|
|
Comments
·
I am utterly aghast
I am utterly aghast at what is going on in
Trinity UM Church, as described in the
above newsletter of yours. Has there been no comment from the bishop to
whom that church is subject? No comment from laymen? Let those people in
Trinty UM Church go somewhere else, but let them not call themselves United
Methodists!
William P. Cooke, Kingswood UM Churcch,
Newark, DE
·
Shocking Declines
in the Wyoming Conference:
Dear
Friends,
Once again, thank
you for the update. I read with disappointment that the Wyoming
Conference leads the way in membership decline.
According to the
report, we are down 3,895 persons, or 6.05%--shocking!
It seems to me that
this will just pave the way for the conference to be absorbed by the
surrounding conferences. I served on a committee years ago studying the
possibility of dividing the conference along state lines. This move was
defeated, actually in committee by our minority report. We were small,
but vital at the time. Now, instead of finding a way to revitalize, I'm
afraid that the problems will be covered over and membership will
continue this downward slide.
We have a good
heritage, but recent leanings toward aligning the church with what seems
to be society's wishes may be turning off many of our present members.
If this is true, whatever is going on here will not help any conference
in which we become part. In this case, I believe that the blame for
this disproportionate loss lies entirely on our conference leadership
and the direction that they have taken, especially since Bishop Susan
Morrison took over and placed her people in responsible positions. The
message coming out from Albany is not one that will inspire.
--Yours
truly,
Marilyn Rozelle,
Forty Fort, PA
·
Thank you for all
you're doing! –
Rev. Jamie Ray Westlake,
Florida Annual Conference
·
Thanks
for being a real voice among us. --
Dennis Redstone. Pastor,
Florida Annual Conference
·
Dear Editor,
Once
again, thank you for your continuing updates on the fallout from General
Conference. (That is the only way I can describe it.) So far, your news
sources were the only ones in which I was able to follow the ways in which
our bishop, Susan Morrison, brought the weight of her high office to bear in
her witness for sanctioning homosexuality. Nowhere in the Wyoming Annual
Conference news or website was there a report on her activities in this
regard. Her fearless leadership in braving "near-freezing temperatures"
early May 4 in front of the convention center to show her desire for
inclusiveness ("How could I be anywhere else?") was somehow deleted by our
conference reporters from the version they disseminated. In another of your
sources I read that Bishop Morrison also participated in the disruptive
march around the auditorium to the beat of a bongo drum. This, too, was not
reported in our conference news, although the demonstration was reported.
The Northeast seems to be acquiring a reputation for "inclusiveness" due in
large part to the activities of those who are in positions of power,
including, and especially, Bishop Susan Morrison. This posture is very
unfair to the rank and file of those of us who support the Methodist Church
in the southern tier of New York and northeastern Pennsylvania, which
comprise the Wyoming Annual Conference. Furthermore, the obvious news
management is reprehensible. The bishop and those who have been chosen to
represent us, who support her cause, do so without the consent of an
informed laity. It will take more than rainbow stoles, invoking the names of
Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi to convince us that accepting
homosexuality in the clergy and performing same-sex marriages is the wave of
the future for the church. In the meantime, our conference reporters would
do well to respect the fact that there are those of us who will keep
ourselves informed through news services such as yours. --Marilyn
Rozelle. Forty Fort, Pa.
Nullification
trend endangers UMC
Dear Editor,
The bishop of the Wyoming Annual Conference is Bishop Susan Morrison. I
feel that it would be a waste of time for me to send any kind of
correspondence to her in protest of the decision made concerning the lesbian
minister who was supported in her "marriage" and her sexual preference by
the "trial". Bishop Morrison was one who was arrested for her performance
at the last General Conference in favor of homosexual practices. Then, too,
Bishop Grove was the bishop who preceeded her in our conference. With
leadership such as this, it seems pretty hopeless to me that we lay people
can make much of a difference. It is only a matter of time before we in
northeast Pennsylvania will be up against the same tactics. Any minister
brave enough to speak out in favor of the church doctrine as it stands would
be in great danger of retribution. It will be Animal Farm all the way.
Letters
to the Editor -
Reporter Interactive February 18, 2004
Nullification trend endangers UMC
The debate between the
Rev. Dean Snyder and the Rev. Leceister Longden raises what may be the most
divisive issue in The United Methodist Church today (see Reporter, Jan. 23).
