In a Nov. 7 statement, the United Methodist bishops declared the ecumenical ordination of a lesbian and another woman who champions gay rights, which took place Oct. 19 at a United Methodist Church in Baltimore, “was not approved by any United Methodist annual conference, board of ordained ministry or cabinet.”
The ordinations “belong to Church Within A Church,” according to the council of 69 active and 91 retired bishops from the United States, Africa, Europe and the Philippines.
Church Within a Church is a six-year old organization of Methodists who describe themselves as “dedicated to being the inclusive church.” During the ecumenical ordination service, hands were laid on the two women by retired United Methodist Bishops Susan Morrison and Jessie DeWitt, along with leaders from the United Church of Christ, Catholic, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches and the women’s sponsors.
While ordinations are ecclesial actions, the bishops said the ordination, “has no effect within The United Methodist Church,” has no official status, and will not qualify individuals for appointment within the denomination. The bishops upheld the clarity of the church’s proscription that it does not ordain self-avowed practicing homosexuals.
Why be a member of a hierarchial church if you do not want to submit to hierarchial ‘order?’
The next step for the Methodist Church will be a revisionist usurpation of power through political chicanery in which the ‘will’ of a revisionist minority will be imposed on the entire Methodist Church.
We are now fully into an age in the United States where highly focused activist minorities have discovered how to ‘come to power’ and ‘rule’ rather than ‘lead’ and ‘collegially govern.’
[blockquote]along with leaders from the United Church of Christ, Catholic, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches[/blockquote] I hope Pope Benedict will not be offended if I take the lead here in pointing out that no Catholic “leader” took part in this. Perhaps someone who occasionally attends a Catholic church, but certainly no bishop of the Church engaged in this activity (or if one did, he is currently in a state of excommunication).
And, on behalf of the Episcopal Church, I would state that TEC is absolutely appalled that no member of the HoB was listed among the participants in this consecration. GC will address this issue in 2009, and strictly prohibit any denomination from doing anything absurd or outlandish without the participation of at least one TEC bishop.
Several years ago (when I belonged to the Methodist Church) I called “Bishop” Susan Morrison’s NJ office to complain that her then revisionist actions had been picked up and had irritated my church in Virginia. She had a mouthy handler who intercepted such calls. Pushy. Rude. Revisionist. Part of a dying part of Methodism. Yep…it looks the same no matter what denomination.
TJ – re. #2:
You hit that one clear over the left field bleachers! I’m still laughing….
w.w.
[blockquote]Church Within A Church[/blockquote]
Is this an officially recognized group or is it some rogue organization. Either way, that is just sort of bizarre sounding.
Caught this article last week in the Boston Globe:
[url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/11/08/believers_divided_on_rules_for_clergy/]Believers divided on rules for clergy: Methodist finds another path[/url]