Letter to a Bishop in W. PA!

Hello! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Theo and I am Administrative Assistant to the person who is in charge of the web site, Circuit Rider's Range. His given name is Clayton D. Harriger and he is an ordained elder in the Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. There are United Methodists, including those in positions of leadership, who get extremely upset with him about some things. If you ever go to his web site, you will see what I mean. Anyway, a resolution was passed in the 2009 session of the Western PA Annual Conference in which each clergy person was to pay $25 to support a fund which would assist clergy on what is described as "short-term disability." Each member of the clergy was expected to pay this, including those who are retired. CDH recently received a letter from Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton reminding him that he had not yet paid the $25.00. So, CDH responded with a letter and enclosed a check for $25.00. BTW, Theo is my shortened name which CDH gave me -- an explanation about my longer name is given at the web site. Now, here is the letter.

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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton
Western PA Annual Conference
The United Methodist Church

Dear Bishop Bickerton:

I received your letter reminding me that I owe $25.00 as my part in the one time contribution (pertaining to RS 404 – 2009 Annual Conference session) which is expected of all clergy in the conference. This is to inform you that I am paying this under protest. The reasons are as follows:

First, whoever dreamed this debacle up didn’t give any serious thought to fairness in such an assessment. There is a big difference between my income and yours, clergy with the “plush” appointments in the conference, the district superintendents, and even those clergy at the lower end of the salary scale. The last I heard, bishops are making something like a 6 figure annual salary, are they not? Therefore, let those in the upper salary ranges pay more on this “short-term disability” program and show some mercy toward us retirees.

Second, I own my own home and pay taxes on my property. I pay all expenses to maintain my home. I pay for all furnishings for my home. I pay all utility expenses for my home. I pay the insurance on my home. You and the active clergy on the other hand have some very nice perks – you have your home furnished with major appliances and you do not personally pay taxes on your home. You do not pay maintenance costs for the home in which you live. You do not pay the utilities for your home. And you do not have to pay the insurance on your home, except if you choose to have your personal possessions insured. But that is far different than the total insurance bill for a residence such as the one in which I and my wife presently live!

Third, you who are active clergy have advantages in health coverage that we retirees do not have. We were kicked out of the dental plan a few years ago, and finally someone decided that we retirees should have some coverage, but it is nothing to make the front page of the local newspaper. I have paid a few thousand dollars just for dental work alone because of extreme limitations in the plan as applied to retirees. So I am having expenses where you in the active clergy category do not!

Finally, there has been a heavy stress on the “connectional system” and “covenant” – you have been one to remind us in the conference of this. OK, why are such words as “fairness” and “equity” obviously missing when it comes to the “connection” and RS 404? The retirees’ share should have been in the $5 to $7 range maximum, while you active clergy could far easier pay $200.00 or $150.00 than I can pay the 5 bucks!

Enclosed is my check for $25.00 which is submitted under protest.

Still contending at www.crrange.com, blogging at http://cdharriger.blogspot.com and warning at www.crrange.com/USACoffin.html

Clayton D. Harriger, Elder in full connection, W. PA Annual Conference

PS – On another issue related to the “connection” – what hasn’t been realistically addressed is the “infection within the connection” which is why the United Methodist Church is in a state of decline!

cc: The Rev. Alyce Weaver Dunn, newly appointed DS for the Johnstown District

I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand, for You have filled me with indignation. --- Jeremiah 15:17

Imagine No Malaria -- Are We Limiting Our Imagination?

Western PA UM Churches Plan to Change the World! --- Headline on front page of W PA UMC InterLink, April 2, 2010 issue

Lots of activity is about to take place in a number of United Methodist Churches in western Pennsylvania. There will be an event known as "Change the World." There will also be the observing of World Malaria Day on April 25 with the continuing emphasis on fighting malaria. Youth will be involved in many of the activities and helping to raise awareness of the "Imagine No Malaria" campaign.

Certainly such efforts are commendable. My wife and I have financially supported the Nothing But Nets effort in the past within the Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

But there is a legitimate question to be raised -- why such heavy hitting on this issue and total neglect on one that is even more critical than the malaria issue. Bishop Thomas Bickerton has been at the center of pushing, appealing, and zealously campaigning on getting funds to fight malaria in Africa. At one point his appeal included mention of the fact that 1 million children die from malaria each year in Africa.

But neither he nor any other bishop nor the collective group of UM bishops will engage in a high profile campaign protesting the destruction of over 1 million unborn children each year by mutilation and murder while they are still in the womb in a republic which claims to be a nation "under God!"

Should those youth that are involved in the "Imagine No Malaria" campaign be informed that there are a million youth or more for each age of those youth who are NOT around because they were intentionally murdered before they were born -- and further, that malaria is not the only thing that is hazardous to the health and well being of the very young!

Would it help if another slogan were added to the "Change the World" event which would read "Imagine No Abortions!" -- one has to admit that it would be nothing short of a miracle if such a change were to take place in the United States where the present president is adamantly supportive of the practice of destroying unborn children as are many members of the U. S. Congress and certain members of the U. S. Supreme Court!

Also, that all active UM bishops would have this slogan boldly on display in their offices and in the churches of their conferences. Who knows what might happen if this sudden and rather dramatic shift took place?

A thought to think about -- the United Methodist Church has been in steady decline for decades. But it would have more members than it actually has now if the over 51 million victims of the United States' version of "holocaust" had not been murdered before birth!

Some of those 51 million persons would have become members of the United Methodist Church. None of us, including the bishops, is capable of estimating what contribution this group would have made in the life and ministry of the United Methodist Church. The oldest of this group would have been over 37 years of age!

So give your brain a bit of a workout -- "Imagine No Abortions!"

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Do not trust in these lying words, saying, 'The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these.' For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever." --- Jeremiah 7:3-7

PA UM Bishops' War on Gambling in Pennsylvania continued....

"Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! --- Jesus speaking in Matthew 23:24

Yesterday the focus was on four UMC bishops who have issued a pastoral letter urging all United Methodists in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to oppose Gov. Rendell’s proposal to expand gambling by means of video poker machines set up in a number of business establishments.

Many years ago before my retirement I, along with all W. PA Conference pastors, received a “pastoral letter” from the three UMC bishops in Pennsylvania. We were told to read the letter to our congregations and urge opposition and call for ultimate elimination of the death penalty in the state.

I wrote to each of those bishops personally and told each one that I would be most willing to read their letter to my people IF and WHEN I received a letter from them equally strong and forceful in opposing abortion on demand. After all, a "death penalty" of a kind is involved when an unborn child is executed in the womb, is it not?

Time passed and eventually I received a reply from the bishop of the Central PA Conference. The letter contained a few terse phrases which when translated clearly declared, “Who are you to question us?” That is a temptation some bishops seem to have once they take office – they now have a “kingdom” and when they say “Jump!” everyone snaps to attention and says, “Yes sir/madam – just how much altitude does your honor desire from us in that jump?” Pastors and congregations are expected to march in lockstep with no questions to be asked nor any objections to be raised when the bishop speaks!

The female bishop at the eastern end of the state never did send a reply to my letter. And as I followed her career in later years I understood why she did not respond.

More time passed and eventually my own bishop responded. He conceded that the issue was a serious one, but felt maybe I was making a little bit too much of it – you know, a matter of making "a mountain out of a mole hill" sort of thing!

And so, I didn’t read the letter. I did post it on the bulletin boards of my churches along side of the letter I sent to the bishops and informed my people what had transpired.

