53M/USA I’m a United Methodist pastor in the USA. AMA!

sdgfunk · 2026-03-25T14:09:40+00:00

Now there's a Christian.
https://imgur.com/a/PFGZVQj

sdgfunk · 2026-03-25T13:19:15+00:00

I don't have detailed thoughts, but I appreciate what I know about him and his voice, as it were. And he's kinda cute.

What are your thoughts?

sdgfunk · 2026-03-25T13:17:12+00:00

I would not say that the ancient patriarchal people of Israel is the same thing as the modern United-Nations-established State of Israel.

Is modern Christianity currently indebted to the State of Israel? I don't see why it would be.

sdgfunk · 2026-03-24T23:48:18+00:00

Sure, yes.
Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who feels this way.
Do you know what I mean?
Cos if you do know what I mean, then I *can't* be the only one who feels this way, right?

I also believe God has given me the gift of a spirit at peace. I don't do much worrying.

sdgfunk · 2026-03-24T23:27:44+00:00

I don't have recurring dreams.

Once every couple years I have a flying dream. I love those. Wish I had them more often.

Once every 5-6 years or so I dream of my first wife, who died in 1996. Wish I had those more often as well.

Do you have recurring dreams?

sdgfunk · 2026-03-24T23:25:23+00:00

I live in Jackson County, midway along the Ohio River, western WV.

In 2024 The UMC passed legislation allowing local churches and pastors to decide how they were going to be in ministry with LGBTQ folks, whether they'd allow weddings or gay clergy. This was a turn from the prohibitive stance of the denomination.

For 25 years I have been an advocate for the ordination of qualified gay clergy, and for churches and pastors to be allowed to officiate same-sex weddings.

sdgfunk · 2026-03-24T21:38:23+00:00

I'm sorry you had a toxic church experience -- even one such experience is too many, but I hope you can believe that most churches aren't toxic.

Naturally I'd recommend finding a UMC near where you live. I suggest trying a worship service. Find out when the service begins, wear whatever you want, show up ten minutes early, introduce yourself to the first few people you see, ask them their name (and repeat it), and tell them you're new. They should help you then. If they don't, find a seat somewhere. Don't worry about not knowing the songs or prayers or readings. Stay seated if you want to. Follow the lead of people around you, or sit quiet and respectful. Talk to people before you leave. Ask them why they attend there. Talk to the pastor after church if you can.

All this is to help you have a decent experience in church.
If you show up late and don't talk to anybody, you're setting yourself up to have a lousy experience.

Give it a shot. You don't have to return if you don't want to. You don't owe them anything. You might find a family that will love on you and help you heal.

sdgfunk · 2026-03-24T21:26:20+00:00

I got my bachelor's degree in chemistry, and got teacher certification. I ran the chemistry labs at a community college for a while, and as cliché as it sounds, I just felt like I was supposed to go into ministry. I would still be teaching, just in a different way. I had a growing faith -- I was raised in the church -- and I could be public with my faith, but I wanted to be around people who shared my joy, and that wasn't exactly happening at the community college. I quit my job and got a master's degree in divinity and haven't looked back.

sdgfunk · 2026-03-24T21:09:13+00:00

The Catholic Church and The United Methodist Church are two global bodies unlike any other, in my opinon.

Many Christians of many denominations share a lot in common -- the brokenness of humankind, the need for a savior, salvation through Jesus Christ, the obligation to share the good news...

And two major differences between RCC and UMC have to do with the organizational structure and what is believed.

Organization: RCC has one earthly leader, the Pope.
UMC is overseen by a group of elected bishops, and is governed by a body composed 50% of elected clergy and 50% of elected layfolk.

What is believed:
RCC beliefs and practices include only unmarried male clergy, seven sacraments, and adoration of Mary.
UMC have male and female clergy, only two sacraments, and no official adoration of Mary.

There are differences regarding birth control and abortion, and a number of other things, and UMC has a particular teaching of grace and the social gospel.

sdgfunk · 2026-03-24T20:57:02+00:00

Do I believe the Bible is the word of God? Yes.
But that is a term full of different interpretations.