Their debate also reminded me
of what was and is one of the most divisive issues in the United States. That
issue is known as “nullification. ”The idea of nullification surfaced in 1798. U.S. Senator John C. Calhoun, later
a vice president, became the most famous advocate of the political philosophy of
nullification—the right of the people, or of the states, to nullify any law they
believed to be unjust or unfair.
In recent years a small but growing number of United Methodists apparently
have become convinced that the clergy have the right to nullify the
Constitution, the Articles of Religion and the Book of Discipline of this
denomination. Their view reflects the current parallel debate in
international law and American legal circles about nullification.
If this is an accurate representation of
contemporary reality, the right of nullification once again may turn out to
be the road to division—just as Calhoun’s theory of “states’ rights”
contributed to the Civil War.
Read More
Commentary
--Lyle
E. Schaller, Naperville, Illinois
 Letters
to the Editor
- Good News Magazine, Nov/Dec 2003
Goats’ clothing
If the United Methodist Church dies it won’t be because of the wolves in
sheep’s clothing, it will be because of the goats in sheep’s clothing. Those
who understand the problem and desert the church, instead of becoming
leaders, are deserting the weaker sheep to be devoured by the wolves.
Faithfulness is not avoiding the battle or finding where the battle has been
won and going there, it is finding where the battle is and choosing to get
into the middle of it. It is only then that we find out who’s side we are on
and who we are and who’s we are (Matthew 25, The Sheep and the Goats).
Read
More
--Tom Sheets, Blue Ridge, Virginia
Letters
to the Editor - Good News Magazine, Nov/Dec 2003
Listen to the laity
I find it disturbing that the leadership of the UM Church has
swept Bishop Joseph Sprague’s doctrinal belief under the carpet, and
has applied pressure in wrongful ways to suppress complaints or
charges against him. It certainly appears that way from the actions of
the Supervisory Response Team to the group who had undertaken to
complain against his beliefs. Who are these Team people? Are they not
listening to the laity? Are they part of the “placement” of liberals
into UM leadership as discussed in “Turning the Mainline Around” found
in Christianity Today, July 25, 2003?
I judge no man, but feel
compelled to question the beliefs Bishop Sprague, and others like him,
espouses within our Body of Christ.
It amazes me that the
common, ordinary folks of the church are allowing liberalism to
gradually invade our churches and push God and the Word to the
anteroom. Given enough time, parishioners will be told that if we want
to learn more about God, or the Trinity, we can pick up a brochure in
that same anteroom, next to the Upper Room subscriptions. Else, the
sermon today will be on some political issue that has little
resemblance to knowing God. Excuse me!
It’s sad that liberal
leadership in our denomination, and others, is running rampant and
using the current Episcopal homosexuality issue as a flashpoint to
advance their cause. United Methodist pastors in my area are writing
letters to the local newspaper editor saying that we should love our
neighbor, no matter their belief or practice, and questioning the Word
of God as authority for guiding our lives. I don’t buy that argument.
We should love the person, but certainly not a practice that clearly
contradicts God’s Word.
When, and how, do
evangelical UM congregations stand up and profess that we have had
enough of the “whatever-makes-you-feel-good” mentality of our
leadership—national and local? Where is God, and the yearning of our
members to learn more of the Bible, and Christ, in all of this debate?
The liberals say love your neighbor, no matter. I say, love God, and
teach his Word.
Read More
—Jim Burgess, San Antonio, Texas
Letters
to the Editor - Good News Magazine, July/August 2003
A wonderful response
What a wonderful response to the Supervisory Team’s statement in
regard to the complaint against Bishop Sprague. You have reasonably,
forcefully, and effectively challenged the official response from the
Council of Bishops. You appear to be far more reasonable and rational
in your arguments, and that’s because you are right.
The Supervisory Team used the smoke screen of
trying to taint those critical of Bishop Sprague with violating
confidentiality. What a sham. Bishop Sprague’s comments opened him up
to public scrutiny and rebuke. We have a serious crisis of leadership
in the UM Church. Thank you for your careful and deliberate response.
It was a masterpiece!
Read More Commentary
—Mark Mildren, First UM Church,
West Plains, Missouri
Letters to the Editor - Reporter Interactive March 19, 2003
Disappointed at Sprague decision
How disappointed I am in the outcome of the North
Central Jurisdiction’s decision regarding Bishop Joseph Sprague
(see Reporter, Feb. 28). Why should the grassroots of The United
Methodist Church be expected to remain faithful to the connectional
system and support it with apportionment funds when the clergy is
not required to uphold doctrinal purity?