That is how it has been over the decades – United Methodist bishops have spoken out on issues of all kinds – pastoral letters have been drafted and congregations have been urged to take action to bring about changes toward improvement of some kind within our culture.

But on the issue which will bring the wrath of a holy God upon this nation more quickly than any other offense, the bishops seem to have a Mafia type “code of silence!” Not a one will boldly speak out in vehement protest about the horrors of the mass destruction of the unborn, nor urge those within his/her conference to do so.

At the present time W PA Annual Conference has been on a campaign to send treated mosquito netting to Africa in the battle against malaria with Bishop Bickerton hammering on the fact of huge numbers of persons dying each year from malaria. Jean and I have supported this effort financially. But why does the bishop not express at least equal concern for over a million unborn children in the United States being mutilated and murdered in the womb each year?

Maybe I have it all wrong – and that is, that it is much more a serious matter as to what a mosquito does to a person in Africa than what a hypocrite posing as a “doctor” does with a custom made vacuum cleaner in tearing to shreds an unborn child whom God is forming in the womb in the United States of America! For further discussion on this issue see
A Mosquito Does Not Rationalize, Resist Or Retaliate! Use return feature on your web browser to come back to this place.

Will someone please explain this mystery to me as the United States’ version of “holocaust” continues with enthusiastic support from our president and very little serious objection while we United Methodists with overwhelming enthusiasm fight the evils of gambling in the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?

"For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit.” --- Jeremiah 7:5-8

PA UM Bishops Declare War on Gambling – Will They Do Likewise on a Much More Serious Practice in the State?

"Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! --- Jesus speaking in Matthew 23:24

Four bishops have recently declared war on gambling in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This is a result of Governor Rendell’s attempt to expand gambling with the hope of bringing in more revenue into the state’s piggy bank. Those bishops are Thomas J. Bickerton of Pittsburgh, Jane Allen Middleton of Harrisburg, Peggy A. Johnson of Philadelphia, and Susan W. Hassinger, of Albany, N.Y., whose area takes in a bit of Northeastern Pennsylvania

The bishops have issued a pastoral letter in which they said, “Contact your legislator and Gov. Rendell. Tell them video poker goes against God’s best intentions for Gods children.”

The bishops also noted that “The United Methodist Church believes ‘gambling is a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, destructive of good government and good stewardship,’” as they cited long-standing church law and scripture.

For a long time there has been no lack within the United Methodist Church when it comes to all out frontal attack on gambling. In fact, the way some church leaders approach it, one would be quickly convinced that it is the greatest evil to ever penetrate the human race!

Let’s consider another much more critical social and moral issue which the bishops of the UMC do not address, ever. It’s the issue of the destruction of unborn children at the rate of about 25,000 per week in the “land of the free and the home of the brave!” Quite a number of these very young ones are brutally mutilated and murdered within the borders of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Now then, ponder a modest proposition for the bishops since they have fired the shot – how about changing the wording a bit and issue one more letter to be read in the churches, since we are now making the claim for correcting immoral practices in Pennsylvania?

Here’s the revised “edition” on the two statements mentioned above, and the same could be applied throughout the whole letter. As UM’s know very well – the practice of doing amending at annual conference sessions is a very popular pastime – so let’s do some of it here:

Statement #1 amended to read “Contact your legislator and Gov. Rendell. Tell them abortion goes against God’s best intentions for Gods children.”

Statement #2 amended to read “The United Methodist Church believes ‘abortion is a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, destructive of good government and good stewardship.’”

The last statement presents a bit of a problem since the official position of the United Methodist Church can be regarded as giving the “green light” to the practice of abortion, although there is an attempt to couch the statements in pious sounding language. But in the final analysis, any woman can get an abortion who wants one on the basis of simply saying that the pregnancy will bring undue psychological stress, financial stress, health related stress, employment stress, social stress, family stress, home environment stress, household pet stress, garbage can stress, or whatever – it’s very easy to come up with a “reason” as to why an unborn child should be exterminated as simply as swatting a fly!

So, bishops, how about it – may we soon expect the second pastoral letter with the above amended statements in the war against social evils that are “a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, destructive of good government and good stewardship?”

To be continued in the next post………

"For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit.” --- Jeremiah 7:5-8

A Mosquito Does Not Rationalize, Resist Or Retaliate!

“All these people were at the same table at the same time to talk about the same issue and that was to eradicate malaria….The United Methodist Church is a very important player on the world scene to eradicate malaria…” --- statements by Bishop Thomas Bickerton in article, “Nets Success Points United Methodists to New Goal” – October 10, 2008 issue of InterLink.

The Western PA Conference October 10th issue of InterLink had much space given to the subject of “Nothing But Nets” campaign. This is the effort to provide treated mosquito netting in parts of Africa where malaria takes a heavy toll yearly in human lives – an estimated 2.7 million per year.

Bishop Thomas Bickerton has been very deeply involved in promoting the campaign and has traveled extensively in promoting the cause outside the boundaries of the Western PA Annual Conference. Response has been most positive and huge sums of money have come in for the purchase of the nets. Comments from time to time mention this effort to “eradicate a killer” – never any hesitation to speak out and to state the need to totally eliminate malaria by getting rid of the mosquitoes which spread the disease.

This is not to raise any objection to the Nothing But Nets campaign – in fact, Jean and I have financially supported the effort through the W PA Conference. But there is a legitimate question to be raised and perhaps an explanation as to why Bishop Bickerton and the other UMC bishops are not concerned about another extremely critical issue which results in the very heavy loss of life each year here in the United States.

No statements have been made drawing attention to this issue and no campaign has been launched in an attempt to reduce the number of lives lost as in the case of malaria victims in Africa.

I refer to the fact that Bishop Bickerton and his fellow bishops have been tongue tied on the moral abomination of about 100,000 unborn children being brutally mutilated and murdered each month of the year in the United States!

And why is that? May I suggest the following as partial explanation:

A mosquito is an easy “killer” to attack for the following reasons:

• A mosquito will not rationalize in regard to what it does in spreading a disease that wipes out huge numbers of people every year. On the other hand, there are any number of people (including politicians and church people) who will rationalize until your head nearly spins off your shoulders as to why thousands of unborn children should have their lives terminated each week before they are born and have a chance to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. It is obvious that some leaders do not want to contend with that spirit of rationalization!
  
  
• A mosquito will not resist efforts to curb its deadly work. We can ship millions of nets and employ other methods to halt the spread of malaria and you’ll not run into any resistance from the carrier of malaria. But once you begin to speak out and support efforts to control the widespread killing of unborn children, you run into intense resistance. Well organized and powerful people will stand in the way of any attempt to control the “shedding of innocent blood.” It appears that among United Methodist leadership there is no desire to run the risk of stirring up resistance in an honest effort to put the brakes on a massacre which is now close to 50 million victims since January of 1973!
  
  
• A mosquito will not retaliate when its domain comes under attack and a large scale effort is launched to “eradicate malaria” – to use the words of a United Methodist leader. But once you protest publicly and support efforts to curb the extermination of unborn children, you become the villain – the bad guy who is to be labeled in the most negative terms possible. The paint brush used by those who vehemently support the ongoing destruction of unborn children is applied liberally to those who have adopted God’s view of human life, beginning with His identity and stated purpose for an individual while still in the womb of his/her mother. The labels are by no means flattering – we are fire-breathing radical fanatics, etc. There are leaders who simply do not want to be on the receiving end of such retaliation.
  

