Showing posts with label United Methodist Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label United Methodist Church. Show all posts

UMC Connectional Table: Out of Kilter

Posted by Bernard Rosario On 7:00 AM 0 comments




I am re-echoing this article (which is originally found here) by Dr. Bill Bouknight of The Confessing Movement Within the UMC because I believe it deserves uppermost consideration.

=========================

CONNECTIONAL TABLE OUT OF KILTER
By Dr. Bill Bouknight
March 1, 2013 Confessing Movement E-Newsletter

The central coordinating body of the United Methodist Church is known as the Connectional Table (CT). It consists of about 59 United Methodist leaders excluding staff). There are 47 voting members. It is the only group meeting regularly between general conferences that includes representatives of the major official denominational power structures.  The problem is that the CT’s make-up is not representative of the global UMC membership. Consider the following:

THE WESTERN JURISDICTION HAS LESS THAN 3 PERCENT OF THE UMC MEMBERSHIP, YET IT HAS 17 PERCENT OF THE SEATS ON THE CT. 
BY WAY OF CONTRAST, AFRICA HAS 35 PERCENT OF THE UMC MEMBERSHIP, YET ONLY 6.4 PERCENT OF THE SEATS ON THE CT.

In modern times, the Western Jurisdiction has been notorious for its liberal theology; no doubt, some of it flows from United Methodism’s Claremont Seminary in California. And, the Western Jurisdiction has consistently lagged far behind the other U.S. jurisdictions in how much of its assigned share of apportionments it pays.

Of the five active Western Jurisdiction bishops three (60%) are presidents of a denominational agency’s board of directors. One of the remaining two has been elected to become the next president of the Council of Bishops in 2014. No other region in the UMC comes close to having as large a portion of its bishops in such prominent leadership positions. One way to address this inbalance would be to discontinue electing bishops as presidents of boards and agencies.

The Western Jurisdiction is over-represented in the leadership ranks of the UMC, at the expense of United Methodism in Africa. This matter should have top priority for correction.

Post or read comments >>

DeLong’s Trial Team: Another Four Things that Shocked Me

Posted by Bernard Rosario On 10:42 PM 0 comments



I have previously blogged on my takes for the Amy DeLong Trial. I did not expect that an unpopular pastor from the east would get a comment from a member of DeLong’s trial team. The following is the unedited comment from Wesley White:
Blessings from a member of Rev. Amy's Trial Team. We know there are many who are upset about the decision of the trial court to respond in what they understood to be an attempt to move the church from threatened division through a restorative justice form of consequence. Your sisters and brothers in Christ who were put in a most difficult place and had to wrestle with two different part of the Book of Discipline and what it means to uphold a document that changes every four years (and in non-USA locations does not need to be followed and isn't everywhere).
One part of the Discipline speaks of providing ministry with all people, it says, "Do Ministry, no matter what!" Another part of the Discipline speaks of consequences, "Don't do that, no matter what!" The letter of the law regarding trial procedures was strictly followed.
Was the Discipline upheld? I believe it was upheld in its processes even if there are people on both side who look on without having seen and heard the evidence and claim the penalty was too strong or too weak to match the letter of the law they most associate with - "Do" or "Don't".
Thank you for continuing to wrestle with the difficult discernment of whether to cut a baby in two, to do more than weep with Rachel as her children who were denied/killed, or the reminder that Mercy is desired, not Sacrifice. I wish you well in ministering in your context as Rev. Amy ministered in hers.
With this letter, I realized that not only on sexuality issues do we differ but also on at least four more areas.

Differing View on Unity
It is narrated in the comment that the trial court attempted to heal for unity “through a restorative justice form of consequence.” Is unity attained in this way? Jesus, in His High-Priestly prayer, disclosed the key element of unity. John 17:23 says, “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one…” Perfect biblical unity only comes through our union with Christ by faith and repentance. It, therefore, requires observance of biblical truth because Christ is Truth personified. As long as a party remains more committed to political agenda or to extra-biblical “expansive love of GOD” than to the revealed truth of the Bible, unity is unattainable.

Differing View on the Book of Discipline
It seems that the “most difficult place” for an adherent of this liberation movement is to wrestle with two seemingly opposing different parts of the Book of Discipline, when he is supposed to choose between "Do Ministry, no matter what!" and "Don't do that, no matter what!" I just can’t understand why portions of the BOD are forced to crash while these are supposed to be parallel. Some may argue that statements 2 and 4 imply that the least common multiple is 4. While on the other hand, some may say that statements 3 and 6 are suggesting for 6. But actually, statements 2, 3, 4, and 6 agree that 12 is the answer. When the BOD says “Don’t!” it is because not doing is the best way to “Do!”

