Methodists sue breakaway congregation
The Associated Press reports:
Regional leaders of the United Methodist Church have sued an Eastern Oregon congregation that split from the denomination.
The Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, which oversees Methodist congregations in the region, claims in its lawsuit that members of the Ontario Community Church took property, funds and documents held in trust for the Methodist mission and ministry.
Leaders of the breakaway church, formerly the Ontario Community United Methodist Church, said their attorney advised them not to comment on the complaint, which was filed this month in Malheur County Circuit Court.
Congregations in California and Alabama have left the Methodist denomination in recent years, sparking legal battles over the United Methodist Church's trust clause, which holds that local congregations own property in trust for the entire denomination.
Greg Tollefson of Boise, chairman of the conference board of trustees, said in a statement, that the denomination has a duty to protect its property.
Greg Nelson, a spokesman for the Oregon-Idaho conference, said the national church does not keep track of how many churches have left the denomination. But, he added, in most legal disputes, the trust clause has been upheld.
The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have also seen individual congregations leave after the national denominations moved toward allowing ordination for ministers in same-sex relationships.
Comments
The last sentence of your article is misleading with respect to the United Methodist Church. The statement is in no way connected with the rest of the story and, therefore, implies that the UMC has also "moved toward allowing ordination for ministers in same-sex relationships." While there is a loud minority in the church who favor such ordinations, the UMC is far from changing its policy regarding ordination of homosexuals. See the 2008 UMC Book of Discipline Paragraph 304.3
Posted by: Dave | November 15, 2010 7:22 PM
The United Methodist Church has already suffered enough because they allow women to preach. As I was saying about the Catholic church (and others), once you let satan get into the door he wants in all the way, whether it is with gambling , drinking, women preaching, homosexuals leading the church or whatever. Any church not making enough effort to kick him out wont see me sitting in the pews.
Posted by: Clay | November 16, 2010 6:38 AM
Clay,
You are free to worship with your kind. No one is forcing you to mingle with open-minded people who respect the diversity of Creation (and who enjoy a nip from time to time). Just as no one is forcing me to share your myopic vision. That's the glory of the protections afforded us both by the Constitution you dismiss so easily.
Posted by: BankStreet | November 16, 2010 10:00 AM
We don't need you in the pews Clay. But we could use a little help getting some kegs off of the beer truck. Please be a dear and give us a hand.
Posted by: The Stonewall Girls | November 16, 2010 10:25 AM