Response to 2019 General Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Duke Memorial United Methodist Church stands on the side of love and reconciliation, not judgment and exclusion.

February 28, 2019
Rev. Heather Rodrigues, Lead Pastor
office@dukememorial.org
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“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”  1 John 4:18
 
We regret and are saddened by the recent decision of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church to bar, on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, those whom God has called to the ministry; to deny marriage to certain members of the faith on the basis of their respective genders; and to push from our pulpits those clergy whose consciences will not permit them to comply with these hurtful policies.  We do not see the love of Jesus reflected in this decision.  We believe that it inflicts needless and unjust pain upon persons for whom Jesus died and leaves an enduring scar on the Body of Christ.  Love is at the center of our faith tradition and is the lens through which we interpret the Scriptures.  We will continue to celebrate the reconciliation of all persons as beloved children of God, equal before the throne of love and grace.

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