"United Methodism's future will be international, theologically orthodox, and focused on evangelism, not on the fads of declining liberal Protestantism in the U.S." -- Mark Tooley, IRD President
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2011 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Thirty-three retired United Methodist bishops are calling on The United Methodist Church to remove its ban on actively homosexual clergy and to affirm "transgendered persons" without defining the fluid term for gender identity.
United Methodism officially affirms sex only within heterosexual marriage and calls clergy to monogamy if married and celibacy if single. However, these retired bishops portray this historic Christian stance as equal to racism. The 33 signers represent nearly 40 percent of the denomination's 85 retired bishops.
The United Methodist Book of Discipline declares "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church."
A record 40 percent of delegates at United Methodism's next governing General Conference in 2012 will come from outside the U.S., mostly Africa, which is overwhelmingly conservative. Over the last 4 years the U.S. church has lost over 300,000 members, while United Methodism in Africa gained nearly 1 million. The U.S. has 7.7 million United Methodists and Africa has 4.2 million. At current rates, Africans will outnumber U.S. church members within 12 years.
IRD President Mark Tooley commented:
"These retired bishops represent the past, not the future of The United Methodist Church. They are responsible for presiding over the loss of over 3 million church members in the U.S. over 45 years. Now they want United Methodism to accelerate that decline by following the even more disastrous course of The Episcopal Church.
"United Methodism's future will be international, theologically orthodox, and focused on evangelism, not on the fads of declining liberal Protestantism in the U.S."
The Institute on Religion & Democracy works to reaffirm the church's biblical and historical teachings, strengthen and reform its role in public life, protect religious freedom, and renew democracy at home and abroad.