Differing View on Ministry
There are at least two views on ministry: (1) Need-based, man-centered, culturally-defined ministry; and, (2) Redemption-based, GOD-centered, Scripture-defined ministry. Wesley White wrote, “I wish you well in ministering in your context as Rev. Amy ministered in hers.” With this concluding comment, the trial team member reveals his adherence to the first view. Through an article in Christianity Today titled “Toxic Pluralism,” United Methodist James V.Heidinger II already exhorted us in 1993 to flee from these types of ministries;
Evangelical pastors and theologians can learn from the mainline experience of placing relevance above truth. We must avoid the lure of novelty and soft sell, which, we are told, will make it easier for moderns to believe. Methods may change, but never the message… We are called to be faithful stewards of a great and reliable theological heritage. We have truths to affirm and errors to avoid. We must not try to make these truths more appealing or user friendly by watering them down. We must guard against a trendy "theological bungee-jumping" that merely entertains the watching crowd.
In the end, GOD will not evaluate us on whether our ministry is traditional or contextualized. But He will surely inquire whether our service is Scriptural or unbiblical.

Differing View on Mercy
White calls it mercy to unite in marriage lesbian couples, to let an elder clergy be engaged in a homosexual relationship for 16 years, to call these valid expressions of love, and to see these as acceptable in the eyes of (a) god. He calls this mercy. I never thought that a doctor who refrained from disclosing about his patient’s cancer could ever be merciful. Mercy is telling everybody to flee from the wrath to come not denying the existence of that wrath. Mercy will re-echo 1 Cor. 6:9-10, “Do not be deceived; neither homosexuals will inherit the kingdom of God.”

We are on the contrasting sides not just because we have opposing views on sexuality. We are on the contrasting sides because we have opposing views on GOD, Christ, the church, ministries, the Word, love, justice, John Wesley, nature, math, and a lot more.

Post or Read Comments >>

The Amy DeLong Trial: Four Things that Should Shock Filipinos

Posted by Bernard Rosario On 2:30 PM 12 comments



The trial of Amy DeLong, a lesbian elder who performed a same-sex union in Wisconsin, went along almost unnoticed here in the Philippines. It is perhaps because of the current crisis that pushes us Filipinos to the brink of division on this eastern part of United Methodism.

A church trial was convened from June 21 to 23 because of two charges pressed against DeLong: (1) for officiating a union for a lesbian couple on September of 2009; and, (2) for supposedly being a self-avowed practicing homosexual. The jury unanimously declared her guilty of violating the church ban on celebrating same-sex unions. But she was acquitted, 12-1, on the second charge. You may read more on this here.

Though United Methodism is generally liberal in the West, there are still lands where she grabs a foothold that are lesser “progressive” in theology and practice. When news like this hits our shores, there are some entities that should shock us.


Twenty-Day Suspension
Last March 12, a certain TV show headed by Willie Revillame became an object of disagreement for having an episode that featured a dancing boy which was, according to the regulatory board, “unfit for public viewing.” A one-month suspension was issued against the show. That is a 30-day suspension. Now, I can’t help but use this for comparison. Though DeLong was unanimously found guilty of violating church law, she only received a 20-day suspension. Moreover, the suspension given to her is not really a penalty but is to be used for spiritual discernment. So shocking to know that here, we give 30-day suspensions for dancing boys while in the west, they reward 20-day retreats to those who openly insult church law and GOD’s Word.


Rule for Practicing
For the second charge against the lesbian elder, she was found innocent. She was not proven to be a “self-avowed practicing homosexual.” This is behind the fact that DeLong had a 16-year homosexual relationship with a certain Val Zellmer. The shocking comes from how the Judicial Council defines a “self-avowed practicing homosexual.”
In response, in Decision 920, in exercising its responsibility to render declaratory decisions on the meaning, application and effect of specific disciplinary provisions (¶ 2610), the Judicial Council unanimously held that such a statement was sufficient to subject such person’s membership in her ministerial office to review under ¶ 359.1 of the Discipline. If in the course of such review, such person affirmed that the person was engaged in genital sexual activity with a person of the same gender, such person would have openly acknowledged that the person is a self-avowed practicing homosexual.
This is absurd. This virtually establishes nothing. As long as the respondents shut their mouths on things about their sexual activities (like DeLong), lock the door, and cover themselves in thick blankets, they are still not considered as self-avowed practicing homosexuals… even if they become registered committed partners.


