Our United Methodist heritage is rooted in a deep and profound understanding of God’s grace. This incredible grace flows from God’s great love for us. Did you have to memorize John 3:16 in Sunday school when you were a child? There was a good reason. This one verse summarizes the gospel: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, described God’s grace as threefold: prevenient grace, justifying grace, and sanctifying grace.
United Methodists insist that faith and good works belong together. What we believe must be confirmed by what we do. Personal salvation must be expressed in ministry and mission in the world. We believe that Christian doctrine and Christian ethics are inseparable, that faith should inspire service. The integration of personal piety and social holiness has been a hallmark of our tradition. We affirm the biblical precept that “faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead” James 2:17
Our June 16, 2024 congregational meeting saw 34 attendees approve a motion to affirm action of the Woodbury United Methodist Church Council. The motion was affirmed by voice, with 32 voicing “Yes, it’s time,” one voicing “No, not yet” and one abstaining. The motion read:
Whereas, the 2020 General Conference (postponed) of The United Methodist Church, meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina April 23 – May 3, 2024, has removed over a half-century of restrictions regarding the ordination or marriage of persons who identify their sexual orientation as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ), and
Whereas, the Woodbury United Methodist Church (WUMC) has studied and discussed its position on this matter openly over some years, and
Whereas, there is no longer any Church prohibition or risk of reprisal for WUMC to embrace a full welcome to our LGBTQ siblings, and
Whereas, the WUMC Mission Statement begins “We are a welcoming Christian fellowship who celebrate and share God’s love with everyone,” and
Whereas, the WUMC theme statement is “Love Spoken Here,” and
Whereas, the WUMC Church Council voted unanimously at its May 9th, 2024 meeting to affirm “the action of the General Conference…”
Therefore, be it resolved, that the Woodbury United Methodist Church congregation, gathered June 16th, 2024 at 11:30 a.m., affirms the action of the Church Council, celebrates the actions of the General Conference in removing language that excludes LGBTQ people from marriage and ordination, and will be proactive in seeking ways to incorporate these changes in the life of Woodbury United Methodist Church.