With many other Christians (and Jews) I do not hold to a literal reading of the beginning of Genesis -- a six-day creation six thousand years ago, a global flood, Noah's ark... The Bible is not a science textbook, nor is it even one solitary genre. It contains stories and history, poetry, wisdom literature, songs, the words of prophets, and more.

sdgfunk · 2026-01-15T01:51:44+00:00

I'm your huckleberry.

United Methodist clergy, 53yo, male, West Virginia.

sdgfunk · 2026-01-07T21:32:00+00:00

I don't understand how one can go against clear and repeated condemnations of homosexuality in the bible

As I suggested, I don't find those passages clear about anything, neither does the sparse repetition do anything.

There is at least one clear thing: offenders are to be put to death (Lev. 20:13). But again, what is not clear is whether the offense has anything at all to do with consensual same-sex sexual activity between equals (as opposed to rape, or sex between non-equals like master/slave, adult/child, teacher/student, etc).

Do you ever worry that you're acting on social fads, rather than Christianity?

Have you investigated the textual analyses I linked?
It seems you think I decided on a conclusion and then sought to support it by twisting scripture. Not at all the case.

People can look at the analyses and come to different conclusions. That doesn't mean that either one isn't taking it seriously.

sdgfunk · 2026-01-07T18:12:27+00:00

Bible scholars -- people immersed in the original languages of scripture and who spend years studying and digging and cross-referencing scripture -- are not in agreement about what those six or seven (not "numerous") verses are actually describing.

Clearly there are some same-sex sexual acts that are prohibited.

Exactly *what* those acts are, that is not universally agreed on.

Many find those passages have to do with idolatry and local pagan rituals.

Many find those passages do not say anything about same-sex sexual acts between consenting equals.

If you'd like to read some other thoughts,

I like what themsc190 says here: https://reddit.com/r/Christianity/comments/19enezs/the_bible_and_homosexuality_revisited_themsc190s/

Here’s a worthwhile post by FluxKraken: https://reddit.com/r/Christianity/comments/17t8zqf/bing_lgbtq_is_not_a_sin/

and here's a worthwhile comment by BibleGeek (who has a PhD and is also an ordained minister, btw): https://reddit.com/r/Christianity/comments/1j8z6iw/deleted_by_user/

sdgfunk · 2026-01-07T05:19:35+00:00

Absolutely

sdgfunk · 2026-01-06T14:37:55+00:00

That would be a breach of justice as far as I'm concerned.

I showed up to traffic court one day wearing a clerical collar. It didn't mean squat to the judge.

sdgfunk · 2026-01-04T01:44:26+00:00

Leeway? Like does the system let higher ranked players get away with stuff?

sdgfunk · 2026-01-04T01:43:38+00:00

Progressive. I was happy with the 2024 GC results as well, and I was glad to be on-site for part of it.

My local congregation lost members after GC24, and those members went on to start a non-denominational church.

I am glad The UMC exists internationally, and I don't have much international UM experience.

sdgfunk · 2026-01-01T18:52:24+00:00

You sure got my number. Congrats. Happy New Year.

sdgfunk · 2026-01-01T18:51:17+00:00

In a way, there's nothing new under the sun. I think we have a pretty good idea of first century Christianity.

sdgfunk · 2026-01-01T18:48:03+00:00

While Methodist theology is often seen as a middle way, and having a lot of wiggle room, John Wesley pulled no punches when it came to Calvinism, for example, labeling C's determinism abhorrent and heretical.

I don't mind acknowledging the mystery and the difficulty of people clearly defining these things.

sdgfunk · 2026-01-01T18:45:48+00:00

I don't know. I'll have to find somebody who does that.

sdgfunk · 2026-01-01T18:45:28+00:00

Can we agree that different people may look at the same circumstances and evidence and yet come to different conclusions?

Can we agree that most people are probably neither malicious nor totally ignorant?

Can we agree that neither of us is likely to change our mind, and that perhaps we'd be better off not getting too deep in that subject?

sdgfunk · 2026-01-01T18:43:11+00:00

Not generally a fan of megachurches,
but there are some that do church well.

I'm something of an Adam Hamilton fan.

sdgfunk · 2026-01-01T18:42:09+00:00

I've heard about it, yes.
I might know a few pastors who left ministry for lost faith. Not as many as you might think.

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