Lot in Trouble
When the chair of Wisconsin Annual Conference’s Board of Ordained Ministry, Richard Strait, occupied the witness stand, he confessed that if performing same-sex unions "were a heinous crime, there would be a whole lot of us in deep trouble." This again sounds so shocking. “A lot of us” from the chairman of the Board of Ordained Ministry? His statement implies at least three things: (1) that violating the church law in their annual conference is rampant, it is normal; (2) that church leaders and ministers are fully aware of these violations; and, (3) that for them violating the church law is not a violation at all, it is not a heinous crime.


Juror’s “No Harm”
Although the members of the jury that handled DeLong’s trial are generally silent, there is one name that participates actively in news articles and blog posts. He is juror Bill McBride, a pastor and a blogger. The following are glimpses of his comments.
“The word ‘penalty phase’ really has no place in a church that should always have its mind and eye toward restoration and reconciliation.”
“… the goal of the ‘trial court’ was to rebuild covenant, seek to 'Do no harm' as Wesley stated.”
There is perhaps a misunderstanding of Wesley’s “Do no harm” rule. McBride seems not to realize that his version of doing no harm also collides against Wesley himself when the latter wrote, “After diligent inquiry made, I removed all those from the congregation of the faithful whose behaviour or spirit was not agreeable to the gospel of Christ; openly declaring the objections I had to each, that others might fear and cry to God for them.” And again, “I met the classes, but found no increase in the society. No wonder, for discipline had been quite neglected, and without this, little good can be done among the Methodists.” It is known that Methodism in the west is decreasing rapidly. If McBride would ask Wesley why, he would receive an answer that would shatter his own “Do no harm.”


Both camps that debate on the issue of sexuality are bracing themselves as the General Conference 2012 is less than a year away. However, the battle is not just on keeping the words printed intact in the Book of Discipline. The battle is also in securing the Discipline of its power. For, though the words are staying intact, the power behind the words is obviously shrinking.

(A member of DeLong's Trial Team had posted a comment which you can read here.)

Post a Comment >>

College of Bishops Releases Statement About UMC Split in the Philippines

Posted by Bernard Rosario On 5:59 PM 6 comments



I have found the following document on Facebook. It appears to be genuine. Filipino Methodists, let us pray for our beloved church.

=========================================================================


THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Philippines Central Conference
College of Bishops
UMC Headquarters, 900 U.N. Avenue
Ermita, Manila, 1000 Philippines

 A Pastoral Statement

To      :   The UMC Community in the Philippines
From  :   The College of Bishops

Date   :   May 16, 2011

There are some recent developments in our church about which we want to inform you and to suggest to you how we might regard and handle them.

First, on May 7, 2011, some members and pastors of our church have decided to withdraw officially their membership in The United Methodist Church and organize themselves into a separate church which they name “The Philippines Methodist Church”.  This was done in Carmen United Methodist Church in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija and was attended by some 200 people – lay and pastors and Bishop Lito Tangonan.

This is a sad event in the history of our church.  This is the third time that there is schism in the Methodist community in the Philippines.  We deeply wish that it should never have happened.

However, for whatever reasons these people are formally breaking membership relation with us, we must acknowledge that they have the right to do so.  Membership in our church is voluntary, and withdrawal of that membership is equally voluntary.  Such a choice is an expression of the right to religious freedom.

Should they wish to restore their membership with us later on, we must welcome them.

Second, it appears that these people have proclaimed officially that the first bishop of their schismatically organized group is Bishop Lito Tangonan. By all indications in terms of his participation in the preparation of the Carmen event, the proclamation of the schismatic group, and the structuring of the schismatic church, Bishop Tangonan appears to have accepted this offer. Given his active participation in establishing the schismatic group, he could not deny the offer, and he did not. The only reasonable conclusion is that he now heads the schismatic church. This means that Bishop Tangonan has renounced his membership in the United Methodist Church, has vacated the office of Bishop of the United Methodist Church, and terminated his membership in both the College of Bishops of the Philippines Central Conference and the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church.

This is also a very sad event in the history of our church. We regret it very deeply.

However, Bishop Tangonan has the right to make this choice. We must respect both the right and the choice in which it was exercised.

It is only proper that in our respect of his right and of his choice, we shall no longer, from hereon, regard Bishop Tangonan as a bonafide member of our church and a bishop in our church.  

