It is so refreshing to see that there are some courageous pastors in the United Methodist Church who are obeying the Gospel of grace and love, and the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, ministries, and in society, who are performing same-sex marriages.
The motto of the United Methodist Church is: "Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors," and these men and women of faith are living up to that statement, unlike those legalists who are more wedded to their rules and regulations as contained in "The Book of Discipline" (as well as their likely unacknowledged prejudices against Gay people and same-sex love), that has largely become their "bible," rather than have a burden for justice for all of God's children.
"Scores of United Methodist Church ministers in California are putting their careers on the line in an open revolt against religious edicts that forbid them to conduct weddings for gay and lesbian couples.
"The pastors could lose their jobs and clerical credentials in the church, the nation's second-largest Protestant denomination.
"Ministers in Santa Monica, Claremont, Walnut Creek and other cities have already performed ceremonies for gays and lesbians or are planning to do so.
"In addition, 82 retired pastors in Northern California signed a resolution in June offering to perform such weddings on behalf of ministers who feel they can't do so themselves."
As one Methodist pastor stated: "I'm tired of being part of a church that lacks integrity," said the Rev. Janet Gollery McKeithen of Santa Monica's Church in Ocean Park, who plans to conduct weddings for two gay couples in August and September. "I love my church, and I don't want to leave it. But I can't be part of a church that is willing to portray a God that is so hateful. I would rather be forced out."
[For the full article, see here.]
God bless Rev. McKeithen and all of the other courageous pastors who choose to follow Jesus rather than man-made laws, rules, and regulations that both stifle the Spirit, and adhere to traditions that make void the Word of God. (Matthew 15:3)
God did not stop speaking when the last book of the Bible was written! God still speaks to us today, prompting us to love and not judge others, and to take very seriously, and live out, the words of the Prophet Micah: "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
These pastors, and all Christians who are Christians in fact, live out the Gospel, and the demonic fallacies of legalism, perfectionism, and exclusion that have taken over most of the institutional Church have no place in anything that has to do with God or His Church!
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