ReformationUCC.org » Commentary

Former United Church of Christ President Chooses Adulterous Relationship, Divorce; Creates Crisis

Admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:40:06 +0000

Dr. John Thomas, who completed his final term as President of the United Church of Christ in September 2009, recently announced that he is living in an adulterous relationship with a fellow national UCC staff member and is consequently separated from and divorcing his wife. The duration of the adulterous relationship with his co-worker, engaged in while he served as President of the UCC in Cleveland, or whether she was a subordinate has not been revealed. UCC Announcement.

Biblical Witness Fellowship, a confessing movement in the United Church of Christ has issued the following statement in reaction to this news.

“It is a great sadness for all of us that our former President John Thomas has broken his covenant commitment to marriage in exchange for an adulterous relationship. His action deepens the crisis of integrity in the UCC with consequences well beyond the tragic dissolution of his own family. During his administration, Dr. Thomas was a champion for the religious legitimization of sexual license and the redefinition of marriage. It now appears that his agenda may have been driven by personal justification of his own behavior rather than by any authentic conviction. The whole church is deeply hurt when our leaders fail to keep their vows and engage in this form of duplicity. It compromises the witness of all of us in the body of Christ. We understand that all of us sin and fall short of the glory of God, and call on our brother John Thomas to repent and seek restoration.”

UCC Synod Resolution Proposal on Solidarity with the People of Iran

Admin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:20:19 +0000

Editor’s Note: The following emergency resolution was introduced during the new business section during the first plenary session at the UCC Generaly Synod last week. While it was combined with two other resolutions, we thought you would be interested in the original wording of the document that supports the efforts of the Iranian people who yearn to be free from oppression and to practice fundamental human rights. This was an alternative resolution to one that had been vetted by American Islamist organizations and contained a great deal of unnecessary political verbiage.

Summary

Since the 12 June, 2009, election in Iran, a movement among the people of that country has developed into something much more than protesting over contested election results. This resolution expresses the United Church of Christ General Synod 27’s desire to stand in solidarity with the people of Iran as their hearts yearn to be free.

Background

The Iranian people have repeatedly seen their basic human rights denied. Whether it is freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, or some other freedom the Iranians have been frustrated in their attempts to express themselves. Their right of valid voting franchise has been called into question. All of this background leads up to the rationale for bringing this time-urgent resolution to the floor of General Synod 27.

Theological Rationale

This resolution exists because: all human beings are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27); and God has created all humans to experience true freedom (Galatians 5:1).

The Resolution

WHEREAS, the people of Iran engaged in an election on 12 June, 2009–exercising their fundamental human right of the voting franchise; and

WHEREAS, the international community significantly questioned the rapid report of results for the position of President; and

WHEREAS, the people of Iran began to peacefully protest on or just after 12 June and at least 8 peaceful protesters were murdered; and

WHEREAS, both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate voted on 19 June to condemn the violence perpetrated in Iran against peaceful protesters; and

WHEREAS, also on 19 June, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameni stated euphemistically that any further protesters would suffer “the consequences” of their own actions; and

WHEREAS, on 20 June thousands of Iranians turned out despite threats of violence, which tragically did become reality with numerous protesters killed; and

WHEREAS, Iranian reporters are being tortured and forced to make confessions; and

WHEREAS, protesting against “frauds and lies” is an Iranian right (Mousavi); and

WHEREAS, Iranian parents have the right to habeas corpus–knowing where their children are; and

WHEREAS, we “mourn the loss of each and every innocent human life” (President Obama);

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Twenty-seventh General Synod of the United Church of Christ stands in solidarity with the people of Iran who are yearning to be free from a tyranny that oppresses almost every citizen in the country;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this General Synod condemns the violating of basic human rights against the Iranian political opposition;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this General Synod condemns the physical violence perpetrated against peaceful Iranian protesters, reporters, and others ;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this General Synod condemns the abrogation of human rights by the Iranian government against its people.

FUNDING

Funding for the implementation of this resolution will be made in accordance with the overall mandates of the affected agencies and the funds available.

IMPLEMENTATION
The Twenty-seventh General Synod encourages the Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ to implement this resolution.

UCC Resolution To Teach LGBT Curriculum In Public Schools Endangers Children – Confessing Movement Protests

Admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:29:19 +0000

A Resolution of the General Synod of the United Church of Christ concluding today in Grand Rapids Michigan calls for “diversity/multi-cultural education” in public elementary schools that includes, “the experience of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender), individuals and families.” The resolution also calls for aggressive opposition to efforts by parents whose moral convictions are violated by such teaching to protect their children from LGBT indoctrination. The resolution mixes the LGBT agenda with a call for public school diversity teaching on racism and the acceptance of immigrant minorities.

In protest, the confessing movement within the United Church of Christ known as Biblical Witness Fellowship has issued a statement of protest. “Teaching that behavior and relationships which are morally wrong to most Christian families as well as families of the Islamic, Hindu and other religious traditions is normative makes the public school an unsafe environment for our children. Mixing such a message with the legitimate concerns of racism and the acceptance of immigrating families and children is offensive, intellectually dishonest, and inappropriate. Diversity demands that public education respect the morality of all and protects the innocence of children.”

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http://www.biblicalwitness.org

Biblical Witness Fellowship
Telephone: 603-484-0506