Thirdly, The pastors and district superintendents who have joined in organizing the  “Philippines Methodist Church” in  exercise  of  their  right  and  by the choice they have made are to be treated officially as having formally terminated their membership and ministry in The United Methodist Church.

The restoration of their membership and ministry – while welcome – may, however, depend on some conditions being met in accordance with the Discipline of The United Methodist Church.

Fourthly, the organizing of the Philippines Methodist Church as a schismatic group may entail questions of claims to properties.  These questions may become legal issues that may entail court litigation and action.  We shall do our best in protecting the interests and properties of The United Methodist Church.

Fifthly, we have no information that whole local churches or congregations are withdrawing from being  a  part  of  The  United  Methodist  Church connection.

It may be that only members of local churches are seceding, not whole local churches.  If this is the case, then the local church from which some of its members are withdrawing their membership remains and continues to be a local church of the entire UMC connection. Moreover, local churches are parts of annual conferences which are legally incorporated.  And so their legal status is unimpaired by some of their members terminating their membership.  If a whole local church and its entire membership decide to terminate their connectional and incorporate status, this may require an action of approval by the annual conference of which it is a member.

Finally, if a local church or some local churches decide to terminate their connectional and corporate status and the annual conference agrees, that does not impair the connectional and corporate status of the annual conference concerned. It retains legal authority over its properties, since properties of local churches are held in trust of The United Methodist Church – and are therefore connectionally held – and at the same time held corporately by the annual conference.

In conclusion, schism in the church is always a sad and troublesome affair.   They have immediate and long-term consequences.  In view of this, let us not make the situation become any worse than it is.  Let us refrain from hurting words and harmful deeds.  Let us act in good faith always speaking the truth in love.  And with every opportunity that comes, let us together work toward preserving and promoting the unity of the church.

God bless you all!

(Sgd.) Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan                                  (Sgd.) Bishop Leo A. Soriano
(Sgd.) Bishop Emerito P. Nacpil                                (Sgd.) Bishop Jose A. Gamboa, Jr.
(Sgd.) Bishop Daniel C. Arichea, Jr.                          (Sgd.) Bishop Benjamin A. Justo

========================================================================= 

Post a Comment >>

Bishop Arichea (Pre-)Responds

Posted by Bernard Rosario On 8:25 PM 8 comments



Three minutes after 6PM was the time registered to a message electronically mailed from Bishop Daniel Arichea in response to the email that I sent to him last night, February 19.
 
===================================================

 My dear Pastor Rosario,

Thanks for your email. I am sorry I have no time right now to send you a reply. But I will do so in due time. Rest assured that I respect your position. Also rest assured that I do abide by the Book of Discipline even though I may not be in agreement with what it says. 

There are times when this happens, and when you make a distinction between the provisions of law and your personal convictions. It is a very difficult position to be in, I assure you.

While I cannot give you an extended answer right now, let me just say that I have believed all along that sexual orientation should not be used as a way of evaluating people even in ministry.  Also, I have studied the issue of homosexuality both scientifically and biblically, and my position has come from serious grappling of the biblical and theological issues connected with the problem of sexual orientation.  And finally, I have met so many people who I believe have genuine calls to the ministry and who cannot serve in the UMC because of our rules, and so have to find the fulfilment of their ministry elsewhere. There are others who have to deny who they are in order to be faithful to their call to ministry.  

I will give you a more substantial answer when I have more time.

Thanks again for your desire to engage in this kind of dialogue.

God bless you richly in your ministry.

Bishop Arichea

=================================================== 

Though I would love if he, instead, bombarded me with his scientific, biblical, and theological serious grappling about sexual orientation, I was still grateful that he (pre-)responded. All we can do for now is to further wait and pray that bishop honors his word. My reply:
Thanks for responding to a nobody. I do understand how scarce time is for you. However, may those who wait with eagerness for your painstaking response not be disappointed. Also, I, personally, would love to hear my ten inquiries addressed.

Pastor Bernard 
Post a Comment >>

Scabbards are Thrown with Tears (An Open Letter to Daniel Arichea)

Posted by Bernard Rosario On 11:39 PM 7 comments




The following is a message that I sent to UMC Retired Bishop Daniel Arichea through email pertaining to his signing of a document counseling the Church through its leaders to abandon its long stance against homosexuality in the ordained ministry. The colored texts are direct quotations from the signed document.

===================================================

Greetings, Bishop!

