2023 Bishop Merrill's Update on Disaffiliation

[@sylviafullerton7416]

I will not follow the desires of the world. I will proudly follow the ways of Christ.

[@donnaalberts7608]

We must follow God's Word, even if it means calling a sin a sin.

[@stevesafety6743]

Love also means no

[@jollypearltank8935]

@@stevesafety6743 pedophiles love children. so your point is...?

[@jimreed2604]

Please pray for a revival and/or A Great Awakening in the U.S.A. by the grace of God Almighty. Amen. This is our only hope. Amen again.

[@paulsmith9868]

Apparently at this "broad table" has to include addressing our Heavenly Father as "oh Queer One". Or another church official saying that "we don't look to the Bible for anything. Tell us again how Wesleyan that is.

[@MysteryMan2U]

Word salads will not change the truth, ROM 1:18-32 spells it out very clearly. Sin leads to eternal death, chaos and destruction. You can put lipstick on a pig but at the end of the day it’s still a pig. Truth is eternal and cannot be changed or softened.

[@casey1167]

All that is left is who get the proceeds from the sale of the assets. Why would someone got to a Methodist Church when the Starbucks has better coffee, and is basically the same religion as the current Methodist Church.

[@ohthankg-dforthebourgeoisi9800]

The Methodist Church is the wonderbread of Christianity. Anything tasty, crunchy, beautiful or challenging has been removed. It has been homogenized to be acceptable to everyone. All other Protestant denominations are going the same way. The only voice at the table that should be heard is Jesus Christ’s. No one’s sins should be celebrated or blessed.

[@birdwing98]

I hope you don't celebrate the marriage of gluttons. Are you at your doctor's recommended weight?

[@peacesim9020]

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura!!!!!!!

[@stevesafety6743]

