New Global Orthodox Identity for United Methodists Surprises Many

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Reforming the Church’s Social and Political Witness Spring 2019

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ALSO INSIDE:

► Notre Dame and Christendom page 3

► Nadia Bolz-Weber Asserts Life Begins at Breath page 10

► Ideology Matters: Tim Keller and Politics page 11

► United Methodist Queer Clergy: Gospel Can Affirm Polyamory page 12

► Premarital Sex ‘Healthy,’ Chastity ‘Unreasonable’ Say Progressive Pastors page 13

► Southern Baptists versus United Methodists page 14 VOLUME 38 NUMBER 1

THE INSTITUTE ON Delegate Edwin Exiomo of the Philippines prays during a day set aside for prayer at the RELIGION & DEMOCRACY 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS. 1023 15th Street NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202.682.4131 FEATURES Fax: 202.682.4136 Web: www.TheIRD.org 8 New, Global, Orthodox E-mail: [email protected] Identity for United Methodists Surprises Many PRESIDENT by Mark Tooley Mark D. Tooley

EDITORIAL 10 Nadia Bolz-Weber Asserts Life Beings at Jeffrey Walton Breath Executive Editor, Communications Manager by Chelsen Vicari

14 Southern Baptist vs. STAFF Faith J. H. McDonnell United Methodists Director of Religious Liberty Programs by Mark Tooley John Lomperis UMAction Director

Rick J. Plasterer PROGRAMS Staff Writer

Chelsen Vicari Church News...... 4 Evangelical Action Director

International Briefs...... 6 Marc LiVecche Scholar on Christian Ethics, Presbyterian War and Peace

11 Ideology Matters: Tim Keller and Politics...... Daniel Strand Dan Moran Research Assistant United Methodist Ryan Brown, Katy Vanderkwaak 12 United Methodist Queer Clergy: Gospel Can IRD Interns Affirm Polyamory...... Jeffrey Walton

Evangelical Cover: Delegates from the 13 Premarital Sex ‘Healthy,’ Chastity ‘Unreasonable’ Philippines and Southeast Asia Say Progressive Pastors...... Chelsen Vicari sing during a day of prayer at the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by IRD Diary: Religious Liberty Mike DuBose, UMNS. 16 There and Back Again: Why I Got Banned from Facebook and How I Got Restored...... Faith McDonnell

2 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 FROM THE PRESIDENT Notre Dame and Christendom

ne of Christendom’s greatest and oldest sanctuaries has A leftist Native American speaker popular in some U.S. Evan- suffered great damage but largely survived. According to gelical circles harrumphed that Notre Dame was an icon of Europe- Owhom you read, its devastation is a metaphor for Euro- an colonialism and intrinsically corrupt Christendom. All civiliza- pean Christianity’s collapse or for its rebirth through fire. tions are corrupt in some way but he’s right to identify the cathedral The mass horror over Notre Dame’s fire, and the immediate as symbol of Christian civilization. Notre Dame is not just a church resolve for the cathedral’s full restoration, signify that France’s nor just an historical tourist destination nor just a symbol of French connection to Catholicism is not so remote as often imagined. culture. It embodies the biblical aspiration to construct a compre- True, it was a national political and cultural symbol. But it was hensive society aspiring to give glory to its Creator. chiefly an active church where the Eucharist is celebrated daily French revolutionaries and secularists have long touted the and whose architecture honors saints, Apostles, and prophets. rights of man. But such rights and claims descend directly from Neither France nor Europe nor the West can be understood politi- the biblical story that Notre Dame emblemizes. The cathedral’s cally or culturally apart from those saints, Apostles, and prophets. soaring architecture represents the sacred cosmology of creation, For over two centuries France has avowed a strict separation fall, redemption, and eschatological completion. Humans are between religion and state. Yet Notre Dame, named for mother sacred only because of their central role in this divine narrative. of Jesus, still loomed over Paris, its bells commemorating the Many French and Europeans may no longer consciously nation’s central events, such as the 1944 liberation and the 1918 identify with the faith of Notre Dame, but they are indelibly crea- armistice. In 2016 the cathedral hosted a funeral mass for Father tures of it and cannot escape it. Maybe the great fire marks their Jacques Hamel, an elderly priest murdered by an Islamist, which continued denial of this spiritual and historical reality. Or maybe four French presidents attended, and to whom the Archbishop of the stunned reaction to it will generate a recovery of memory, Paris preached. gratitude, and faith. Nearly every notable French person with countless other Europeans of the last millennium has been a witness to Notre Dame. Thomas Aquinas saw its construction. Joan of Arc spied it from afar as she besieged Paris. John Calvin presumably wor- shipped there. So did Louis 14th, Cardinal Richelieu, Moliere, Descartes, Victor Hugo, and Charles de Gaulle. Voltaire, Mark D. Tooley is the President of the Institute on Robespierre, and Sartre scoffed at its faith but could not ignore Religion and Democracy its power. Napoleon crowned himself there. Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson beheld it. So too did even Hitler, who thought he had conquered it but was instead defeated by it.