While the destruction of unborn children is a tragedy beyond human comprehension, a tragedy greater than this exists – the blindness on the part of church leaders and failure to see that Almighty God is going to respond to the U.S.A. brand of “Holocaust.” It will be far from a sunny afternoon experience at a Sunday School picnic!

Any hope that the United Methodist Church and its leadership will aggressively seek to end (eradicate?) mass killing of another kind taking place here in the United States? Highly unlikely -- whatever comments made will be in the form of "rationalization" as to why certain unborn children should live and others should die! See previous post about the spirit of Nazism in the "land of the free and the home of the brave."

And for more on this issue see A Quick Look at the United States' Massacre Tally! -- warning - you'll see a picture of a "victim" and this one looks a bit worse than a victim of malaria! Use return feature on your browser to return here.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. --- Galatians 6:7-9

Will the New Crop of United Methodist Bishops Be Any Different?

But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. --- 1 Timothy 1:8-11

It’s just a matter of days until they take over and some others hang it up. A new crop of bishops was recently elected to that very high office and as they assume responsibility as of September 1st, what will happen under their respective “watches?”

Will they be unified in their agreement with the standards of morality which our Creator has plainly established, or will there be those who will be very supportive of the sodomite/lesbian “agenda” as a number have already done by means of vocal statements and participation in “witness” demonstrations on such occasions as General Conference?

Will any be VERY different as is the case of Bishop Tom Bickerton of the W. PA Annual Conference and schedule annual conference over Father’s Day coupled with the demand that all pastors be present on Father’s Day morning for an ordination service at the conference? This has happened 3 out of the 4 years that Bickerton has been at the helm of the W. PA Conference! Ask the congregations of United Methodist churches in western Pennsylvania how they feel about their pastors being absent from their pulpits on Father’s Day?

Will any take a departure from what the Scripture teaches about the Person and Work (as it pertains to our salvation from sin) of Jesus Christ? Further, will any dismiss the parting command of Jesus to go into the entire world and preach the Gospel to all, without exception? It can be documented that there are bishops guilty of such positions!

And will there be any who will speak out with deep conviction and without apology, protesting the wanton and senseless slaughter of unborn children. Grand total of victims is now fast approaching 50 million. But to what extent have you heard UM bishops speak out against this, the United States' unique version of “holocaust?” The Council of UM Bishops has been very tight-lipped on this issue as well. You can see how many unborn have been mutilated and murdered under the term of each active bishop at A Quick Look at the United States' Massacre Tally! --- the numbers are all there as you scroll down past the politicians – go ahead, you can survive – you could be shaken up a bit, but you’ll survive! Use the reverse on your browser to return to this area.

It has been said, with a great sense of pride at times, that we are a denomination of “diversity” and that this is a good thing – a wide variety of beliefs and interpretations, etc. A cancer patient in the terminal stages of that horrible affliction can say that he has a wide diversity of cells in his body, but it is highly unlikely that he will say that it is a good thing to have such diversity in his situation!

For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. --- Titus 1:7-9

Hemorrhaging Continues Unabated!

Membership stands at 98,968, down 473 from the previous year......Membership stands at 166,987, up 172 from the previous year......Membership stands at 74,483, down 1,866 from the previous year......Membership stands at 61,534, down 1,379 from the previous year......Membership stands at 96,927, down 2,016 from the previous year. --- representative membership reports from some annual conferences for end of calendar year 2007

They’re coming in and the results are proving to be the same as it has been for many years. The membership of the United Methodist Church continues to decline by thousands each year!

Some attempt to be optimistic by saying that our losses aren’t as bad as they used to be – that’s as encouraging as telling a patient who is bleeding profusely from an injury, “Good news! You’re not losing blood as much as you were yesterday!” The fact is, unless the bleeding is entirely stopped, the guy will die. It is a given – a full supply of blood is necessary to maintain good health and prolonged life!

Among annual conference reports are those which are initiating detailed and often costly “programs” in an effort to reverse the loss of membership. Such is the case in the W. PA Annual Conference with its “Believe Again!” campaign. If a Washington DC politician wants a guideline on creating a bureaucratic “Frankenstein,” all he has to do is look at the W. PA Annual Conference. One of many “goals” in “Believe Again!” has been reached as of the 2007 annual conference session. A full time assistant for Bishop Thomas Bickerton will begin that interesting position as of July 1, 2008. This will enable the bishop to continue his many world wide travels with a full time assistant “minding the store” on the home front! But then, a lot of traveling here and there is quite possible when you are making over $100,000 per year plus a lot of “perks” to go with it.

Oh, by the way -- the W. PA Annual Conference, where I am an ordained elder, has reported its membership to be 187,441 as of end of 2007 -- DOWN 1,738 from previous year. Worship attendance is down 2,552 from previous year!

Will the very ambitious plans of recovery as intitiated in a number of conferences bring about desired and desperately hoped for results? Not likely – but to see why, we have to cross the Atlantic Ocean to a place called Africa and what is going on with the United Methodist Church there.

There is a choice of simple words to describe what is going on, but let’s use the word, “explosion!” The UMC in Africa is growing rapidly. Probably some have attempted to analyze this over recent years.

Let’s cut through all the technical jargon that would be thrown at us about this situation in Africa – the theories – the speculations, etc. Let’s just simply say that these people (laity, pastors, church leaders) know no better than to believe that the Bible means precisely what has been recorded there by direct influence of the Holy Spirit. And God has been wonderfully blessing because of this.

Such is not the case in the United States. We want to redefine God’s boundaries on human sexuality, redefine marriage and redefine what really constitutes a family. In the process we refer to those African United Methodists as being “more conservative” – that’s a bunch of baloney – let’s get it through our thick skulls – those people believe God while we in the United States have placed God on a stool in the corner with a dunce cap on His head and have told Him, “We’ll set the standards on sexual relationships and activity, as well as what marriage and family are all about. Further, we’ll set the record straight that all those so-called “miracles” attributed to you didn’t really happen at all – that’s all a bunch of fairy tale stuff!”

Even professed “evangelicals” have caved in to the pressure in the United States, not wanting to be labeled as being “homophobic” or “mean-spirited.” It’s so much easier to sit down to a table, dialog and say, “We disagree a bit, but we can still work together for the good of the church and exhibit “love” and “respect” for each other’s “positions!”

By the way, anyone out there have some extra gauze to help stop all this bleeding?

And for any from the United Methodist Church in Africa who may stumble into this area – “Brother or sister, keep on taking your stand for God’s revealed truth and the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation and hope, in spite of the flak you receive from some in the United States UMC or the efforts to hinder and restrict you at General Conference sessions! Remember, Jesus will have the last word on all things – we’ll see how absolutely true that is when He comes back to this chaotic planet!

To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; they have no delight in it. --- Jeremaih 6:10

Father's Day 2008 Among W. PA United Methodists -- A Real Touch of Irony!

Grace Clayton, a Methodist in Fairmont WV, inspired the first known church oberservance of the holiday 100 yeas ago this summer – long before it became a nationwide tradition. --- from information released by United Methodist Reporter, June 13, 2008

For the third time in four years the W. PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church will conclude with a lengthy ordination service later this morning, Father’s Day, at Grove City College in Grove City PA!

