L.G.B.T.Q ISSUE AND THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

I am posting the notes I used during a study and discussion on the issue of LGBTQI at local chapter of the Women’s Society of Christian Service, First United Methodist Church, Davao City.

L.G.B.T.Q  ISSUE  AND THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

 

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH POLITY

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH POLITY

 

Polity means “the form of government of a nation, a state, a church or an organization.” “An organized society, such as nation, having a specific form of government.”

 

Government is the “management or administration of an organization, a business or an institution.”

 

Let me enumerate some of the characteristics of The United Methodist Church life and practice that becomes the flesh and blood of the polity of the church.

EMPAC Advance Course of Study

The Board of Ordained Ministry of the East Mindanao Philippines Annual Comference will conduct the second session of the Advance Course of Study for local pastors on February 20 to 24, 2017 in New Corrella United Methodist, Davao Norte.

This Advance of Study is offered as an alternative course for pastors who are candidate for the ministry who cannot study in seminary, and who have already reached the age of 40 and above.

This program course of study also answer the candidacy of our ethnic pastors who have no college education thus cannot be accepted in any seminary recognized by the United Methodist Church.

GBOD GRANTS

Grants for Ministries with Young People –2015 Grant Recipients

Young People’s Action for Socio-Economic Justice and Sustainable Development (Cotabato Province, Philippines) –Received GMYP grant for $10,200

Through a series of seminars, skills trainings, and programs, along with some financial assistance, the young people involved in this project are becoming empowered and equipped to overcome socio-economic injustices and working for personal, family and community transformation. Ana Loreen B. Porperio, a beneficiary of the project, says this: “My participation in this project…helped me to understand that the church is not only worship, Bible study and prayer meetings. It helps the poor and needy, like me and my family, to have more income for our needs. I thank God for this church.”

2016 Grants for Ministries with Young People Recommendations for Funding

National Youth Conference–Manila, Philippines [Philippines Central Conference]
Total Awarded: $2,500

An Outcry Against Hatred and Hate Crimes and a Commitment to Prophetic Love

An Outcry Against Hatred and Hate Crimes and a Commitment to Prophetic Love

Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those
who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.1 John 4:20

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
Proverbs 10:12

In light of continuing acts of violence, destruction, and murder based upon hatred, racism, fear, bigotry and prejudice:

We recommit ourselves to the life to which our church’s baptismal liturgy calls us—a life in which we “renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness…reject the evil powers of this world…and accept the freedom and power God gives [us] to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.”

WHAT IS K TO 12 PROGRAM/

WHAT IS K TO 12 PROGRAM?

The K to 12 Program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (six years of primary education, four years of Junior High School, and two years of Senior High School [SHS]) to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship.

K to12-Basic-education

UNITED METHODIST MEN PHILIPPINES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

THE UNITED METHODIST MEN PHILIPPINES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
First UMC, City of Baguio, July 24-25, 2015

PROPOSED PROGRAMME

Day 1 July 24, 2015
3:00-4:00 pm Arrival and Registration
4:00-5:00 pm Opening Worship- Bishop Ciriaco Francisc0- DEA
5:00-6:00 pm Dinner
6:00-8:00 pm Welcome Night
8:00-10:00 pm Report:
1. MEA UMM President- Bro. Ricky Ravina
2. BEA UMM President- Bro. Dominador Peralta
3. DEA UMM President Bro. Abraham Castillo
10:00 pm Sleeping time

Day 2, July 25, 2015
5:00-6:00 am Wake Up Exercise
6:00-7:00 am Breakfast
7:00-8:00 am Morning Worship- Bishop Pedro Torio- BEA
8:00-9:00 am Report: UMMP President= Bro. Carlos M. Manio
9:00-10:00 am Ratification of Constitution and By-Laws
10:00-10:30 am Election
11:30-12:30pm Closing Worship, Bishop Rodolfo Juan- MEA
12:30 pm Lunch and Homeward Bound

A Response from Dallas Theological Seminary to Today’s Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage

A Response from Dallas Theological Seminary to Today’s Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage
by Mark L. Bailey on June 26, 2015 in News
With the verdict of the Supreme Court today that legalizes same-sex marriage in the United States, we at Dallas Theological Seminary are grieved by this decision that seeks to legally yet wrongfully expand what God established from the beginning to be the divinely designed institution of marriage. We continue to support and adhere to a biblical view of marriage and sexuality because we believe such an approach to life and marriage honors God and makes for fulfillment in life the way God designed it.

In answering the questions of His disciples related to divorce, Jesus went back to creation to argue the original intent for marriage. Marriage was intended from the very beginning of creation to be the covenant union of a man and a woman in a permanent and exclusive relationship (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19: 4-9; Mark 10: 5-9). God’s design for this relationship was for the purposes of procreation, personal pleasure, and the fulfillment of the purposes of reflecting the image of the Creator and His desired relationship with His people (Genesis 1:27–28; 2:18–24; Ephesians 5:31–33). That image involves both male and female with marriage depicting their mutual cooperation in a designed diversity to steward God’s creation.

We believe God has also expressly reserved sexual intimacy and intercourse for heterosexual marriage (Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9). It is God’s expectation that the married live in faithfulness to their spouse and unmarried should live pure and celibate lives, refraining from sexual intimacy (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

The English translation of our historic Seminary motto from 2 Timothy 4:2 is “Preach the Word.” We intend to keep doing that and to equip others to do so as well. Our current slogan is taken from 1 Timothy 1:5 and that is “Teach Truth. Love Well.” As we approach a culture that does not share our biblical values or standards of conduct we still need to model love and pray for those with whom we disagree. This Jesus also taught (Matthew 5:44). As our culture begins to look more and more like that of the New Testament times, we need to remember and take heart that the message and mission of Jesus was birthed and flourished in such times. May God do it again in our lifetime.

Soberly and Prayerfully,

Dr. Mark L. Bailey
President

Church trial: Decision reached in case of Rev. Havili Mone

Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 February 2015 13:35 | Written by Communications | | |

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2015

Longmont, Colorado: In a church trial held Feb. 24 and 25 at Longs Peak United Methodist Church in Longmont, Colorado, the Reverend Filimone Havili Mone was found guilty of disobeying the order and discipline of the church. As part of the verdict, the jury voted unanimously to terminate Mone’s United Methodist membership in the Rocky Mountain Conference. Mone retains his ordination in the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.

The verdict was delivered by a jury of 13 United Methodist clergy. Retired Bishop Alfred W. Gwinn Jr. presided over the trial.

“I will not stop praying for Rev. Mone and the Tongan United Methodist Church,” said Rev. Ron Hodges, counsel for the United Methodist Church. “I felt the case itself was clear and concise and the evidence before us was reliable and relevant.”

Rev. Keith Watson, counsel for Mone, said, “While the respondent and counsel team feel disappointment in the outcome, we commend the members of the jury for their careful, and probably painful, deliberations. I think that all in the court recognize the import of the decisions that have been made.”

Mone was formerly the pastor of Tongan United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2012, resident Bishop Elaine J. W. Stanovsky received concerns of suspected sexual abuse that occurred at Tongan UMC and had allegedly gone unreported by Mone. Following a supervisory review, at which time Mone was placed under suspension, it was found that he had failed to report the abuse to authorities in a timely manner in violation of church and state law. In 2013, Mone was tried in city court and negotiated a plea for failing to report abuse of a child, which is a misdemeanor. He was assigned and performed community service.

On Oct. 22, 2012, a just resolution agreement was negotiated and signed by Mone, Bishop Stanovsky and District Superintendent Sione Tukutau. Stanovsky lifted the suspension and dismissed the complaint against Mone after the agreement was reached. Mone did not return to Tongan UMC nor was assigned to a church, but continued on leave as a clergy member of the Rocky Mountain Conference.

“The jury’s decision recognizes Rev. Mone’s actions conflict with the values and practices of the United Methodist Church,” said Stanovsky. “We are sorry to lose this friend and colleague, who has served among us for many years, but know that God continues to work in this life.”

In a United Methodist church trial, an individual responds to a charge or charges of having violated denominational law, as set forth in the church’s Book of Discipline. A church trial is seen as a “last resort” after all other paths to resolve conflict has been exhausted.

#######

Contact information:

Charmaine Robledo

Director of Communications

Mountain Sky Area of the United Methodist Church

303-325-7054 (office)

303-910-8268 (cell)

Discipleship Ministries

Feb 9 at 8:00 PM

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Google Translations: Spanish | Korean | German | French | Portuguese Every month we send you just 5 ways you can better equip Vital Congregations and make disciples of Jesus Christ. Here’s this month’s issue! Help advance pastoral education in Africa and the Philippines. Invest in the development of an e-reader library at United Methodist theology schools. The e-readers contain several hundred texts pertinent to theological education. Full sponsorship of the e-reader library for one school in Africa or the Philippines means a $35,000 investment over three years. A church may be a full sponsor, share sponsorship with others or provide any level of support. For more information, go to http://bit.ly/1o608LR.   Explore the ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus. Receive 50 free daily devotions and register for an online small group e-course based on the “I Am” sayings of Jesus found in the Gospel of John. From The Upper Room’s The God We Can Know study series by Rob Fuquay, these Lenten spiritual practices will help you find and form an answer to Jesus’ important question. The devotions are free, and the e-course is $19. For more information about each, go to http://bit.ly/1DsICJB.   Learn how to start a children’s ministry in a new congregation. Melanie Gordon, director of Ministry with Children at Discipleship Ministries, will help with questions about faith development or curriculum selection during the one-hour webinar Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. CST. The interactive webinar will focus on the basics needed in New Church Starts to welcome and form children from birth to age 11. Participants will have the opportunity for ongoing mentoring. For more information and to register, go to http://bit.ly/1yMRFi1.   Make sure your youth attend their own national gathering. Registration is in full swing for YOUTH 2015, the get-together held every four years just for United Methodist youth and their leaders. The June 24-28 event in Orlando will feature workshops, mission opportunities, big room worship and concerts. It is open to 6-12 graders and their leaders. For more information and to register, go to http://youth2015.com.   Here’s help with your annual financial resources audit. As your church makes plans for this year’s Local Church Financial Audit, you can find helpful resources online. Items such as the Audit Guide, FAQs and the form used for reporting are all available in one convenient location at http://bit.ly/1zWy4C0. For even more help, sign up for a webinar, “AUDIT is Not a Four-Letter Word!”, on March 12 at 6:30 p.m. (CDT). To register, go to http://tinyurl.com/2015Audit. That’s all this month.  5 more ideas coming your way in March. Unsubscribe fbilog@yahoo.com from this list. Our mailing address is: Discipleship Ministries 1908 Grand Avenue Nashville, Tennessee 37212 Add us to your address book Copyright (C) 2015 Discipleship Ministries All rights reserved.