Love and hate under the hot Florida sun

Translate Page

Westboro Baptist Church came to The United Methodist Church’s worldwide assembly on the last day of their two-week meeting with a message: God Hates the Methodist Church.

The Rev. Troy Plummer, director of Reconciling Ministries Network, and other pastors and lay members of The United Methodist Church formed a shield in front of the Westboro demonstrators. Westboro positioned themselves outside a white tent where the Love Your Neighbor Common Witness Coalition has been holding daily lunches in support of full inclusion of all races, genders and sexual orientation in the church.

Inside the tent they were signing “Draw the Circle Wide,” while outside the demonstrators sang their own words to “God is Going to Stand There and Watch You Burn” to Rhiana’s song “Love the Way You Love.”

Standing in the line was the Rev. Troy Plummer, director of Reconciling Ministries, was constantly being taunting by one man hurling hateful words like “You are lying to these people. Methodists are fag enablers.” In the hot Florida sun, Plummer keep his cool and grace.

Audrey Krumbach, a member of MOSAIC Methodist Students (Young People) for an All Inclusive Church, was holding rainbow-decorated stoles which are a symbol of solidarity with lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.

“This is the first time I feel like I am protecting The United Methodist Church with these stoles instead of standing outside looking in.”


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

UMNEWS-SUBSCRIPTION
Poverty
Urs Schweizer.  Photo courtesy of author.

When the poor share what they have

An agricultural program initiated by the United Methodist Church in Albania to help those struggling economically led to an inspiring act of charity.
Judicial Council
The coming General Conference is scheduled to meet April 23-May 3, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. The Judicial Council, The United Methodist Church’s top court, faced questions about how to handle delegate vacancies for the postponed General Conference, and whether another General Conference should be held between 2024 and 2028. Photo courtesy of charlottesgotalot.com.

Court rules on General Conference questions

The United Methodist Church’s top court addressed questions about filling delegate vacancies and whether another General Conference needs to be scheduled after the postponed 2020 General Conference takes place in 2024.
General Church
An excerpt from a map detailing the central conferences in Europe shows the Central and Southern Europe Central Conference (in red), the Germany Central Conference (in green), and the Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference, which contains the Eurasia Episcopal Area and the Nordic and Baltic Episcopal Area (in orange and blue respectively). Original map courtesy of UMC.org; edited by UM News.

Eurasia and Estonia begin exit from church

Church regions in Eurasia and the Baltics, built up after the breakup of the Soviet Union, now plan to leave The United Methodist Church.