Dear Editor,
The year 2021 will be a deciding point for the Methodist Church in the UK.
In 2019 the Task Group, appointed by the Methodist Conference, published a report entitled God In Love Unites Us. This report recommends a change to the definition of marriage, to sanction cohabitation, and to allow marriage between same-sex couples to be held in Methodist chapels. In order to redefine marriage and to promote marriage between same-sex couples, it has been necessary to reinterpret many passages in the Bible to accommodate these changes. This in turn will require the Doctrines of the Methodist Church to be rewritten.
It is my opinion this report is taking the Methodist Church into deep waters.
It is expected that a decision will be made at the 2021 Conference (24 June – 1 July) on these ‘contentious’ recommendations.
Bible-believing Christians, ordained ministers, local preachers, as well as lay members, are now being placed at a ‘crossroads’ which is not of their own making. Each will have to make a decision as to whether they believe the Bible is the word of God or whether it can/should be reinterpreted to accommodate the modern world. As Bible-believing Christians we do not have the luxury of being able to have our own opinion.
John Wesley wrote these words towards the end of his life: ‘Here I am; I and my Bible. I will not, I dare not, vary from this book either in great things or small. I have no power to dispense with one jot or tittle of what is contained therein. I am determined to be a Bible Christian, not almost but altogether. Who will meet me on this ground? Join me on this or not at all …’
A View from the Pew – a response to the report God In Love Unites Us – is available free of charge from me.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Armorel Carlyon
armoreltruro@googlemail.com