Bishop Thomas Bickerton did not merely suggest that the few hundred pastors of the conference be present at this morning's service adorned in robes and stoles, but has demanded they be present with duplicate demands coming down as well from the superintendents. Under these conditions it is likely that even the death of a pastor would not excuse the pastor from required attendance at the ordination – arrangements by the widow would have to be made to have the deceased pastor pushed down the aisle in his casket in the pastoral procession by the mortician in charge! OK! OK! So this last one is said with a bit of tongue in cheek! But unless you are exposed to the goings-on in the conference, you have no idea how radical the bishop and the cabinet members are when it comes to "laying down the law" to pastors about attending the ordination service, even on Father’s Day! Pastors were told in at least one district that if they had a wedding on June 14th, they were to make sure they got back to the conference in time for the ordination service on Sunday morning!

I had written to the bishop the first year about this grave error on his part and then the second year I included the members of the cabinet as well.

Such a disregard for Father’s Day is totally incomprehensible. But this bishop is not to be ever questioned or remotely challenged in any way by either pastors or laity. His attitude on such an issue can be compared to that fellow who sits on an important seat in a place called the Vatican!

Now here’s the kicker on this – a lady from Bickerton’s home state of West Virginia is credited with initiating the first observance of Father’s Day 100 years ago on July 5, 1908 in Fairmont WV. She was Grace Golden Clayton, a Methodist. Her father was a Methodist minister.

Details about Mrs. Clayton and the roots of observance of Father’s Day are found at the web site of Central United Methodist Church in Fairmont WV. Go to Father's Day -- use reverse feature on your browser to return to this place.

Most would agree that the observance of Father’s Day ranks in terms of importance on an equal level with Mother’s Day – that is all except Bishop Thomas Bickerton and his loyal supporters. Sometimes there is such a thing as blind loyalty – e.g. if a leader says he is going to the top of the Empire State Building in New York City and jump off and all must follow him, they will do it because he simply said to do so – no questioning is permitted – no entertaining of the disturbing thought that just maybe the leader is wrong for once. You know, a Jim Jones type of thing applied in a variety of ways and in different circumstances!

In one letter I asked the bishop if he would pull a stunt like that on Mother’s Day? Realizing I would not get a response, I concluded with, “We both know the answer to that one don’t we?”

So this morning a few hundred pastors of United Methodist churches in western Pennsylvania will be absent for the third time in four years from their pulpits on Father’s Day. Can anyone cite a similar folly today so lacking in respect which involves hundreds of pastors anywhere else within the boundaries of our republic as the debacle which will take place at Grove City College -- any other United Methodist annual conference or any other denomination?

There may be those who in defense of Bishop Bickerton would say that the only week available to hold the conference was the week which ends on Father’s Day, so there was no choice. But there is enough flexibility in scheduling that the whole thing could have been done and wrapped up by Saturday, June 14th! Trying to defend the trashing of Father’s Day by the scheduling of an annual conference session requiring pastors to be absent from their churches flies as well as a Canada goose with both wings broken!

Again, I go on record – I am willing to retract all statements made and issue an apology on my web site and at the blog IF a simple question survey is taken in every United Methodist congregation in W. PA and without any suggestions made by the pastor as to how the bishop and the cabinet want the members to answer. The question is this – “Would you prefer your pastor to be in the pulpit of your church or at annual conference on Father’s Day?”

If 51 percent or more say they want their pastor to be at conference with the bishop, then the apology will be quickly issued. As an aside -- personally I have a lot of confidence in the laity and that they often exhibit more respect for things that count than do those in high positions of authority within church structures – check comparisons on respect and reverence for the holy Scriptures, if you want a good example of contrasts!

The procedure can be done very easily and quickly. All the pastor has to do is ask for a show of hands in each congregation with a couple of ushers doing the count. Then simply send the results (x number want pastor with them on Father’s Day and x number want their pastor to spend Father’s Day with the bishop at annual conference) by email to the W. PA Conference Center located in Cranberry Twp. PA. In fact, that would be a good job to help break in the bishop’s new FULL TIME assistant as of July 1st – let him tally the results!

See how easy it can be done? In the meantime I shall be anxiously waiting to learn of the results of the survey -- remember now, no tampering or putting on the pressure by saying, "This is what the bishop wants!"

In all seriousness, at the very least an apology to every congregation in the W. PA Annual Conference should be issued by the bishop and the cabinet for forcing the pastors to be in attendance at the conference session on Father's Day for three years out of four! But don't hold your breath on this one!

If anything, I'm the bad guy for making a prolonged issue of this due to my marching to the beat of a different Drummer! By the way, I, an ordained elder in the W. PA Annual Conference, will be in the pulpit of my church later this morning and stressing the responsibilities of fatherhood from a Biblical perspective. Why? Because that is where Almighty God wants me to be and about! And then later in the day I shall be sharing the blessings of family members. The details of that family are given in the post just below this one, dated June 13, 2008!

And a PS -- I have probably conducted more Father's Day services than just about any other pastor in the W PA Annual Conference, including the bishop and cabinet members -- in the last 30 years of my ministry before retirement, I served 4 churches in 6 of those years and 3 churches in 24 of those years. I am down now to 1 church during these last 9 years of retirement! And I never missed one Father's Day worship service during those years!

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. --- Ephesians 6:4

They Were in Their Pulpits on Mother's Day, But Don't Expect Them to Be There on Father's Day!

...Pastors should bring a pulpit robe or alb and a red stole to process in the service of Ordination. If you do not have these items, that is fine, you still are a part of the clergy family and will join in the service. If you have scheduled a wedding for June 14th and plan to leave Grove City for rehearsal Friday evening, you still need to return to Grove City for the Sunday service. If you are participating in one of our camping events the week following Annual Conference, you still have ample time to arrive at camp following the service. If you need to be excused from Annual Conference, it is your responsibility to communicate in writing to Bishop Bickerton, Conference Secretary John Wilson, and your Superintendent why you cannot participate in Annual Conference this June.... Part of the "orders from headquarters" directed to pastors in one of the districts of the Western PA Annual Conference in anticipation of the service of ordination scheduled on Father's Day, June 15, 2008 at Grove City College in Grove City PA!

They say 3 out of 4 ain't bad! In baseball or softball, if you get 3 hits out of 4 times at bat, that would be considered an impressive batting average. If you were traveling through a small town which had 4 traffic lights and you hit 3 of the 4 when they were green, you would congratulate yourself on doing well in avoiding some red lights in that community. In fishing, if lively trout hit the bait 4 times and you get 3 out of the 4, you would consider that a successful fishing venture.

But sometimes 3 out of 4 is not a good thing -- ask the congregations of a few hundred United Methodist Churches in western Pennsylvania about that ratio. You see, for the 3rd time in 4 years their pastors will not be present with them on Father's Day!

The pastors have always been present in their churches on Mother's Day, as they were yesterday. But for 3 years out of 4 it's been a kitty of another color on Father's Day.

The Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church will be meeting the latter part of the second week of June and will conclude with an ordination service on the morning of Father's Day, June 15th! The conference will meet at Grove City College in Grove City PA. It will be the 3rd year out of 4 since Tom Bickerton became bishop that Father's Day has been scrapped in favor of an ordination service!

The bishop along with support from his superintendents is adamant in demanding that all pastors be present for the ordination service on Father's Day. The pastors are given ample "warning" in advance about this (see the wording of statements in one district newsletter as noted above) with specific instructions about making sure arrangements are made for someone to conduct the services in the pastors' absence.

