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Escrowing
Apportionments
Seeking Those Called by God
(Pass the following questionnaire to local church
members to gather the faithful)
We are very concerned about the leadership of the
United Methodist Church beyond the local church level, and we are seeking other
members who share our concern. Below is a brief sample of what concerns us:
- Many UMC Bishops and church officials are openly
promoting the homosexual agenda, abortion, biblical revisionism, and many
questionable political causes.
- Recently, we have witnessed the election of Gene
Robinson as the first openly homosexual Bishop of the Episcopal Church. The
UMC may be the most likely to follow suit, because of the beliefs of many
within our leadership. As just one example, Bruce Robbins, General Secretary
of the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns of
the UMC called the election of Robinson a “graceful step” for the Episcopal
Church. He also said the move will strengthen a “careful, close, and growing”
relationship between the Episcopal and UM denominations.
- Despite the official position of the UMC respecting
the sanctity of the life of an unborn child, the UM General Board of Church
and Society and the UM Women’s Division both belong to a group called the
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, which defends the legality of
abortion in all circumstances.
- UM Bishop Joseph Sprague of Chicago has denied Jesus
Christ’s virgin birth, bodily resurrection, and his unique role as the savior
of the world. Sprague recently stated that it is “ incredulous” that seminary
faculty and other “well-informed clergy and laity” still “passionately
advocate a virgin birth and a physically resurrected” Jesus. Despite being
charged with heresy on four occasions, no punitive actions have been carried
out by the UMC against Bishop Sprague.
- Senior UM officials signed a full-page ad in the
April 5th edition of Christian Century magazine asking President George W.
Bush to “repent from domestic and foreign policies that are incompatible with
the teaching and example of Christ.” These officials specifically opposed the
military action in Iraq. In fact, they oppose the option of any military
conflict even though the UMC and the Bible recognizes the concept of a just
war. Among the signers of the ad: Bishop Sprague; Bishop Melvin Talbert,
ecumenical officer for the church’s Council of Bishops, who has endorsed
same-sex ‘marriage’; and Board of Church and Society General Secretary Jim
Winkler who is a strict pacifist in opposition with the church’s official
position on war.
Do you believe that the membership of our local church
should be made aware of these and other similar issues? Would you be interested
in joining our effort to call for the UMC leadership to be sound, biblical, and
consistent with historic Christian beliefs as well as the doctrine of the UMC?
If yes, please provide your email address, a good time
for meetings, and which Sunday School class you attend.
Are you too busy? Would you consider becoming a prayer
partner with us or acting as a Sunday School contact? Would you like to receive
email or regular mail information on these issues, what we are doing, and on
specific prayer requests? If so, please provide your email address and Sunday
School class.
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for
good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke
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