Message by the Rev. Rob Renfroe, president of Good News, at the Confessing Movement luncheon of the Texas Annual Conference taking on the bishops who put forth the “One Church” Plan. “It has to be very frustrating for centrists and progressives to come up with an approach that they believe to be very reasonable and allows everyone to do what they desire only for us to find it unacceptable,” said Renfroe. “After all, what can be more American that allowing everyone to have it their way.” Watch the video HERE.

8 Comments

  1. Could it be that we have a liberal bishop here who senses the direction of the wind with relation to her colleges’ local option plan as the 2019 General Conference approaches by saying, on the one hand, what liberal itching ears want to hear while doing what could have her on the right side of church law on the other?

    http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/bishop-rules-2-lgbtq-clergy-candidates-ineligible

  2. Why are pastors not speaking the points you are making?

  3. Pastor’s are not speaking to these points for one of two reasons, if they agree with Rob Renfroe and espouse their convictions on the authority of scripture and the Bishops apostate actions their appointments can suddenly disappear as Bishops use District Superintendent’s to silence the truth they speak.
    The second reason is Pastor’s are more concerned with their advancement within the Bureaucracy that is the United Methodist Church and in order to do that they have to tow the party line(Bishops views) to advance.

  4. Having been to COS and annual conference it has become clear that the Bishops are exerting a lot of pressure and are trying very hard to cut off any dissent. Locals are all concerned of losing their appointments if they speak their mind. Even bishops in conservative areas have become very heavy handed. The elders who are still faithful are going to have to step up and lead the fight. It seems that a huge fight is brewing for delegates for the 2020 conference.

  5. Rev. Renfroe, thank you for a very worthwhile message in your video. At our UMC in Shelby, NC it seems apparent the situation is as you, and others have described. I am also very tired of the politics by the NC Western District and ready for it to be over. I used to know the church as a place of worship, not the pit it has become. In spite of all, I am hoping the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis will result in the Traditional Plan with tough enactment of the Book of Discipline as it now is. I wish you and others well as you prepare for 2019.

  6. I have great respect for Rev. Renfroe.
    In my experience in the UMC as laity and a llp in North Carolina conf.
    I believe there is one more reason for the one church model. MONEY. The Bishops know that many of the progressive conferences especially in the western part of the U.S. are failing financially.
    The bishops know if there is a split those liberal progressive conferences will fail. Money is to my mind the main driver behind the bishops recycling the same old worn out plan.
    The institution of the UMC has become more important to the bishops than the gospel.
    As Rev. Renfroe said the bishops are not the answer to the problem they are the problem.

  7. My conviction in using scripture as a key component in my faith is very important. I also consider the whole of Wesley’s quadrilateral as being relevant and appropriate. My faith is alive and rooted in the Bible and the person of Jesus as all loving and all compassionate.
    With these criteria, I hear what Rob Renfroe is saying, and it rings a disheartening tone of divisiveness and an unChristian approach to dealing with others who also consider themselves faithful United Methodists. As United Methodists we have Open Minds, Open Spirits and Open Hearts, right? We have all been asked to pray and to be in tune with the Holy Spirit in our lives in this matter, not to espouse anger and contempt toward those with whom we disagree.

  8. Thank you Rob for your wonderful incites in Good News magazine’s editorial “It’s Time To Move On” as you speak the truth. Keep up the great work encouraging all of us in God’s path.

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