It would be very difficult for John Wesley to
recognize the denomination that the Holy Spirit urged him to
establish.
Read More
Commentary
—Jim Culberson, Lordsburg, New
Mexico
I
am puzzled how and why Bishop Sprague celebrates Christmas? His "low
Christology" and his "radical act of faith" criteria for Jesus to be the
God's Anointed One make any Christmas celebration totally irrelevant. What
is special about this very human birth? Nothing, really. It is the same
with Easter. With no "bodily Resurrection," then any celebration of Easter
Sunday is also made totally irrelevant.
It is also the same with every Sunday worship.
Why do with gather together on the first day of the week, except to
observe and remember a Resurrection that in Bishop Sprague's way of
thinking did not take place in any way that is worth observing or even
celebrating? Sunday worship is a vanity of vanities.
How sad a world Bishop Sprague has bequeathed
United Methodism -- a calendar of irrelevancies. No wonder many more
people are leaving the pews to look for something else! Only our great
traditions have kept the rest coming, and but even now Bishop Sprague has
shown these our great traditions to also be worthless and irrelevant!
I really think every pastor in Northern Illinois who is informed should be
gravely concerned when the rest of our people awake from slumber.
—Bob Matson, Bristol, Wisconsin
I
would
highly recommend that anyone concerned about the overall future direction of
the United Methodist Church should attend the "NIC VOICE"
presentation or spend a few hours
reading details on the
internet.
The presentation is a much more organized way
to get the details and it allows for interaction with questions and
discussion.
Their presentation gives a disturbing
message, but it is a message we should know.
—Paul Marshall, Serena, IL UMC
It
was so good to receive your message and to know that there is a group of
Christians who are standing up for what is right.
Why should
those that are trying to change fundamental doctrine end up owning the
churches, etc that we and our forefathers invested their lives and means to
build. May truth win and justice prevail.
—The Rev. E. Lieskes,
Retired UMC Clergy (served in the NIC and in Canada), Mesa, AZ
I
have a great deal of respect for what
NIC VOICE is doing. I think you
are giving many laity a model of what laity CAN do and what kind of
power they have. When laity realize the power that they have, the Church
will grow and powerful disciples are made. The success and power of Emmaus
Walks - laity-led movements - is one such example. Continue your work. It is
bearing fruit and I pray that God will continue to bless your work and
message.
After reading Bishop Sprague's book and some of his newsletters, I've come
to the conclusion that he's just not too sharp a theologian, and repeating a
lot of the stuff he probably learned in a systematic theology class or
Christian history class when they got to Albert Schweitzer and other similar
'quests for the historical Jesus.' He's taken horrible liberties with his
teaching office, and chosen to disregard foundational doctrines of both
Christianity and Methodism. I know by doing so he has undermined my ministry
where I serve. I'm tired of people coming to my office to ask me what has
changed about the United Methodist Church.
Most Methodists in the pews that I know agree with the UMC's present stance
on homosexuality... maybe for the wrong reasons, but they agree with it
nonetheless. But what about other teachings: the Incarnation, Grace, the
Methodist quest for holiness, scriptural knowledge, constant prayer - in
short, the Method of Methodism? We didn't get to this place overnight. And
we won't get back overnight. Good grounding and teaching has to happen now.
Confirmation has to be more than just a few weeks. Adult confirmation has to
happen as more and more people were not churched in their childhoods. The
teaching office of the elder has to be taken seriously. Spiritual formation
is a must. Bring back covenant discipleship and class meetings. The Method
of Methodism works if given a chance. But it DOES take work.
—The Rev'd Sky Lowe-McCracken, OSL,
Senior Pastor, Clinton (KY) First UMC, Director, Hickman County Parish
Clinton, KY
The majority
of the folks who came to the presentation were those who have been wounded
in some way by the Bishop’s book or a like theology manifesting itself in
their home churches. Those people, I believe, were looking for
"affirmation", to coin a word, that they were indeed wounded and that
others have been too."
(Regarding the NIC VOICE Cornerstone UMC
Presentation)
—Michael McKellar, Cornerstone UMC,
Elgin, IL
[The
Watershed Moment] presentation was excellent, and, very pointed. We need
to hear some straight talk concerning the unorthodox ideas of the Bishop.
