The biggest take away from the story...there are enough Mennonites in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC to form 14 churches?....hmmm...did not know that...
"The largest Mennonite conference in the United States has officially split from the Mennonite Church U.S.A. over changing views on homosexuality.
The Lancaster Mennonite Conference, which has over 179 congregations across New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio and over 70,000 members, officially left the denomination on Monday after about 82 percent of voting congregational leaders chose in November 2015 to take such an action.
The shifting leniency of the Mennonite Church USA, an Anabaptist denomination, toward same-sex marriage was one of the reasons why the conference felt the need to split.....14 churches from the Dominican Republic are expected to join the conference.
The Mennonite Church USA officially classifies homosexuality as sin and officially defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.
But the denominational rules limit the body's ability to discipline regional conferences that allow pastors to marry lgbt couples or hire gay and lesbian pastors.
Although the Mennonite Church USA has punished pastors who have performed LGBT ceremonies in the past, individual pastors pushed for reform on hiring policies and other stances on LGBT issues.
In 2015, Mennonite Church USA adopted a resolution calling on those within the Mennonite Conference USA to "offer grace, love and forbearance toward conferences, congregations and pastors in our body" who conduct same-sex marriages." CP
"The largest Mennonite conference in the United States has officially split from the Mennonite Church U.S.A. over changing views on homosexuality.
The Lancaster Mennonite Conference, which has over 179 congregations across New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio and over 70,000 members, officially left the denomination on Monday after about 82 percent of voting congregational leaders chose in November 2015 to take such an action.
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| Columbus Mennonite installs pastor who is gay |
The Mennonite Church USA officially classifies homosexuality as sin and officially defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.
But the denominational rules limit the body's ability to discipline regional conferences that allow pastors to marry lgbt couples or hire gay and lesbian pastors.
Although the Mennonite Church USA has punished pastors who have performed LGBT ceremonies in the past, individual pastors pushed for reform on hiring policies and other stances on LGBT issues.
In 2015, Mennonite Church USA adopted a resolution calling on those within the Mennonite Conference USA to "offer grace, love and forbearance toward conferences, congregations and pastors in our body" who conduct same-sex marriages." CP
Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame,
and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
Isaiah 30:3
