Evangelist Franklin Graham has criticised the UK Methodist Church for its new Inclusive Language Guide, which advises avoiding gendered terms like 'husband' and 'wife’. Graham, the CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, expressed his disapproval on social media, emphasising the biblical significance of these terms and the importance of adhering to scriptural teachings rather than conforming to cultural shifts. The guide, updated every six months, aims to promote inclusivity, especially for LGBT+ people, by recommending terms like 'parent’, 'partner’, 'child', and 'carer' as alternatives. It also suggests using language and pronouns preferred by individuals. The Methodist Church defended the guide, stating it facilitates respectful conversations without making assumptions or unintentionally causing offence. This initiative aligns with the church's efforts to include LGBT+ individuals, as indicated by references to organisations like GLAAD and Stonewall in the guide. However, the denomination's Book of Discipline still prohibits LGBT-identified clergy from ordination and bans same-sex marriages. A significant legislative gathering in spring 2024 is expected to address these contentious issues further.
Franklin Graham: Methodist Church 'trying to edit the Word of God'
Written by David Fletcher 04 Jan 2024Additional Info
- Pray: for the Methodist Church as it prayerfully works its way through these issues - for wisdom, guidance and faithfulness to the Living Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- More: www.christianpost.com/news/franklin-graham-uk-methodist-church-trying-to-edit-word-of-god.html