United Methodist Church

Sexual And Gender Oppression Cannot Be Defended

Rev. Debra Haffner | Posted 05.08.2012

Read More: Lgbt, Gay Rights, Religion and Sexuality, Homosexuality and Religion, United Methodist Church, Gay Issues, Gay Clergy, Religion News
Rev. Debra Haffner

As religious leaders, we are speaking out against the decision not to remove doctrinal language that states, "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching."

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Getting On The Right Side of History For LGBT Rights

Paul Brandeis Raushenbush | Posted 05.08.2012

Read More: Gay, Christianity, United Methodist Church, Moral Arc of the Universe, LGBT Rights, Lgbt History, Religion and Sexuality, LGBT Christians, Religion News
Paul Brandeis Raushenbush

Progress happens when people have faith that a better world is possible and are willing to work for it. The world is becoming more and more convinced that LGBT peoples must be acknowledged and admitted into full communion with the rest of humanity, and more and more people of all background are joining the struggle. There is a right and wrong side of history for the struggle for full equality of LGBT peoples. The arc of the universe is bending towards justice for LGBT peoples. Those people who maintain anti-LGBT positions are going to be caught behind the curve.

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United Methodists In Tampa: Looking For Scapegoats, Living In Fear

Christopher H. Evans | Posted 05.07.2012

Read More: Religion and Sexuality, Progressive Christianity, Christianity, United Methodist Church, Gay Christians, LGBT Christians, Religion News
Christopher H. Evans

In the aftermath of the 2012 General Conference, it seems fair to ask United Methodist conservatives what they ultimately hope to achieve by refusing to open the church to the gifts of gay and lesbian persons.

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Giving Birth Is Not a Laughing Matter

Katey Zeh | Posted 05.03.2012

Read More: Global Motherhood, United Methodist Church, United Methodist, Maternal Health, United Methodist General Conference, Methodists, Family Planning, Maternal Mortality, Impact News
Katey Zeh

Maternal mortality is a moral tragedy, and there are many factors that contribute to it, including health and cultural barriers. A new resolution calls upon the United Methodist Church to take action to support maternal health and family planning through advocacy and direct services.

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Striking at the Source of the War on Women

Robert S. McElvaine | Posted 05.03.2012

Read More: War on Women, Carol W. Napier, Religion and Politics, God, United Methodist Church, Feminism, Religion and Sex, Adrienne Rich, Desexualizing God, Politics News
Robert S. McElvaine

The misbegotten -- indeed, utterly senseless--idea that God is male is the casus belli of the War on Women -- what provides the putative justification for the subordination and mistreatment of women.

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Creating A New Progressive Ecumenical Church Relationship

Rev. Chuck Currie | Posted 05.02.2012

Read More: Presbyterian Church (USA), War on Women, Christian Church (Disciples of Christian), Episcopal Church (USA), Social Gospel, Christianity, United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ, Progressive Christianity, Scripture Study, Scripture Commentary, Catholic Church, Mainline Churches, Religion News
Rev. Chuck Currie

I simply do not believe that at this point in time the distinctiveness of our different churches is more important than the values and common understandings of Scripture that unite us.

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The United Methodist Church Has Voted To Be Inclusive Before. Can We Do It Again?

Rev. Gil Caldwell | Posted 04.30.2012

Read More: Religion and Sexuality, Christianity, United Methodist, Gay Christians, United Methodist Church, Gay Clergy, Religion News
Rev. Gil Caldwell

This week, I'm watching and praying for the United Methodist Church as they meet in General Conference. Among all the issues, there are major decisions about whether lesbian and gay people can be married and serve as clergy.

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Church: God Prefers Kind Atheists Over Hateful Christians

The Huffington Post | Andres Jauregui | Posted 04.06.2012

Read More: God Prefers Kind Atheists, Good Friday, Holy Week, Reconciling Ministries Network, Christianity, Atheists, United Methodist Church, Tom Tate, Portland, Portlandia, Good News News

It's the kind of thing one might expect from an episode of "Portlandia," but the message is real -- and its biggest advocate says that it's rooted in ...

