NIC VOICE News Update 08-23-2005 UM Action Briefing & IRD Weekly Update/Hearts on Fire Event

 

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NIC VOICE posts news related to the Northern Illinois Conference, as well as GC/JC/AC Conference updates at the NIC VOICE web site (www.nicvoice.org). 

 

Other news of interest across the UMC included in NIC VOICE  news updates are now being posted in the NIC VOICE forum at Faithful Christian Laity Discussion Forum.

 

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The following was received by NIC VOICE from IRD on 07/22/2005 and is being forwarded in its entirety with the recommendation that you subscribe to the UM Action Briefing from IRD in order to continue be informed:

 

Brothers and Sisters:

 

Do you love the United Methodist Church

 

Do you strive to see our church unite people of all races, cultures, and political persuasions with the biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ rather than any secular political agenda?

 

Are you interested in learning more about the challenges and opportunities facing our church? 

 

Then please contact us for a FREE subscription to UM Action briefing, a newsletter for grassroots United Methodists by grassroots United Methodists.  As a division of the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD), we are a ministry of faithful United Methodists working for evangelical reform in our denomination.  The newsletter reports on the latest developments and challenges within our denomination, offers relevant analysis of current trends, and provides, simple, concrete action steps that YOU can take to work for the strengthening and renewal of our church at the local, annual conference, and denomination-wide levels. 

 

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Yours In Christ,

 

John Lomperis

Research Assistant

 

The Institute on Religion and Democracy

1110 Vermont Avenue, NW
Suite 1180
Washington, DC 20005
202
-969-8430

www.ird-renew.org

 

 

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The following is the latest update from IRD, Weekly Update – August 23, 2005 and contains many items of interest:

 

 

Weekly Update - August 23, 2005

 

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

 

Dear Friend of IRD,

 

The Institute on Religion and Democracy is in the process of moving its offices.  Beginning Monday, August 29, our new address and phone number will be:

 

1023 15th Street NW, Suite 601

Washington, DC  2005-2601

(202) 682-4131

(202) 682-4136 (Fax)

 

 

Please be sure to update your address books.  Our e-mail addresses will remain the same.

 

Below are some of the most recent articles on the IRD website:

 

 

- Coverage of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly (http://www.ird-renew.org/) - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recently concluded its biennial assembly in Orlando, Florida.  Among the issues debated by the assembly were the blessing of same-sex unions, the ordination and rostering of practicing homosexuals, the adoption of a new book of worship, and the adoption of a plan of engagement with Israel and the Holy Land.  Daily reports from the assembly, as well as press releases from the IRD (http://www.ird-renew.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=fvKVLfMVIsG&b=390529&ct=1321757)  and  Solid Rock Lutherans (http://www.ird-renew.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=fvKVLfMVIsG&b=421905&ct=1321851) (a fellow member of the Association for Church Renewal (http://www.ird-renew.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKVLfMVIsG&b=356305)) are available on the IRD website.

 

-Lake Junaluska Petition (http://www.ird-renew.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=fvKVLfMVIsG&b=939787) - Lake Junaluska, an official facility of the United Methodist Church's Southeast Jurisdiction, has decided to rent its facilities to "Hearts on Fire," a conference and rally organized by pro-homosexuality caucus groups working to overthrow United Methodism's teachings about marriage and sexual ethics.  Sign an online petition and let the leadership of the conference center know how you feel about this decision.

 

- New International Anglican Body Pledges Support for Embattled Parishes (http://www.ird-renew.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=fvKVLfMVIsG&b=399595&ct=1286689) - Erik Nelson examines the formation of the Council of Anglican Provinces of the Americas and Caribbean - a body created to provide support for traditional Anglican churches located in revisionist dioceses.

 

- Bishop Will Willimon Opposes "Hearts on Fire" Event at Lake Junaluska (http://www.ird-renew.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=fvKVLfMVIsG&b=391221&ct=1325109) - The United Methodist bishop of North Alabama has voiced his opposition to the pro-homosexuality conference in North Carolina.  Mark Tooley explains why Bishop Willimon's comments are significant.

 

 

A new feature to the website is the introduction of an " Action Items (http://www.ird-renew.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKVLfMVIsG&b=983631)" link on the left-hand navigational bar.  This will allow visitors to the IRD website to locate more easily any active petitions, questionnaires, or other ways to get involved on the IRD website.

 

Thank you for your continuing support of the work and mission of IRD.  Please be sure to let us know your thoughts by using the convenient  feedback form (http://www.ird-renew.org/site/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=fvKVLfMVIsG&b=399591&en=msJPIUOHLhIKL0PII7ILK6PRJrK1K8NLJjKXLfNYH).

