C-Mail
I felt encouraged when I read the article stating that "the committee on investigation voted that reasonable grounds exist for a church trial as provided in the United Methodist Book of Discipline" [“Clergywoman to face trial,” Aug. 27]. This certainly seems to be justified. However, I have not seen any follow-up information in The Call since.
This morning I heard a minister of another denomination (who I have much confidence in because I have found his preaching to be completely Bible-based) say that five main-line denominations are not following scripture in dealing with homosexual issues, and he mentioned the Episcopal bishop and a minister in the Methodist Church. It sounded like this Stroud person. This troubles me, if the Methodist leadership is going to let something like this just pass by. If we don't follow the scriptures and also completely disregard the Book of Discipline, then are we going to drift along like a ship lost at sea. I have been a Methodist for my entire 75 years and will find it very sad to leave the church I love and have been proud of. Please let me know if any action is being taken on this issue and others like it.
Celia M. Hill
White Oak UMC
Chattanooga District
Editor’s note – On Oct. 26, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference released the following announcement:
“The Rev. Irene Elizabeth (Beth) Stroud faces a church trial Dec. 1 for violating a United Methodist law forbidding the ordination and appointment of self-avowed, practicing homosexuals. Rev. Stroud’s trial will be held at Camp Innabah, a church camp located near Pottstown. It is expected that the trial will last one to three days. Retired Bishop Joseph H. Yeakel of Smithsburg, Md., will preside.”
I am writing in reference to the article, “Trading spaces: Oak Ridge District church transforms old school into new community center” [Oct. 22]. I was a member of Heiskell UMC when the church was first approached about trading properties with Heiskell Volunteer Fire Department. The article is a wonderful testimony about God’s mysterious ways and his use of ordinary people.
I have only one fault to mention. The article never mentioned the true visionary of the "move" as we called it: J.D. Jett. When we saw an old, worn-out school, J.D. saw a church. When we saw too many dollar signs, J.D. patiently explained how the work could be done by members of the community and church. When we saw the "before," J.D. envisioned the "after." Without J.D. Jett and his wife Johnnie (she kept us fed and encouraged) the "move" never would have happened. They are quiet people who are always about God's business, never wanting any praise or recognition, but I for one want others to know that J.D. saw God's vision. Then he said, "Here I am, Lord." And J.D. and Johnnie went to work.
Edie Joe Hall
Bookwalter UMC
Knoxville District
Editor’s note – The Rev. Pat Bishop, pastor at Heiskell UMC, responds:
“Edie Jo Hall is absolutely right about J.D. and Johnnie Jett. Had J.D. been there, I certainly would have had [the reporter] to interview him. J.D. did take the lead in transforming the building. He and his wife are two of the strongest, most committed Christians I have ever known and are the backbone of the church.”
I am writing to say "bravo” to Nelda Thompson's letter in the Oct. 8 edition. I must add my voice to her "respectful disagreement" with the "prominent Methodists" ad.
Everywhere we turn today, God is being erased from our society by our courts and our civic leaders without our consent. Our complacency is allowing a society to develop where as Judges 17:6 says, "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." It is essential that we educate ourselves about potential government officials and legislation. We cannot be worthy of the name Christian if we support something that directly violates his word.
We, the body of Christ, have a God-given responsibility to speak and vote our convictions – convictions formed from the position of strong biblical knowledge, and humble, sincere prayer for wisdom. Stand up and be counted for the kingdom!
Bill Bowling
Hiltons UMC
Big Stone Gap District
In response to Nelda Thompson’s letter [“C-Mail,” Oct. 8], I strongly disagree with her thinly veiled endorsement of the president in this publication. While Ms. Thompson begins with the statement that “God is neither Democrat nor Republican,”she then justifies one of the candidate’s political views with scripture to make the argument that only one of the two Presidential candidates is truly “God’s candidate.” Regardless of her political views, I believe that her use of this newsletter to promote a political candidate is inappropriate and should not have been published. I hold The Call’s editors equally responsible in this matter as they have the ultimate decision what letters should and should not be printed. I have a deep love for the United Methodist Church but if The Call becomes a forum for political debate and discussion, then I will cancel my subscription. This newsletter should be about the Holston Conference and the United Methodist Church and nothing else.
In addition, I would like to remind the editors that the Holston Conference doesn’t end at the Tennessee state line. When I received this latest issue of The Call, I searched for news coming from the Virginia districts of the conference as I always do, and as usual found nothing. This preoccupation with “all things Tennessee” in the pages of your newsletter only alienates the members from Virginia who are a vital part of the conference. Indeed, God is working in the Abingdon, Big Stone Gap, Tazewell, and Wytheville districts and it would be nice to hear about it once in a while!
Chris Stafford
Dublin UMC
Wytheville District
In response to a fellow Methodist who commented about the New York Times ad, I believe all three candidates say they believe in the sanctity of life. Even so, of these three, one has been responsible for taking more innocent life than any candidate in recent memory. Thousands of boys and girls and women have died in Iraq as a result of his decision. God's man?
The writer insinuates that two of the candidates do not believe in traditional marriage. I cannot find that in either of their position statements.
Should a presidential candidate wear their religion on their sleeve? Probably not. There is much history to suggest that a political leader should bear spiritual fruit, but not toot a religious horn.
The writer seemed to put a lot of stock in the opinions of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. I can't think of any two men more at odds with the "prominent
Methodists" she mentions. Frankly, I must side with the Methodists.
Jim Price
McFarland UMC
Chattanooga District
I respectfully disagree with the "prominent Methodists" whose names appear in the ad in the New York Times ["Ad says: Political parties don't have monopoly on God," Sept. 10]. God is neither Democrat nor Republican. However, I believe that God is pleased with those who choose to follow his commands (and they are there in his word). I believe that a man has God's approval when he believes in the sanctity of life and wants to protect unborn babies (Exodus 20:13); wants to maintain God's plan for marriage between a man and a woman (Mark 10:6-9); is not ashamed to tell the world that he is a Christian (Matthew 10:32); is not ashamed to claim Jesus Christ as the greatest person he has known (Matthew 16:15-17); and encourages faith-based organizations to help the underprivileged (Galatians 6:2). Could these be the attributes that make Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson feel that God has his hand on one of the candidates?
Nelda Thompson
Apison UMC
Cleveland District
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