with the effect of drawing us closer together. We don't have to go very far into a search of various iterations of Manuals of the Church of the Nazarene to see that special rules / covenant of Christian conduct has morphed over the years many times. Our doctrine has remained essentially the same from the beginning. These are perilous times if we are to allow our doctrine to be refined it must be by the fire of holiness not the heat of popular opinion...
The only way we (the COTN) remains as theologically accurate as possible is by theologians like Dr. Kelley raising questions that need to be explored. That is not a sin. Even our criminal justice system considers things like intent and character before convicting and sentencing. I don't see how either of those were considered in the case of Dr. Kelley. Are we people of love and grace? Or people of laws and crucifixion?
The Code of Christian Conduct should not have been elevated to be essential doctrine. This document is problematic at best in many ways.
In all honesty, I am no longer in faithful service as I have recently left the Church of the Nazarene for the reasons stated. I hoped for at least a discussion on these topics. But I've lost hope.
When a mere loving request for a conversation is, by itself, perceived as heresy, one has to ask if the stance has not been built on sand rather than on on rock and a childhood song I learned in Sunday school taught me whether that will last. Pastor Dee is a wonderful man who has served the church and God faithfully his entire life. Please reconsider the foolish decision of fearful misguided people to avoid losing yet another one of your best.
The grace with which Dee Kelley lives is a model for me.
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.
This is a travesty of injustice and it breaks the heart of this now ostracized Brezee Award winning, Regional Quiz Captain, Nazarene University graduate.
The rules from John Wesley are simple: Do No Harm. Do Good. Stay in Love with God. As a former Nazarene Pastor, I have seen and experienced the pain of recent choices with regard to how the CotN treats their LGBTQIA+ family members. What will it take for the CotN to have these critical conversations? How many individuals must first be harmed? And in doing so, in the name of God, is this really staying in love with God or is it playing a self-fulfilling, fear based version of God? Are such actions and teachings really doing good? At what point will those with authority (and money) stop to consider context when reading and exegeting "clobber" scripture passages? May the Holy Spirit move mightily and as John Wesley would say, may the church become more vile - yes, vile! Look it up - this is how the church gained traction and grew . . . by listening to God and going TO the people - the least, the last, and the lost.
I stand with Dee Kelly.
Praying for my church! This breaks my heart!!
Nazarene pastor’s daughter here. Attended a Nazarene university. Did all the “Nazarene” things I was supposed to do. My father must be turning over in his GRAVE about all this, but he wouldn’t have said anything publicly during his life for fear of losing his meager pension and his life insurance benefits. He’s gone now, so I’ll say it for him—STOP. Do not go on. Turn back. He loved this church. *I* loved this church. You are losing the best, kindest, smartest people you ever had with this nonsense. You can still turn the ship around, and Lord, I pray that you will. Don’t let all this good go to waste. Amen.
The very fact that the church refuses to even listen to a call for conversation on this, or any issue for that matter, is extremely disappointing.
Please return to Wesley’s primacy of love
May this help us more forward in healthy conversation.
Discussion is needed. It is very disrespectful to deny it.
I have been discouraged by the high-handed behavior of our denominational leaders. The punitive actions that are in process are the fruit of an ill-conceived BGS letter in spring of 2023. It is my belief that that letter was in retaliation for a book that was published, and what we are seeing now is the reactionary actions of a denomination that is failing its members.
Great grand parents were both pastors. I'm heart sickened! Been attending this church for almost 40 years. This action is disgusting.
Another religion ruining the idea of God for those of us who want to believe, but can't because we are already condemned to a lifetime of burning flames and brimstone because of whom we love.