On July 17, 2008 the LA Times did a story on Methodist pastors defying the Methodist church and conducting homosexual marriages. Here is a quote from one of the pastors.
“I’m tired of being part of a church that lacks integrity,” said the Rev. Janet Gollery McKeithen of Santa Monica’s Church in Ocean Park, who plans to conduct weddings for two gay couples in August and September. “I love my church, and I don’t want to leave it. But I can’t be part of a church that is willing to portray a God that is so hateful. I would rather be forced out.”
Also… The Rev. Sharon Rhodes-Wickett of Claremont United Methodist Church joined a retired deacon from her congregation to co-officiate at the July 5 wedding of two longtime members, Howard Yeager and Bill Charlton. The wedding was held off site — at a Claremont complex for retired clergy and missionaries — to avoid violating the rule against such ceremonies in churches. Rhodes-Wickett, who led the Lord’s Prayer and gave a homily, said she hoped to avoid discipline by stopping short of actually pronouncing the couple married. That action was performed by the retired deacon, who also signed the marriage license. Rhodes-Wickett said she did not want Yeager and Charlton to leave her church to exchange vows. “This is my flock,” she said, adding that the men have been together 40 years, 22 of them as members of her Claremont congregation. “It’s a matter of integrity and a matter of what it is to be a pastoral ministry.”
This is a freightening divergence from the Scriptures. Maybe the pastors should read Rom 1, 1 Cor 6:9-10, 1 Tim 1:8-11. They should also read about Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19). The Bible is extremely clear on the teaching of homosexuality, it is an abomination (Lev 18:22).
Those who teach otherwise should take care to read and consider Gal 1:6-9. I pray that we as believers will stand for the Truth of God’s Word unadulterated and pure. God’s Word is suffecient for all teaching (2 Tim 3:16) and provides us a standard for which to live by (Ps 19:7-9).
