Thread by @frodofied

*Thread*

I rarely make reference to religion here beyond noting the extreme hypocrisy permeating the evangelical Christian movement's support of @realDonaldTrump.

But next month @UMChurch will make a decision with far reaching implications and I feel compelled to comment.

1/

In January 2017 the General Conference of the United Methodist Church appointed a 32 member body called the 'Commission on a Way Forward' to examine the church's official policies regarding the $LGBTQ community.

The Commission studied the issue for a year.

@UMChurch

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In March of 2018 they issued their findings. Their report was made public and handed over last year to the Council of Bishops for examination who spent weeks examining and considering its content.

For some background on the Commission:

umc.org/who-we-are/com…

2/

Next month, a Special Session of the General Conference will make the important, denomination defining, decision about the church's relationship with its many LGBTQ lay persons & clergy.

It's a decision that will reverberate beyond the confines of Methodism & its policies.

3/

The Special Session will convene in Missouri on February 23 - 25 2019 and the decisions it makes will have an immediate and profound effect on the lives of its thousands of #LGBTQ lay and clerical participants.

LGBTQ pastors will be most affected by the decision.

@UMChurch

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For the many #LGBTQ members of the clergy these are uncertain times. This is not only their life's calling, it is also, it is often forgotten, their careers. It is from where they draw their salaries, their health benefits, and parhaps most importantly, their future pensions.

5/

Where so many will turn should the Conference vote to support official internal bigotry is uncertain.

We are living in dangerous and reactionary times. Globally there has been marked trend of political and social regression. Everywhere there is a war on progress.

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In the United States "Trumpism," which has been greatly informed by fascist and white supremacist ideology, is the vehicle for this regression.

Too few religious leaders or denominations have countered evangelical support of Trump with a clear theological rebuttal, however.

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Many, however, have made their profound disapproval known through policies and acts of inclusion that run counter to the general philosophy of regression.

Within Catholocism the Pope himself has made his disapproval of Trump's brand of politics known on several occasions.

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But of the many demoninations falling under the umbrella of Proestant Christianity, however, it has been @UMChurch, @The_ACNA, and @iamepiscopalian that have most stood in defiance of the hatred & bigotry that have been the hallmarks of far right political movements globally.

9/

This makes the upcoming decision by @UMChurch that much more significant.

Make no mistake, if the Conference votes to support internal bigotry it will be openly applauded by administration officials & will undoubtedly be seen as a validation of Trumpian values & policies.

10/

The truth is that #LGBTQ perticipants have been present and largely accepted by the church body within Methodism for many years. It would be several steps backward, and seen as an aggressive attack, should the church suddenly decide on a policy of exclusion.

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The conference also has its own model to help move the church forward.

@UMChurch made the decision to affirm the equality of women in the church at both the lay & clerical levels. They did so despite far more examples of biblical instruction running counter to this policy.

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Yesterday the Supreme Court of the United States voted to lift the injunctions set in place by the lower court which denied the Trump Administration's right to enforce its new transgender ban in the military.

The 5-4 decision is a direct attack on the #LGBTQ community.

13/

If @UMChurch votes to support a policy of exclusion next month it coulsl soon become open season for #LGBTQ rights in the United States.

And whether intentional or not would have the tragic consequence of furthering Trumpism and all that implies.

It must #resist.

14/

If you are a lay member of @UMChurch and support #LGBTQ inclusion please make your. views known to your pastor, congregation, and the General Council.

Let the @UMChurch be a beacon.

For more ways to support a policy of inclusion please go here.

rmnetwork.org