By Elaine Alfaro / LomaBeat.com / Sept. 20, 2023
Senior pastor Dee Kelley at First Church of the Nazarene, located on Point Loma Nazarene University’s campus, stood trial within the Church of the Nazarene on Aug. 11, accused of spreading false teaching regarding human sexuality. The Regional Board of Discipline in the Church of the Nazarene determined him guilty and ultimately voted to remove his credentials.
The upset began after Kelley contributed an essay entitled “A Hope For Change” to Nazarene Theologian Thomas Jay Oord’s book, “Why the Church of the Nazarene Should Be Fully LGBTQIA+ Affirming.”
Kelley wrote that the purpose of his essay was to encourage conversation within the church: “I hope our church might continue to be a place where discourse is welcome. I hope we chart a course where disagreements are viewed as opportunities for learning and growth. We certainly disagree on how to embody the gospel message when it comes to the LGBTQIA+ community. May this become a time for learning and growth.”
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This is just so disturbing. The USA seems to be in a downward spiral into facisism, ‘othering’, hatred, division. It seems to be coming in all directions and especially from the ‘christian’ right. Didn’t god create all things? I am a nonbianry 73 year old. I have lived a long experienced life and traveled the world. The first thing I want to see from anybody is generosity and kindness and that is what I try to promote. Look at people for who they are. Trans kids is a dog whistle. The parents of trans kids should have to ability to support their children in however they choose just as christians have the right to endoctronate their children into ‘Christian’ beliefs. Why would you want to keep your kids ignorant and promote scorn and hate????
That’s it, as religious groups plummet in attendance, run off your clergy and maybe some members too ? But you will remain holy but empty.
The CON has always had a very conservative right wing stance on LGBTQ issues. Why would anyone who doesn’t share those beliefs work for such an organization?