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Same-Sex Marriage Equality A Goal For D.C. Methodist Church

Rev. Dean Snyder | Posted 04.28.2012

Read More: Opening Doors to Equality, Gay Christians, United Methodist Church, LGBT Christians, Gay Marriage, Teachings of Jesus, Same-Sex Marriage, Marriage Equality, Religion and Sexuality, Christianity, Religion News
Rev. Dean Snyder

Although the campaign launched just recently, the movement for full LGBT inclusion and equality within the United Methodist Church (UMC) has been building for decades.

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Jaweed Kaleem

Major Churches Consider Divesting From Select Businesses In Israel

HuffingtonPost.com | Jaweed Kaleem | Posted 02.19.2012

Read More: Presbyterian Divestment Israel, Israel Palestine Conflict, Israel-Divestment-Campaign, Bds, Bds Movement, Israel-Palestine, Israel Divestment, Presbyterian Church USA, Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions, Divest From Israel, United Methodist Divestment Israel, Presbyterian Church, United Methodist Church, Religion News

A major body within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted Friday to recommend that the church vote to stop investing in three companies "until they h...

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Seattle Community Celebrates 85th Birthday Of Most Famous Pepper Spray Victim

Mark Taylor-Canfield | Posted 02.12.2012

Read More: Politics News, Seattle Pepper Spray Incident, Dorli Rainey, offthebus2012, Joshua Trujillo, Ows, Pepper Spray, Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Seattle, United Methodist Church, Offthebus, Politics News
Mark Taylor-Canfield

The octogenarian Seattle activist whose face was seen in news media around the world when police pepper sprayed her during an Occupy Seattle protest l...

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Pepper Sprayed Activist Turns 85

Mark Taylor-Canfield | Posted 02.12.2012

Read More: Ows, Seattle Pepper Spray Incident, Activism, Dorli Rainey, Joshua Trujillo, Occupy Wall Street, offthebus2012, Pepper Spray, Keith Olbermann, Occupy Seattle, United Methodist Church, Offthebus, Politics News
Mark Taylor-Canfield

Community activists, political campaigners, Occupy Seattle supporters, local church ministers and a Buddhist monk turned out to celebrate the 85th birthday of local activist and Occupy Seattle movement spokesperson Dorli Rainey.

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Gates Praises Church in Malaria Fight

Rev. Larry Hollon | Posted 12.28.2011

Read More: Malaria, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United Methodist Church, Impact News
Rev. Larry Hollon

More than 1.1 million children, pregnant mothers and working fathers are alive today because of gains in preventing and treating malaria. Since 2000, ...

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Activists Push Change In Methodists' Gay Policy

Posted 10.25.2011

Read More: Methodist Gay Clergy, United Methodist, Gay Christians, Gay Clergy, Gay Ordination, Religion and Sexuality, Gay Methodists, United Methodist Church, Methodist Gay Ordination, United Methodists General Conference, Religion News

By Michael O'Malley Religion News Service CLEVELAND (RNS) Hundreds of United Methodists are meeting in Huron, Ohio, this week in an uphill bid to ...

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Jaweed Kaleem

Missouri Tornado: Churches Coming Together to Pray, Help Victims

HuffingtonPost.com | Jaweed Kaleem | Posted 07.23.2011

Read More: Natural Disasters, Lutheran Church, Missouri, Albert Mohler, Joplin Tornado, Missouri Tornado, Tornadoes, United Methodist Church, Joel Osteen, Religion News

During the devastating tornado that ripped through Joplin, Mo. Sunday evening and killed at least 90 people, several churches were destroyed. Those th...