Sometimes it's hard to respect the office when you can't respect the
person that's in it. If he becomes the status quo for leadership in the
Northern Illinois Conference, I will no longer be able to follow. I feel
that we are headed for a split in the denomination. That may be the only
way we can truly resolve these awkward theological issues." (Regarding
the NIC VOICE Pecatonica UMC Presentation)
—Rev. Tom Kingery, pastor,
Pecatonica United Methodist Church, Pecatonica, IL
I had a sense last evening
that some people wanted to spend more time discussing, even though we
spent an hour after the presentation ended. They wanted to consider how
to help the UMC be faithful to Christ as expressed in the unchangeable
Articles of Faith, based on the truth in God's Word. NIC
VOICE urges people to learn how to express their Faith."
(Regarding
the NIC VOICE Pecatonica UMC Presentation)
—Jim Blue, Chair
Evangelism Commission, Des Plaines FUMC, Member Northern Illinois
Conference Council on Finance and Administration, Chairperson Elgin
District Board of Stewards and Chair of Northern Illinois Conference
Evangelical Association (NICEA)
Give
me the One Who is really the Risen Lord over Bishop Sprague's "emerging
church's experience of his resurrected presence in their midst." This is
all just a re-packaging of Jesus Christ as a "myth to help us organize our
lives." I want to thank Bishop Sprague for inspiring so many orthodox
Christians to be very clear about what and Who we hold dear.
Once upon a time I was standing up to speak before what seemed to be some
sort of self-help group. I said, "Hi, my name is Jamie. I'm a recovering
liberal." Then I woke up from my dream. The dream was a parallel process
to my waking world as I had come to the conclusion that, in my theological
sophistication, I had thrown out a few babies and kept a lot of bathwater.
I returned to my evangelical, orthodox roots 7 or 8 years ago, and have
never regretted it. I believe that Scripture speaks Truth far better than
the sound of my own fallible reason. I really do believe the Apostle's
Creed! If Bishop Sprague offers a solution, I can't even imagine what
could possibly be the question! It's just amazing to me how years and
years of biblical and church tradition can so casually be brushed aside in
favor of the "cause of the day." I was 21 when I went to seminary and
enamored with "new ideas" and all things liberal. This didn't ultimately
add real value to my life or those I sought to serve. Call me boring, but
give me orthodoxy over what Bishop Sprague offers up any day! Give me the
One Who is really the Risen Lord over Bishop Sprague's "emerging church's
experience of his resurrected presence in their midst." This is all just a
re-packaging of Jesus Christ as a "myth to help us organize our lives." I
want to thank Bishop Sprague for inspiring so many orthodox Christians to
be very clear about what and Who we hold dear.
--Rev. Jamie R. Westlake, Cypress Lake UMC, Ft. Myers, FL
In
Northern Illinois Conference I really believe the laity are the key to
reversing the radical positions taken, or at least seeking a balance.
The clergy
selection process presently does not encourage evangelical pastors to enter
this conference. But it must be understood most active pastors prefer
focusing on pastoring the local church and serving the local community;
especially knowing the power of the bishop’s office, and this particular
one’s tactics to control and to suppress. They are also counting on this
being his last year as our bishop—why stir things up?
I
appreciate your efforts to bring Spirit-sensitive, evangelical, and
prayerful influence.
--Carl J.
Zager, Mt. Carroll, IL
However,
the question is not whether the church supports my efforts
or yours, but the length to it is willing stand up for what is right.
Initial Comment:
Thank you standing up for
the truth. I am a pastor in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference and am
deeply concerned for my Bible believing brothers and sisters in Northern
Illinois that are being lumped in with the heretics of the NIC. This
must be a frustrating situation for them and I pray that God will give
them strength and victory. If anything good is coming of Bishop
Sprague's nonsense it is that the church is finally getting serious
about prayer! Keep praying...Jesus already won the battle.
An additional Comment:
I thank God for
www.TheMethodistChurch.com
because it directed me to your website. The church where I am
appointed (Clay City UMC, Little Wabash River Dist., Illinois Great
Rivers Conference) does support biblical accountability and it is
overtly evangelical in practice is are most of the churches in this
conference.
Consequently, Bishop
Sprague's heretical statements have raised more than a few eyebrows in
this church. However, the question is not whether the church supports
my efforts or yours, but the length to it is willing stand up for what
is right. This, in my experience, is the rub. I have no doubt that
the church will support me in my endeavor to guard the truth and that
they will be vigilant in rhetoric.