3 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 CHURCH NEWS

Methodist Court Affirms Traditional Plan ebuffing appeals by the Council of enforcement of the Bishops and church dissidents, the church’s affirmation RUnited Methodist Church (UMC) of sex only between Judicial Council on April 25 reaffirmed husband and wife. that most of the Traditional Plan approved The Traditional at the February 2019 Special General Plan adds manda- As the Rev. Joe Harris presides over the legislative committee, the results of a vote approving the Traditional Plan are displayed Conference is constitutional. It also tory penalties for during the special session of the 2019 General Conference of The reversed an earlier ruling, and declared pastors who violate United Methodist Church in St. Louis (Photo: Paul Jeffrey/UMNS) that congregations who disagree with church teachings on the church’s teaching on sexuality may sexuality, including the ban on same-sex conferences. Under this new policy, con- leave the denomination with a two-thirds rites. These new policies will go into effect gregations could leave with their prop- congregational vote. This reversal could in 2020. Permission for local churches to erty, with approval from their local con- facilitate creation of new liberal Method- quit the denomination begins immediately. ference (Methodist version of diocese or ist denominations by congregations that United Methodist properties are owned presbytery). cannot abide the Traditional Plan’s stricter by the denomination through their local Reaffirmation of most of the Tra- ditional Plan was not a surprise, as the Judicial Council reviewed it in October Controversial Former Pentecostal 2018 and during General Conference in February. But bishops and church dis- Minister Embraces Transgender Identity sidents hoped for one more chance to kill the Traditional Plan, supported by former Assemblies of God minis- direction. In 2013 he urged that the Pen- traditionalists in America and overseas, ter has announced his transition tecostal tradition should be open to the whose passage ignited shock and out- Ato a female identity. promotion of homosexual, transgender, rage by many church liberals in the U.S. Paul Alexander previously served as and intersex “realities” as faithful repre- Many liberals since General Conference president of the Society for Pentecostal sentations of Pentecostal and Charismatic have publicly discussed possibly leaving Studies, an academic group that studies Christianity. Alexander stated that Jesus United Methodism in favor of creating Pentecostal and Charismatic expressions was “healed” from wrong views during new denominations with more permis- of the Christian faith. Alexander contro- his earthly ministry. sive sexual standards. versially guided SPS in a more progressive Later in 2013, Alexander was dis- IRD’s UMAction Director John missed from the clergy rolls of the Lomperis, a General Conference delegate, Assemblies of God, the denominational submitted briefs to the Judicial Council equivalent of defrocking. He continued that were cited in the rulings. as co-president of Evangelicals for Social Action and on staff at Eastern Seminary until 2016, when he departed both organi- Kansas, and stated in 2007 in Mennonite zations. Alexander and the mother of his World Review that he lost his faith for a three children divorced. time, but rediscovered it by returning to In 2018 Alexander began a staff role at some of the sources of early Pentecostal- Middle Collegiate Church in New York City ism and by taking a class from neo-Ana- as Executive Strategist for Movement Build- baptist theologian John Howard Yoder. ing and Partnerships. Alexander departed He also started reading Anabaptist theol- the church’s staff at the end of 2018. ogy and taking note of early Pentecostals Left: Paul Alexander addresses a joint Both the MCC web site and Alex- persecuted for their pacifist beliefs. adult and youth worship service in 2007 ander’s LinkedIn profile now list Alex- Alexander founded the group Pen- (Photo: Paul Schrag/Mennonite World ander’s name as April, and Alexander tecostals and Charismatics for Peace and Review) Right: The former Paul (now announced the gender identity transition Justice in 2001, and in August 2016 Love April) Alexander in a 2018 photoshoot accompanying an article about Middle on his Facebook page. for All, a research, education, and media Collegiate Church in the Washington Post Alexander described his upbringing company “dedicated to expanding wis- magazine (photo: Beatrice De Gea) in a devout Assemblies of God family in dom, compassion, and justice.”

4 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 CHURCH NEWS

Episcopal Presiding Bishop Restricts Albany Bishop in Gay Marriage Dispute

piscopal Church Presiding Bishop made available by the Episcopal Church Michael Curry placed a restriction Office of Public Affairs, forbids Love from Ethis winter on the ministry of a leading disciplining Albany clergy who partici- traditionalist bishop and has begun a disci- pate in same-sex weddings or “involves plinary process after the bishopdeclined to the issue of same-sex marriage.” But it permit same-sex marriages in his diocese. also begins a process under the denomi- Bishop William (Bill) Love of the nation’s disciplinary Canon IV that may Episcopal Diocese of Albany, New York, result in further action against the leader Left: Presiding Bishop Michael Curry issued an eight-page letter read aloud to of the Albany diocese. visits Grace Church in Syracuse (Photo: local parishes following services on Sun- After meeting with the Standing Diocese of Central New York). Right: Bishop Bill Love of the Episcopal Diocese day, November 11. Love directed clergy Committee and Chancellor of the Dio- of Albany addresses the 2018 clergy resident, licensed, or canonically resident cese of Albany, Curry wrote: conference in the Church of Ireland’s in the diocese (serving elsewhere) not Diocese of Down and Dromore (Photo: to use trial rites solemnizing marriages While I am persuaded of the sincer- Diocese of Albany) between persons of the same sex. ity and good will of Bishop Love in Access to those rites was originally at these difficult circumstances, I am couples’ and confronted with a same- the discretion of diocesan bishops, but the convinced that Resolution B012 was sex couple wishing to marry in that 2018 General Convention held in Austin, intended by the Convention to be bishop’s diocese, ‘shall invite, as nec- Texas, passed a resolution (B012) mandating mandatory and binding upon all our essary, another bishop of this Church that it be available for use across all dioceses Dioceses, particularly in the light of to provide pastoral support to the cou- where civil law permits same-sex marriage. its provision that a diocesan bishop ple, the Member of the Clergy involved Curry’s restriction upon Bishop ‘hold[ing] a theological position that and the congregation or worshipping Love, announced in a January 11 post and does not embrace marriage for [such] Continued on page 7

Former Methodists Host Anti-Israel Islamic Drag Queen

radical San Francisco congregation that severed ties with the United Methodist Church this spring host- Aed a panel of drag performers, including one who checks several progressive boxes. “Drag & Spirituality: Claiming Our Sanctuary” opened with a strip tease by host “B0NNi33 Vi0L3T” also known as Duane Quintana, a “queer chaplain.” It was every bit an over-the-top intersectional jamboree, featuring “local drag queens from Islamic, Native American & Christian spiritual traditions.” The March 24 talk show-style conversation at Glide Memorial Church explored “the intersections of drag, gender, sexuality and spirituality” amongst the three drag queens including Quintana, Native American “Landa Lakes” and “Faluda Islam,” who has Lebanese and Paki- stani ancestry. While the “Two Spirit” concept (male and female spir- its coexisting within a single body) has been ascribed to Native American spirituality, it is unclear what part of the “Faluda Islam” (right) speaks March 24 at Glide Memorial Church in San Islamic tradition embraces drag—at least as Faluda Islam Francisco (Photo: Glide Memorial Church/Facebook) embraces it. The event’s linked Facebook pages indicate that Faluda Islam is also engaged in—you guessed it—anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) advocacy. An anti-Israeli Islamic drag queen panel is the sort of cosmic event that only Glide could facilitate.

