Michael R GuzikVerified account

What sinful behavior are you speaking of?

In this case, the Church believes that homosexual practice is incompatible with Christian teaching. The UMC agrees with the broad ecumenical consensus of classical orthodox Christianity for the past 2000 years. Surely it's fair to expect UM clergy to follow UM teaching.

But, to your original point, you said that the Church doesn't welcome everyone. That is entirely false. Everyone is welcome, but, obviously, not everyone is ordained clergy.

You're still excluding people based on who they are. That includes not recognizing gay marriage. It's the same as if the church said women can not be clergy. Where does the Bible say members of the LGBTQ community can not be clergy?

You’re getting off track. The point is that, contrary to your initial tweet, everyone IS welcome. Surely you don’t expect the Church (ANY Church) to ordain anyone who wants ordained. The Church has the right to discern appropriate candidates.

Everyone's tithes are welcome but if you want to get married in your church it must be a man and a woman and forget about preaching. Doesn't sound like a place that welcomes ALLL.

Well, yes...a wedding in a UM church should follow UM teaching & policy, and the UMC teaches marriage is one man one woman. Surely you agree that the Church can practice orthodox Christian understanding of marriage. We don’t marry EVERYONE.

But there are lots of folks we won’t marry (for a variety of reasons) and/or won’t ordain (if they won’t uphold Church teaching). Still, all folks are welcome. Not everyone is ready to be married, or ordained, etc. That’s not unfair.