[Today’s Prayer] U.S. Methodist Church also removes phrase “homosexuality is incompatible with Christianity”
The United Methodist Church (UMC), which removed the ban on ordaining homosexual pastors, even deleted the phrase, “The practice of homosexuality… is incompatible with Christian teachings”.
According to UM News, while the UMC is holding a general meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, the delegates voted 523 in favor and 161 against after about 1 hour and 30 minutes of discussion on the 2nd (local time) to approve the 52-year-old phrase to be deleted from the social life principles.
In this vote, the delegates said, “Marriage is a sacred, lifelong covenant that unites two people of faith (an adult man and an adult woman, or two adults) for a deeper relationship with God and the community of faith.”
The Social Life Principles represent the denomination's official position on contemporary issues and are adopted through a vote by delegates, but are not law. In 1972, the UMC stated, “We do not condone homosexuality, and homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teachings. We do not recommend marriage between two people of the same sex” was included in the social life principles.
(Omitted)
Despite decades of failed efforts to change the Book of Discipline, which bans same-sex marriage and ordination of homosexuals, many liberals in the UMC refused to adhere to the Book of Discipline before this General Assembly.
Accordingly, at the 2019 General Assembly special meeting, temporary measures were approved to establish a withdrawal process for churches wishing to leave the denomination, through which more than 7,500 churches had left the denomination by the end of last year.
Previously, delegates to the General Assembly passed a petition by a vote of 667-54 to remove provisions from the Book of Discipline that ban funding for sexual minority advocacy groups and mandate punishment for clergy who bless same-sex unions. A petition to remove the ban on ordination for self-proclaimed homosexuals was also passed by a vote of 692 to 51.
Source: Christian Today
Just a little while, and the one who is coming will come and will not delay. My righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul will have no joy in him. For we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith that leads to the salvation of the soul. (Hebrews 10:37-39)
God the Father of grace.
At this time, we pray that the spirit of repentance and truth will come to the American denomination.
We have heard the unfortunate news that the United Methodist Church (UMC) has not only removed its ban on ordaining homosexual pastors, but has also decided to remove the clause stating that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teachings.
Please have mercy on the leaders of American denominations and countless pastors and church members who continue to commit sins without knowing what is truly right because their faith has been corrupted by liberalism, and help them turn from their sins.
We praise the Lord who will pour back a fervent faith that will not back down into the American church, which started with the spirit of Puritanism, sent numerous missionaries to unreached tribes, and carried out the history of world missions!
Pour into our hearts the fear of the Lord who will come and judge with justice in just a moment, and allow the American church to carry out its mission of world missions until the end through the remnant who keep the faith even in these dark last days!