5 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS

Sri Lanka Bombings Target Churches

oordinated bombings that target- despite the group’s loss of territory in Iraq community. Three coordinated suicide ed multiple churches and hotels and Syria. bombings took place during Easter ser- Con Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka are The New York Times reports that at vices at St. Sebastian’s Church in Negom- drawing attention to the perilous situa- least 290 people were killed and 500 oth- bo, evangelical Zion Church in Batticaloa, tion of Christians in South Asia and the ers injured by the terrorist attacks, many and St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, continued international reach of ISIS, a part of Sri Lanka’s minority Christian Sri Lanka’s largest city. The Sri Lankan government identified the National Tho- wheed Jamaath, a local Islamist mili- tant group believed to have ISIS ties, as responsible for the attacks. While Christians have faced violence in Pakistan and India for some time, Sri Lanka has had few large attacks since the conclusion of its civil war in 2009. Most of those earlier attacks were political in nature and did not specifically target Christians, who make up only about 8 percent of the island nation’s population. Cardinal Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo condemned the attacks, calling it “a very, very sad day for all of us” and extended his “deepest sorrow and sympathy to all those innocent families that have lost someone, and also to those who have been injured and rendered destitute.” During his Easter address, Pope Francis called the attacks “horrendous” and expressed his “heartfelt closeness to the Christian community, attacked while Inside St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, Sri Lanka after a coordinated bombing during gathered in prayer, and to all the victims Easter service on April 21, 2019. (Photo: CNS photo/Reuters) of such a cruel act of violence.” Bashir Toppled in Sudan, Fate of Islamist Regime Unclear popular uprising has forced Suda- The regime has for decades been a nese President Omar al-Bashir key player in global jihad, as well as wag- Afrom power following months of ing war against black African people protests against the Islamist regime. The groups. Under Bashir, the government Wall Street Journal reports that an over- was responsible for at least two separate whelmingly young population is venting genocides, one against Christians and frustration with a lack of political freedoms. animists in the former south of the coun- At the time of publication, protest- try (now independent South Sudan) and ers remained in the streets of the capital later against an indigenous Black Mus- Khartoum, vowing to oppose military lim population in the western Darfur plans for a transitional council convened region. by Defense Minister Ibn Auf, and instead IRD’s Church Alliance for a New Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and calling for fundamental political change Sudan has co-sponsored demonstrations Defense Minister Ibn Auf appear in a television broadcast together before the and a civilian-led transition. Bashir, in to call attention to the Government of Sudanese leader was deposed (Photo: power for 30 years, was among the lon- Sudan’s ongoing atrocities against indig- screen capture) gest-standing leaders in the region. enous peoples.

6 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS

Activists rally April 5 at The White House protesting Chinese Government oppression in Western China (Photo credit: Jason Jones)

Chinese Forced Abortion Prompting Unexpected Allies

uslim Uyghur and Pro-Life Faith McDonnell. “China is still using groups whose human rights have been groups are finding common brutal methods to reduce the population.” violated by the Chinese government Mcause as the Chinese govern- Chinese authorities are alleged to includes Christians, Muslims, Tibetans, ment seeks to impose forced abortion on have imprisoned more than one million Falun Gong, democracy activists, and minorities in the Xinjiang region of far Uyghur in “counter-extremism centers” North Korean escapees, in addition to western China. and another two million or more in “re- mothers facing forced abortion of their Uyghurs, a historically Muslim Turk- education” internment camps. The list of unborn children. ish people group, have advocated for inde- pendence from China, in a region they Episcopal Presiding Bishop Restricts Albany Bishop in call East Turkistan. In 2009 Radio Free Asia revealed Gay Marriage Dispute that population control policies in East continued from page 5 Turkistan alone had prevented the births of more than 3.7 million children in the community in order to fulfill the inten- Bishop Love insists that he cannot in previous 30 years. tion of this resolution that all couples good conscience implement a policy that “If any nation would forcibly kill large have convenient and reasonable local will lead people astray. groups of defenseless people in the womb congregational access to these rites.’ I “With the passage of B012, the 79th it will also, sooner or later, go on to kill am therefore persuaded that as Pre- General Convention of The Episcopal them outside the womb,” warned Pro-Life siding Bishop I am called upon to take Church in effect is attempting to order advocate Jason Jones at an April 5 rally steps to ensure that same-sex mar- me as a Bishop in God’s holy Church, to in front of the White House convened by riage in The Episcopal Church is avail- compromise ‘the faith that was once for the East Turkistan National Awakening able to all persons to the same extent all delivered to the saints’ (Jude 3 ESV), Movement (ETNAM) and anti-abortion and under the same conditions in all and to turn my back on the vows I have groups including Students for Life and Dioceses of the Church where same- made to God and His People, in order to New Wave Feminists. sex marriage is civilly legal. accommodate The Episcopal Church’s ‘new’ understanding of Christian mar- The rally occurred while trade talks The top Episcopal Church official riage as no longer being ‘a solemn and took place with a visiting delegation from goes on to explain the discipline process: China. It was also the 29th anniversary of public covenant between a man and a an attack by the Chinese military on the I am aware that Bishop Love’s con- woman in the presence of God’ as pro- East Turkistan village of Baren, a mas- duct in this regard may constitute a claimed in the rubrics of the Book of sacre against men and women resisting canonical offense under Canon IV.4(1) Common Prayer (BCP 422), but now forced abortion imposed by the Commu- (c) (“abide by the promises and vows allowing for the marriage of same-sex nist government. made when ordained”) and Canon couples,” Love wrote in his November “China’s draconian population con- IV.4(1)(h)(9) (“any Conduct Unbecom- pastoral letter. trol through its One Child Policy (now ing a Member of the Clergy”), and that Bishop Love wrote his diocese early officially a two child policy), forced abor- conduct has been referred to the Rt. in the new year about the restriction on tions, and forced sterilizations are so bru- Rev. Todd Ousley, Bishop for Pastoral his authority and his plans to challenge tally enforced that no resistance is tolerat- Development and Intake Officer for “the authority and legality of Resolution ed,” notes IRD Religious Liberty Director disciplinary matters involving bishops. B012.”

7 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

New Global, Orthodox Identity for United Methodists Surprises Many by Mark Tooley

Following a Feb. 26 vote to strengthen church policies about homosexuality, contested bishop Karen Oliveto speaks to delegates who in protest formed a large circle in the center of the plenary floor. The action came on the last day of General Conference in St. Louis. Delegates voted to approve the Traditional Plan, which strengthens penalties for LGBTQ clergy and prohibits officiating at or hosting same-sex weddings. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

