Connect with us

Lifestyle

As a landmark United Methodist gathering approaches, African American churches consider their future

Published

on

Africa is home to the overwhelming majority of United Methodists outside the United States

The United Methodist Church lost a quarter of its U.S. churches within the recent schism, and conservatives have withdrawn over disagreements over sexuality and theology.

Now, as the primary major legislative gathering in several years approaches, the query is whether or not the church can prevent similar results elsewhere on the planet where about half of its members live.

Advertisement

This query is very acute in Africa, where the overwhelming majority of United Methodists live outside the United States. Most bishops favor remaining, but other voices are calling for regional conferences to withdraw.

At the upcoming General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, delegates will address a big selection of proposals – from repealing the church’s ban on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination, to giving regional conferences more autonomy in setting such policies, to creating it easier for international churches to depart. confession.

Members of the United Methodist Church march, sing and dance in Jalingo, Nigeria, to have a good time the a centesimal anniversary of Methodism within the country, in December 2023. (Ezekiel Ibrahim Maisamari/UM News via AP)

Delegate Jerry Kulah of Liberia said he believed it was time for African churches to depart the country.

He said that when he first attended General Conference in 2008, he was shocked by proposals to liberalize church regulations. He has since helped mobilize African delegates to vote with American conservatives to create increasingly stringent religious laws banning same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ people.

Advertisement

However, progressive American churches are increasingly opposing such policies and now appear to have enough votes to overturn them.

“We know we’re not going to the General Conference to necessarily get votes,” said Kulah, general coordinator of the UMC Africa Initiative support group. “Therefore, our goal is to state our position and let the world know why it has become very necessary to separate from the United Methodist Church because we cannot afford to preach other gospels.”

However, Jefferson Knight, also a delegate from Liberia, opposes splitting from the party. He said a schism would mean abandoning the UMC’s wealthy spiritual heritage in Africa and sever its beneficial international ties.

“Liberia was the birthplace of the United Methodist Church on the African continent in the 19th century,” said Knight, of the United Methodist Africa Forum advocacy group. The church has produced leaders in education, health care and evangelism across the continent, said Knight, who also works for the church as a human rights observer.

Advertisement

Knight said a schism was not needed.

He shares widespread opposition in Africa to the liberalization of marriage and ordination policies, but favors a proposal that will allow each region of the Church – from the Americas to Africa, Europe to the Philippines – to adapt the principles to their local context.

“The best solution is to regionalize and see how we can serve in a peaceful way and in our context, in our culture,” Knight said.

Bishop John Wesley Yohanna of the United Methodist Church delivers a message to church members on December 10, 2023, on the church headquarters in Jalingo, Nigeria, through the celebration of 100 years of Methodism within the country. (Ezekiel Ibrahim Maisamari/UM News via AP)

The United Methodist Church has its roots within the 18th-century John Wesleyan revival and has long emphasized Christian piety, evangelism, and social service. Historically, it has had a presence in almost every U.S. county.

But additionally it is probably the most international of the main American Protestant denominations.

Advertisement

Generations of missionary efforts brought Methodism throughout the world. Local churches took root and grew dramatically, especially in Africa.

Today, members from 4 continents vote in legislative assemblies, serve together on boards, go on missions to their countries, and are largely governed by the identical principles. Churches within the U.S. help fund international ministries akin to the African University of Zimbabwe.

According to UM News, greater than 7,600 U.S. congregations left the community during a temporary period between 2019 and 2023 that allowed congregations to maintain property held in trust for the denomination under relatively favorable legal terms.

This provision applied only to American churches. Some argue that the General Conference – which runs from April 23 to May 3 – should approve such a resolution for other countries.

Advertisement

“Our primary goal is to provide African Americans and other United Methodists outside the U.S. with the same opportunities that United Methodists in the U.S. have had,” said the Rev. Thomas Lambrecht, vice chairman of the conservative advocacy group Good News.

Opponents say churches abroad can already withdraw under church regulations, and a few conferences in Eastern Europe have taken such steps. But supporters say the method is simply too burdensome.

The matter is further complicated by the incontrovertible fact that churches operate under different legal frameworks. Some African countries criminalize same-sex activity, while within the US same-sex marriage is legal.

Most of the departing U.S. congregations are conservative churches concerned in regards to the denomination’s failure to implement bans on same-sex unions and the ordination of LGBTQ people. Some joined denominations akin to the brand new Global Methodist Church, while others became independent.

Advertisement

The departures accelerated the lack of membership in what was until recently the third-largest American faith. In 2022, the United Methodist Church reported 5.4 million members within the U.S., a number that is for certain to say no sharply when the 2023 disfellowshipment cases are taken under consideration.

