Methodism | Deep Something

October 26, 2023

Latest:

Letter to Bishop Kiesey of the Michigan Area

July 20, 2015July 20, 2015 B. John 642 Views 1 Comment Palma Ceia United Methodist Church, Michigan Area Annual Conference, Cassopolis United Methodist Church, Bruce Toms, Ken Carter, Rev. Benjamin Hutchison, Deborah Lieder Kiesey

Recently, a small church in Michigan, Cassopolis United Methodist, had their church Pastor, Rev. Benjamin Hutchison, taken away from them. Was it because of poor attendance, hardly, he had quadrupled the membership since being appointed. He saved the church from dying according to many members. His crime, he was in a long-term committed relationship with another man. Just after that, nearly 30 United Methodist pastors joined in a celebrating a wedding ceremony for Rev. Hutchison and his husband, and now, to further hammer home her distaste for love, Bishop Deborah Lieder Kiesey has picked out nine of them for prosecution under church law. Here’s my letter to Bishop Kiesey:

Featured Religion Gay Issues Methodism

An Open Letter to the UMC General Conference Commission

May 13, 2015May 14, 2015 B. John 311 Views 0 Comments General Conference, UMC, Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, United Methodist Church, GC

It seems the Commission on the General Conference for the United Methodist Church, meeting last month, decided to hold the first quadrennial General Conferences outside the United States . The original choice had the GC going to Zimbabwe in 2024, and the Philippines in 2028. Fortunately, an ever-present advocate for LGBT people within the Church was there, and raised a few concerns, including the fact that Amnesty International has declared Zimbabwe one of the most dangerous countries for LGBT people. The years were switched.

Religion Society Gay Issues Methodism Featured Politics Legislature Right Wingnuts

As Usual Methodist Episcopacy Missing in Action

January 18, 2015September 29, 2018 B. John 315 Views 0 Comments UMC, College of Bishops, methodist, Episcopacy, Georgia, Benjamin Michael Watson, James R. King, Religious Freedoms Bill

It will come no surprise that members of the Georgia legislature have introduced model legislation similar to that introduced in other legislature where marriage equality has either passed or been instituted by judicial action. This one of those “Religious Freedoms” bills designed to allow “christians” to discriminate against anyone they don’t like…because, you know…who would Jesus hate. In this instance, a group of religious leaders in Georgia have banded together and issued a letter denouncing the bill, and explaining that no one, besides certain Republican members of the legislature has actually asked for the bill. I was heartened to see that a number of United Methodist pastors from Georgia had signed the letter. But as usual, the Methodist Episcopacy was missing in action.

Society Gay Issues Methodism Featured Religion

Response to Bishop Carter’s Ruling

February 5, 2014October 20, 2015 B. John 653 Views 0 Comments Bruce Toms, Bishop Ken Carter, Florida Annual Conference, homophobia, bigotry, Palma Ceia United Methodist Church

Last year, I was forced to file a complaint with the Bishop about hateful and dishonest actions by Bruce Toms, the newly appointed Pastor at Palma Ceia United Methodist Church. At the time, I was told by several Methodist Ministers to not have high expectations. That came true, and here is my response to the Bishop’s findings.

Featured Religion Society Gay Issues Right Wingnuts Methodism

When A Methodist Pastor Withdraws the Welcome to Gays and Lesbians

August 5, 2013September 29, 2018 B. John 1321 Views 3 Comments Bill Josey, Statement of Welcome, Ken Carter, District Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Walter E. Monroe, bishop, Marty Peate, PCUMC, Bruce Toms, Palma Ceia United Methodist, The Discipline, LGBT, The United Methodist Church, Administrative Council, non-discrimination statement

For over 10 years I’ve been a member of Palma Ceia United Methodist Church here in Tampa. In 2011, at the urging of a large group of members, the Administrative Council of the Church adopted a statement of welcome to all, which was to be placed on our website. Unfortunately, we were recently appointed a new pastor who’s animus towards gay people has caused to him to withdraw that welcome and remove the statement from all public display. In fact, he’s gone so far as to have our listing removed from a website that does nothing more than provide a geographic directory of gay-welcoming churches. He did it without any consultation with the Council, and has acted in some questionable ways.

Methodism Religion Society Gay Issues

The Discomfort of Faith-My Experience at the Methodist General Conference

May 19, 2012May 25, 2012 B. John 405 Views 0 Comments General Conference, bishop, Faith, homophobia, Reconciling Ministries Network, Church, Methodist Federation for Social Action, bigotry, African, Africa, Martin Luther King

I’ve been thinking back over the time I got spend recently at the quadrennial General Conference of the United Methodist Church held here in Tampa this year. It was a big event, and it was a mess from a church polity standpoint. Like Congress, little of great substance was accomplished, and few longstanding issues were resolved, but that may be a good thing. Here, I reflect on the experience.

Right Wingnuts Legislature Religion Society Gay Issues Methodism

Admin Council Member Says Stating We Treat Everyone Equally Might Be Divisive

February 18, 2011September 29, 2018 215 Views 0 Comments justice, Non-discrimination, Palma Ceia United Methodist Church, Kevin James, Bill Josey

I returned once again to the Administrative Council at my church to ask them to pass a resolution adopting a non-discrimination statement. The last time I went in 2008, one of the members, Bill Josey, an attorney, objected because I had included a statement that we would, when reasonable, try to do business only with other organizations that had a similar statement. That was his only objection. I took it out, completely, but guess what, at January’s meeting he had a different objection.