he late Richard Neuhaus once which was specially called to adjudicate the History of the Debate recalled that in the 1970s it was wide- church’s teachings about sex. Stunning at United Methodists have openly Tly expected among religious cogno- least to the U.S. bishops and other Ameri- debated sex since 1972, when the General scenti that United Methodism would be can church elites who’ve long assumed that Conference, responding to ambiguous the first of America’s historically liberal United Methodism would remain attached language on sexuality proposed by a mainline Protestant denomina- church agency, added to the church’s tions to abandon traditional Chris- Social Principles that homosexu- tian sexual ethics. After all, it was al practice is “incompatible with the largest and most Americanized Christian teaching.” It also stipu- of mainline churches, and it wasn’t lated that “sex between a man and a protected by strong traditions of lit- woman is to be clearly affirmed only urgy or ecclesiology. Its experiential in the marriage bond.” theology often seemed muddled. Over the decades subsequent When Neuhaus shared that General Conferences, which typical- recollection in 2005, the Episco- ly convene every four years, added pal Church and United Church of that practicing homosexuals—along Christ had already surrendered. with other persons sexually active The Evangelical Lutheran Church outside natural marriage—could not in America, Presbyterian Church be ordained. And they banned cler- (USA), and the Christian Church gy and churches from celebrating (Disciples of Christ) were on their UMAction Steering Committee Member Dixie Brewster of same-sex rites. Funding by church the Great Plains Conference addresses the 2019 United way. Besides the American Baptist agencies to advocate for homosexual Church (liberal northern coun- Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS. causes was also banned. terpart to Southern Baptists), only United Methodism, after a United Methodism among the “seven sis- to the liberal Protestant project that cap- century as a liberal mainline Protestant ters” of mainline Protestantism has offi- tured mainline denominations early in the denomination, is slowly emerging into a cially retained Christian teaching that sex last century. It also stunned secular observ- new identity that is global and orthodox. is exclusively for husband and wife. ers, many of whom assumed that all “main- These policies across years were sus- That teaching was stunningly reaf- stream” churches (i.e., not evangelical or tained by evangelical delegates based on firmed this February at United Meth- fundamentalist) had long ago aligned with odism’s governing General Conference, American secular culture on sex. Continued on page 9

8 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

theological conviction and by institu- American delegates were 58 percent doubled down on LGBTQ advocacy, fur- tionalist delegates for pragmatic and cul- of the recent General Conference, and ther alarming overseas delegates. Liberi- tural reasons. Liberal activists—cheered a sizeable chunk of those delegates were an seminary president Jerry Kulah elec- by seminaries, church agencies, and Bible-believing, which meant that liber- trified a General Conference evangelical alizing the church’s marriage breakfast by declaring of his fellow Afri- teaching required unobtainable can United Methodists: “We are not chil- votes from conservative overseas dren in need of Western enlightenment delegates. A “Simple Plan” to when it comes to our sexual ethics.” remove the church’s sexual prohibitions failed by 60 percent to 40 Liberal Response percent. The “One Church Plan” Liberals inside and outside United heavily pushed by U.S. bishops, Methodism have responded to the Gener- allowing local churches to choose al Conference with outrage. A prominent their own policies on sexuality, “centrist” large church pastor who backed failed by 55 percent to 45 percent. the One Church Plan is summoning allies A “Traditional Plan” backed by in April to plot next steps. In response, one U.S. evangelicals and over- UMAction Director John Lomperis of the Indiana seas delegates to enhance Conference addresses the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Mike enforcement of the church’s DuBose, UMNS. sexual standards passed by 53 percent to 47 percent. many bishops—reasonably assumed that This General Conference eventually they would prevail. After all, debate over sexuality was even United Methodism was a progressive more intense than most. A self- denomination, and wasn’t sexual libera- identified “centrist” who presented tion the inevitable next step? the One Church Plan to delegates likened the Traditional Plan to Debate Today a “virus” being injected into the And they would’ve been right, but church. Others compared it to for the rise of United Methodism in Afri- segregation. Since the main talk- ca, which exploded over the last 25 years ing point for the One Church Plan was that it would tolerate different Bishop Mande Muyombo speaks to the February to 5.3 million members, or about 43 per- 23, 2019, opening session of the Special Session of cent of global United Methodist mem- viewpoints within the church, tra- the General Conference of The United Methodist bership. U.S. membership has shrunk ditionalists wondered why liberals Church. Muyombo is the resident bishop of since the 1960s from 11 million to 6.8 and “centrists” who so abhor tradi- the North Katanga Area, which includes North tional beliefs would want to share Katanga, Tanganyika and Tanzania conferences million and loses nearly 100,000 annu- in the Congo Central Conference of The United ally. Meanwhile the African churches the church with those who uphold Methodist Church. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United are gaining more than 100,000 annu- biblical values. How long would Methodist News Service. ally. African United Methodists, who are traditional beliefs be tolerated by uniformly conservative theologically, United Methodists who view support for prominent pro-LGBTQ activist in aca- will outnumber U.S. church members in historical Christian sexual standards as demia complained about the “arrogance” a decade or less. Churches in the Philip- morally equivalent to white supremacy? of this “white cis-hetero man” calling pines and Eastern Europe, though much Proponents for the One Church “folks together to his church to talk about smaller than Africa, are also mostly Plan, veering from their ostensible pur- how to move forward,” when members of conservative. pose of church unity, in their arguments the victim groups should now lead. Some liberals are now speaking Jeffrey “J.J.” Warren of the Upper openly of quitting United Methodism New York Conference speaks in and creating a new progressive church. favor of same-sex affirmation during The General Conference approved legisla- the 2019 United Methodist General Conference. He received an emotional tion allowing congregations to leave the response from delegates and denomination with their property if they observers. The special conference disagree with denominational teaching on was called in an attempt to deal with sexuality. This legislation may have to be the denomination’s longstanding differences over sexuality. Photo by clarified at the 2020 General Conference. Mike DuBose, UMNS. Continued on page 15

9 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 LUTHERAN Nadia Bolz-Weber: Life Begins at Breath by Chelsen Vicari

