Biblical Methodists Abroad Inform U.S. Church
By J. Grant Swank Jr. (04/30/07)
'People were so hungry to hear the word of God,' a Methodist spokesman said. 'Growth in the developing countries, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere, will certainly outpace growth in the United States for a long time to come.'
While American United Methodists debate, United Methodists abroad praise the Lord, believe the Bible without question to be divine revelation, and seek the salvation of lost souls, per Rachel Zoll of the AP.
The abroad believers have been influenced by biblical missionaries over decades. Therefore, they don’t waste their time in arguing. They have a mission. It is to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission of going into all the world, proclaiming the gospel.
The US United Methodist Church is losing numbers. That same denomination’s numbers are increasing outside North America. The believers abroad contend that the Holy Spirit blesses their allegiance to the Scriptures as God’s eternal Word. Therefore, they carry on.
Now the American segment is conducting conferences abroad. In those conclaves the biblical devotees are holding sway. That gives immense encouragement to biblical believers in the United States, the latter having to contend in one meeting or another with those espousing homosexual lifestyles and other theologically liberal issues.
In some sections of the American United Methodist Church leaders are even permitting same-gender "marriage" and ordination of practicing homosexuals. This is abrasive to biblical parishioners who see these moves as apostate.
"The United Methodist Church is the latest Protestant group caught in the shifting currents of world Christianity. While the American denomination is shrinking at home, its congregations in the developing world are growing explosively.
"Over the last decade, the number of United Methodists outside the U.S. more than tripled. The denomination's largest district is now in the West African nation of Ivory Coast. At the next national church assembly, the 2008 General Conference in Texas, overseas delegates will have more say than ever in the church's future - as many as 30 percent could come from abroad.
"’Trends suggest that Christianity is going to continue to grow as a global phenomenon, and denominations that have thought of themselves as being predominantly North American in character are going to have to get over that,' said William Lawrence, dean of the Perkins School of Theology, a Methodist seminary in Dallas.
"’You definitely see among the African delegations a much more conservative perspective on issues of homosexuality,' said retired United Methodist Bishop C. Dale White, a liberal who oversaw publication of the book
`United Methodism at Risk: A Wake-Up Call,' which contends that conservative groups are trying to take control of the denomination.
"’In the past two General Conferences, we've seen a readiness of conservative American delegates to make common cause with the African delegates who very sincerely believe that in their context, if the United Methodist Church is open to ordaining gay and lesbian people, that it will hurt their outreach there,' White said."
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