How about heresy and growing disconnect within the UMC from Biblical teachings. ---- Roger Wolsey, ordained United Methodist pastor, director of the Wesley Foundation at UC Boulder (1) “Friends, Jesus isn’t God. Jesus didn’t die for our sins. Jesus wasn’t killed instead of us. God isn’t wrathful or vindictive. There isn’t a hell (other than ones that we create here on this earth). Going to heaven after we die isn’t what the faith or salvation is about. God didn’t write the Bible. There isn’t going to be a “rapture.” Jesus’ resurrection didn’t have to be understood as a physical one for it to be a real and meaningful one (Paul and many of the early disciples encountered a spiritually risen Christ).” “I do believe that Jesus was divine (in the way that you and I are), and that he’s the 2nd person of the trinity. Christians rightfully honor and celebrate Jesus as a unique and fully incarnate manifestation of God. I don’t believe that he’s literally God (at least not what most people tend to mean by that word). We live and move and have our being in God, so did Jesus. The trinity is a beloved Christian poem of who God is to us. But poems don’t literally define things. Like all art, and theology, they point to what is beyond them” “And Christianity isn’t the only way for humans to experience salvation.” Rev. Eric Folkerth, senior pastor of Northaven UMC, Dallas, TX (2) “God gave Jesus to live for our sins, not die for them.” Martin Thielen, retired UMC pastor (3) “The traditional theology of substitutionary atonement that “Jesus died for our sins” needs to be jettisoned in the modern era. While that metaphor made sense to an ancient world that practiced animal sacrifice, it’s theologically offensive to think God required a bloody sacrifice of his Son in order to forgive humanity. That’s divine child abuse, not divine justice or love. The belief that a loving God tortures people forever in unquenchable agonizing flames of hell is theological pornography. To claim that Christianity is the only way to God and that 70 percent of the world’s non-Christian population is “lost” without any hope in this life (or the next) is intolerable theological arrogance.” Rev. David M. Felten, Pastor, The Fountains UMC, Fountain Hills, AZ (4) (5) “You may not believe it, but I have deep respect for the Bible. I’ve spent my entire adult life studying it. And I’m here to tell you (as evidently one of the “not chosen”) that it is indeed a storybook - but not “just” a storybook. It contains the stories of people who have spent their whole lives wrestling with and interpreting the meaning of life. It is not inerrant. It is not historical. Its books contain stories - stories with way more meaning than mere history. Our job is to interpret those stories for a new generation, not simply try to conform to old ways of thinking.” “Over the centuries, Christianity has been warped into a myriad of harmful doctrines and expectations, according to The Fountains Pastor, Rev. David Felten. So, last year he addressed a number of Christianity’s most destructive ideas and why it’s critical for them to be defused, disavowed and abandoned. “These obsolete and toxic notions included Hell, Satan, Original Sin, Omnipotence, Biblical Inerrancy and the need to be Born Again,” Felten said.” Rev. Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, President of Claremont School of Theology (UMC Seminary), UMC Elder, Rev. Emily Nelms Chastain, UMC Deacon, Erin Grasse, M.Div., Certified Candidate for Ministry Virginia Conference of the UMC (6) “Societies and communities have become increasingly religiously pluralistic. As Christians, we have to come to terms with the fact that we are not the sole possessors of religious truth and values.” Bishop Joseph Sprague, North Central Jurisdiction (Statements from a 2002 speech, cleared of violating church doctrine by a panel of 4 UMC Bishops), Sprague retired in 2004 (7) “The myth of the virgin birth was not intended as historical fact but was employed by Matthew and Luke in different ways to appoint poetically the truth about Jesus as experienced in the emerging church.” “I believe in the resurrection of Jesus, but I cannot believe that his resurrection involved the resuscitation of his physical body.” “I affirm resurrection, the resurrection of Jesus. God’s essence cannot be killed, buried, or kept from being alive in creation or history. God is from everlasting to everlasting. But, resurrection, including that of Jesus, does not include bodily resuscitation. God does not work this way.” “Having so affirmed Jesus as God’s unique and normative revelation, I must dissent from Christ centric exclusives which hold that Jesus is the only way to God’s gift of salvation.” "The concept of blood sacrifice is superstition at best and an idolatrous allegiance to a non-Jesus methodology of God-human relationship at worst. Historically and presently the church has other models of atonement theory to offer a hurting world. The time has come for progressives, courageously to advance other theories for consideration and to claim one as our own confession of the meaning of the cross.” 1 - Wolsey, Roger. “It’s time For Progressive Christianity.” The Holy Kiss, Patheos.com, May 24, 2018, www.patheos.com/blogs/rogerwolsey/2018/05/its-time-for-progressive-christianity/ , Accessed September 23, 2021. 2 - Folkerth, Eric. “Confronting Atonement Theology.” Um-insight.net, March 25, 2013, uminsight.net/perspectives/confronting-atonement/ , Accessed March 30, 2022. 3 - Theilen, Martin. “God is No Longer a Working Number.” Um-insight.net, October 7, 2021, um-insight.net/in-the-church/practicing-faith/god-is-no-longer-a-working-number/ , Accessed March 30, 2022 . 4 - Felten, David. “Bible: Word of God or Just a Storybook?” Um-insight.net, March 7, 2018, um-insight.net/perspectives/bible-word-of-god-or-just-a-storybook/ , Accessed March 30, 2022. 5 - “Fountains Announces New Sermon Series.” Fountain Hills Times, October 20, 2021, www.fhtimes.com/news/religion_news/fountains-announces-new-sermon-series/article_bb605b8e-3108-11ec-8b65-0708a8ba231c.html , Press Release. 6 - Kuan, Kah-lin Jeffrey, Chastain, Emily Nelms, and Grasse, Erin. “The Multifaceted Nature of Progressive Theology.” The Connectional Table, UMC, March 11, 2019. (Article originally published July 30, 2019) www.resourceumc.org/en/content/the-multifaceted-nature-of-progressive-theology 7 - Sprague, Joseph. “Affirmations of a Dissenter.” January 28, 2002, FLUMC, www.flumc.com/bishop_whitaker/sprague.htm , Transcript.