s Protestants increased their pro- comments on abortion were particularly were written in your book before one life witness this winter at the annu- disheartening. Bolz-Weber, who has had of them came to be. al March for Life, Nadia Bolz- an abortion herself, holds that because A That God as Creator miraculously Weber, an Evangelical Lutheran Church God created man from dust, “that was the knits us together in our mother’s womb in America (ELCA) pastor-turned-public moment we had a living soul.” But citing and in his image and we are therefore theologian, was selectively ignoring the God’s creation of the first man from dust blessed by him is awe-inspiring. Scriptures to restyle abortion as a morally is a very different creation process from An expectant mother, if honest, can acceptable choice. God’s reproductive design. Plus, the Cre- testify that life thrives in her womb long ation story does not end there. before her infant’s first breath. As I write Consider Genesis 1:27-28: this, I am 21 weeks pregnant. Right now So God created man in His own my unborn son is kicking, nudging, and image; in the image of God He fluttering about. On my fridge hangs a created him; male and female 3-D sonogram photo of him sweetly suck- He created them. Then God ing his fingers. His eyebrows, lids, nose, blessed them, and God said to and lips are distinct and he can practice them, “Be fruitful and multi- swallowing. ply; fill the earth and subdue it; But expectant mothers don’t need have dominion over the fish of sonogram images to tell us that unborn the sea, over the birds of the air, lives are precious. There is an innate and over every living thing that awareness combined with Scripture’s moves on the earth.” confirmation that our unborn children are created by God in his image. It is that key “in the image Some might dismiss Bolz-Weber as an of God” part that Bolz-Weber outlier or maybe even a heretic. But this Lutheran Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber (Photo: conveniently omitted in her YouTube) is an unhelpful response. Her enormous interview with public radio. Whatever influence is hard to ignore. For that reason, her motives, it seems deceitful to dismiss “[F]or a very long time, the Judeo- her comments on abortion (among other Genesis 1:27, since Christianity’s under- Christian thought held that life began theological musings) are worrisome. Imag- standing of the sanctity of human life with breath. In Genesis, it says that God ine how those who are not saved are sadly stems from this verse. Every life matters breathed into dust to create human- misled when they hear such statements because every life is created in the image ity, that that was the moment that we from a Christian “public theologian.” of God. No matter how big, or how small. had a living soul,” Bolz-Weber said dur- Thousands of pro-life Christians No matter our physical limitations, gen- ing an interview with NPR’s All Things annually filter into Washington, D.C., der, race, environments, or geographi- Considered. for the March for Life, the largest pro-life cal locations, all human life is created in “So this idea of life and breath being demonstration in the world. Every year God’s image and is therefore precious. connected is something that people can the march gathers young people, their Further, David, inspired by the Holy sort of hold on to, if they still have an attach- parents, grandparents, adoptive parents, Spirit, testifies that God is the giver of life ment to Judeo-Christian thought, and still clergy, and post-abortive women who even before we enter the womb. Psalms allow for, hey, women need to be able to march along the National Mall in com- 139:13 reads: have the decision around family planning memoration of the millions of lives lost and whether they’re going to go through For you created my inmost being; you to abortion. Sometime soon I pray that with a pregnancy or not,” she added. knit me together in my mother’s womb. Nadia Bolz-Weber will march alongside Bolz-Weber is currently promoting I praise you because I am fearfully and them. her new book Shameless: A Sexual Refor- wonderfully made; your works are mation, which aims at “calling out harm wonderful, I know that full well. My Chelsen Vicari directs the Evangelical Action that’s been done to people as a result of frame was not hidden from you when program at the Institute what the church has taught them about I was made in the secret place, when on Religion and sex, body, and gender.” I was woven together in the depths of Democracy. While much of her interview focused the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed on what she calls “sexual flourishing,” her body; all the days ordained for me

10 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 PRESBYTERIAN: Ideology Matters: Tim Keller and Politics by Daniel Strand

Pastor Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (Photo: Niek Stam)

New York Times autumn op-ed by by the issues they advocate or about how The downside of Keller’s position Pastor Tim Keller was a timely much government should or should not is that moderation itself has its limits. Areminder that Christians should be involved in our lives, but by the ide- Thomas Jefferson’s dictum: “everything not be sucked into the black hole of parti- ologies that define them and guide them. in moderation, including moderation” san politics. It reflects Keller’s own mod- Most of our political differences do not remains true. Martin Luther King, Jr. erate temperament, which I share and revolve around the specifics of policy posi- was not a moderate. Winston Churchill admire. Christians need to hear that their tions but the deep and growing divisions sounded the alarm on Hitler long before faith must not be completely aligned with around first principles. The dilemma is a other British politicians did so, and for any political party. Political idolatry is divide over visions about the world, sexu- that he was ridiculed. These great vision- ever-present and we must vigilantly fight ality, economics, and the meaning of life. ary leaders embodied a willingness to against it. Keller stays away from this more contro- make judgments, often unpopular ones. Keller is a famous pastor in New York versial point to make a safer point about Evangelicals object to the way that City who has found a way to navigate political affiliation. progressive political activists hold to an the cultural and urban challenges that Political visions are not neutral. They ideology in almost the same way people often keep urbanites away from evan- communicate fundamental values and hold to a religion. While I have reserva- gelical churches. His sophisticated and commitments, and Christians should be tions about statements such as “The State- compelling Gospel presentation built a taught to evaluate these visions. Keller is ment on Social Justice and the Gospel,” large, orthodox Presbyterian church in smart, specializing in pre-suppositional they at least try to address ideological Manhattan. apologetics, so no doubt he has thought undercurrents through a theological lens. Keller counsels fellow Christians that of this point. When it comes to politics However we may disagree about such “while believers can register under a party he stays above the fray, which may be an statements’ conclusions or their interpre- affiliation and be active in politics, they advisable position given his context in tation, that is the discussion we need to should not identify the Christian church Manhattan. Ideology is not everything. have more forthrightly. or faith with a political party as the only Ideology informs behavior but often we Religious liberty became a hot button Christian one.” hold ideas that are in tension. issue because progressives see state power His point is a reminder that evan- The Benedict Option author Rod as the primary means to enact their vision gelicals must take seriously. Keller wisely Dreher, senior editor at the American Con- of society. The idea that the state is limited points to the dangers of eliding the distinc- servative, is dispositionally the opposite of and does not have authority to encroach tions between faith and politics. Largely the moderate Keller. Effusive, personal, on certain areas of life is controversial from a pastoral perspective, Keller is con- incisive and insightful in politics and deep because it seems an affront to their views cerned first with evangelization and min- cultural divides, Dreher is a cultural com- of justice. They are told they must respect istry. His reputation for wisdom and cir- mentator and Keller is a pastor, so perhaps views that they find repugnant. cumspection is well-earned and the piece the comparison is unfair. Still, Dreher has communicates practical advice. He seems an honesty and bluntness that Keller, the Continued on page 15 mostly focused upon speaking to evangel- even-keeled Presbyterian, shies away from. icals since most of his positive examples What Dreher does effectively, if at Daniel Strand is a postdoctoral fellow of political engagement are issues cham- times histrionically, is to explain the in the Center for pioned more often by Democrats, such as underlying logic of political and cultural Political Thought combating racism and poverty. events. Whether it be transgenderism or and Leadership at Keller, however, ignores a wider reali- other issues, Dreher is clear-eyed about the Arizona State ty. Political parties are not defined merely what he is up against. University.

