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One blogger seems to think that ‘Bishop Willimon fire(d) off a snide, caustic, uninformed, and frankly embarrassing screed’, but to be honest, anyone who supports the IRD I automatically question.
William Willimon, the Bishop of the North Alabama Conference, writes, in part,
The email tirade was fairly typical for the IRD – snide, caustic, right wing conservative, devoid of any reference to the Bible or Jesus. Mr. Tooley is a good enough writer but he is utterly innocent of any theological interests. And so is the IRD. Note their title: Religion and Democracy. They never talk about Christ and they seem to think that politics and government is the answer to everything. The IRD seems to be a group of people who worship “religion” and “democracy” whereas the United Methodist Church is trying to worship and to obey Jesus. Emails from the IRD could as easily be released by Mormon Glen Beck or some Islamic Society as by any Christian church. Though their main function is to attack mainline churches, “church” is not in their name. Right wing politics appears to be their church.
Jesus is Better than Politics.
Like left wing extremists, right wingers like the IRD are simply using the Christian message to advance their own political causes. I can only imagine that Willimon is tired of groups like IRD not focused on what the Church needs to be doing, and fighting the mythical ‘Obamacare’ is not one of them.
I say, good for Bishop Willimon.
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Joel Landon Watts is a Masters of Theological Studies student with a focus in Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark. His interests include exploring the role of mimesis in human civilization, specifically in the study of religion and media, as well as science fiction and the way in which it has allowed mythology to be explored in light of scientific ideals of the past century. Currently, he is a TA for Old Testament at United Theological Seminary under Dr. Vivian Johnson, Associate Professor of Old Testament. His first book, Rhetorical Strategies of the Evangelist: Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark, is expected to be published by Wipf and Stock early next year. He is currently co-editing a book on moving from Fear to Faith (Energion, 2013).
What’s the IRD?
Institute on Religion and Democracy. It has actually received an endorsement from the KKK
Having been rasied in the Mehtodist church I am grateful for the legacy left to me by my elders and pstors in the small town where I grew up. I still have my Halley’s Handbook, Bible and Hymnal given to me at my confirmation by my local congregation!
So I was stunned when I moved to a different district and discovered that the a-religious District Superintendent was willing to use all of the usual screeds to try and black mail a more concervative evangelical congregation in her district to bow to here wishes, she threatened to bring in a more liberal pastor to set us straight. This became a yearly issue at the annual charge conference.
I also discovered that there are pulpits that are virtually owened by certain elite families with in the conference, rather than being based on calling and fitness for the particular church. It was a way to perpetuate a particular theological perpective among the minister with-in the conference. Preach what we like and you will get abetter paying appointment.
It was the least Christian orginization I had encoutered.
While you may like IRD they have a following preciely because of this kind of activity.
I am quite sure that John Wesley would not recognize the majority of the leadership’s theological stance to be his either so perhaps you should point that finger at the denomination as well.
Jerry, hyperbolic ‘examples’ without evidence, except derogatory statements do not serve to further the conversation.
[...] recent posts on the IRD has convinced its membership that he is a mean spirited liberal. From the IRD facebook group. Oh, [...]
As I am a lawyer and these are eyewitness accounts as opposed to third party comments the evidnece of my own eyes is quite a bit more acceptable than the thrid party “hearsay” coments I see on most of these blogs. What I was reporting was my experiance, so I am the proof.
I chose not to name the family or the district Superintendent because I beliver it would be viewed by most as unfair to name them. I assume you have access to my e-mail address and if you would like to have that discusion in privvate feel free to e-mail me.
I have seriously doubts about your stated profession, Jerry.
Further, you need to define the terms ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’. Also, if you are unwilling to give a proper example, an inept one only creates the notion that you are pulling the example out of thin air.
You being a lawyer has nothing to do with how “relevant” the IRD supposedly is.
You are just grand standing.
RODOFA, The issue under discussion was regarding whether or not something I had written was “evidence,” identifying my profession was merely a short hand way to identify my competence to recognize what is “evidence.”
Joel, my experience in my district of the UMC is proper evidence for the statement I made as to why organizations such as IRD get support from UMC members.
You are right; I should have qualified the term liberal as more theologically liberal than the pastor who was currently serving my church, I would characterize him as theologically conservative (classic evangelical) but politically moderate.
To both: ad hominem attacks rarely advance a discussion, I hope you note that at no point did I offer support for IRD, I simply pointed out that they have an ear because some of the actions of the UMC leadership have given them an opening. I believe that the politically left and right wings of the Church spend too much time trying to use the government to achieve their desired results.
Jerry, one experience in one district is hardly a qualification. Further, you have yet to identify what liberal and conservative is.