These are articles with links to official statements of jurisdictions, conferences, organizations, churches, pastors and groups of pastors, news stories, and commentaries of resistance, defiance, non-compliance and revolt against the actions of the General Conference of 2019.
By Heather Hahn
Jan. 7, 2020 | UM News article
Across the United States, some United Methodist churches kicked off the year with worship services and other events aimed at showing solidarity with LGBTQ Christians.
At First United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, some 575 people packed the 120-year-old sanctuary — including the balcony — for a special Holy Communion service Jan. 5 that sought to affirm the image of God in all people.
“The church itself was just filled with God’s spirit,” said the congregation’s senior pastor, the Rev. David Freeman. “Many people have said, ‘This is what the church should look like. This is what worship should feel like.’”
Same-sex Unions to Be Included in 'Covenantal Celebration'
[An update from Cynthia Astle on happenings this season]
by Cynthia B. Astle
December 19, 2019 (Used by permission of United Methodist Insight.)
First United Methodist Church in Dallas will take a big step into the fray over LGBTQ+ acceptance on Dec. 29 when it holds a special service of blessing for marriage – all marriages, including gay and lesbian couples.
According to a Dallas Morning News article by Sharon Grigsby, On eve of church’s LGBTQ clampdown, Dallas’ First United Methodist will celebrate all marriages in special service, senior pastor the Rev. Andy Stoker says First UMC’s “Covenantal Celebration of Holy Marriage” will be “part pastoral and part social justice.” Ms. Grigsby quotes Rev. Stoker that the event is “about seeing and recognizing all congregation members, to help us really see one another.”
By Sam Hodges
Dec. 6, 2019 | DALLAS (UM News article)
The South Central Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church is suing Southern Methodist University, claiming the Dallas school improperly moved last month to sever ties with the conference and denomination.
The dispute deals with who has ultimate control over SMU and comes as The United Methodist Church faces uncertainty about its future, given internal division over how accepting to be of homosexuality.
by Gilbert H. Caldwell, retired Mountain Sky Clergy
August 9, 2019
Special to United Methodist Insight
Bishop Ernest Lyght has shared with me the letter of the president of Asbury Theological Seminary responding to Asbury students, etc. who have publicly disagreed with the Traditional Plan and its Asbury supporters. Bishop Lyght has called my attention to this portion of the letter:
“We believe that those who are demanding that the Church change its position regarding the Christian view of the body and human sexuality have not offered a compelling biblical, historical, and theological case for such a dramatic change in the historic ethic of the Church." –Timothy C. Tennent, President, Asbury Theological Seminary
I suggest that reflection, discussion, and responding to these words, shaped by prayer, could shape a United, not divided UMC, for the 21st Century. My thoughts: [on UM-Insight]
By Greg Garrison |
A group of United Methodists who want to see the denomination drop its ban on same-sex weddings has been circulating a letter of apology directed to the gay and lesbian community.
...So far about 558 United Methodists with ties to 29 churches in Alabama have signed the letter of apology, said Reggie Holder, one of the organizers of the group calling itself the Inclusion Caucus.
“A lot of us were mortified at the actions of the General Conference,” said Holder, a staff member at Highlands United Methodist Church in Birmingham. “It really was a call to action, a wake-up call.” [Read the story at AL.com and the letter at https://www.apologyletter.info/]
- Open Letters to Asbury Seminary
- Asbury Alums, Students Issue Opposition Letter
- Flawed Arguments Against United Methodist Change on LGBTQ Policies
- Leaders pursue plan for new US structure
- St. Louis As A 'Damascus Road' Conversion
- Witch-hunts in the UMC
- Inspirational Reading
- The United Methodist Oh-So-Very-Radical Plan
- Bishop Karen Applies Disciple Thomas's Experience to GC 2019
- Austin Trinity: We dissent and will not comply
- Conferences, Pastors, Churches Speak Out
- GC 2019 News: Voting Irregularities Surface
- GC 2019 Articles: U.S. United Methodists