11 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

against homosexual practice] is a real United Methodist Queer condemnation of a loving, committed same-sex couple in our current context,” Adkinson claimed, referring to such vers- Clergy: ‘Gospel Can Affirm es as “clobber passages” (Bible verses such as Romans 1:18-32 and 1 Corinthians 6:9- 10 that clearly state God’s disapproval of Polyamory’ homosexual activity) and “the text of ter- by Jeffrey Walton ror” (a term used by feminist theologians for scriptural narratives in which women edia coverage of the recently Caucus, Adkinson was recently a mem- are victims). concluded United Methodist ber of the Pacific Northwest Conference’s Adkinson was joined in the podcast MGeneral Conference in St. Louis General and Jurisdictional Conference by gay Evangelical Lutheran Church in might give casual readers the impression delegation and is a member of the Pacific America (ELCA) youth minister J.D. R. that the denominational fight is centered Northwest Annual Conference Board of Mechelke, who offered more support for on homosexuality and once everyone gets Ordained Ministry. Even if he holds radi- alternative sexual arrangements. Noting on-board with the “new thing” everyone cal views, he was elected to represent his symbolism in the Last Supper and the can return to the “real” work of the church. conference and should not be dismissed biblical imagery of the church as the bride United Methodists in the LGBT- as a fringe voice. At the recent General of Christ, Mechelke also called attention affirming Reconciling Ministries Net- Conference, Adkinson supported the to an Evangelical praise song: work and other allied unofficial caucus failed One Church Plan. Adkinson also There’s this very intimate, individu- groups are careful to police their mes- serves on a Westar Institute commit- alistic relationship that people have saging, but occasionally someone speaks tee, which readers may recall is behind with God and it’s very erotic some- candidly about the next new thing. And the Jesus Seminar, a longtime effort to times. My favorite example is this old that new thing discards the idea of a debunk the Gospels’ supernatural mes- song. It’s not old, but ’90s, ‘In the secret sage about Jesus’ divinity and the quiet place, I want to touch and miracles. you.’ You start to think, ‘That’s kind of Adkinson appeared erotic and yet it’s evangelical.’ It’s that on the podcast Multi- we’re doing that, which is fine. There amory to discuss “shift- are queer theologians that are taking ing values around sexu- that and saying, ‘Maybe we have this ality and non-traditional erotic thing going on with Jesus.’ Also relationships,” specifically thinking about it, ‘This is my body.’ polyamory and Christi- You’re taking somebody’s body in your anity. He reveals the cur- mouth, and so there’s some phallic— rent debate around human sexuality is not a slippery “It’s either erotic or cannibalism,” slope, but an incremental interrupted host Jase Lindgren. agenda in a predetermined “Who’s to say not both?” Adkinson direction. suggested. United Methodist Pastor Austin Adkinson (bottom left) “There’s nothing in Later in the interview, Mechelke appears on the “Multiamory” podcast in June 2018 (photo: the Bible that’s going to say offers: “Some would say that the Last Multiamory/screen capture) polyamory is good because Supper, Jesus is proposing to the twelve there’s no such phrase for friends and so it’s very gay and very “committed, monogamous relationship” that, but challenges of who we love and polyamorous.” for “open relationships,” “non-monoga- who we’re supposed to love and really There is plenty more in the interview, my,” and “alternative love.” loving everyone is at the center of things including Mechelke’s writings on “creat- “In my denomination, the prohibi- through all of Jesus’ teachings,” Adkin- ing a kinky doctrine of sin” and “putting tions that we’re fighting against are self- son asserted. “That’s what I try to focus Continued on page 13 avowed practicing homosexuals, the peo- on. I’m less of a rigid, ‘here are the rules ple who want to be discriminatory don’t that Christians are supposed to follow,’ even know the range of things that they and more focused on how do we focus on Jeffrey H. Walton is the Communications Manager should be trying to prohibit,” disclosed loving the people around us better and and Anglican Program United Methodist Pastor Austin Adkin- seeking justice and caring for making the Director at the Institute on son in a 2018 interview. world more like God intends it to be. Religion & Democracy. A member of the leadership team “We have solid academics behind of the United Methodist Queer Clergy how none of that [scriptural prohibitions

12 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 EVANGELICAL Premarital Sex ‘Healthy,’ Chastity ‘Unreasonable’ Say Progressive Pastors by Chelsen Vicari

ast issue I wrote about a young pro- He is now an openly gay author, speaker, gressive minister who called polyam- and the senior pastor of Missiongathering Lorous and open relationships “holy” Christian Church, a church plant affili- and “beautiful.” The minister is Brandan ated with the Christian Church (Disciples Robertson, a 26-year-old rising star of Christ) in San Diego, California. among the Religious Left. More recent- Another Huffington Post interview- ly, Robertson had some rather unusual ee, Chalice Overy, is an associate pastor thoughts to share on premarital sex dur- at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in ing an interview with Huffington Post. Raleigh, North Carolina. Overy answered Three clergy members, including that she has evolved from her “funda- Robertson, are interviewed on various top- mentalist beginnings” and now finds it ics including the use of dating apps* and “unreasonable to expect people to wait Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Pastor dating non-believers. When asked about until they are married to have sex if we Brandan Robertson (Photo: YouTube) his stance on premarital sex, Robertson expect people to make thoughtful deci- replied that he believes “for most people, sions about who they marry.” Hardly anyone talks about young Evan- sex before marriage is a healthy expres- I can’t think of anything healthy about gelicals’ passive (if not affirming) approach sion” and “not ‘sinful’ or morally wrong.” sexual immorality. Off the top of my head, to premarital sex. During his Huffington Unbelievable—but sadly not that I can think of the unhealthy effects of pre- Post interview, Robertson mentioned the unbelievable. At least, not for you who marital sex, from a woman’s perspective: Evangelical church’s “unhealthy ideas about follow the work of the Institute on Reli- insecurity, a desire for false affirmation sex and sexuality.” Now I know that it is en gion and Democracy regularly. through intimacy, attachment, then feel- vogue to bash Evangelical purity culture. I Robertson grew up in an Evangelical ings of rejection, and the cycle repeats. All personally never encountered a purity ring church and attended Moody Bible College. of these unhealthy outcomes are thwarted growing up in a conservative Evangelical by the marriage covenant that should bring denomination. I recognize that others have, *A “dating app” is a computer application pro- security, fidelity, and lifelong commitment. and the concept is admittedly silly. That was gram that can be accessed on a computer or It is difficult to read about Christian not my experience at various Evangelical mobile device such as a Smartphone. Dating clergy calling premarital sex “healthy” and churches and ministries I attended. app users create “profiles” featuring photos chastity “unreasonable.” But Robertson Personally, it would have been help- and information about themselves. If another and Overy are not alone in their perspec- ful if my youth group leaders, campus dating app user finds a person desirable, he or tives. Young Evangelicals observe a sort of ministry leaders, and pastors had dis- she may contact them through the computer unspoken green light toward premarital cussed what Scripture has to say about interface to arrange a date. sex. A few years ago my colleague Barton seeking chastity and also shared God’s Gingrich addressed this trend in a bril- mercy, forgiveness, and sanctification for liant article, “The Millennial Generation’s those struggling with sexual purity. United Methodist Acceptable Sin.” On premarital sex being Young Christians need guidance on considered “acceptable,” Gingrich wrote: these serious moral issues. Clergy, this is Queer Clergy where your faithful Christian witness is Young evangelicals must choose their so desperately needed. continued from page 12 master. Right now, too many fol- May the Church have the courage to the Christian symbolism into different low their appetites and desires. They confront those “who call evil good and roles, ethics in the BDSM [bondage, dis- are bending God’s own standards to good evil, who put darkness for light and cipline/domination, sadism, and masoch- satiate their libido. Perhaps fear and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet ism] community.” repentance would not be amiss here— and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20). Regardless of the merits of Adkin- numerous portions of sacred Scripture son’s appraisal of biblical support for indicate that sexuality expresses God’s Chelsen Vicari directs the Evangelical Action polyamory, he makes one assertion that character as carried out in his image- bearers. The cost of trespassing provi- program at the Institute few in the United Methodist Church on Religion and dential limits is too high. Beware your will dispute: “a lot of pastors are more Democracy. concerned about job security than about acceptable sins—they are the ones bringing change.” that will kill you.