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

First of all, I am a nobody for such a giant like you. I am just an ordinary inexperienced part-time pastor of a small local church here in Pangasinan with no formal education. I have an intense respect for you. Actually, just a pinch of your profile here floods me. I strongly believe that no one, or only a few at best, can ever rank along with you considering your accomplishments until Christ returns.

However, I am writing this letter to you because of an awful distress that I am feeling because of this news from the UMNS Report. You are one of the three most recent signers of A Statement of Counsel to the Church — 2011, which believes that “The United Methodist Church should remove the following statement from The Book of Discipline (2008):  

‘…The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.  Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.’  ¶304.3”

To state my purpose clearly, I want to let you know that a few clergy men and lay people from your Philippines are massively discouraged and dismayed with what you have done.

But before I totally throw my scabbard against you and consider you an enemy of Evangelicalism, please allow me to enumerate some surface questions after a shallow reading of the Statement.

With this statement of conviction and counsel we seek:  
·         To affirm that the historic tests of “gifts and evidence of God’s grace” for ordained ministry override any past or present temporal restrictions such as race, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.  

(1) Do you truly believe that homosexuality as a “sexual orientation” is a “temporal restriction” for the ordained ministry? Does that imply that 1 Cor. 6:9-10 speak of a temporal kingdom?

·         To declare our conviction that the current disciplinary position of The United Methodist Church, a part of our historical development, need not, and should not, be embraced as the faithful position for the future.   

(2) To whom or to what is the object of the “faithful position for the future”? Faithful to whom?

With increasing frequency we observe and experience the following disturbing realities and know them to be detrimental to the mission of a Church of Jesus Christ:  
·         Laity and clergy, gay and straight, withdrawing membership or absenting themselves from the support of congregational and denominational Church life in order to maintain personal integrity.  

(3) Won’t it be also a disturbing reality and detrimental to the mission of the Church when laity and clergy withdraw membership from the UMC for the belief that it is drown into apostasy?

·         Young adults, especially, embarrassed to invite friends and expressing dismay at the unwillingness of our United Methodist Church to alter its 39-year exclusionary stance.  

(4) Won’t it be also a disturbing reality and detrimental to the mission of the Church when young people, especially, are embarrassed to invite friends and are dismayed with the willingness of the United Methodist Church to embrace an error which It fought against for decades?

·         Closeted pastors, currently called and ordained in our church, living divided lives while offering effective appreciated ministry.  

(5) Who defines ministry effectivity? Who defines an appreciated ministry?

·         Bishops being drained of energy by upholding Church Discipline while regarding it as contrary to their convictions.  

(6) Won’t it be also a disturbing reality and detrimental to the mission of the Church when Bishops are being drained of energy by upholding Church Discipline while regarding it as contrary to their convictions (Assuming that your sought change happens)?

·         Bishops caught between care for the Church by reappointing an effective gay or lesbian pastor and care for the Discipline by charging them under current legislation.  

(7) Again may I know who defines ministry effectivity?

·         Seminary leaders desiring greater flexibility and openness from the church in order to advance their mission of identifying, recruiting, enrolling, educating and spiritually forming Christian leaders.  

(8) How poor are the skills of these seminary leaders whose ability on nurturing spiritual formation lies dependent on flexibility and openness rather than on objective truth?

·         Christian gay men and women understanding themselves called of God to seek ministry opportunities within their United Methodist family Church home, but having to decide between:   
o  leaving to go to accepting denominations, or  
o  staying and praying for change, or   
o  challenging Church law and accepting punitive actions.

(9)How about a fourth choice?
o  being encouraged by the sufficient and infallible Word found in 1 Cor. 6:11, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

“…(A) The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.  (B) Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.”  ¶304.3  

(10) The paragraph in question has two sentences which I marked as (A) and (B) above. Both are requested to be removed while the contents of your statement of counsel only deal with the second. This makes me curious of what you think will be the most fitting paragraph if this be changed.
a.       …The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.  However, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are allowed to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.
b.      …The practice of homosexuality is compatible with Christian teaching.  Yet, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.
c.       …The practice of homosexuality is compatible with Christian teaching.  Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are allowed to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.

Perhaps the crux of my disgust with your position is our differing view of whether homosexuality is detestable in the sight of the glorious Almighty or not. And perhaps, you may also hold the perennial justification of making a distinction between a homosexual and a practicing homosexual. That 1 Cor. 6 only abhors those who practice homosexuality only (not mentioning that ¶304.3 includes the words “practice of homosexuality”).