An in depth study by the UMC’s General Council for Finance and Administration found that there are 4.6 million members in other countries – lower than previous estimates but still approaching U.S. numbers.

Members of the United Methodist Church carry a banner during a rally in Jalingo, Nigeria, to mark the a centesimal anniversary of Methodism within the country, in December 2023. (Ezekiel Ibrahim Maisamari/UM News via AP)

The United Methodist Church has been debating homosexuality because the early Seventies, steadily tightening its LGBTQ bans through the last legislative assembly in 2019.

This yr, “the traditionalists won the vote but lost the church,” said the Rev. Mark Holland, executive director of Mainstream UMC, who favors ending church-wide bans and a “regionalization” proposal that permits each region to come to a decision such rules.

He noted that quite a few regional church conferences within the United States responded to the 2019 vote by electing more progressive delegates to the upcoming General Conference.

Advertisement

Progressives imagine they’ve enough votes to repeal language within the ruling Book of Discipline that prohibits the ordination of “declared practicing homosexuals” and punishes pastors who perform same-sex marriages.

The fate of regionalization, which might increase regional autonomy, is less certain. Regionalization involves constitutional amendments requiring a two-thirds majority of the General Conference and approval by two-thirds of local conferences around the globe.

Proponents say regionalization would also ensure equality amongst different regions, arguing that the present system is a U.S.-centric relic of an earlier missionary era. A regionalization scenario could also allow churches in some regions to take care of LGBTQ bans while others remove them.

Church regions outside the United States have already got some flexibility to adapt rules to their environment, but regionalization would define that flexibility more precisely and extend it to churches within the United States.

Advertisement

The UMC-affiliated church within the Philippines – the just one in Asia with about 280,000 members – will proceed to oppose same-sex marriage, which isn’t legally recognized there, a church official said. It can even not allow open ordination of LGBTQ people.

Most African bishops oppose renunciation, whilst they oppose the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ people.

“Despite differences within our UMC on the issue of human sexuality, especially regarding our position on the traditional and biblical view of marriage, we categorically state that we have no plans to leave the United Methodist Church and will continue to shepherd God’s flock in this global denomination,” the statement said signed by 11 African bishops during their September meeting.

Among those refusing to sign was Bishop John Wesley Yohanna of the Nigeria Area.

Advertisement

Nigerian Methodists celebrated the a centesimal anniversary of the denomination in their country in December, but its future stays uncertain. Deeply conservative views on sexuality are widespread in Nigeria. The spokesman said the bishop’s position on expulsion from the Church can be determined by what happens at General Conference.

Same-sex marriage “is unbiblical and inconsistent with Christian teachings according to our Book of Discipline,” Yohanna said at a January press conference, during which she also said “no to regionalization.”

!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||(),g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){ g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(“film-recommended-film”,”true”)})}();

Advertisement

Featured Stories

The post As Groundbreaking United Methodist Gathering Approaches, African Churches Consider Their Future appeared first on TheGrio.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Lifestyle

The real story of the novel by Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith “Sylvie’s Love and Loss”

Published

on

By

Novel “Sylvie’s love and loss“Author: Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith Chronicle of the History of Sylvie, a Caribbean woman who begins an epic trip to overcome her adversities related to like, loss and illegal global drug trafficking.

Although Griffitha’s first novel is a piece of fiction, the book is loosely based on a real woman, whom the creator met someday over 1 / 4 of a century ago.

The author received a subsidy via the MacArthur Foundation to look at the concept of “Geo-Markers” in the Caribbean, which led him to several different Caribbean countries, including Grenada. During his stay on the island, he agreed to supply someone with a package for a friend. This someone was a girl with one interesting story.

Advertisement

The author rejected his offer despite one special profit: this will improve sex performance. However, he once swore to inform her story.

“I was so hit by this experience, I told myself:” I actually have to inform this story in a special form, “and I promised then,” he said.

Griffith, The scholar who was written And a retired scientist political scientist made a profession covering a long time, examining the geographical influence of global illegal drug trafficking throughout history and on the way he had quite lots of experiences worthy of stories. These experiences include Griffitha himself, who was detained at the airport in South America, once in 1996 on charges of doing what he studied.

When the search of his bags brought nothing, Griffith said that the boss was very apologize and noticed that they’d challenges with drug trafficking at the airport.

Advertisement

“That’s why I fit the profile. I’m black. I traveled very lightly. I left the first flight from Quito to Miami, “said Griffith.

Although he has “many” different stories, he decided to inform Sylvie because of his triumphant universal topics around the conquer adversity, love and loss, in addition to the drug trafficking heritage around the world.