 

 

Sincerely,

Steve Rempe

Institute on Religion and Democracy

 

 

Institute on Religion and Democracy

1110 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 1180

Washington D.C. 20005

Phone: (202) 969-8430

Fax: (202) 969-8429

 

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Additional resources for understanding the “Hearts on Fire” Event (also see  NIC VOICE News Update 06-07-2005– Commentary “Enough”).  

 

Editor’s Note:  In the past, we have made an effort to provide these resources to you directly, but in view of time and staffing, we are providing the following links and resources “unsanitized” – these headlines are editorialized and the comments on the bulletin board are opinions of those who have posted and are not necessarily the views or reflect the communication style of NIC VOICE.

 

The following set of articles is posted at www.ucmpage.org related to the “Hearts on Fire” Event with editorialized headlines:

 

·         Anti-christian Homofest OK Because Participants Baptized - August 23, 2005

o        Southern UM Bishop: "Jesus would host the sodomite anti-chistian homofest at UM Conference Center" - August 22, 2005

o        Sign the Lake Junaluska Petition!

o        Western UM Bishop Promotes Pro-homosexuality Petition To Support UM Homofest - August 22, 2005

o        Pro-homosexuality Anti-petition To Conservative UM Good News Org - August 22, 2005

o        UM Bishop Responses To Latest pro-homosexuality Disobedience at UM Conference Center, "Let the homofest begin!" - August 20, 2005

o        Some UM Bishops Plan "letter of Concern" While Official Church Orgs Support Hosting Anti-church Homofest - August 19, 2005

o        Faithful Transforming Congregations Leader Offers Gospel Response To Abominable Homofest At UM Conference Center - August 13, 2005
+Transforming Congregations

o        UM Homofest Polarizing Denominational Leaders In Word Only - August 10, 2005

o        National Christian Org (American Family Association) Tries To Spread Alarm About UM Supported Homoerotic Festival At UM Conference Center - August 9, 2005

o        Faithful South Carolina Pastor Confronts Bishops To No Avail Over United Methodist Celebration Of Homoerotic Sex  - August 4, 2005

o        Homosexual Celebration At Official UM Conference Center A Violation Of Church Law, Yet Bishops In Charge Do Nothing Except Join Disobedience - July 15, 2005

o        UM Bishops To Join Gay Singers Celebrating Homoerotic Sex At Official UM Conference Center - July 14, 2005

o        UMs To Unite At Homosexual Love Fest To Undermine Church Moral Law And Doctrine - June 6, 2005

The following threads on the ucmpage bulletin board provides you insight about how others are responding and writing to their bishops and to the staff at Lake Junaluska:

·          Bishop Whitaker/ Junaluska/ Hearts On Fire

·          Is The Lake Junaluska Conference the Line in the Sand

·          Lake Junaluska to host pervert conference

·          Draft Petition: Lake Junaluska Assembly

 

Editor’s Recommendation:  Take Action (following is sponsored by IRD):

 

Lake Junaluska Petition

 

Lake Junaluska, an official facility of the United Methodist Church's Southeast Jurisdiction, has decided to rent its facilities to "Hearts on Fire," a conference and rally organized by pro-homosexuality caucus groups working to overthrow United Methodism?s teachings about marriage and sexual ethics.

 

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NIC VOICE does not report all news that may of interest to United Methodists.  Following are links for other sources of news:

Click on  “News” at:  The UnOfficial Confessing Movement Page . This website is "unofficial" and in no way represents the views or opinions of "official movements." Its purpose is to provide timely information regarding movements of spiritual, biblical, and traditional Wesleyan Methodist renewal and concern in the Churches called Methodist.

Renewal/Reform of UMC (evangelical/orthodox/traditional):

UCMPage.org
UCMPage News
Good News
Confessing Movement
Institute for Religion and Democracy, UM Action
RENEW, a network for Christian Women of the UMC
Concerned Methodists

UMC Related:  Progressive/Liberal
Church Within a Church
SoulForce - United Methodist Denominational Page
Methodist Federation for Social Action
Reconciling Ministries Network
Links & Resources on RMN Site
Affirmation United Methodists for Gay, Lesbians and Bisexual Concerns
Links Related to "Covenant Services" in the United Methodist Church

UMC News and Information:

The United Methodist Church Web Site
UMC Directory - Churches, Annual Conferences, Agencies

Newscope - Online
Interpreter Online

 UMC Independent News:
United Methodist Reporter Interactive  

Additionally, for up-to-date news, you can set news alerts by topic at Google News Alerts:

http://www.google.com/alerts 

Some potential topics:

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