13 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 EVANGELICAL Southern Baptists versus United Methodists by Mark Tooley

onservative Christian demo- Protestantism is in many ways what critics with Evangelicalism, which displaced the graphic decline is a pervasive nar- of Evangelicalism wish it would become. Mainline decades ago as America’s largest Crative today. Partly based on real- And yet the Mainline, comprised primar- religious force. ity and partly based on wishful thinking ily of the “Seven Sister” historic denomi- So it’s necessary to repeat what’s hap- by some, this narrative typically ignores nations, has been in continuous free-fall pened to the Mainline. The Episcopal the far more dramatic implosion of liberal since the early to mid-1960s. Its implosion Church peaked in 1966 with 3.4 million white Mainline Protestantism. accelerated after most of these denomina- and now has 1.7 million (50% loss). What The popular conventional narra- tions specifically liberalized their sexual- is now the Presbyterian Church (USA) tive asserts that young people are quit- ity teachings over the last 20 years. peaked, in its predecessor bodies that later merged, in 1965 with 4.4 million, and is at 1.35 million (70% loss). The United Church of Christ peaked in 1965 with 2.1 million and now has 850,000 (60% loss). What is now the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), in its predecessor bodies that later merged, peaked in 1968 with 5.9 million and now has 3.5 million (41% loss). The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) peaked in 1964 with over 1.9 million and now has just over 400,000 (80% loss). United Methodism, in its predecessor bodies, peaked in 1965 with over 11 million and now has 6.9 million in the USA (nearly 40% loss). The American Baptist Church peaked in 1963 with over 1.5 million and now has fewer than 1.2 million (25% loss.) During this Mainline implosion the percentage of Americans belonging to the Seven Sister denominations declined from one of every six Americans to one of every 22. If the Mainline had simply retained its share of population it would stand today at about 55 million instead of about 16 million. Nearly all the Mainline denominations have liberalized their sexuality standards over the last 15 years, precipi- tating accelerated membership loss. For example, the Presbyterian Church (USA) “Singing Praise,” Saturday Evening Post cover, March 7, 1959 by Dick Sargent. overturned its disapproval of homosexual practice in 2011 and declined from 1.9 ting evangelical Christianity in droves The facts of Mainline Protestant million to 1.4 million in 2017, losing half a because it’s too socially and politically decline are easily available. The Main- million members, or 25%, in just 6 years. conservative. Of course, the implication is line, once the dominant religious force The Episcopal Church elected its first that if only Evangelicalism would liberal- in America, has declined so calamitously openly homosexual bishop in 2003 and ize, especially on sexuality, then it might that for many it’s become almost forgot- declined from 2.3 million to 1.7 million, become more appealing. ten. Often, when I speak to young people, or 26%. The two Mainline denomina- But all the available evidence as to I must explain what the Mainline is. Many tions that have not officially liberalized on what happens to liberalizing churches young people, when they think of non- strongly indicates the opposite. Mainline Catholic Christianity, are only familiar Continued on page 15