But will they, as well as
many other UMCs that have made large investments in conference owned
buildings, be willing to put their money where their mouth is? If
rhetoric is as far as a church is willing to go to stand up for the
truth then the whole argument is mere academics. The question begs
to be answered not only by churches but pastors as well (including
myself), are we willing to lay down our pension funds in order to
stand for the truth?
The implications of not
being willing to go the full course are obvious: (a) liberal
coalitions will not take a hike until conservative pastors and
churches put on their marching shoes and pick up their "sword[s]" (b)
the dissemination of information on the heretics' antics is nothing
more than idle complaining if those who believe in truth are not
prepared to stand up for the same.
—Rev. Charles Anthony, Clay City UMC, Little Wabash River
District, Illinois Great Rivers Conference
Paul
says in Galatians 1, if any preach any other gospel than the one
delivered to the saints, let them be accursed. We must learn to understand
how we can be filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love and
gentleness, and yet not tolerate apostasy in the church.
Dear friends, be of good courage. I
believe Thomas Oden is right, that the trust clause in our property deeds
does require that those using United Methodist property subscribe to the
basic tenets of Christianity as found in our Articles of Religion at the
beginning of every Book of Discipline. If worse comes to worst, we who
truly believe the gospel can sue for our property and make the unbelievers
get out.
The first question is, how shall we
proceed at the local level; then, for those believing churches, how shall
we proceed at the annual conference level; and for those conferences where
believers have taken back the power, how shall we proceed at the general
conference level. We must start at the bottom, because the top levels will
never relinquish power until we pry it from their hands. I now believe
that the Holy Spirit is with those who act politically to take back His
church from infidels.
Rev. 2:20 says, NASV, "But I have
this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself
a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray, so that
they commit acts of immorality...."
From this verse, we see very clearly
that Jesus Himself says we should not tolerate immorality in the church,
nor prophets who lead us astray. Paul says in Galatians 1, if any preach
any other gospel than the one delivered to the saints, let them be
accursed. We must learn to understand how we can be filled with the Holy
Spirit, the Spirit of love and gentleness, and yet not tolerate apostasy
in the church.
—Rev. Wallace Cason, pastor,
Tupelo St. Mark Charge, UMC
So
those who dismiss the Bible as guide to our belief and practice and/or
deny that Jesus Christ is God, cannot truthfully argue that Methodists
have the authority of John Wesley to do so by saying, "we think and let
think."
Setting the record straight
on "think and let think."
CHARACTER OF A METHODIST.
1. THE distinguishing marks of a Methodist are not his opinions of any
sort. His assenting to this or that scheme of religion, his embracing
any
particular set of notions, his espousing the judgment of one man or of
another, are all quite wide of the point. Whosoever, therefore, imagines
that a Methodist is a man of such or such an opinion, is grossly
ignorant
of the whole affair; he mistakes the truth totally. We believe,
indeed, that
"all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God;" and herein we
are
distinguished from Jews, Turks, and Infidels. We believe the written
word
of God to be the only and sufficient rule both of Christian faith and
practice; and herein we are fundamentally distinguished from those
of the
Romish Church. We believe Christ to be the eternal, supreme God;
and
herein we are distinguished from the Socinians and Arians. But as to all
opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and
let
think. So that whatsoever they are, whether right or wrong, they are no
distinguishing marks of a Methodist.
—John Wesley, Collected Works Vol. 8 (The 14
Vols.) or Vol. 9, pp. 33-34 of the Heitzenrater/Ward edition.
So those who dismiss the Bible as guide to our
belief and practice and/or deny that Jesus Christ is God, cannot
truthfully argue that Methodists have the authority of John Wesley to do
so by saying, "we think and let think."
—Walter
D. Edwards, Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church,
Retired, Silver Springs FL
Thanks
for the ray of hope you offer for our church.
Thanks for the ray of
hope you offer for our church.
Our active Main St. former
EUB church, which I served, was closed because of the liberal leadership
in our conference and so was our camp ground south of the city.
We will be interested in
hearing of your progress in your NIC VOICE endeavors.
—The Rev. E. Lieskes, Retired UMC Clergy (served in the NIC and
in Canada), Mesa, AZ
I have
read with dismay and some anger at the comments of Bishop Sprague as he
takes exception with the orthodox theology of the Christian Church . . . I
believe that Bishop Sprague has his own version of scripture, call it "BS
speak" (Bishop Sprague, of course).
