Most mainline Protestant clergy do not support legalizing gay marriage, even if they’re not required to officiate at same-sex ceremonies.
It was the only point on which the majority did not support gay rights, according to a survey of clergy from the seven historic mainline Protestant denominations to which 18% of Americans belong.
Notice that the two denominations that are jockeying for the fastest declining (the UCC was this year’s and the Episcopalians were last year’s) are the two that have sacrificed their Scriptural foundations to accommodate the demands of a group that represents a tiny percentage – most of whom don’t want to attend church anyway.
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
Reply to #1.
Excellent citations from Scripture.
What is happening to “the Church” today has happened before. Scripture speaks amply to this subject. Let’s just hope that we won’t suffer the modern version of the Babylonian exile.
To cite that great American philosopher, Yogi Berra, it seems like its “de ja vu all over again.”
Please! No facts! It messes with the propaganda big time. How can the GC and HOB and PB keep up the charade with actual known facts!
Deposition for you!
With 33% of the responding clergy supporting gay marriage … and 32% supporting civil unions … we have 65% supporting gay civil rights … with 35% opposed. Of course, the 33% supporting gay marriage climbs to 46% when it is made clear that they, as ministers, would not be forced to perform gay marriages.
Those are very good numbers in support of gay civil rights. And certainly mainline church support for gay rights is on the increase.
I’d say that the truth — which is more than evident in the numbers — trumps the unwarranted charge of propaganda. Certainly the Episcopal Church is moving in the right direction toward putting discrimination to rest. The veil of religion that all too many have used to hide a personal prejudice is becoming ever more diaphanous.
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.â€
Of course, that text can be used to explain ACNA and the “Global South Anglicans” … and well as the non-denominational and very insular churches of the religious right.
With respect to the general population, I suspect that most people are just tired of the subject. And claims of victimhood (e.g., construing “gay marriage” as a question of civil rights) tend to strike a sympathetic chord, especially with people who don’t see themselves as having any personal stake in the issue. Of course, what’s popular is an entirely separate question from what’s right.
If what you say is true First Family Virginian then please give us an example of the “sound doctrine” that “the religious right”..”will not put up with”. I am curious to know.
See the follow up blog question here: http://tinyurl.com/r79yqz
Kendall+, you might want to update the original.
First Virginian’s response #5 is basically as vacuous as my 7 year old’s, “I know you are but what am I.”
“Those are very good numbers in support of gay civil rights. And certainly mainline church support for gay rights is on the increase.” The UCC and TEClub’s clergy do seem to be increasing in uniformity as their numbers shrink. Is that good? The big tent will soon be a pup tent.
1. I didn’t realize that Disciples of Christ are so liberal.
2. Given the exodus of conservatives from TEC, I’m surprised that the number is as low as 49%. That suggests that there are lots of TEC priests who are staying in TEC (at least for now), and who do not agree with the heretical actions going on in some of the dioceses. Signs of life in TEC.
Repeating myself: same-sex relationships = marriages Not according to the six versions of the Bilble I have in my library. All versions of the Book have plenty to say about same-sex relationships. Nuff Said!!!