Within the Disciples of Christ denomination, there is a growing movement called Disciple Renewal. They have been fighting against liberalism for many years. I recently got a letter from them, asking for monitary support for their fight against same sex marriages that has been creeping into the demonination. The letter quotes, "At the 1999 Cincinnati General Assambly a forum wa held entitled "An Open Forum On Same Gender Covenant Ceremonies" The discription reads, "THis forum is a chance for leaders of local congregations and other interested individuals to learn about same gender covenant ceremonies to acquire resources to officiate at such ceremonies, and to discuss them." And yet we are told that the church is in a discernment process on the issue of homosexuality. Don't believe it! The leadership has already "discerned" that homosexual behavior is okay with God as witnessed by the forum. We have reported in the past, some Disciple pastors do perform such "marriages." Such ministers denigrate their calling by asking God to bless a lie!"

My question is this... are we next? How far do we allow such immorality to continue. We vote for a president who not only allows the murder of innocent babies to die under the banner of a woman's right to choose, but he promotes the evil lifestyle of homosexuals and sodomites. How much more are we going to allow? Are we going to cave in under the banner of unity? What if the govenment rules that we must marry and allow these people into our membership without change. There are times I feel it is time for another American revolution, which by the way is our constitutional right as it is our right to bear military arms. But, maybe that is a thread altogether.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

Answers

I understand that representatives of the Disciples, the independent Christian churches and the a capella Churches of Christ met in November to worship together and to discuss common ground and unity. "Division is essentially an attitude. So is unity," Henry Webb of Milligan College said. "If we had paid more attention to the Gospel we would have demonstrated greater love for others. Thankfully, a new generation of leaders is no longer threatened by meeting with 'the enemy.'" I can only hope that the representatives of the Disciples that were present were of the "Disciple Renewal" faction. On the subject of same-sex marriages, we have no common ground! God's word has not changed: Ho mosexuality is still sin!

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

My apologies. The above link was supposed to open to an article I wrote regarding church-sanctioned same-sex marriages which was run in our local paper in response to a "Reverend" who condoned such abominations. But apparently I flubbed the code. (Hey, nobody's perfect.) If you wish to read the article, it is at http://home.earthlink.net/~qhcc2000/john/homo.html . God bless you all. =)

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

Hey John, Great article. That topic comes up often in editorials. You made a great stand for the truth. I espcially liked the end where you said... Let God be true and every man liar.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

Hey John, Great article. That topic comes up often in editorials. You made a great stand for the truth. I espcially liked the end where you said... Let God be true and every man liar.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

Thanks, Teresa. (blush) Just trying to do my part to defend the faith in my little sphere of influence. "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone" (1 Peter 3:15a). But I appreciate the encouragement. God bless.

In His Service, John Wilson

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2000