Comments on: Two evangelicals to pray at Democratic National Convention http://biblebeltblogger.com/index.php/religion/two-evangelicals-to-pray-at-democratic-national-convention Religion editor Frank Lockwood's spirituality blog Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:16:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mike M. in Colorado http://biblebeltblogger.com/index.php/religion/two-evangelicals-to-pray-at-democratic-national-convention/comment-page-1#comment-7934 Mike M. in Colorado Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:54:34 +0000 http://biblebeltblogger.com/index.php/religion/two-evangelicals-to-pray-at-democratic-national-convention#comment-7934 Your view is one on which I would have firmly agreed before I experienced the single-sided in-your-face political approach of the leaders of the (US) Western part of my denomination, where anything "evangelical" is mocked by the politically correct. People who believe in scripture aren't going anywhere, and they are just as entitled to be leaders in a mainline church as anyone else. When theologically liberal sociocrats realize this, they can focus on what the gospel is about while they also help the gay Christians gain ground. Your view is one on which I would have firmly agreed before I experienced the single-sided in-your-face political approach of the leaders of the (US) Western part of my denomination, where anything “evangelical” is mocked by the politically correct. People who believe in scripture aren’t going anywhere, and they are just as entitled to be leaders in a mainline church as anyone else. When theologically liberal sociocrats realize this, they can focus on what the gospel is about while they also help the gay Christians gain ground.

]]> By: Caleb Powers http://biblebeltblogger.com/index.php/religion/two-evangelicals-to-pray-at-democratic-national-convention/comment-page-1#comment-7835 Caleb Powers Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:31:24 +0000 http://biblebeltblogger.com/index.php/religion/two-evangelicals-to-pray-at-democratic-national-convention#comment-7835 With all due respect, Mike, the only reason that most mainstream churches are putting any emphasis on "gay issues" is because of pressure from evangelicals, inside and outside their denominations. The people of New Hampshire elected a gay bishop without any fuss or muss or help from anyone. And the Episcopal Church has been hounded for it ever since, leading to a virtual revolt among our African brethren. We put absolutely no focus on the issue, but it has become the sole focus of everyone else. And this is at a time when the Episcopal Church is largely funding these African Anglicans, and trying to engage in widespread hunger relief around the world. Ditto the Methodists: A number of gay and lesbian Methodists have become ministers with no focus and no help from anyone. But then their ordinations are attacked by evangelical right wingers who can't stand the idea. Gays and lesbians aren't going anywhere, and they are just as entitled as anyone else to be church leaders. When the evangelicals realize this, then we can remove the focus from "gay issues" and place it on Christian issues like feeding the poor. With all due respect, Mike, the only reason that most mainstream churches are putting any emphasis on “gay issues” is because of pressure from evangelicals, inside and outside their denominations. The people of New Hampshire elected a gay bishop without any fuss or muss or help from anyone. And the Episcopal Church has been hounded for it ever since, leading to a virtual revolt among our African brethren. We put absolutely no focus on the issue, but it has become the sole focus of everyone else. And this is at a time when the Episcopal Church is largely funding these African Anglicans, and trying to engage in widespread hunger relief around the world.

Ditto the Methodists: A number of gay and lesbian Methodists have become ministers with no focus and no help from anyone. But then their ordinations are attacked by evangelical right wingers who can’t stand the idea.

Gays and lesbians aren’t going anywhere, and they are just as entitled as anyone else to be church leaders. When the evangelicals realize this, then we can remove the focus from “gay issues” and place it on Christian issues like feeding the poor.

]]> By: Mike M. in Colorado http://biblebeltblogger.com/index.php/religion/two-evangelicals-to-pray-at-democratic-national-convention/comment-page-1#comment-7828 Mike M. in Colorado Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:15:19 +0000 http://biblebeltblogger.com/index.php/religion/two-evangelicals-to-pray-at-democratic-national-convention#comment-7828 "One of them is evangelical Joel Hunter, a megachurch pastor who has rejected the Christian Right’s agenda — focusing on abortion and gay marriage above all other issues." Good. Amen. Now if only the U.S. mainline church clergy could focus on something else besides gay issues and find some common ground with Evangelicals, with the global Christian church and with Scripture -- like the poor and the helpless. Peace. “One of them is evangelical Joel Hunter, a megachurch pastor who has rejected the Christian Right’s agenda — focusing on abortion and gay marriage above all other issues.” Good. Amen. Now if only the U.S. mainline church clergy could focus on something else besides gay issues and find some common ground with Evangelicals, with the global Christian church and with Scripture — like the poor and the helpless.
Peace.

]]>