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May 9, 2012

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Rob Renfroe

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Rob Renfroe

United Methodists have reaffirmed 2,000 years of Christian teaching regarding sexuality.  This is the same view held by the most rapidly growing parts of the church today.  And it is the only view that will hold The United Methodist Church together.

Our view on sexuality is a compassionate, biblical and beautifully nuanced statement.  It affirms the worth of every person, declares sexuality to be a gracious gift of God, protects the rights of those who might be mistreated because of their sexuality, and states what the Bible affirms – not all sexual practices, heterosexual or homosexual, are acceptable in the sight of God.

Unfortunately, this view doesn’t fare well in an overly sexualized, decadent Western culture that prizes individual happiness and cares little for biblical holiness.  Our society teaches us from the youngest of ages that sex is our right, that an active sex life is essential for being a whole and healthy person, and that the Bible is unable to speak to our modern way of life.

It concerns me little that our fallen culture teaches such things.  It concerns me greatly that when the church teaches differently, it is called homophobic, spiritually violent and dishonest – even by some of my fellow United Methodists.

We are a divided church regarding the practice of homosexuality. We are not divided in acknowledging that many people are hurting because of our reaffirmation of the historic position.

We are not divided in caring for our brothers and sisters who have been hurt. We all care and we all care deeply. No one in the UMC takes any pleasure in the pain of others, whether or not they agree with our views.

“We are not divided in caring for our brothers and sisters who have been hurt.” 

That’s why those of us who represent the part of the church that holds the traditional view were glad to tell our bishops and the agenda committee that we saw no need to vote on other petitions regarding sexuality after the first votes were taken. We were happy to move those issues to the end of the agenda, knowing that they would not be addressed because we felt no need to increase the pain that our brothers and sisters were experiencing.

Consistency and the Discipline

But we are divided. And we are divided about the Scriptures. Some who want to change the church’s view regarding sexuality simply read the Bible differently than we do. Others believe the Bible teaches that the practice of homosexuality is not acceptable in the sight of God, but they believe that the Scriptures were so conditioned by the culture of their human authors that they no longer apply authoritatively to our time.

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May 9, 2012

Comments (4)

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Doug Cunningham

Doug, I believe you are correct in saying a "strident adherence to the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from ordination and marriage is not going to hold us together."
I also believe that changing the prevailing position of United Methodism will not hold us together either.
Maybe it's time for an amicable separation. Other denominations have done it. Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways and the Kingdom didn't collapse. It isn't the worst thing to do - maybe the best under the present circumstances. Someone start the conversation.....

Parson more than 1 years ago

More than one view

Mr. Renfroe is not saying anything that has not been said at General Conference and elsewhere. His position continues to prevail in official United Methodism, but a sizable minority disagrees with his view and will continue to do so. A strident adherence to the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from ordination and marriage is not going to hold us together.

Doug Cunningham more than 1 years ago

Michael Higgs

Michael, you are correct in suggesting that there is a deeper issue here, other than homosexuality - it is our view of scripture and how we understand its authority. That is where the division is and why we keep talking past each other when discussing a number of issues.

Also at play here, is whether or not tradition and wisdom from the past - from church fathers and mothers - has much to say to us.

A person who considers the scripture as containing the "Word of God" that God expects us to discern by our reason and present-day thinking, will come out at a different place from someone who considers the scripture as the "Word of God" that should press on our reason and shape our thinking.

Yes, this could be the dealbreaker, as you say.

Parson more than 1 years ago

"One View"

Maybe we need some honest, non-demonizing discussion about our views of Scripture. If we're too far apart, we may need to look at separation or divorce rather than continued polarization and paralysis. Views on homosexuality might not be the dealbreaker, but views of scripture certainly could be.

On another note, much of your argument sounds like what was once used to justify the church's support of slavery, and later of segregation in this country and apartheid in South AFrica.

Michael Higgs more than 1 years ago

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