I have
read with dismay and some anger the comments of Bishop Sprague as he
takes exception with the orthodox theology of the Christian Church. I
suppose I could spend hours voicing my reasons for dissension and
argument, espousing my position, but there is a deeper issue here. In my
opinion, he is destroying the spirit of our church with watered down
opinions which reflect a lack of genuine relationship with the living
God, who was revealed in a most intimate way in Jesus Christ.
To be perfectly clear, I do
believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. Today while
reading the United Methodist Review, an article caught my attention. It
was a story of the efforts by the UMC to assist in recovery after 400
tornadoes ravaged the heartland of this country. In the article was a
picture of a woman taking a break from clearing rubble. The caption notes
that her grandmother died in the tornado. I pray that Bishop Sprague did
not officiate at the funeral. It would have been a hollow and hopeless
exercise to have him speak his "enlightened" ideas to that family. I would
say to Bishop Sprague that the words of Christ, "I am the resurrection and
the life" are either all true or none of them are true. there is no gray
area. You can't "sort of" be alive forever. If there is no eternal life
made possible through the life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ then
Paul is correct, we are to be pitied.
As a local United Methodist
pastor, I am offended and dismayed at Bishop Sprague. How does he ask in
good conscience that the ordinands of his conference affirm the Trinity?
How can he ask if the Deacons and Elders seeking full connection be asked
if they will preach and maintain the doctrines of the church, that they
believe these doctrines are in harmony with the scriptures? It would seem
to me that he has no right to ask these things of the pastors of his
conference when he does not believe them himself.
I would suppose that Bishop
Sprague would use the J[ehovah] W[itness] caveat. When one talks with the
Jehovah Witnesses and points of disagreement arise they point out that
what they believe is in the Bible. They can even open it and point to
chapter and verse. However, it is important to know that the Jehovah
Witnesses have their own translation of scripture (The New World
Translation) which offers their own "unique" translation of the key
teachings they espouse. I believe that Bishop Sprague has his own version
of scripture, call it "BS speak" (Bishop Sprague, of course). If I were to
sit down with Bishop Sprague I would say, "Thanks for nothing. You have
done great harm to the body of Christ, to the UM Church and to my own
ministry (of course, to the ministry of countless pastors as well).
I remember the image of Jesus
standing on the Mount, looking upon Jerusalem and saying, "Oh Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, how often I have sought to gather you unto myself... but you
would not." If that same concern would be voiced today, I believe it would
include the UM Church and that Jesus would once again point to the
whitewashed tombs on the Mt of Olives and say, "There are some in the
United Methodist Church who are like those tombs, shiny-white and clean on
the outside, dead and rotting on the inside”.
—David McEntire,
Senior Pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches in West
Palm Beach
It
was Martin Luther who said: "I would rather be divided by truth than united
by error." The same ought to be true for the remnant in the church. We must
be determined.
It was Martin Luther who said:
"I would rather be divided by truth than united by error." The same ought
to be true for the remnant in the church. We must be determined.
I have just finished reading Charles Colson's book: BEING THE BODY. I
highly recommend this book as well as HOW NOW SHALL WE LIVE. I wish all
the clergy and lay leaders of our churches would read these two books.
There is no guarantee that they would read it but one can hope that
curiosity would cause them to at least open the book.
With respect to the Annual Conference, Colson quotes Father Kolbe, page
352 "The cross, he thought. Christ's cross has triumphed over its enemies
in every age. I believe in the end, even in these darkest days in Poland,
the cross will triumph over the swastika. I pray that I can be faithful to
that end." And faithful he was.
May I paraphrase that quote for our purposes? "Christ's cross has
triumphed over its enemies in every age. I believe in the end, even in
these darkest days in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United
Methodist Church, the cross will triumph over the liberal fundamentalists
who deny the efficacy of the atoning sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God
on the cross. Let us pray that we will be faithful to the end!" The battle
is not ours; it is the Lord's. He is our commander and we must be faithful
to His commands.
Throughout the book, Colson emphasizes the importance of "one man" who
made himself available to God. What if, one man, Martin Luther, had
surrendered his discovery that "the just shall live by faith" to the
corrupt indulgence selling priesthood of the Roman Church and retreated
from Wittenberg to a secluded monastery? When the battle is just, God
always raises up a leader. Let us make ourselves available to God for
whatever it is to prove to the world that He is sovereign. Let us affirm
with Martin Luther: HERE WE STAND! SO HELP US GOD! AMEN!
