Bitter Medicine: Ordaining Liars

If those leaving the UMC for conscience's sake want to do better, rather than perpetuating the same dysfunction in another decade or so, then it would do them well to discern what beliefs and practices got them to this point. If conservatives want to hear about how perfect they have been while the liberals have been evil and at fault for every single thing, then they aren't going to like me very much. I think conservatives have done a lot to create the current situation. If they aren't self-aware, they will do the same thing again, wherever they go.

This installment deals with the practice of assenting to ordain people at Annual Conference session who have no interest in fulfilling their vows. The ritual of group-lying is fatally problematic and can only result in the demoralization the UMC has seen. As people leave the UMC, they must commit to no longer assent to lies. We must allow God to heal our seared consciences so that we are no longer untroubled by flagrant dishonesty on the conference conciliar level.

Links:

"Transitional United Methodist Integrity" - John Lomperis - https://juicyecumenism.com/2022/08/17/united-methodist-integrity/

AN ORDER FOR ADMISSION OF CLERGY CANDIDATES TO MEMBERSHIP IN AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE - Discipleship Ministries - https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/book-of-worship/an-order-for-admission-of-clergy-candidates-to-membership-in-an-annual-conference

"Disobedience, Forced Unity Disrupt UMC Florida Conference" - Dr. David deSilva - https://juicyecumenism.com/2022/06/14/disobedience-forced-unity-disrupt-umc-florida-conference/

"From Skeptic to Believer" - Eric Huffman - https://goodnewsmag.org/244456/

Captain Jean Luc Picard being compelled to lie under duress - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X-2d4COiKs