LGBTQ June Resolution Stance
Below, you will find the proposed statement our congregation will discuss and vote on on Sunday, January 26th, 2020. This congregational meeting will be held at the church. The meeting will start at noon and conclude no later than 2:00 PM.
The statement responds to the United Methodist Church 2019 General Conference decision to adopt a Traditional Plan doctrine that prohibits in our church LGBTQ+ weddings and our pastors from presiding over them. The doctrine, which has been suspended while the worldwide church determines how to proceed with it, also prohibits LGBTQ+ persons from serving our church as a pastor and leader and requires our pastors to enforce the doctrine in the United Methodist Discipline under threat of punishment.
This vote is on whether or not the proposed statement expresses how we as a church feel about this particular doctrine. It is not a vote on whether or not we chose to remain a United Methodist church, nor are we being asked to make such a decision. This will be a vote on how we respond to the 2019 General Conference decision, which we can rely on during renewed discussions by the General Conference on that decision this spring.
This moment is historic for our church and United Methodists worldwide who are wrestling with this issue. A North Liberty church member task force met weekly in October and November and once in December to craft this proposed statement, and your Ministry Council decided in December to forward to you for your decision. The task force discussed, wrote and rewrote the proposed statement while also contemplating, prayer and studying Bible passages. Bible verses that were part of the deliberation, if you are interested, are: Mark 8:27-30, John 4:5-15, John 21: 15 19, John 6:48-60, Acts 6:1-6, Acts 9: 1-16, 2 Corinthians 10: 7-11, Acts 9: 1-16, and Psalm 150.
Please read this proposed statement and pray about it as you prepare to attend the congregational meeting, where we will vote on whether to adopt it. You need to be present at the meeting to vote. If you cannot attend Sunday, please pray for your church and those who attend the meeting for God’s guidance.
Yours in Christ,
Lyle Muller, Lay Leader
Dave Jansen, Ministry Council Chair
NORTH LIBERTY FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH POSITION STATEMENT ON THE 2019 GENERAL CONFERENCE
TRADITIONAL PLAN DECISION
North Liberty First United Methodist Church is a gathering of individuals from a diverse and evolving community with varied backgrounds and lifestyles. We recognize the abundance of God’s amazing grace and that all of us have unique gifts and relationships with God. We believe and affirm that all human beings are individuals of sacred worth, created equally in God’s image. We strive to recognize God in everyone. Therefore, we welcome everyone to be fully included in the life of our church.
Our faith calls us to support all who seek the blessings Christ makes available. It is why we, the members of North Liberty First United Methodist Church, reject the 2019 United Methodist Church General Conference decision to adopt the doctrine known as the Traditional Plan. It is why we affirm lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning persons, including those choosing to marry before God, choosing to preside over the weddings, serving as United Methodist clergy or serving in church leadership.
Our faith calls us to be driven by compassion, mercy and the love of Christ. We are the hands and feet of Christ, serving each other and letting our actions speak loud and clear in North Liberty, in God’s church and in God’s world. We support each other in our journey of faith and encourage one another to reach beyond our comfort zones to follow and invite others to follow Jesus Christ.
All are welcome in our church.
Our Mission Statement: To follow and invite others to follow Jesus Christ.
Upcoming Important Dates :
1 in your hotel room- $145.00
2 in your hotel room- $99.00
3 in your hotel room- $85.00
4 in your hotel room- $75.00
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Also, a deposit fee of $50.00 is due at the time of registration. The deadline for sign up is February 16th.
