The Holston Conference finally stopped the trials and backed away from these senseless attacks on our pastors. We forced their hand and protected the mission of our church from their narrow-minded aggression. Keep your eyes open because we will not let them change their minds later.
November 23, 2020
Final supporters
RESOLUTION
Whereas, the specially called General Conference of The United Methodist Church (UMC), meeting in St. Louis, passed the Traditional Plan relative to the human sexuality issues facing The UMC, and
Whereas, the Traditional Plan prohibits pastors from performing same sex weddings and prohibits self-avowed practicing homosexuals (as defined by the Book of Discipline) from serving as ministers in The United Methodist Church, and
Whereas, the Traditional Plan also calls for violations of the "Traditional Plan" ban to be punished through the bringing of a complaint under Paragraph 2702 of The UMC Book of Discipline, and
Whereas, a way forward for The UMC relative to human sexuality remains uncertain and in flux, and
Whereas, charging pastors with violations of the "No Same Sex Weddings" ban would cause harm to the individual pastor and to congregations of The UMC.
Whereas, under the Traditional Plan, self-avowed practicing homosexuals (as defined by the Book of Discipline) are prevented from serving as clergy in the Holston Conference, resulting in the loss of effective ministers from ever serving in Holston Conference,
Whereas, Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, former President of The UMC Council of Bishops, has suggested that there be a moratorium on church trials, and
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Holston Annual Conference delay any action on church trials relative to complaints against pastors for violations of the Traditional Plan until Holston Annual Conference 2022, to give clergy time to evaluate their moral and spiritual beliefs in light of changes that will have occurred at the delayed 2020 General Conference, in the Book of Discipline.
Updates
November 16, 2020
The leadership in the Holston Conference continues to ignore the harm these trials inflict on our pastors and our congregations. I spent the last few days demanding an explanation for their refusal to adopt a moratorium but the silence from the top is deafening. We are not going away until they stop weaponizing these policies against our clergy.
November 16, 2020
The Holston Conference leadership is finally feeling the heat from our movement. We gathered this momentum because people are tired of seeing good ministers dragged into kangaroo court trials while the bishops look the other way.
Reached 100 supporters
November 16, 2020
27 Comments
I am strongly opposed to any position that treats any individuals differently based on their gender, sexual orientation, identity etc. I continue to attend my home church because I have good friends there but if the UMC continues down the path of exclusion, I will likely find another church who believes in love and acceptance for ALL. Love is love and all people are made in God's image and cherished by Him.
This is one of the great civil rights issues of our time. Be Martin Luther King not Bull Connor.
"Above all of these is LOVE" We were put here to love, not to judge who can love.
Love is love. I have asked myself many times if this very question was asked of Jesus Christ and what his very reply would be. Love is love. He would swing the church doors wide and welcome all his people inside to hear the Word. He would welcome anyone that was there to spread the Word. Also remember the story of Mary Magdalene, he who is without sin cast the first stone. Let people worship, let people serve, let people commit their lives and love to one another, all in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Considering the very real possibility that the Traditional Plan could be overturned at the next General Conference, it does no harm to delay any church trials on charges brought under this hurtful plan.
My husband, Doug, and I pray often for God to strike all homosexuals down. Powell River 88 White Power
God be with you.
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The Holston Conference finally stopped the trials and backed away from these senseless attacks on our pastors. We forced their hand and protected the mission of our church from their narrow-minded aggression. Keep your eyes open because we will not let them change their minds later.
November 23, 2020
Final supporters
RESOLUTION
Whereas, the specially called General Conference of The United Methodist Church (UMC), meeting in St. Louis, passed the Traditional Plan relative to the human sexuality issues facing The UMC, and
Whereas, the Traditional Plan prohibits pastors from performing same sex weddings and prohibits self-avowed practicing homosexuals (as defined by the Book of Discipline) from serving as ministers in The United Methodist Church, and
Whereas, the Traditional Plan also calls for violations of the "Traditional Plan" ban to be punished through the bringing of a complaint under Paragraph 2702 of The UMC Book of Discipline, and
Whereas, a way forward for The UMC relative to human sexuality remains uncertain and in flux, and
Whereas, charging pastors with violations of the "No Same Sex Weddings" ban would cause harm to the individual pastor and to congregations of The UMC.
Whereas, under the Traditional Plan, self-avowed practicing homosexuals (as defined by the Book of Discipline) are prevented from serving as clergy in the Holston Conference, resulting in the loss of effective ministers from ever serving in Holston Conference,
Whereas, Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, former President of The UMC Council of Bishops, has suggested that there be a moratorium on church trials, and
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Holston Annual Conference delay any action on church trials relative to complaints against pastors for violations of the Traditional Plan until Holston Annual Conference 2022, to give clergy time to evaluate their moral and spiritual beliefs in light of changes that will have occurred at the delayed 2020 General Conference, in the Book of Discipline.
Updates
November 16, 2020
The leadership in the Holston Conference continues to ignore the harm these trials inflict on our pastors and our congregations. I spent the last few days demanding an explanation for their refusal to adopt a moratorium but the silence from the top is deafening. We are not going away until they stop weaponizing these policies against our clergy.
November 16, 2020
The Holston Conference leadership is finally feeling the heat from our movement. We gathered this momentum because people are tired of seeing good ministers dragged into kangaroo court trials while the bishops look the other way.
Reached 100 supporters
November 16, 2020
27 Comments
I'm not sure the Annual Conference has the ability to dictate to its Episcopal leader how to handle such matters, but the Annual Conference most definitely has the ability to advise its Episcopal leader. And since I fully support the spirit of this resolution, I am happy to add my name to this petition.
I am strongly opposed to any position that treats any individuals differently based on their gender, sexual orientation, identity etc. I continue to attend my home church because I have good friends there but if the UMC continues down the path of exclusion, I will likely find another church who believes in love and acceptance for ALL. Love is love and all people are made in God's image and cherished by Him.
This is one of the great civil rights issues of our time. Be Martin Luther King not Bull Connor.
"Above all of these is LOVE" We were put here to love, not to judge who can love.
Love is love. I have asked myself many times if this very question was asked of Jesus Christ and what his very reply would be. Love is love. He would swing the church doors wide and welcome all his people inside to hear the Word. He would welcome anyone that was there to spread the Word. Also remember the story of Mary Magdalene, he who is without sin cast the first stone. Let people worship, let people serve, let people commit their lives and love to one another, all in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Considering the very real possibility that the Traditional Plan could be overturned at the next General Conference, it does no harm to delay any church trials on charges brought under this hurtful plan.
My husband, Doug, and I pray often for God to strike all homosexuals down. Powell River 88 White Power
God be with you.
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I'm not sure the Annual Conference has the ability to dictate to its Episcopal leader how to handle such matters, but the Annual Conference most definitely has the ability to advise its Episcopal leader. And since I fully support the spirit of this resolution, I am happy to add my name to this petition.