Just thought I would drop a line to commiserate. I must admit, my pessimistic side thought they'd probably defrock Beth Stroud, but I was blindsided by the decision allowing a minister who denies membership to a gay man to continue with his "ministry." What can he teach about Jesus' radical
acceptance? How can he possibly lead a community of open, loving, forgiving individuals united in God's love, when he slams the door in the face of a man who wants to know God better? This is crazy. Does the United Methodist Church really have that many new members lining up at the door that it can afford to be this judgemental? Does it have that many ministers,
for that matter? I just read about Harry Knox, another would-have-been UMC minister, who was just appointed to a post in HRC, yesterday
(
http://www.whosoever.org/v10i2/knox.shtml).
I know it's not all like this... but really. Do ministers now have the right to search their congregants for adulterers and hypocrites (biblically speaking, much more egregious) and toss them out on their ears? How can this possibly be for the good of the church?
It makes me heartsick to see the chuch I grew up in going down this road. I just wish I could say I were more surprised.