14 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 EVANGELICAL sexuality, United Methodism and Ameri- Mainline Protestantism shows no can Baptists, have declined the least. sign of any institutional desire to reverse New Global, So the proposal from some that con- its 53-year membership decline, instead Orthodox Identity servative stances on sexuality precipitate doubling down on the theological and church decline is not of itself supported, political stances that fueled much of this for United as the fastest declining denominations in decline. Some of its denominations, like America, and throughout the West, have the Presbyterian Church (USA), at cur- Methodists Surprises liberalized on sexuality. Some conserva- rent rates of decline, may not exist in 15 tive denominations are declining, but all years or less. Many growing denominations in America and Sometimes the demise of Main- continued from page 9 the world are conservative theologically line Protestantism is equated with and on sexuality. the demise of American Christianity. Creating a new liberal Method- Recently I have tweeted some of these Media sometimes report dying Main- ist church would take time. And some statistics about Mainline decline, with line congregations without citing dif- church liberals remain in denial about the respondents insisting that Evangelicals ferent stories at newer evangelical political and demographic realities that are declining too. But by some counts, churches. But just as common if not bar their future success within United Evangelicalism is retaining its share of the more so is the narrative of ostensible Methodism. But their defeat at the Febru- American population while liberal Prot- Evangelical decline. White Evangelical- ary 23–26 General Conference was deci- estantism is plunging. ism maybe in decline, but Evangelical- sive and momentous. United Methodism, All growing denominations in Amer- ism is increasingly multiethnic. Some after a century as a liberal mainline Prot- ica are conservative, including the Assem- evangelical denominations, like the estant denomination, is slowly emerg- blies of God, which in 1965 had 572,123 Assemblies of God, which has no racial ing into a new identity that is global and and now has 3.2 million (460% increase), majority, successfully reach immigrant orthodox. Richard Neuhaus, if he were the Church of God in Cleveland, which in populations, while Mainline Protes- still with us, likely wouldn’t be surprised. 1964 had 220,405 and now has 1.2 million tantism fails to do so. But many others are. (445% increase), the Christian Missionary Here’s my suggestion on why there’s Alliance, which in 1965 had 64,586 and lots of focus on supposed Evangelical Mark D. Tooley is now has 440,000 (576% increase), and the decline based on its purportedly unap- the President of the Church of the Nazarene, which in 1965 had pealing moral stances. Evangelicalism Institute on Religion and 343,380 and now has 626,811 (82% increase). surged during the 1970s through 1990s, Democracy. Common responses to mention of including growing campus ministries, Mainline decline are “But the Southern creating new generations of evangeli- Baptists!” And it’s true that America’s cal young people, some of whom later largest Protestant body has been declin- recoiled from the conservative religious ing for 18 years. But its decline from upbringing of their youths. They some- Ideology Matters: 16.4 million to 15 million represents an 8 times blog and pontificate on the failures percent loss, which is not comparable to of evangelical culture, commending an Tim Keller and the average Mainline loss of nearly 50%. idealized more liberal Christianity, usu- Southern Baptists displaced Methodism ally unaware of preexisting liberal Chris- Politics as America’s largest Protestant body in tianity’s dramatic collapse. continued from page 11 1967 and now outnumber United Meth- Meanwhile, Mainline Protestantism, odists by two to one. when its implosion started in the early Court cases about cake bakers and Southern Baptists leaders commonly to mid-1960s, began losing baby boom- nuns who refuse to provide contraception bewail their 18-year membership decline ers and barely had representation among get to the heart of fundamental theologi- and urge more focus on evangelism. Their subsequent generations. In recent decades cal convictions about the limits and scope aggressive church planting resulted in 270 few young people have been left in the of politics. Can government coerce people additional congregations in 2017 and a Mainline who could subsequently com- to violate religious convictions? The First twenty percent increase in congregations plain or pontificate about experiences in Amendment sought to maximize the scope over the last 20 years, with a strong focus their liberal denominations. for religious practice and protect religious on creating new black and Hispanic con- It’s important to reiterate the details conscience from state coercion. When that gregations. The Southern Baptist Conven- of Mainline Protestantism’s long and principle is attacked, we should be nervous. tion likely is more racially diverse than ongoing downward spiral as a warning to As a basic point about party affilia- Mainline Protestant denominations, which other churches. Whatever the problems of tion, Keller’s op-ed is a good reminder, but are over 90% white. And Southern Baptist evangelical Christianity, becoming more that’s only part of the story. We must be worship attendance, even amid member- like liberal Mainline Protestantism is not attentive to both the issues being discussed ship decline, increased by 120,000 in 2017. a remedy. but also the ideological projects at work.

15 FAITH & FREEDOM | Spring 2019 ISIS video screenshot with the names of martyrs added. This is the photo IRD Diary: Facebook banned Faith McDonnell over.

Facebook, or as I put it in my second article for The Stream: It’s not for just getting your foot in the door on Broadway . . . that requires There and Back Again: Why I Got knowing a guy who knows a guy! It’s necessary for keeping your Facebook Banned from Facebook account if it should be targeted . . . and How I Got Restored The Facebook contact was helpful and kind. He rescued all of my deac- by Faith McDonnell tivated accounts with no permanent damage! But my experience gave me This summary is based on articles for The I share heartbreaking pictures of insight I tried to share with both Face- Stream: “Cast Into the Outer Darkness: An hungry children in Sudan’s Nuba book itself and with others who use Open Letter to Facebook” and “I’m Back! Mountains, girls held captive by Boko social media. Facebook Restored My Account. A Thank Haram, Christian women prisoners First, Facebook is better with a You and Three Suggestions.” like Asia Bibi, members of Falun Gong face! The appeal process for a disabled beaten by Chinese officials, and Assyr- o, this isn’t a journey out of the account has to be better. ian Christians and Yazidis in unfin- Shire. In this case “There” is a Second, take care of your data! ished, concrete shelters because they’re no-man’s land of bewilderment, If my Facebook account hadn’t been N in danger even in refugee camps. confusion, and abandonment: My restored I would have lost dozens if not I have shared stories and photos Facebook account was deactivated by hundreds of Facebook friends. Photos I refuting accepted narratives in Nige- the Powers That Be. To make matters would lose might be found on my office ria and South Sudan and posted pho- worse, banishment included Messen- computer, home laptop, cell phone, tos of the current uprising in Sudan. ger and Instagram. one of 8 flash drives or external hard That’s something lobbyists like Squire Here’s what happened: drive, that mysterious thing called “The Patton Boggs and apologists like the As the world knows, on Febru- Cloud,” or in a cardboard box under Atlantic Council want to remain in ary 15, 2015, 21 men were slaughtered my desk. Or maybe all those places. But the shadows. on a Libyan seashore by ISIS. Twenty my only neatly organized photos are in Perhaps Facebook community Coptic Christians and fellow martyr, Facebook albums. standards should enable people to find Matthew from Ghana, were the sub- Finally, God is in control. If I had the truth about the world, if they are ject of the jihadis’ grisly snuff film sent merely written about the 21 Martyrs, interested. It is an exceedingly violent to “People of the Cross.” The image or any persecuted Christians, without world. But it is also a world full of of those soon-to-be-saints in orange the photo, it would not have received brave heroes and courageous saints jumpsuits kneeling in front of their kill- the attention, shares, and following that who bring hope, faith, love, and truth ers is a powerful testimony of Christ’s having Facebook disable me did. to the broken and despairing. victory over death and hell. I’m glad it got the attention, but I On the 4th anniversary of martyr- My appeal may not have reached Face- wish that American Christians would dom, I posted the image as my tempo- book, but it reached many others! My Stream show the same righteous outrage and rary Facebook profile picture. Bam! My article resulted in over 200 new Twitter fol- exert the same energy for the truly per- account was immediately deactivated. lowers. It also provided me a dozen or more secuted. Speak of them on Facebook Facebook said my account did not fol- radio interviews, including one with Eric with the pride and sorrow and pas- low “Community Standards.” They Metaxas, a great defender of the persecuted. sion that you would speak of your own listed these as “credible threat to harm (Eric challenged all his listeners to post the friends and family. others,” “support for violent organiza- 21Martyrs photo on their Facebook pages— Faith J. H. McDonnell is tions,” and “exceedingly graphic con- which resulted in more bannings! But that’s the Director of Religious tent.” Writing on The Stream in reply a subject for another article.) Liberty Programs at the I said in addition to posting photos of And yet, all that publicity did not Institute on Religion & family, friends, sunrises in Maine, and get my account back. One of IRD’s Democracy. other wonderful photos: great Board members had a contact at

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