In Matthew 5,
He who practices murder and he who is a murderer at heart are equally guilty.
He who practices adultery and he who is an adulterer at heart are equally guilty.
How about him who practices homosexuality and him who is a homosexual at heart?

I will be very glad if I can post your response to my blog where I am posting this as an open letter.

Tearful but fearless,
Ptr. Bernard A. Rosario
PPAC, Philippines

===================================================

A Confession on Thrown Scabbard’s Birthday, “Yes, I’m In Love”

Posted by Bernard Rosario On 6:03 PM 2 comments



It was February 2001 when my bestfriend, Anna, introduced me to my Beloved. At first, she appeared boring, unattractive, and traditional. I decided just to date her for three months. I never thought she would be so lovable that after three months, I was officially engaged to her, not mentioning that we only got to acquaint every Sunday. Months turned to years, and years turned to a decade. And I can say that I love her more today than yesterday. Yes, I’m in love for ten years now.

10) She is rare. She keeps a journal containing all instructions that governs her life and ministry. She keeps a record of her rich biography. She also preserves a list of her beliefs and why she believes them. Every four years, she does meticulous reviews and does amendments if necessary. At first, I thought this was unwise yet when I learned that nothing in her journal hates my Calvinism but, instead, gives hints of acceptance, I try to request for a copy of her journal from time to time.

9) Who can’t fall in love for one who knows your gifts well and encourages you to exercise them in any way? It was her who saw a shepherd’s heart within me. She saw it first even before I did. Yet, she still did a bunch of tests of confirmation if this was really what the Sovereign had gifted me with. Now I thank her and GOD for Dorongan Punta UMC, my first pastoral appointment.

8) I value my Bible much. It is another reason why I thank GOD for letting me meet her. She loves the Bible too. In fact, in 1998, she gathered a cluster of young people from all over the country, wherein Anna was one, whom she encouraged to grow in the knowledge of their Creator through their Bibles. It then became a biennial activity which we now label as National Bible Quiz. I am blessed to witness 4 out of the 7 quizzes. I have witnessed how multiple young men and women became more committed Christians because of this.

7) Another thing, I can say that there is something delightful with me being with her. Eversince we’ve been together, I find it easier to request for books from Christian authors. One of the reasons, I suppose, is that because they find my engagement with her odd, puzzling, but interesting because I am a Calvinist. No one else loves John Wesley more than her while I consider John Calvin as my influence. These two, as others often see, are generally at odds with each other. However, as what I am getting used to say, “Because the heart-warming experience is an irresistible gift of providence.” The two Johns can shake hands.

6) I can still remember the multiple instances when I felt that she was being threatened, when I was always ready to throw all my scabbards for her sake. But, again, thanks be to GOD for all the mighty warriors who loved her much too. My fight for her became their fight. And their fight became mine as well. We met regularly before every Wednesday pleading to GOD that may she be helped. I miss those times with Manang Annie and Manang Bayen with their husbands Uncle Imon and Kuya Ed, respectively.

5) But amidst those trials, we still found time to share interests with each other. Few are like her who have a bunch of considered spiritual heroes. The funny thing is her spiritual hero, John Wesley, is my spiritual hero’s spiritual hero. Charles Spurgeon stated in his autobiography, “If there were wanted two apostles to be added to the number of the twelve, I do not believe that there could be found two men more fit to be so added than George Whitfield and John Wesley.” From the Wesleys, I learned about Luther and other reformers, and from then learned about the Puritans. My Beloved then encouraged me to share this little knowledge that I acquired in Lay Institute for Christian Advancement. My three years as the History of Protestant Reformation teacher in LIfCA is a great privilege.

4) I am not a good singer but everytime I am with her, songs overflow for our Lord. She really is the one who taught me to sing. She has a lot of wonderful songs filling her wonderful songbooks. Besides, her songs are not like others’ songs. Every line is magnificently crafted. Some are decades, and even centuries, old yet their messages are always fresh. Nowadays, it is already a challenging task to find one whose eyes still glow for Bible-saturated, God-glorifying, Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Church-edifying, passion-filled songs like her songs. Her chosen tracks are the best, just next to the Psalms I believe. These really make her appear so attractive and lovable.

3) For the past ten years that we were together, we never did miss a Christmas spent with each other. We yearly consume five days in a camp, from the 26th to the 30th of December. These days for us are very special that we look forward to it even as early as June. But of course, we don’t want to waste it so we spend the most of these times with other young people from all over Central Pangasinan. We leave our comfy beds and rest, instead, in tents cushioned with hays but almost nothing can parallel with the memories. Film showings, group dynamics, Bible studies, games, presentations, and tons of laughters and joys all for the glory of GOD.

