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Thread: UMC Minnesota Conference Edited 'Father' Out of the Apostles' Creed

  1. #1
    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    UMC Minnesota Conference Edited 'Father' Out of the Apostles' Creed

    At a recent multi-day conference, the Minnesota Conference of the United Methodist Church used an edited version of the Apostles' Creed which removed a reference to God as "Father." When the conference handed out liturgical folders for a worship service, Rev. Keith Mcilwain noticed the change to the historic creed.

    Throughout Christian history, churches have recited the creed, which confesses, "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. The edited version read, "I believe in God, the Creator Almighty, creator of heaven and earth."

    Rev. Mcilwain, the pastor of Slippery Rock United Methodist Church, snapped a photo of the edited creed and posted it on Twitter. He told the Christian Post that he obtained a copy of the liturgy from a friend who attended the service.

    This move by the Minnesota Conference comes as many denominations are rethinking the way they refer to God, seeing the language as too restrictive. The UMC has been engaged in a discussion about how to use more gender-inclusive language since the 1980's.

    Mcilwain expressed disbelief that this major change to the creed took place with no debate or discussion. He told the Christian Post, "No United Methodist individual or body has the authority to edit those creeds which were formulated by the early Church and have helped define orthodox Christianity for the better part of 2000 years."

    Mcilwain sees this move as driving a deeper wedge into an already splintering denomination. The church has been embroiled in difficult debates for the last few years over marriage, gender, and sexuality. "To see the creed abused in this way is extraordinarily disheartening, further distances our already troubled denomination from the Church Universal, exacerbates already existing tensions within the Church, and harms those affirming the creed by failing to faithfully teach and uphold one of the core essential doctrines of the Christian faith — the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity."

    He further added that this stands as a major undermining of traditional Methodist doctrine. "All ordained United Methodist clergy promise to faithfully uphold and teach the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity, which is shared and defined in Article 1 of our Articles of Religion; I fear that this edited creed represents a failure to be faithful to what The United Methodist Church believes."

    The Christian Post reached out to the Minnesota Conference for comment, but they have not yet responded.

    https://www.christianheadlines.com/c...ontent=2469183

  2. #2
    Quote Originally Posted by fuego View Post
    At a recent multi-day conference, the Minnesota Conference of the United Methodist Church used an edited version of the Apostles’ Creed which removed a reference to God as “Father.” When the conference handed out liturgical folders for a worship service, Rev. Keith Mcilwain noticed the change to the historic creed.

    Throughout Christian history, churches have recited the creed, which confesses, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. The edited version read, “I believe in God, the Creator Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.”

    Rev. Mcilwain, the pastor of Slippery Rock United Methodist Church, snapped a photo of the edited creed and posted it on Twitter. He told the Christian Post that he obtained a copy of the liturgy from a friend who attended the service.

    This move by the Minnesota Conference comes as many denominations are rethinking the way they refer to God, seeing the language as too restrictive. The UMC has been engaged in a discussion about how to use more gender-inclusive language since the 1980’s.

    Mcilwain expressed disbelief that this major change to the creed took place with no debate or discussion. He told the Christian Post, "No United Methodist individual or body has the authority to edit those creeds which were formulated by the early Church and have helped define orthodox Christianity for the better part of 2000 years.”

    Mcilwain sees this move as driving a deeper wedge into an already splintering denomination. The church has been embroiled in difficult debates for the last few years over marriage, gender, and sexuality. "To see the creed abused in this way is extraordinarily disheartening, further distances our already troubled denomination from the Church Universal, exacerbates already existing tensions within the Church, and harms those affirming the creed by failing to faithfully teach and uphold one of the core essential doctrines of the Christian faith — the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity."

    He further added that this stands as a major undermining of traditional Methodist doctrine. "All ordained United Methodist clergy promise to faithfully uphold and teach the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity, which is shared and defined in Article 1 of our Articles of Religion; I fear that this edited creed represents a failure to be faithful to what The United Methodist Church believes."

    The Christian Post reached out to the Minnesota Conference for comment, but they have not yet responded.

    https://www.christianheadlines.com/c...ontent=2469183
    Dude , quit wasting your time and find another church instead of lamenting the obvious ..

    Cant figure out why folks like Rev. Mcilwain sit in dying churches and bawl and squawl over what has been happening for years

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  4. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by BAP View Post
    Dude , quit wasting your time and find another church instead of lamenting the obvious ..

    Cant figure out why folks like Rev. Mcilwain sit in dying churches and bawl and squawl over what has been happening for years
    Because inwardly they are ok with it.

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    Senior Member Cardinal TT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BAP View Post
    Dude , quit wasting your time and find another church instead of lamenting the obvious ..

    Cant figure out why folks like Rev. Mcilwain sit in dying churches and bawl and squawl over what has been happening for years

    Agree with you but it is possible he cares about the many genuine sheep still in the system and is looking how to minister to them.


    This is also a prophetic fulfillment that there will be a true and false church before Jesus returns

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  7. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Cardinal TT View Post
    Agree with you but it is possible he cares about the many genuine sheep still in the system and is looking how to minister to them.


    This is also a prophetic fulfillment that there will be a true and false church before Jesus returns
    Some of those denominations are so far gone it's hard to believe any genuine sheep remain in them

  8. #6
    Senior Member Pentecali's Avatar
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    No surprise. I went to a choir concert in San Francisco about 10yrs ago at a UMC. A friend of mine was conducting it. The woman Pastor got up with the opening prayer and started out by saying “DEAR PARENT WE COME TO YOU THIS DAY”. I couldn’t believe my ears.

    Later on I asked about it and he said they believed in being gender sensitive and well as keeping God gender neutral. Again, this was 10yrs ago or longer.

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    Senior Member Cardinal TT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BAP View Post
    Some of those denominations are so far gone it's hard to believe any genuine sheep remain in them
    Not familiar with UMC but if that is the case then time to shake the dust off your feet and go

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    Quote Originally Posted by Pentecali View Post
    No surprise. I went to a choir concert in San Francisco about 10yrs ago at a UMC. A friend of mine was conducting it. The woman Pastor got up with the opening prayer and started out by saying "DEAR PARENT WE COME TO YOU THIS DAY". I couldn't believe my ears.

    Later on I asked about it and he said they believed in being gender sensitive and well as keeping God gender neutral. Again, this was 10yrs ago or longer.
    UMC Minnesota Conference Edited 'Father' Out of the Apostles’ Creed-img_0615-gif

  12. #9
    At a UMC district conference some years back they handed out rainbow lapel name tags as it was their big inclusive, gay-affirming splash. This descent has been gaining momentum for many years. I suppose if a church wants to steer around it and try to maintain a tradition it will be increasingly difficult.

  13. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by FireBrand View Post
    At a UMC district conference some years back they handed out rainbow lapel name tags as it was their big inclusive, gay-affirming splash. This descent has been gaining momentum for many years. I suppose if a church wants to steer around it and try to maintain a tradition it will be increasingly difficult.
    I think most of you know I was raised in the United Methodist Church that became spirit filled, I used to identify as "Methodecostal" The church does maintain it's traditions and the District Superintendent leaves them alone for the most part. The driving force seems to be the Reverend. If you have a truly spirit led Rev., you are in good shape. I do think if the more liberal leanings of the Methodist church were forced on this group, it would cause a huge split and I don't think they want to deal with that.

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