I'm not sure that even if you die on Saturday night, June 14th, that you would have a legitimate excuse for being absent from the ordination service the next morning! But that can be taken care of by arranging to have the funeral director wheel you down the aisle in your casket ahead of the bishop and all the other dignitaries in the procession -- that way, your presence will be obvious. Just make sure the casket lid is open so that they know you were present -- this is necessary in order to insure that no "unpleasant" things happen to you because you were regarded as being absent!

Now a question -- is there anybody out there who knows of a similar debacle taking place in other UMC conferences or other denominations in the entire United States? Write it down -- you'll be hard pressed to find even a half dozen pastors who will be absent from their pulpits on Father's Day. For any outside the W. PA Annual Conference who are absent it will likely be due to an unexpected emergency of the first magnitude!

I wrote to Bishop B. about this the first year, figuring that being a rookie bishop and quite young (I have 2 kids older than he, 1 about the same age, and 2 a bit younger) that he didn't fully realize what he was doing.

The second year I also included the District Superintendents in the letter sent. The appeal was that Father's Day is an ideal time to stress the importance of family and responsibilities of fatherhood, etc. And this at a time when our culture is fast adopting an attitude that fathers aren't really all that important -- about all they are good for is to provide some wriggly things which are essential in making a baby! One woman got a lot of publicity plus many, many bucks from her book which described how she artificially inseminated herself (the old turkey baster tactic) and has a child she is raising without a father being involved! Much as she probably hates to admit it, she did need the help of a man at one point though she never met the guy -- he provided some of those wriggly things mentioned earlier!

Anyway, the bishop, as I expected, made no response to those letters. One person mentioned to me that Father's Day is not a significant religious holiday -- the implication being if the the W. PA Annual Conference wants to have an ordination service on the morning of Father's Day with all pastors expected to be present, so what? If a bishop says that is the way it is to be, that settles it -- no questions or objections are permitted! Sounds like a United Methodist version of a pope at his dictatorial best, does it not?

A final question I asked in one of the letters was this -- "If it were Mother's Day, would you have the ordination service with the presence of all pastors being required? We both know the answer to that one, don't we?"

There are many things that call for prayer -- sometimes very unusual things -- this is one of them. Whatever it takes, may Almighty God clearly reveal that it is His will for those W. PA United Methodist pastors to be in their pulpits on Father's Day in June of 2008 and not at Grove City College!

Go ahead -- ask them -- ask any congregation of United Methodists if they would prefer that their pastor would be present with them to conduct worship on Father's Day. And do not condition the people by first saying that this is what the bishop and the superintendents expect -- we're not concerned about their desires, but only with what God wants!

And as an ordained elder in the W. PA Annual Conference, where will I be on the morning of June 15th? Just where I am each Father's Day and where I have always been in 49 years of ministry -- occupying the pulpit of the church (or churches) God has called me to serve, and where He expects me to be. I mentioned this in the second letter sent to the bishop and D.S.'s -- also mentioned was the fact that if that was unacceptable to them, then they would have to take the issue up God, because He is the One Who wants me to be in a certain church at a certain time on Father's Day! I have never yet missed a Father's Day service in any of the churches I have served over the years and I have no intention of missing one in 2008!

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men...." --- Acts 5:27-29

Could We Have Some Attention Directed to a Greater Tragedy, Please?

The above banner is on display at the home page of the web site of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. Address for the site is http://www.wpaumc.org/ if you want to see it for yourself.

Yea, I know -- here I go again! But you have to understand that it's a pattern I've been in for quite a few years -- as I recall, it all started back in about the year 1973. A lot of water has run under the bridge in that amount of time and a lot of blood of the innocents has run down the sewers also!

W. PA United Methodists have been challenged repeatedly to support the Nothing But Nets campaign in an effort to cut down the number of malaria victims in Africa. As noted above, 1 million children die in Africa each year from malaria.

Bishop Bickerton has been at the forefront of this drive. He's been all over the map in promoting this and received high profile publicity at the General Conference recently with the announcement of grants being given to the United Methodist Church as the campaign continues.

Well and good -- Jean and I have contributed to this effort as have many other individuals and groups.

BUT, as asked so many times before -- why is there stone silence in regard to the more than 1 million unborn children who are brutally mutilated and murdered in their mothers' wombs each year in the "land of the free and the home of the brave?" Come on now, tell me -- why do our bishops in the United Methodist Church, Bickerton included, come down with a severe case of lock jaw when it comes to speaking out on this abomination? Do they deceive themselves into thinking that Almighty God is not going to respond to this massive shedding of innocent blood?

For the latest numbers from certain points of time and since certain politicians and church officials have taken office, go to A Quick Look at the United States' Massacre Tally!

Will there be anything significantly done to stop the hemorrhaging? Not likely -- about all we have to look forward to is God's response to it all, and that will not be a Sunday School picnic by any stretch of human imagination!

And will there be some "balanced" information on the W. PA Annual Conference web site about 1 million or more unborn children in the United States being exterminated each year along with 1 million children in Africa dying from Malaria? We all know the answer to that one, don't we?

"For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, 'We are delivered to do all these abominations'?" --- Jeremiah 7:5-10

Still No Word About That Other Million!

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations." --- Jeremiah 1:4, 5

Tomorrow, April 25th, is being noted as Malaria Day. United Methodist agencies are stressing the date along with offers of resources to better educate us on the need to combat malaria in Africa.

My bishop in the W. PA Annual Conference, Thomas Bickerton, has been very aggressive in promoting the need to support what is commonly known as "Nothing But Nets." Finances are raised to purchase netting to protect individuals from being bitten by mosquitoes which spread the disease. Our conference reported that he was in New York yesterday meeting with some big name people etc. and promoting the cause of combating malaria in Africa.

The bishop, as well as UMC agencies, stress the fact that there are 1 million or more victims who die of malaria each year in Africa. There has been a positive response to the appeal for support. In fact, my wife and I have sent in support for this cause.

But there continues to be the nagging question -- with all the traveling, contacts made, and conversations on the subject of malaria deaths by Bishop Bickerton -- why has he along with all the other bishops never mentioned the fact that there are also over 1 million unborn children mutilated and murdered in their mothers' wombs each year in the "land of the free and the home of the brave?"

Yea, yea, I know! I've been making a big issue of this thing of slaughtering the unborn for a long time -- how is it that we as a nation and as a church have allowed ourselves to be deceived into thinking that God isn't paying the least bit of attention to this abomination, or worse, that He simply doesn't care and will never confront our republic about this?

Back to the UMC bishops -- want to see how many unborn have been brutally mutilated and murdered under their respective watches? Go to A Quick Look At The United States' Massacre Tally! -- scroll down a ways to see the different bishops and the numbers. As of 8:43 AM on April 24, 2008 there were 4,786,524 unborn children exterminated in the United States' version of holocaust since Tom Bickerton became bishop of the W. PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church!

Now to what extent has he expressed concern about this abomination in comparison to what he has said about people dying from malaria?

Does anyone dare to entertain a thought that there is more than a tad of inconsistency at the episcopal level of the United Methodist Church?

In addition to that, here's another little gem to think about -- with all the lamenting about loss of members in the United Methodist Church, how many more do you think we might have had if those nearly 49 million unborn children would not have been destroyed since the infamous Roe vs. Wade decision of 1973? Want to sleep on that one tonight, if you can?

In the meantime we still wait to hear a word from Bishop Bickerton and the rest about that other significant "million" that they have miserably failed to mention!

'Thus says the LORD: "Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place......Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, for shedding innocent blood, and practicing oppression and violence.'" --- Jeremiah 22:3, 17

Mandatory Training on Racisim? You've Got to Be Kidding!