2) As my list flights to the top, the growth that my Beloved had caused to me (and to others) is also incalculably soaring high. Her smile was incredibly beautiful when we started our New Testament Survey with the Book of Romans. And in 6 longs years, she was there making sure that every New Testament branch was shook and the ripest fruits were gathered. GOD had used her again and again to kindle and rekindle our passion for His supremacy in Christ Jesus. In fact, it was in her very own house where the utmost expression of our single passion, GOD, was displayed on October 30, 2009.

1) Here now comes the greatest reason that I love her much. She introduced to me a fellowship of youngsters which I can call my second family. These are the grandest channels of strength, courage, and inspiration from the Lord for me. I am extremely grateful to GOD and to her for the ever virtuous Anna, my humble pride Met, the most learned Joy, the joyful May Ann, the artist-theologian Bona, the poetic thinker MJ, the sweetest Amy, and also for Jerome, Grace, Ludith, Ninoy, and for the younger ones especially for the most lovable Mai-Mai. My heart will always be a treasure chest of all our Bible studies, Bibliolympics, luncheons, outings, picnics, VCS classes, Com-Coms (Communicating my Communion), and everything spent with them. Breathing amidst trials and rough roads are no problem when their walk with the truth is observed.

I count all of these as graces from the Holy Sovereign God through my beloved. These are the top reasons why I love her much.

Now, my beloved is much endangered and threatened. Some are trying to supplement her manual which may result to unfaithfulness to the Lord. She has become a victim of politics, immorality, and worldliness. Her used to be influential family has downgraded to a dying sect. She is becoming lesser beautiful and lesser gorgeous. So sad, because I want my future children to fall in love with her too. Please pray for the United Methodist Church, my beloved.

TEN GRACES FOR TEN YEARS IN UMC
10) Book of Discipline
9) Pastoral Ministry
8) National Bible Quizzes
7) Books from Authors
6) Wednesday Group
5) Church History / LIfCA
4) Hymnal, Hymns, Choir
3) Christmas Institute
2) New Testament Survey / single passion: GOD
1) SCC-UMYF

Post a Comment >>

Two Johns Shake Hands: Major Havens of a Calvinist while being a United Methodist

Posted by Bernard Rosario On 2:19 AM 7 comments



In an essay titled American Methodists on Calvinism and Presbyterianism, the distinguished professor of Church History at Candler School of Theology, Emory University (a United Methodist Seminary), Russell E. Richey, wrote

The union of 1968, bringing together Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist churches made the Reformed tradition a constitutive part of United Methodism. Our doctrinal standards now include the EUB 'Confession of Faith,' our theological heritage embraces the Reformed witness of Otterbein and the United Brethren, and through the EUB story United Methodists acquired Calvinist roots. Whitefield again looks increasingly like a full member of the family.

These words turned my whispers into shouts. They had broken me free from the small box of being a silent United Methodist with Calvinistic convictions, from the chaining fear of being disassociated, into a bold proclaimer of the doctrines of grace.

What follows are portions from the Book of Discipline of UMC which are major havens, places of safety, for a Calvinist like me inside this generally Wesleyan church.

From Section 1 - Our Doctrinal Heritage

Although Wesley shared with many other Christians a belief in grace, justification, assurance, and sanctification, he combined them in a powerful manner to create distinctive emphases for living the full Christian life. The Evangelical United Brethren tradition, particularly as expressed by Phillip William Otterbein from a Reformed background, gave similar distinctive emphases.

The distinctive Wesleyan emphases "for living the full Christian life" can be emphasized in Calvinistic background.

From Section 2 - Our Doctrinal History

The unfolding of doctrinal concerns among Jacob Albright's Evangelical Association and Phillip William Otterbein's United Brethren in Christ roughly parallels Methodist developments. Differences emerged largely from differing ecclesiastical traditions brought from Germany and Holland, together with the modified Calvinism of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Here, the Book of Discipline, acknowledges that the EUB has its roots to be traced with "modified Calvinism of the Heidelberg Catechism." Heidelberg Catechism is one of the most influential Calvinistic catechisms.

From Section 3 - Our Doctrinal Standards

Article VII—Sin and Free Will
We believe man is fallen from righteousness and, apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is destitute of holiness and inclined to evil. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. In his own strength, without divine grace, man cannot do good works pleasing and acceptable to God. We believe, however, man influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit is responsible in freedom to exercise his will for good.

