Rev. Jeremy Scott says this about this article by J. Philip Wogaman:
Rev. Dr. J. Philip Wogaman is a titan in United Methodism–and he has a Wikipedia page! A fellow graduate of Boston University School of Theology, he’s been a seminary professor, dean, seminary president, senior pastor to presidents, and many other inspirational roles over his lifetime. While Dr. Wogaman is retired, he is involved in the politics of United Methodism enough to want to speak out against errors in logic from his long experience as a Christian ethicist.
The following is an original essay from Dr. Wogaman that he submitted for publication at Hacking Christianity. (Read it at Hacking Christianity!)
"The recently concluded special United Methodist General Conference voted against removing policies against Gay and Lesbian ordination and forbidding clergy from presiding over same-gender marriages. The “traditional plan” not only called for maintaining those policies but increasing enforcement. The votes were fairly close, with about 10% separating traditionalists and progressives. The final outcome of the conservative changes awaits decisions by the church’s Judicial Council as to their constitutionality. But, as it stands, the General Conference has reinforced existing teaching and law. Progressives had hoped for a different outcome, providing a way forward for the denomination. ... I have followed the debates within the church, before and after the General Conference, with special interest. As an ethicist I have been struck by significant flaws in the reasoning of the traditionalists, led by the UM Good News and Confessionalist movements. Here are some of them: [Continue reading]