Friends, I have written and rewritten several times this
summary of General Conference. I am too
close to it to properly process it for now.
There are, as we suspected, more questions than answers coming out of
the special session. We can address the
details at another time. But for now, I want to give you a general update on
where our church stands:
EVERYONE IS WELCOME at Kenton First United Methodist
Church. Everyone is a child of God, a
beloved creation, and a person of sacred worth.
We welcome everyone, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender
identification, sexuality, socio-economic class, and any other factor. That has never been, never is, and will never
be up for debate.
WE ARE A COVENANT PEOPLE.
Our covenant for our church is the Book of Discipline. Even when we disagree personally with our
covenant, we live into our covenant.
Even when everyone else abandons our covenant, we still live with
integrity.
WE UPHOLD THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE’s view that we do not
ordain self-avowed homosexuals, nor do our clergy officiate same-sex weddings. We uphold the teaching of the United
Methodist Church that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teachings.
WE ARE DIVIDED on this issue. We are divided on many issues in our
church. We recognize that loving, faithful
people of God may disagree. We refuse to
become enemies, and let these divisions tear us apart.
WE ARE UNITED in our mission to make disciples of Jesus
Christ for the transformation of the world.
We are united in our ministry in Hardin County. We are united in the historic faith of the
Nicene and Apostle’s Creeds.
WE LIVE WITH INTEGRITY.
We live in a covenant as United Methodists. As long as we continue to be in that
covenant, we live into it fully to the best of our ability. There may come a day when we can no longer,
in good conscience, continue to live within the covenant of the Book of
Discipline. I cannot tell the
future. If that day ever comes, we will
discuss how to leave our covenant. That
process will be completely transparent, and accomplished in full discussion
with our District Superintendent and Bishop.
However, as long as we live in this covenant as United Methodists, we
strive to live into it fully, and reject any attempts to break that covenant. Let our integrity as a church never come into
question.
WE TREAT EACH OTHER WITH LOVE AND GRACE IN ALL THINGS. Even when we disagree, we will strive to
treat each other with the love and grace that God gives to us.
This is our church. - PJ
Brothers, I am a member of a United Methodist Church in Fountain Valley, CA. We are an anomaly in the Cal Pac Conf. Our stance seems to align with your stance concerning ordination of LBGT ministers and of pastors' performance of their 'marriage'. The misguided claim we hate LGBT folks but that is the enemy speaking. I pray all Christian churches embrace that community into their congregation just as they do alcoholics, adulterers, and other fellow sinners. My mother was a long-time member of the 1st United Church in Kenton, Ohio, and sang in the choir. Her name is Ina Garvin and my name is Donald. If you have questions or comments, PLEASE contact me not at the listed gmail addy, but at 'donandlig@YAHOO.com. Agape.
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