[@joer5627]

Heretics, one and all.

[@joer5627]

You do not celebrate and affirm sin!

[@KarenSueBurton]

Wow! This is the same kind of heresy I heard in a Lutheran church in the 90’s. I was SO excited my sister was taking her family to church and they were excited for me to visit their church with them on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve - the female pastor, whose appearance was very masculine, gave a children’s sermon about how the 10 commandments are not rules for holiness given to man from God, but are just suggestions for how we might want to live. For a long time I wondered why it was such an odd children’s sermon topic for Christmas Eve. Then it occurred to me - she knew there would be families there who may not regularly attend church. This was the perfect time to tell as many people as possible that God’s Word is not holy or true. I debriefed with my sister and her husband after the service. They had totally missed the point of her children’s sermon, to tell them the 10 Commandments are really just 10 Suggestions. Upon reflection they moved to a Baptist church, who, at that time, was teaching Biblical truth. There is no better defense against false teachings than reading the Bible, one book at a time, for ourselves and talking to God about what we read. Holy Spirit will help us understand what we read in the Bible, so false teachings will be obvious to us when we hear them.

[@gamnamoo6195]

As a retired UMC pastor, I stand with you. Thank you.

[@michaelsumstine1579]

Thank you Bishop. We are ready to welcome ALL into our church.

[@silveriorebelo2920]

you prefer to pretend welcoming everybody instead of being faithful to God

[@cheryllovesjesusinKY]

Either you believe the Bible is the final authority or not. Cherry picking what you choose to follow is saying we know better than our Creator. That being said, it’s no surprise a compromising stance on sexuality is just a long line of compromising beginning with disregarding Gods family and church structure. Error began with women usurping authority. Unfortunately, this is leading a whole generation to hell. Yes, hell. Jesus spoke of hell more than heaven, and now we have whole denominations apostate. Come quickly Lord Jesus.

[@bernlin2000]

Pray for Healing and Understanding in ALL the ways of the Holy Spirit. The spirit moves EVEN in those who you don't understand...the GMC argument is a fatally-flawed one. God is Love and we're ALL His Children, even in the context of a broken world.

[@rogerriggs6055]

I WILL NOT SUPPORT ANY METHODIST CHURCH THAT SAYS JESUS DID NOT DIE FOR OUR SENDS PERIOD!!

[@robwilliams2265]

I use voice to text too 😁

[@justinmackey24]

I appreciate the bishop telling us to read the Bible. We did, bishop, that's why we have to leave.

[@PraisingWithFriends]

I can feel the hot air through my phone.

[@Bill-dj9hv]

The Methodist Church turned me in a humanist 70 years ago. They have gone with the money.

[@stevesafety6743]

Why make disaffiliation so difficult?

[@jeffdollar1646]

$$$$$$$$$$$

[@user-xp7ju2sd6o]

Because they are portentous tyrants protecting their power and coffers.

[@bethpemberton7980]

@@user-xp7ju2sd6o well said. I came to same conclusion. The conference has denied our disaffiliation bec we are wealthy and have a big facility. I didnt get much out of this speech by Madame Bishop. She should run for Congress.

[@user-xp7ju2sd6o]

@@bethpemberton7980Time for litigation against your conference. Stop paying apportionments. Confront them as a united body. The conference is against your congregation and refuses to honor your choice and right to disaffiliate. The congregation must know its viperous enemy and fight accordingly.

[@bethpemberton7980]

@@user-xp7ju2sd6o a legal notice is posted on the doors of the church.

[@notapilot1]

We try to have, and frankly struggle with, the impossible love of the Savior. 'Impossible' because Jesus is divine and we are not. We can only worship Him in gratitude for His impossible love for us personally. Jesus' love for us personally is not based on rules or law or conformance; it is simply perfect, accepting love. Which I think is called, Grace.

