*The Emergent Church* Same-Sex Marriage, Gay Clergy on Table at Methodist General Conference

The United Methodist Church's (UMC) General Conference is currently taking place in Tampa, Fla., and will feature its continuing debate on gay clergy and same-sex marriage. Some have suggested that, in order to keep its membership from dwindling, the Methodist church must come to a compromise on its long-held doctrines on such issues.

Nearly 1,000 delegates, 40 percent of whom live outside the United States, are present at the General Conference, which happens once every four years. At each assembly for more than 40 years now, the UMC has debated its position on homosexuality. The conference, which takes place between April 24 and May 4, announced that this year there are more than 70 petitions on homosexuality, many of which seek to rewrite articles 161F and 161B in the 2008 United Methodist Book of Discipline that address homosexual clergy and same-sex marriage.

The UMC supports the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, and requires clergy members to adhere to "the highest standards of holy living." According to the church, "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."

The debate on those issues is centered on a decades-long drop in membership the Methodist church has experienced, with numbers down to 7.8 million members in the U.S. Gay rights activists have suggested that in order to attract young Americans, the church needs to loosen its stance on homosexuality and recognize gay unions and clergy.

[link to www.christianpost.com]

THIS IS HOW BAD THINGS ARE GOING FOR THE CHURCH..

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Massachusetts pastor sued for opposition to homosexuality

Representing a Ugandan gay and lesbian group, an American legal advocacy organization has filed suit in federal court against Scott Lively, a Protestant pastor who spoke out against homosexuality in Uganda.

The Center for Constitutional Rights alleges that the Massachusetts pastor violated international law by committing acts of “persecution.”

“That’s about as ridiculous as it gets,” said Lively. “I’ve never done anything in Uganda except preach the Gospel and speak my opinion about the homosexual issue.”

[link to www.catholicculture.org]