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Methodists Make Huge Donation To Native American Massacre Memorial Site

Posted 06.27.2011

Read More: John Chivington, Methodists, Methodist Church, Sand Creek Massacre, Sand Creek Massacre Memorial, United Methodist Church, Native American Massacre, Religion News

By Chris Herlinger Religion News Service NEW YORK (RNS/ENInews) The United Methodist Church is making good on a pledge to support a learning cente...

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What Would Jesus Do (About Malaria)?

Rev. Larry Hollon | Posted 06.24.2011

Read More: Imagine No Malaria Initiative, Malaria No More, Malaria, Christianity, Malaria Immunization, Methodist Church, United Methodist Church, Fighting Malaria, World Malaria Day, Christian Social Justice, Religion News
Rev. Larry Hollon

As a follower of Jesus, I can't help but imagine if he were physically present in Kasumgami today, he would be handing out bed nets and teaching people how to avoid malaria.

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The World Is Their Parish: Can The United Methodist Church Survive?

Kelly Figueroa-Ray | Posted 06.02.2011

Read More: Christian Scriptures, Urban Village Church, Mosaic Brooklyn Park, Multicultural, Church Planting, General Board of Discipleship, United Methodist Church, hope.gate.way, Performance Metrics, Dashboards, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Minnesota, Portland Maine, Chicago, Christianity, Religion News
Kelly Figueroa-Ray

The United Methodist Church has become a cushy institution, banking on measures kept by fancy dials to help save it from the fate towards which all mainline denominations seem to be heading -- slow death.

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Redefining The Creation/Evolution Controversy

Michael Zimmerman, Ph.D. | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Birthers, Michael Zimmerman, The Clergy Letter Project, Michael Zimmerman Clergy Project Huffington Post, United Methodist Church Evolution, Darwinism, Evolution Creation Debate, Science, Iran, Religion and Science, United Methodist Church, Religion, Creationism, Scientific Controversy, Controversy in Science, Sarah Palin, Living, Evolution, Israel, Texas State Board of Education, Evolutionary Creation, Religion News
Michael Zimmerman, Ph.D.

The Clergy Letter Project, comprised of thousands of clergy members and scientists, demonstrates that religious leaders and scientists are not inherently at odds.

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Profiles in (Evolutionary) Courage, Part 2: Choosing Between Dogma and Darwin

Michael Zimmerman, Ph.D. | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Creationism, Michael Zimmerman, Clergy Letter Project, Creationism Evolution Debate, Evolution Creation Debate, Religion and Science, United Methodist Church, Biblical Literalism, Evolution Creationism Debate, Creation Evolution Debate, Science and Religion, Religion News
Michael Zimmerman, Ph.D.

Al modestly described his actions at the 2008 General Conference of the United Methodist Church as having "quietly moved Methodism into the 21st century." But back at home, Al has paid a very high price for his actions.

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Fasting for Reform

Arlene M. Roberts | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Robert Kimbo, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Bishop Jeremiah Park, United Methodist Church, Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky, Anche Hessed Synagogue, Imam Kanate, New York Council of Imams, Ana Maria Archial, Make the Road New York, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Daniel Dromm, Mrny, New York News
Arlene M. Roberts

In the Jewish tradition, calling a fast is like sounding a moral alarm, a wake-up call. This was the reminder a rabbi gave this morning at St. Peter's...

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Biden "Jesus Christ" Called "Hate Speech" By Conservative

The Huffington Post | Susan Crile | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Islam, Southern Baptist Convention, Joe Biden, Iran, United Methodist Church, Mark Tapscott, Presbyterian Church, Religion, Nuclear Weapons, Conservatives, Jesus Christ, Christianity, Vladimir Putin, Muslims, Iran Nuclear Weapons, Political Correctness, Vice President Joe Biden, Politics News

Mark Tapscott, the editorial page editor of the conservative Washington Examiner, has nothing but fire and brimstone for Joe Biden. In an op-ed last ...

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