[@plvsoundman5148]

Madam Bishop… your words sounded so good. BUT …. They didn’t apply to Jonesboro UMC when they voted overwhelmingly to leave but the conference said NO. So the folks left anyway and now there is a almost empty building and barely getting by. So Using your words how is that good for the local city of Jonesboro? You threw that congregation under the bus and to the wolves. Now there is nothing. You did 2 other UMC’s the same way. It appears now to the whole outward community that you are nothing but money hungry and want to bleed off everything you can from local church’s before they can leave. Line you own pockets. This arrears to have gone past LGBTQ or marriage or if the Bible is Gods Truth to now nothing but greed and revenge. I hope you bishop read this. Because as Nathan said to David “you are the man in sin”. Those local congregations are innocent people being used by you and other bishops.

[@gamnamoo6195]

The spirit of openness both in scripture and in the initial Wesleyanism never meant accepting anything without discretion. The Bible manifestly condemns homosexual practice as sin, and Wesley took the 'willful sin' as the most detrimental sin of all. So many UMC clergy members overtly support homosexual life as OK and claim to be a Wesleyan leader; a self-contradiction.

[@bobdobbs8700]

I only hope that John Wesley is watching from his cloud. He needs to see what has become of his church. He needs to appreciate the futility of his life's work.

[@timothylong880]

UMC is about multiple ways to God! It’s not all about the homosexual issue!!! Do your research!

[@NC-vz6ui]

Praying for you Bishop. These legalist will have the same issues at the new denomination. They want to draw lines and be gatekeepers when it's convenient for them. The same spirit Jesus faced with the Pharisees and Saducees in his day.

[@jollypearltank8935]

😢 please read the Bible. We can't marry animals or immediate family members. Why? The Bible says so. Just like the Bible says homosexuality is wrong.

[@NC-vz6ui]

@@jollypearltank8935 Please read the Bible in context. God told David if he didn't have enough wives he would of given him more, but no one is practicing polygamy. You just can't go with everything the Bible says.

[@jollypearltank8935]

@@NC-vz6ui your sentence is the very reason we are in the current situation. so according to your interpretation people can may animals and or plants. Got it.

[@jollypearltank8935]

@@NC-vz6ui forget Leviticus too?? Marrying family members is ok now too?? 🙄

[@NC-vz6ui]

​@@jollypearltank8935 No you just have to understand who is speaking to, why, and in what context it was written. According to your interpretation of Genesis it is a binding order and incest was the means of procreation, so you tell me. The problem with you and others is you pick and choose what you are going to take literally.

[@tinginlang1358]

What part of these verses don't u understand? Leviticus 18:22 Leviticus 20:13 1 Corinthians 6:9 1 Timothy 1:10 Most sins are intermittent, homosexuality is a bold faced continuous practice of sins, if u voted for these ppl, or sympathize with them, u will not escape the punishment as in the day of Sodom n Gomorrah. read ur bible, don't change what the bible said, u will be accounted for what u have practicipated in, as said in ur bible, "wolves in sheep's clothing" r in UMC as said in Matt 7:15, there's no excuse for what u have done. Homosexuality has no place in the kingdom of God no matters how u want of twist or spin it. u will reap what u sowed.

[@birdwing98]

If you don't adhere to every law in the Old Testament, then you how do you cherry pick the ones to live by? Sure hope you don't serve meat and dairy in the same meal, because that is forbidden in the Old Testament.

[@tinginlang1358]

@@birdwing98 not just the old, but also the new, why u didn't mention the new?

[@jollypearltank8935]

@@birdwing98 😆 Bible is cited regarding a topic on hand and you call it cherry picking?? So can I marry an animal?

[@adamcarroll5130]

Posting as Deb Fisher- very sad for the disaffiliation. Christ came and ended the old covenant. We have a new covenant. Therefore Leviticus no longer applies, unless of course you want to also follow the other 161+ rules from the book of Leviticus. It’s so frustrating to see people pick out one or two verses that they like, and ban others from fellowship as a result! There is no sin. Just hate filled, prideful people that place their narrow minded beliefs on others!