Mandatory Training on Racism Scheduled --- Headline on front page of the March 14, 2008 issue of InterLink, newspaper of the W. PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

It seems all systems are go as another "mandatory" training session for clergy of the W. PA Annual Conference on the explosive issue of racism will happen at four designated locations this spring. Bishop Bickerton has sent a letter detailing this matter and stressed also the need for church leaders among the laity to attend as well.

The events are being funded through the "Believe Again" program which was launched some time back. I still have not gotten an answer to an issue I raised about this at the begining -- just what is it I am to believe anyhow? A link at the bottom of this discussion will provide more details about that.

Apparently to get us all set straight on this racism thing a company known as Rhymes Consulting which is based in Pittsburgh will provide leadership for the sessions. Now the question is this -- is this a Christian organization and are the people leading this all dedicated Christians deeply involved in their respective churches?

But no matter -- at the heart of the Christian faith is something called transformation of a person in the inner depths of that person's being upon the condition of repenting from all known sin and receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord -- quite literally, a miracle of change takes place!

In order for this miracle to take place the 4 demands Jesus placed upon us humans must happen -- no options here -- either we meet those conditions or we don't!

• Jesus said we must be born again - John 3:3
  
• Jesus said we must repent - Luke 13:3
  
• Jesus said we must be converted and become as a little child - Matthew 18:3
  
• Jesus said we must eat His flesh and drink of His blood -- not literally, of course, as He explains on the occasion of issuing this demand - John 6:53-66
  

But that is where the problem is -- it is possible to hang the label, "Christian," around your neck -- circulate in and around the church and not really know what it is to be born again as well as meeting those other demands as set forth by Jesus! I recall hearing a preacher many years ago expressing frustration about the subject of being "born again" -- he admitted he knew nothing about it!

But having the experience will change one's perspective when it comes to racial issues plus a lot of other stuff which relates one way or another to this thing called sin. Paul expressed it well in statements made in Galatians 3:28 -- and how about those statements in Colossians 3:4-14 -- you know, where he says racial identification is obliterated and not recognized in Christ Jesus -- sure shoots this diversity thing (of which too many United Methodists are so proud) all to pieces, does it not?

Is this racism thing the only thing NOT to go when Paul was inspired to write this:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. --- 2 Corinthians 5:17

Is there anyone brazen enough in the W. PA Annual Conference or anywhere else for that matter who will say to Paul -- "Yes, some things may be a bit different, but racism still remains -- it's an old thing and it will stay, no matter what -- even the grace of God is not sufficient to deal with that one -- at least not until we call in a consulting firm!" Come to think of it, there probably are some who would do it!

Just what is meant when it says that a person becomes a new creation in Jesus Christ? What are the "old things" which pass away? What are the things which become "new?"

More to come in a day or two about this racism matter -- as experienced by a fellow who at one point didn't really care if there was a God or not!

By the way, that link on the matter of "Believe Again!" as mentioned earlier -- it's at Believe Again! OK! But What Is It That I Am to Believe? A link at the bottom of that area will bring you back to this place.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
--- John 15:5-12

By the Way, Have You Met Theo?

My web site, Circuit Rider's Range, would not be what it is if it were not for Theo. He has been a tremendous help over the years since the site got up and running. Our acquaintance goes back many, many years. So I'll let him say hello to you and then I will continue providing some more of just who he is.

Theo, say 'hello' to our visitors and keep it short, if you can get your feet settled down for a bit.

"Hello, folks! And welcome to this blog. CR, Circuit Rider, CDH -- these are terms by which I refer to my boss -- will tell you some of my background and how it came about that we are working together. He will probably refer you to that special place he picked out for me which really gives you the details about me. I can't help moving around -- I'm so excited at being CR's Administrative Assistant on the Range and in some other places such as his blog. See you around!"

Theo mentioned that he is my Administrative Assistant -- hey, don't be surprised -- my bishop, Tom Bickerton, of the W. PA Annual Conference is getting a full time assistant starting this July, so why shouldn't I have someone helping me with the responsibility of keeping a web site and blog going? Of course, Theo isn't getting the kind of salary and perks that the bishop's new assistant will get, but he seems reasonably satisfied with what he gets.

It has been a good thing to have Theo helping because then I can keep a close eye on him. You see, his past life has been at times very shady -- in fact, it is practical criminal but in a different way than people who rob, assault, kill, traffic in drugs, etc.

Theo is not his full name but you will have to go to the special place I set up for him to find out what it is. So without further ado, slip on over to Theo's "special place" and let him tell you all about himself. It's at:

The Theology Pit!

I must say in closing that the relationship that Theo and I have has a lot to do with the Bible. You know, that very controversial book that a lot of people have trouble believing? And this includes some who identify as theologians, seminary professors, church leaders, pastors, and folks who sit in church pews Sunday after Sunday!

Zealous to Save from Malaria, But....!!!

High level fanfare has been given to the "Nothing But Nets" campaign in the September 28, 2007 issue of the WPAUMC InterLink, biweekly publication of the W. PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. At the recent session of the conference in June the color orange was prominent as youth wore tee shirts of that color with the caption on the back as noted in above photo --
MALARIA KILLS

SEND A NET, SAVE A LIFE
Bishop Thomas Bickerton is to be commended for his zealous leadership in this campaign in which it has been reported that the denomination is more than half way toward its $3 million dollar goal of providing netting for families in parts of Africa where as many as 1 million children die from malaria each year. Bishop Bickerton has heavily stressed these mortality rates.

All well and good -- a worthy project in any man's language which has had an enthusiastic reponse by groups of all ages. High profile press coverage has helped immensely. Many lives will be saved in the times ahead because of this endeavor.

BUT the bishop, along with all his colleagues, is totally silent about the fact that about 1 million unborn children are brutally mutilated and murdered in this country each year. Tally at this point in time is over 48 million victims of the United States' tailor made version of "Holocaust!"

United Methodist bishops are quite notorious regarding their silence on the destruction of thousands of unborn children every week of the year. They will issue joint statements on all kind of social and moral matters ranging from the war in Iraq, gambling, the death penalty, concern for children (the born ones, that is), etc.

The bishops clearly expressed their displeasure that a practicing homosexual was denied church membership by a pastor who was attempting to counsel the man to repent of his sins. The homosexual refused to repent. But the way the bishops put it, if a guy is practicing sodomy regularly with his "lover" and wants to become a member of the United Methodist Church no pastor should stand in the way of granting that desire! Whew! It gets pretty deep sometimes, doesn't it?

One bishop told me in written communication that she agrees with the position of the UMC on abortion which is really one that gives a "green light" to abortion on demand. So for her, whatever shifting the denomination does in taking positions on issues at its General Conference gatherings, she will go along every time. The logic of this says that if the UMC delegates voted that we should all jump off the Golden Gate Bridge, then we should do so and not question the action! This is what you call "marching in lockstep, no questions to be asked!"

Fortunately, there are still a few folks around the denomination (pastors and laity) who refuse to buy in to this philosophy. They usually are not popular people and often are branded as being fanatical, narrow-minded, unloving, and even unChristian!

Alas, I digress a bit again -- if you want to see how many unborn children have been murdered since Bishop Bickerton took over as bishop in the W. PA Conference, go to A Quick Look At the United States' Massacre Tally! Scroll down a ways and you will come to mention of Bishop Bickerton. Go further to see what the number of victims has been since other bishops have been elevated to their present positions in the UMC.