The book, published by Wordeee in September 2024, celebrates conquer adversity and history of the Caribbean heritage, at the same time humanizing people caught in drug trafficking. Griffith considers this at all times essential, taking into consideration his topics around immigration, especially during the current political climate.

“It is important that we remember that they are good people, even among people who do terrible things such as Sylvie, husband of Sylvie and Paramore Sylvie,” he noted. “Although they did illegal things, they are basically good people who were caught in bad things.”

Advertisement

“Love and loss Sylvie” can also be a story of “immunity”, explained Griffith. Sylvie manages to take a hand she handled in her life and not every part in any way.

Dwyane Wade is cancer -free, but Gabrielle Union claims that the battle was a

As for the true inspiration of “Sylvie’s Love and Loss,” Griffith didn’t refer to her since the first meeting of the probability all these years ago. If he remains to be alive, he expressed interest in the desire to re -merge together with her. In the meantime, he’s preparing to write down a continuation of “Sylvie’s love and loss”, which can contain many other stories that he has gathered over the years.

Since “Sylvie’s Love and Loss” is the first round of Griffith in fiction, he said thus far “he was” satisfied “with the experience and the reception that the book received.

“I am glad that I was able to tell a story that reflects not only the loss, but not only the lowest, but the ups on drugs and experiences of individuals and communities,” he said.

“Some characters in history reflect the sentiments and values ​​that are related to the placement of the family in the first place, with growing despite the circumstances, with the view of the value of education, even if you come from a poor background,” he added. “Let’s hope that I returned the message not only from where you come from and where you are, but also where you can go, who you can become, despite your circumstances.”

Advertisement

(Tagstranslat) black authors

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Continue Reading

Lifestyle

16 best black books for a month of black history –

Published

on

By


A month of black history is coming to an end, but black people can still have a good time and draw all feelings which are related to historical black.

While February means celebrating all black things, as is a black life. Together, we recognize the experience of African Americans – from 1619, when the primary enslaved Africa pressed his feet to American soil. It is barely equal to paying tribute to our ancestors, black perfection and people who influenced our history and culture. It can be a good time to soak up all unknown stories and miracles of our heritage. Downloading appears online through social media. However, black books are the ultimate source of immersion in resistance and amazement of black, past and present.

16 best black books for a month of black history

1.

This slave narrative of Harriet Ann Jacobs was originally published in 1861, because the civil war began. Jacobs fictionalized her own story in regards to the horrors of slaves’ life as a young girl, especially one to cope with sexual harassment expected by her owner of the slave and the physical violence of his jealous wife.

Advertisement

Thayer and Eldridge


2.

Charles W. Chesnutt was a fertile black author who could go thoroughly for White, but refused. This historic text, published on the turn of the century, presents the Wilmington Race riots in 1898. He focuses on racial policy, violence and blackface during reconstruction and, unfortunately, echoes of events today.

Haughton, Mifflin and Company


3.

James Weldon Johnson, the creator of the Black National Anthem, “Raise every voice and singing”, shares the history of the Black Mother’s upbringing, but he also believes that he was as white as his school -age peers because of his biographical heritage. His loss of innocence comes when his teacher discriminates him. In the entire text, Johnson gives first -hand relations and observations that occupy two racial spaces, not adapting to any, but forced to decide on one.

Sherman, French & Co.


4.

Zora Neale Hurston He plays his anthropological chops on this book, which was published in 1935. He collects and documents cultural information from his hometown Florida and New Orleans and presents the wonder of strange people: their voice, their dictionary, their lives.

Harper Collins


5.

This existential text tells the story of a lonely, nameless black man moving within the white world, and ultimately we consider it to be isolated from society to level and protect ourselves from these powers. It is an allegory for the entire black race, which is treated badly, objectified, created and rejected in such a way that it might as well be invisible.

Advertisement

Random house


6.

Christianity has close connections with the experience of Black Americans, and in lots of cases it’s inseparable. James Baldwin He puts beauty and problematic on the positioning through a young man who tries to barter being black, religious, unloved and perhaps gay. This is an exploration of identity and migration.

Knopf


7.

We are blessed that now we have this book on the planet. Alex Haley documented a life -changing story X for two years before the assassination. The book was published posthumously in 1965.

Balantine books


8.

Long before the era of Crack, the heroine slaughtered havoc in black communities. Donald Goines, a good author of street literature, perfectly reflects the pain of addiction.

Holloway House


9.

Alex Haley’s genealogical tree is for context. He tells the story of his matriarchal ancestor from Africa through the central passage and thru slavery for movable property and is led by his descendants. The text was integral for African Americans who need to know their family roots and causing interest in genealogy.

Advertisement

10.

Shange Ntozake conquered the Black Arts movement when her choreopoem collection hit the theaters. These monologues are rooted in black feminism and speak specifically in regards to the intersection of the breed and sexism of the experience of black women.