Article IX—Justification and Regeneration
We believe regeneration is the renewal of man in righteousness through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, whereby we are made partakers of the divine nature and experience newness of life. By this new birth the believer becomes reconciled to God and is enabled to serve him with the will and the affections.

These may not seem to be a Calvinistic haven, at first, but if it is remembered that these should be interpreted using the lens of the Heidelberg Catechism, then, its Reformed meaning is obviously established. And these are protected by

In the Plan of Union for The United Methodist Church, the preface to the Methodist Articles of Religion and the Evangelical United Brethren Confession of Faith explains that both were accepted as doctrinal standards for the new church.


Conclusion

It will be best to consider that Methodism started not as a theological movement. It started as a lifestyle movement focusing on Bible study and a methodical approach to scriptures and Christian living. They were familiarized to communion, fasting, abstinence, and visitation of the sick and poor. Therefore, just as a recommendation of a UMC pastor, it is possible to embrace the scholarship of John Calvin while maintaining the piety and passion of John Wesley. The two Johns can indeed shake hands. Will you shake hands with me?

Post a Comment >>

The Seven Churches of Revelation and United Methodism

Posted by Bernard Rosario On 10:22 AM 5 comments




Let me first state my agreement with Ptr. John MacArthur when he wrote "The seven churches addressed in chapters 2 and 3 were actual existing churches when John wrote. But while not precisely duplicated, they also represent the types of churches that are generally present throughout the entire church age." Therefore I invite you to try to evaluate your church's type following the seven categories:

1) Love-Grew-Cold (Ephesus)
Commended for (2:2–3, 6):
  • deeds, toil, and perseverance
  • healthy judgment againts false teachings and teachers
  • hatred for antinomians
Rebuked for (2:4):
  • diminishing passion for GOD
2) Persecuted (Smyrna)
Commended for (2:9):
  • staying firm amidst tribulation, poverty and blasphemy
Rebuked for:
  • nothing (Wow!)
3) Worldly (Pergamum)
Commended for (2:13):
  • maintaining their faith despite difficult circumstances including death
Rebuked for (2:14–15):
  • mixing Christianity with worldly systems (as paganism)
  • some abuse liberty and embrace antinomianism (Nicolaitans)
4) Sin-Tolerating (Thyatira)
Commended for (2:19):
  • growing deeds of love, faith, service, and perseverance
Rebuked for (2:20–23):
  • tolerating a false teacher, a false teaching, and immoral practices inside
5) Dead (Sardis)
Commended for (3:4):
  • some who maintain their purity
Rebuked for (3:1d, 2b):
  • departing from the Source of spiritual life and from being a channel of spiritual life
6) Faithful (Philadelphia)
Commended for (3:8–11a):
  • though small in numbers, they have a powerful impact in the community for being faithful to GOD and to His Word
Rebuked for:
  • nothing (Wow! And wow!)
7) Lukewarm (Laodicea)
Commended for:
  • nothing (What?)
Rebuked for (3:15–17):
  • being lukewarm, neither are they genuinely saved (hot) nor are they rejecting the gospel (cold)
  • being arrogant and proud
  • being spiritually wretched, poor, and blind
How About the UMC?

Let me, then, diagnose my church, the United Methodist Church, as I observe its worship and practices here at our conference. I am confident yet sad to admit that my church does not fall on the unrebuked churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia. It is neither persecuted nor faithful. I can't even classify it under the passionless Ephesus. Never do I see a healthy discernment against false teachers and false teachings (false teachers are actually revered oftentimes). These, therefore, leave four feasible choices: Worldly, Sin-Tolerating, Dead, Lukewarm. Did I just describe my church with four adjectives?

Let me, therefore, proceed on exploring the commands given to these four churches. I assume that these are the same commands that my church ought to take heed to:
  • Commandment to Pergamum (2:16)
    "repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war"
  • Commandment to Thyatira (2:24–25)
    "the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this [false] teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come."
  • Commandment to Sardis (3:2a, 3)
"Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die…. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent."
  • Commandment to Laodicea (3:18–20)
"be zealous and repent"

Oh, GOD, please be merciful and gracious to the United Methodist Church. May You, in Your sovereignty, be pleased to send renewal, reformation, and revival.

I have borrowed a lot from MacArthur's New Testament Commentary: Revelation 1-11.

Post a Comment >>

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Related Posts with Thumbnails