Grace and Peace to you my sisters and brothers, from God our Father,
through our Lord Jesus Christ! Paul had it right. Grace is always prior.
There is no peace without the grace of God.
—Leonard Sukut,
Retired UMC Clergy, Faith Church in Downers Grove, IL
Yours
is a WONDERFUL Website! … Your website is, indeed, sophisticated, as Sprague
acknowledges, and chock-full of solid scripture. The contempt Sprague wants
to heap upon it is simply testimony to your effectiveness. You are a
splendid answer to that ancient question, 'What can one person do?"
Yours is a WONDERFUL Website!
I am absolutely delighted with
what you are doing! I was among the first, apparently (one year ago) to
write Bishop Sprague about his Iliff speech and tell him any man of
integrity, realizing he no longer believed the cardinal doctrinal points
of the Christian faith, would surely resign the episcopacy, and I shared
my views with my own Bishop (Weaver) and the President of the Council of
Bishops, as well as my own church and several area churches.
Your website is, indeed, sophisticated, as
Sprague acknowledges, and chock-full of solid scripture. The contempt
Sprague wants to heap upon it is simply testimony to your effectiveness.
You are a splendid answer to that ancient question, 'What can one person
do?"
—Bill Cooke, Delaware
I
have looked at your website and commend you for taking a stand against the
apostasy in our denomination. This whole thing is senseless and is
crippling our church.
I have looked at your website
and commend you for taking a stand against the apostasy in our
denomination. This whole thing is senseless and is crippling our church.
But we must take a stand for there to be a church that is true to God's
Word. My comment to Bishop Sprague's stance is that, "you can't vote on
the truth." This whole issue needs to be addressed in our seminaries if
we are going to get at the heart of this cancer in our church.
—Dennis Redstone, Senior
Pastor, Trinity UMC, Lighthouse Point, FL
We
stand firmly in the belief of the inerrancy of the Scriptures, and want to
join with other believers to uphold the beliefs that John Wesley brought to
the church so many years ago.
We stand firmly in the belief
of the inerrancy of the Scriptures, and want to join with other believers
to uphold the beliefs that John Wesley brought to the church so many years
ago. As others, we considered leaving the UMC, but our pastor is strong in
sharing his own personal relationship with the Lord. We stand with him,
and many others in our congregation who hold to those same beliefs. Our
church is strong in prayer. God bless you for stepping forward, and
holding on tight to that which is true and right!
—Al and Pat Zimmermann,
Wheatland Salem
United Methodist Church, Naperville, IL
Thank
you for providing the forum for lay people to be informed about these
issues. I appreciate the way that you are presenting the issues . . . I
think it's time for the laity to be informed about the theological stance of
our church leaders and research the information for themselves so they may
be able to better communicate their own positions.
Thank you for providing the
forum for lay people to be informed about these issues. I appreciate the
way that you are presenting the issues. In the past, I have attempted to
communicate in writing to Bishop Sprague asking him about his position on
certain issues. He has never responded to me even when I was writing as
our church's lay leader. I think it's time for the laity to be informed
about the theological stance of our church leaders and research the
information for themselves so they may be able to better communicate their
own positions.
I think it's unfortunate that whenever
someone seems to state a position not in line with our Bishop, they are
labeled as narrow minded and mean spirited. I hope this forum will present
the issues in such a way so that there is open discussion and no personal
attacks on either side.
—Jane Ahrens, Faith Evangelical United Methodist, Elmhurst, Illinois
Over
the years I have watched with great concern how very vocal individuals,
apparently not liking what the Scriptures say regarding certain issues, want
to change the face of the UMC.
I just read the May 30 issue
of the U.M. Reporter and saw the reference to your website. I have spent
the last hour or so reviewing it and downloading and reviewing the power
point presentation. Let me first say that I am grateful to God for His
providing the means for your website to be established. May God's blessing
continue to remain on you and your efforts. I have been a member of the
UMC for about 14 years. I was raised in a Lutheran tradition. I came to
believe that God had to exist when I was 9 because of the illogical nature
of His nonexistence. I made a very personal commitment to Jesus in 1989,
which I do define as my time of rebirth.
Over the years I have watched with great concern how very vocal
individuals, apparently not liking what the Scriptures say regarding
certain issues, want to change the face of the UMC. It is not like anyone
has twisted their arms to remain members of the church, but it does seem
that many along the west coast would rather change the existing church
structure to suit their own desires rather than leave and start their own
church - which is their prerogative. I also held out the UMC Bishops
understood and supported the nature and truth of the Gospel message.