Bantam books


11.

This award -winning Nobel Prize on the history of the Black Family and shows the nuance and complexity of the black community rarely emphasized in mainstream literature through the extraordinary story of Morrison and delightful words.

Alfred Knopf


12. Violet color

If a story about black trauma, toxic masculinity and survival has ever appeared, Alice Walker will probably appear. The recorded book of Pulitzer reached a large screen three years after the day of the publisher in 1982, and later it was transformed into a musical and film film on Broadway.

Advertisement

Harcourt Brace Jovanovich


13.

A chilly, raw reality of drug culture is bleeding from these sides. He effectively reflects the charm of the sport, while serving its consequences.


14.

Mass imprisonment has been harassing the black community for a very long time. Representing only 13% of the population of the nation, black people constitute 40% of the prison population. Michelle Alexander combines this discrepancy with the war with drugs created to militize the police and breaking the black communities, but in addition reveals its lasting effect, in addition to its continuous character.

New press


15.

The underground railway was a real railway line during adolescence; Don’t be ashamed. Colson Whitehead presents this angle on this historical text awarded by Pulitzer. This is a refreshing fictitious view of slavery.

(*16*)

Advertisement

16.

This is the story of a life full of contradiction, tragedy and immunity. Kiese Laimon presents parts of his life in complicated details, taking the reader by observing a number of violence against the Black People and a number of violence they committed. This memory is the counting of internal and external conflict with and around them.

Simon & Schuster


)

This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
Advertisement
Continue Reading

Lifestyle

Tunde Oyeneyin Peloton about what to do when you don’t feel like moving

Published

on

By

“I wanted to run this morning, but I didn’t do it because my body said you didn’t need it,” explained a 39-year-old fitness star, adding that she did some mobility as a substitute on her foam roller.

“I worked. I felt my heart rate was growing. I felt a little sweat, but I poured love for my body, not burden my body just because the plan said that I should run this morning – she continued. “Listening to your body sometimes means deviating from the plan and you provide you with a brand new plan.”

Listening to your body just isn’t just about how you feel physically. Among the social, political and economic climate, finding motivation to move the body might be difficult.

Advertisement

“I am the same as a person,” said Oyeneyin. “When I feel hard outside, I feel it in myself, in my heart, in my body. Sometimes the heaviness of the world shows in my body. “

When the world becomes overwhelming, the teacher said that he gives himself a grace.

“I do know that sometimes when the world feels heavy and feels dark, movement just isn’t what I need to do and permit myself. I devote just a few days I would like, after which I’m within the space where I can finally see and keep in mind that movement can be what leads me through a storm. Movement can be what gives me grace to see the sunshine on the opposite side – she noted.

Oyeneyin, who has been in Peloton for six years, is a strength on the earth of fitness. Powerhouse instructor and creator have experience as a star makeup, and once fought for doubt before she got here up with the movement. Her book “Speak: Find your voice, trust the intestines and go from the place where you are, where you want to be” Chronicle of her journey to confidence.

Advertisement

“When I move, whether it’s 10 minutes or an hour, I feel something in my body that I have never done before. There is lightness. The weight is metaphorically raised – she said.

On days when she is attached to the time or little motivation, she noticed that she would force herself to move for 10 minutes and suggests that others would try.

“99,99999% of time, I exceed 10 minutes” – added the creator. “The mind and body began to connect.”

Apart from that, Peloton applicationShe said, she is filled with motivation to move.

Advertisement

“I don’t think there is something in the application that you will not take motivation,” said Oyeneyin, adding: “Are you a skier and you want to build strength, we have it in the application. If you are a golfer and want to strengthen the golf game, we have it in the application. If the world feels heavy and you need to reset and you need 10 or 20 minutes of mindfulness meditation, we have it in the application. “

For her, she said that mediation is coming running.

“Running is a spot where I find peace and consolation on the earth. There I can concentrate on my breath and training – she explained.

She continued: “And for many people whom I am lucky to follow me on the platform, they find their relief on a bike. So everyone is something for themselves, no matter who you are. “

Advertisement

Movement and exercise can cost a small cost for some: their glam. Some allow the fear of sweating hair to stop them from harder during training.

“Although I don’t want to sweat, I also want my carved arms,” ​​said Oyeneyin.

“I’m in front of the camera. I work in front of a life camera. So I understand – continued the athlete Nike. “I try, I might like to look cute, but at the tip of the day, if you force me to select one between the opposite, I need to be strong. I can sweat and be sexy. “

Have you already abandoned your fitness goals in the new year? Peloton's instructor Adrian Williams has some tips

(Tagstotransate) lifestyle

Advertisement
This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending