Break The Methodist Ban, You LGBTQIA! --Madeleine Norton, 4th period

Though I might sound a bit more bias than usual towards one group over another, I feel this article gives a great message out for tolerance, especially what with the crazy hate that is currently circumnavigating our country as of the moment.
Daniel Burke of CNN reported just yesterday, "Dozens of United Methodist clergy members came out as lesbian, gay or bisexual on Monday, defying their church's ban on 'self-avowed practicing homosexuals' serving in ministry and essentially daring their supervisors to discipline them. In a public letter posted online, 111 pastors, deacons, elders and candidates for ministry said church rules require 'that we not bring our full selves to ministry, that we hide from view our sexual orientations and gender identities. While some of us have been lucky to serve in places where we could serve honestly and openly, there are others in places far more hostile, who continue to serve faithfully even at tremendous cost to themselves, their families, and yes, even the communities they serve, who do not receive the fullness of their pastor's gifts because a core part must remain hidden.'"

The General Conference in Portland, Oregon holds the United Methodist Church every four years and will thus congregate once again in the upcoming days. However, many church officials will announce a day or two before their "coming out" to one of the world's largest Protestant denominations. Burke further analyzes that between May 10-20, "more than 800 delegates will debate changes to church policy, including several that seek to lift longstanding bans on LGBT ministers and same-sex marriages. This is the first Methodist General Conference since the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2015," he wrote, and a "spokesman for Reconciling Ministries Network, an LGBT advocacy group that organized the letter, said that about 80% of the 111 signatories are coming out to their supervisors for the first time. In addition to gay and lesbian clergy, the letter was also signed by intersex and transgender pastors, who are not technically excluded from ministry."

This is all especially important to remember, because even if one isn't a Christian, by looking at the Bible it is seen throughout that above God's message of marriage is Jesus' tolerance for loving everyone, even "thy neighbor as thou would love thyself." Ministries can rant their heads off about the words of the Bible, as it is up for interpretation by many (as seen by the many denominations of Catholicism and Protestant faith going back as early as the colonial days of Great Britain; the development of such lands as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island for the branching out of beliefs and escaping of persecution). But one thing that reigns through in the Scripture messages of all Christian branches is the intense focus on endless love, and peace towards "thy fellow man."

Article located here: http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/09/living/methodist-clergy-lgbt/index.html