Obviously Bishop Sprague's comments were of great concern, to the extent
that I am looking towards other church traditions for my future place of
worship.
I would also say that I do not speak as an illiterate, uneducated
individual who thinks that much of Scripture is filled with "myths" that
are outmoded. I am educated in physics (BS) and geology (MS, PhD) and am
considerably well read in astronomy as well. I have a reasonably large
library of books involving the Scriptures as well and am an active reader
of this literature as well as the Bible. If I, a layman who has studied
hard science and employed mathematics to describe things within the
universe, a scientist who seeks hard facts about the truth regarding how
the world is put together and operates, if I can accept the literal
resurrection of Jesus and find no difficulty, how is it that a Bishop of
the UMC cannot accept that God can do such a thing?
How is it that I have seen more of the mystical and 'supernatural' within
my study of nature that leads me to this belief and that a Bishop who
should have grasp the mystical and 'supernatural' of the Scriptures cannot
be led to such a belief? To quote from an email I received some time ago
from an English Professor who also studies CS Lewis, "Jesus is not the
founder of Christianity; he IS Christianity. Jesus did not show us a way
to find/reach God; he IS the Way. Jesus, like Plato and Buddha, taught
truths and furthered both religious life and philosophical light, but
Jesus alone claimed to be Light and Truth and Life Itself." There is no
doubt that God would have all people turn to Him.
But the cold, hard facts are that not all people will. The mystery of
Christianity is that Christ died for not just the Jews but also for the
gentiles. Christianity is not for one culture - it is open for everyone,
for ALL people. If Jesus is who he said He is, and that in the end is the
only question that matters, "then to say that Jesus is the only way to God
is not elitist; it is merely common sense." To have this gift we must give
up our rebellion and accept what God offers. Satan's sin was wanting to be
God; so was ours. And we our still wanting to be God when we are unwilling
to accept the means that has been provided freely to us - the acceptance
of Jesus the Christ as our Lord and Savior through repentance, which is
the good news.
Thank you for this opportunity to speak.
—Dr. Richard J. Erdlac, Jr.,
Midland, Texas
Thank
you for being courageous and standing up for Jesus. I am from Central UMC,
Traverse City, Michigan and we have a new pastor and we are experiencing the
same false teachings here. We are attempting to organize a Good News
Fellowship within the church to keep our congregation together and are
meeting a great deal of resistance both from the pastor and other members.
It gives us strength to know that you also are standing on Christ the
foundation of the Church.
May God continue to bless us.
—Ron Bell, Central UMC, Traverse City, Michigan
I
thank God for the boldness that God has given this group!
We must stand together and insist that ALL United Methodist bishops preach,
teach, but more importantly, believe, the major tenets of our Christian
faith that they have VOWED to uphold. The Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:3
says: "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so
that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer."
And in 1 Timothy 4:16: "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in
them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." Let
us be obedient to the Word of God and command these men not to teach false
doctrines any longer.
—Russ Knight, Perry, Florida
I
am a member of a very small church of about 50 people in the Northern
Illinois Conference who love the Lord and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We
have been appalled at the Bishop's comments and are seeking the Lord on His
direction for the church. I would like to learn more about NIC VOICE.
—Karen Michelini, Arlington, IL
During
a time when truth is constantly questioned it is refreshing to find a site
dedicated to spreading truth. Our denomination (UMC) is being divided over
truth, and this site is about uniting those who hold to truth.
—BG, Crystal Lake, IL
I
saw a wonderful presentation last Sunday evening presented by NIC
VOICE. NIC VOICE
is a group of concerned members of United Methodist Churches in our Northern
Illinois. Conference. Their goal is to educate other church members who may
not be aware of some significant doctrinal issues and share their concerns.
The web site www.nicvoice.org.
The first newsletter is there, as well an outline of the presentation.
Since reading and hearing Bishop Sprague's views, it was interesting to hear
the official United Methodist statements to compare the two to arrive at an
informed decision for myself.
—Joe Royston, Downer's Grove, IL
This
is an important time in our denomination and every United Methodist should
be aware of these facts. The
NIC VOICE
presentation provides thorough, well-balanced information in an easy
to understand format. Whether you agree or disagree, you will learn and be
affected.
—John Crissman, Grayslake, IL
|
