Petition for Resignation of Clayton Childers

The link below will take you to an online petition which where you can sign, sign anonymously, and/or leave comments which will be delivered to Mr. Childers and his superiors. Our purpose in doing this is to send a simple message: We do not agree with Mr. Childers.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Childers/signatures.html

Here is the text of the petition:

We, the undersigned, demand the immediate resignation or dismissal of Clayton Childers of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society for his divisive and anti-American campaign to remove the American Flag from United Methodist Churches. Furthermore, we take great offense to his comparison of the US Flag to the Swastika of Nazi Germany, a reviled symbol of hatred, bigotry and destruction. Such statements do not reflect the views of the majority of United Methodists who unwittingly fund the General Board of Church and Society to disseminate radical, leftist proposals which are inconsistent with the deeply held beliefs of millions of Methodist Christians. Mr. Childers does not speak for us and we do not want him to represent us in any official capacity. That he would make such an outlandish comparison reflects the great divide many faithful United Methodists feel with their increasingly radical leadership.

The American flag is a beloved and welcome addition to the holy sanctuary of a Methodist Church as a reminder of the great nation under which the church prospers and as a call for all Christians to pray for our nation and our leaders.

"If My people, who are called by My Name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

This petition will be delivered to the General Secretary of the Board of Church and Society and to every United Methodist Bishop int he United States.

Demand for the Immediate Resignation of Clayton Childers

This Man Must Go!

The humble contributors (and no doubt millions of faithful United Methodists) call for the immediate resignation of Clayton Childers from his position as Program Director/Annual Conference Relations for the UMC General Board of Church and Society.

We also call for Methodist churches across America and the world who find the statements of Mr. Childers offensive (though they clearly reflect the opinions of those around him) to cease all funding of the UMC General Board of Church and Society. If apportionments have already been paid, then seek a refund of that portion which is earmarked for Church and Society.

That this man would have the arrogance and presumption to use his role as a representative of millions of patriotic American United Methodists to liken our flag to a Nazi swastika is completely unacceptable. Like so many of his cohorts who lurk in the dark recesses of modern Methodism's bureaucratic catacombs (where dead men and women pretend to be alive) he does not represent the interests of Methodist Christians and his anti-American, leftists notions are not shared by the vast majority of those who unwittingly fund the General Board of Church and Society.

Mr. Burke

Write or call him and tell him what you think.

Clayton Childers
Program Director, Annual Conference Relations
100 Maryland Ave., N.E.
Washington, DC 20002

(202) 488-5642
cchilders@umc-gbcs.org

Church & Society says US Flag is like Nazi Swastika

This is what your Methodist leadership thinks of America.

Washington, DC—An official with the Washington, D.C. lobby office of the 8 million member United Methodist Church called this week for the removal of U.S. flags from his denomination’s churches. The Rev. Clayton Childers of the Capitol Hill-based United Methodist Board of Church and Society declared: “The presence of a national flag in worship can imply endorsement of national policies which often run counter to the teachings of Jesus Christ and our Christian faith.” He ominously noted: “One need only recall the way the Swastika Flag was displayed prominently in German churches during the Nazi era.”

IRD Director of UMAction Mark Tooley responded:

The United Methodist Church, under its liberal leadership, is losing over 50,000 members a year, and this church lobby official is oddly worried about getting American flags out of our churches.

Unlike the blood-soaked Swastika flags that the Nazis forced upon German churches, American churches voluntarily display their country’s flag as a reminder of the country in which God has providentially placed them. Typically, American flags stand against the side walls of American churches, quietly and obtrusively. They are hardly the idolatrous object of imperialistic worship against which the United Methodist lobby official warned.

Religious Left figures, like the United Methodist official, are hardly concerned about idolatry when their politically correct, rainbow paraphernalia and peace banners are woven into church worship services. They oppose the United States flag because they are contemptuous of our country, its history, its institutions, its culture, and its leadership role in the world.

Most United Methodists, and most religious people in America, display the flag as a symbol of God’s blessings upon our nation. Following the commandments of Christ, all Christians are called upon to love their nation, wherever they live, and to render unto Caesar his due, even as they render their worship only unto God.

This article courtesy of: IRD visit their excellent site and support their work. http://www.ird-renew.org/

The Foolishness of the Designation: "Hate Crimes"

Our warped P.C. culture is enamored of labeling people and things and the phrase "hate crimes" is a chief example. It is impractical and foolishly arrogant to believe that we can properly punish people for their "thoughts", "attitudes", "biases", "prejudices", and even "ignorance", in ADDITION to whatever criminal action they have been engaged in. If you hate me, it's not a crime. I might contend that your hate is a sin, a real offense against God and all that life is meant to be, but it's not a crime. But, if you hit me, hurt me, steal from me, kill me, ruin my good name or lie about me, all of which are measurable ACTIONS, then a crime may have been committed which deserves the punishment of society. While I may deplore the varied hateful attitudes of numerous individuals and groups, the mere fact that people are filled with hate is simply a symptom of human brokenness. Hate is a testament to what humanity has become and an urgent plea for outside intervention, namely from God.

The classic parable of "The Good Samaritan" (Luke 10: 30-37) demonstrates the power of what happens when hate (even anticipated hate) is overcome! It is easily understood that the Priest and the Levite may have been law-abiding (in their understanding), may have been cowards, or may have simply been hard-hearted at seeing the sorry plight of their countryman. But, the man they neglect is indeed one of their own (so hate is not possible?) and they leave him in his sad situation. The Samaritan, on the other hand, offers mercy and help to the one he would be expected to hate. Scripture says that the Samaritan felt compassion for the man who was robbed and beaten. Thus, nearly 2,000 years after Jesus told the story, we still look upon that nameless Samaritan man with admiration.

To label a crime a "hate crime" doesn't really end up meaning anything of substance. Every act of deliberate harm to another speaks the hatred hiding in the human heart. Civil laws and civil law enforcement can properly, if imperfectly, deal with the actions an individual or group might take. But civil laws and civil law enforcement have no power to police the mind and heart and it is foolishness to pretend they do.

This article is from a friend, colleague and contributor: The Ameri-Methodist