Remember, we will be told that we need to do all we can to prevent malaria deaths in Africa, but not a syllable coming from those fellows and girls that make up a special group known as the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church!

How about a tee shirt with this inscription on the back for starters --
ABORTION KILLS UNBORN CHILDREN!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?
Don't look for one in any United Methodist Church annual conference session anytime soon -- just maybe when God makes His response, as He surely will, to this abomination of slaughtering the innocents in their mothers' wombs there might be the formation of special "committees" to study the issue and then report back to the next annual conference session -- if there is one!

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, "Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the LORD!'" Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Do not trust in these lying words, saying, 'The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these.' For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, 'We are delivered to do all these abominations'?" --- Jeremiah 7:1-10

Why a High Profile Emphasis on Some Things, But Silence on the Most Critical Ones?

Political and many church leaders share common ground when it comes to their measure of what is considered important as opposed to where their mouths become absolutely speechless regarding that which is of far greater importance!

President Bush just recently addressed the issue of conflict in Sudan with a call for economic sanctions against that nation. The reason? Seems for some time there has been a lot of bloodshed involving large numbers of innocent people -- the president even used the term "genocide" and applied it to what the government is doing to certain people. The president was very sober in his remarks on this matter -- no smiles on this one! Cetainly a person with some degree of moral sensitivity ought to be conserned about the ongoing occurance of such atrocities.

Likewise, in the W. PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church there is a heavy emphasis on the "Nothing But Nets" campaign. We are told of large numbers of persons who die in Africa from Malaria, so all are encouraged to support this effort by giving money to buy the nets which will protect the people from the disease carrying mosquitoes. Bishop Bickerton of the W. PA Conference has been pushing this quite vigorously. The annual conference session which is slated to start on June 7 and go through June 10 is going to be saturated with reminders of the campaign everywhere one will look, according to advance publicity. Perhaps the only place one will not see some "Nothing But Nets" hype will be when he or she goes to the bathroom! But even there maybe someone has strategically placed a poster or slogan.
It is a situation that ought to arouse a degree of concern and response. As indicated in an earlier post, my wife and I will be supporting the effort financially.

BUT in the above examples to which many names, politically and religiously could be added, why the silence on the greatest massacre to have taken place in United States history? When was the last time you saw an indignant president state unequivocally that we've got to stop the massacre of unborn children, the total of which is approaching 48 million?

When was the last time you heard Bishop Thomas Bickerton express indignation over the fact that thousands of unborn children are mutilated and murdered every week of the year and that this heinous practice has got to stop immediately?

And when was the last time you heard other political and church leaders express similar sentiments?

No, what you often hear from such leaders on the most critical moral crisis this republic has ever faced in its entire history is something such as this: the issue of destroying unborn children is a very complex issue and there are no easy answers -- we have to try to arrive at some "common ground" on the issue and work together toward a solution which will not restrict any human "rights" in the process!"

Ooops! A correction -- you will not hear the above named individuals nor others in positions similar to theirs using the term "destruction of unborn children" -- terminating a fetus, maybe -- or the more preferred expression -- "terminating an unwanted pregnancy." The advantage is that it's very impersonal in using such terms and one is deceived into thinking that no "person" becomes a victim in the termination procedure!

It's amazing how simple the solutions are when it comes to dealing with problems as God points them out to us -- His solutions are always simple -- it usually means, "Repent of your sins and abominations and quit doing them!"

But as a nation, we are demonstrating more and more that we are possession of a spirit which plunged a people of the past into disaster which they were totally unprepared to face!

Our leaders are determined to "major on the minors" and want us to do likewise!

More Tremors Among the UMs of Western Pennsylvania!

In an earlier post about some happenings among United Methodists of western Pennsylvania it was noted that a group of lay persons had circulated a letter which questioned the stance on the issue of homosexuality taken by two prominent pastors and one lay person who is high profile in the "Believe Again" campaign being pushed vigorously by Bishop Tom Bickerton of the W. PA Annual Conference.

The bishop quickly responded by a letter in which in rather forceful and detailed language he defended the three persons and stressed the fact that they were persons of high integrity, etc.

A second letter has just been sent by the original group of lay persons as they continue to pursue the issue. In this one they take some space to explain the reason for remaining anonymous and it is a valid reason. They are fearful of retaliation being taken against their pastors and their churches. They cite the example of Ed Johnson and the calamity he experienced due to his position of refusing to receive a practicing homosexual into church membership.

In the W. PA Annual Conference there have been occasions in which churches have taken actions which were unpopular and retaliation has taken place in the form of appointments in the future or the threat of not appointing a pastor to what has been regarded as a "rebel" church!

So the group of lay persons in choosing to remain anonymous in this present controversy has taken an action that is wise at least for the present. But if the bishop and his cabinet ever find out the identity of these persons, then look out -- heads will roll!

This whole issue can be easily resolved with the bishop taking the lead:

• First, he can clearly define his own position on homosexuality and lesbianism, and specifically spell out as to whether or not such practices are a sin. After all, he signed, along with all other active bishops, the letter which condemned the Judicial Council for its decision in which it ruled that Ed Johnson was to be reinstated and reimbursed back salary etc. due to the actions of Charlene and her executive session in suspending him. This letter of response by the UMC bishops in effect said that anybody (including a practicing homosexual) should be taken into the membership of the United Methodist Church if that person makes such a request, and each pastor should honor the request!
  
  
• Second, the bishop can define as to whether it is acceptable to have practicing homosexuals and lesbians serving on church boards, agencies, etc. Just flat out state in plain words (no church-ese confusing language) -- is it or is it not acceptable -- yes or no!
  
  
• Third, the bishop can direct that the two clergy and one lay person singled out in the circulated letter also publicly define their specific positions on homosexual and lesbian practices -- no hedging or dodging -- just plainly state whether or not these practices are morally wrong and whether or not they agree with God's revelation on the issue. There is not one reported instance in the totality of the Scriptures where homosexuality and lesbianism are given a positive stamp of approval -- the practices are always regarded as being negative and soundly condemned!
  

Will the bishop do this? It is highly doubtful -- UMC bishops are beginning to take more and more a "popish" position when they speak -- if they said it, then it is settled -- and laity, you are to pay the bills and keep your mouth shut -- don't ever raise a question about anything, especially about moral issues in these days of calling what is black, white and vice-versa! Interesting, is it not, that all too many in the UMC hierarchy forget very quickly that their salaries and perks are paid by the laity who have every right to raise questions and issue challenges when there are things taking place which contradict the Scriptures and basic doctrines on which the Methodist Church was founded in the times of John and Charles Wesley!

So to you lay folks in United Methodist churches in W. PA, someone in your church has received this 2nd letter -- ask about it -- ask your pastor if he or she has seen and read it, and then ask whether the bishop intends to clarify this matter as suggested above! It is simply an honest question which deserves honest answers so that everyone knows where the bishop and the persons in question really stand on very critical moral issues which are tearing the UMC apart!

Further, you have the right to insist on total clarification as to where the bishop and the three named individuals in the controversial letters stand on the issue of homosexuality and lesbianism. You also have the right to make your personal contact and appeal to the bishop on this matter: write to Bishop Thomas Bickerton at 1204 Freedom Road, PO Box 5002, Cranberry Twp. PA 16066-0002.

Or you can give him a phone call at 724-776-2300. As mentioned, the lay folks are the ones who pay the bills, and they have the right to know precisely where the leadership of the conference and the denomination stand on moral issues!

And a friendly word of advice -- don't ever let any member of the United Methodist hierarchy intimidate you! Our ultimate accountability is to our Lord Jesus Christ, not to any church leader who holds some kind of power position within the denominational structure.

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! --- Isaiah 5:20

All Is Not Peaches & Cream in a Paradise Known As the W. PA Conference of the United Methodist Church!

Did I hear you say that you felt tremors vibrating a bit and the ground under your feet seemed to shake very unnaturally in the western part of Pennsylvania? And you are curious as to what is going on, since the earth shaking has been mostly limited to the western coast line of the U.S. on previous occasions.

Well, it's all about something erupting in the W. PA Conference of the United Methodist Church. A letter was sent out from a group simply identified as a group of concerned United Methodist Lay Persons. There would have been a bit more credibility if at least some would have signed their names.

Allegations in the letter centered on 3 persons holding prominent positions within the W. PA Annual Conference of the UMC. The clergy are the Rev. William Meekins and the Rev. David Morse. The lay person is Mr. Tracy Merrick who is a prominent leader in Bishop Thomas Bickerton's pet project, the "Believe Again" campaign, with expectations that the W. PA Conference will be resurrected and do great things in the future.

The issue centers on the position these 3 take in regard to the practice of sodomy and lesbianism. The allegations claim that the above named clergy were among a group which wore armbands at last year's annual conference that symbolized a protest against the UMC's refusal to ordain homosexual persons for ministry.

It is no secret that there are those within the confines of the conference who are sympathetic toward the homosexual/lesbian agenda being pushed on all church groups. And within W. PA there has been the initiation of "dialog" sessions between those who are pressing the homosexual/lesbian agenda and those who claim to be "evangelical" with very "positive" and "glowing" reports coming forth from these sessions. Mr. Tracy Merrick has been a part of this activity and the allegation in the circulated letter states his sympathy toward those who practice same-gender coupling.

Tracy is chairperson of the Pastor/Parish Relations Committee at First United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh. It is a church which has clearly gone on record that it is an "inclusive" church -- this means acceptance of those who practice sodomy and lesbianism with no expectation of these repenting of their sins as would be expected of others who are in some other kind of destructive life style, such as a practicing adulterer or a person who sexually molests children, etc.

The church's pastor, Bob Wilson, has posted his displeasure with Judicial Council Decision 1032 which ordered reinstatement of a pastor who had denied membership to a man who refused to repent of his practice of sodomy. Bob's statements can be read at Bob Wilson's Response to JD 1032

You can visit First UM's web site at First UMC - Pittsburgh PA. There you will see the evidence that if a person is in a practicing lifestyle involving sodomy or lesbianism, one can still be a "Christian" all the while -- it's quite OK -- we just need to eliminate the barriers which keep these people from legally marrying and participating in the church, including ordination into the ministry!

Since Tracy Merrick holds the important position of being chairman of the PPR Committee, it must be assumed that he is in agreement with his pastor and the stated position of the church on the issue of same-gender coupling.

Bishop Bickerton, true to form, fired off a letter in response to the one circulated by the group of concerned lay persons. And as one would expect, he vigously defended the 3 who had been singled out by name in the offending letter. But that could have been predicted since he was one of the entire group of active UM bishops who cried "Foul!" in response to Judicial Council Decision 1032!

Translated into simple terms -- the UMC bishops are saying that anyone who wants to become a member of the UMC should be taken into membership and that includes persons who practice sodomy! That was the issue that got Ed Johnson into trouble in the VA Conference -- the man who wanted to become a member of Ed's church was practicing sodomy and refused to repent of his sin, so Ed would not receive him into the membership -- and guess who the bad guy was in this -- Ed Johnson whom Charlene Kammerer and clergy members of her conference tried to hang!

The UMC bishops are giving increased evidence that they expect pastors to march in lockstep to their edicts without question -- the crisis occurs when there are those few pastors who still hold to strong Biblically based convictions and insist on marching to the beat of a very different Drummer -- Ed Johnson proved to be one such pastor!

The pressure continues to build for full acceptance of practicing sodomites and lesbians into the life and ministry of all church groups -- those of us who are labeled narrow, mean-spirited, bigoted, close-minded, homophobic, etc. are expected to accept that with absolutely no mention made that this is an abominable lifestyle which calls for repentance!

Look for more tremors in the times ahead, especially as we are heading toward General Conference 2008 which will be held in Texas. Lay and clergy delegates will be elected this year, and you can count on one thing -- battle plans have been well put together by this time on the part of those who are trying to convince us that there is nothing wrong with 2 men or 2 women engaging in sexual intimacy with each other, getting married, adopting children, and being actively involved in a church!

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!--- Isaiah 5:20

You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you say, "In what way have we wearied Him?" In that you say, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them," or, "Where is the God of justice?" --- Malachi 2:17

It's No Longer "Here Comes the Judge" But Look Out, Here Comes the Bishop!

Last summer following a lot of intensive meetings and "campaigning" the Western PA Conference of the United Methodist Church adopted a massive program under the name of "Believe Again!" -- this "strategic plan," which is quite possibly the most ambitious project ever launched by a conference, is supposed to bring about all kinds of results which will make United Methodist churches in the western third of PA more high profile and powerful in their ministries. Bishop Thomas Bickerton has been the spark plug in this venture which in some ways would make a Washington DC politician envious at the structure, the details, and the financing involved!

Here's the kicker -- most of the churches were to get a nice refund on payments previously sent in on pastors' health plans. Want to guess who came up with the bright idea to have those churches receiving reimbursements to sign the checks and turn them over to help finance this great "Believe Again!" campaign?

The pressure was about as high as it could get without blowing a valve -- not just on congregations but even worse, on the pastors also! Turn those reimbursements over to the "campaign!" Most seemed to go along, but some chose not to financially commit and to not turn over the reimbursement money they had received. Isn't this still supposed to be a republic where choices can be made without a lot of pressure to make a choice in favor of what certain leaders WANT??? Not if you are in a certain denomination and you have leaders who expect pastors and their congregations to march in lockstep like a bunch of programmed robots to their every demand!

Now the word is out that those non participating congregations are going to be asked to "reconsider" their decision about not contributing to the "cause" -- and then the bishop wants to meet with pastors and lay leadership to discuss why the congregations have not responded!

Will these actually be meetings where the bishop, smiling from ear to ear, attaches the strings and the Western PA Conference will reach the point where all the bishop has to do is yank the strings and ALL pastors and ALL congregations say, "Yes, sir -- whatever you say, sir -- your suggestions are our commands to carry out without question or objection!" Remember now, this will be done under a pretense of "piety" but with a not so well concealed threat that "if you don't pay now to the 'cause,' you'll pay a price later on down the road!" Retaliation has been known to have been employed in cases where pastors and/or congregations failed to "cooperate" when expected to do so!

BTW, you can see some comments about this "Believe Again!" campaign now underway in the United Methodist Churches in western Pennsylvania at Believe Again! OK! But What Is It That I Am Supposed to Believe? It has been written by yours truly. Enjoy!


On second thought, maybe someone can revive those old wringer washers from the age of antiquity and run those reluctant UMC congregations and their pastors through the wringer -- that should get every last cent out of them for the "campaign" with an additional "perk" wherein we can brag on 100 percent cooperation and support as we "Believe Again!"

And always remember -- intimidation is alive and thriving among the churches of the Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church -- would some of our brethren in the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church please come give it the last rites? It's long over due!