Methodist Church schism is reminiscent of divide over slavery | Voice of the People

All God’s children matter

More than 150 years ago, the Methodist Church split over the question of slavery. The church had, for many years, tried to avoid separation by attempting to keep both the advocates of buying and selling human beings and abolitionists mollified. That wasn’t possible, of course. The slaveholders and their allies formed their own church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

The recent schism in the United Methodist Church, covered on the Akron Beacon Journal front page June 24 (“Local church explains why it's leaving United Methodist Church”), isn’t so very different from that which took place all those decades ago. Some congregations are leaving to form the Global Methodist Church because they don’t see God’s gay children as equals and fully worthy of love. Just as those breakaway Methodists 150 years ago didn’t see Black families as equals and fully worthy of love.

The Rev. Ken Price tells us that his church is leaving because of a “strict belief in the teachings of the Bible.” Those Methodists who left because the church wouldn’t accommodate slaveholders said the same thing. The same sentiments that motivated those Methodists so many years ago motivate them today.

Joy T. Watts, Uniontown

Picking and choosing

So “You can’t pick and choose Scripture” (Akron Beacon Journal, June 24). That statement is at best disingenuous and at worst dishonest. Picking and choosing happens every day, especially on Election Day.

If Christians had followed Scripture, Donald Trump wouldn't have been elected president. The 19th chapter of Matthew explicitly labels Trump an adulterer (and many times over) in the words of Jesus himself.

The heart of the message of St. Paul is that none of us is able to live according to “The Law” as outlined in the Old Testament. The only path to salvation is through Jesus. So why pick and choose passages from the more than 3,000-year-old Leviticus and Deuteronomy to condemn people when you violate other passages every day.

Enjoy that BLT sandwich and shrimp cocktail, folks.

Sanctimonious claptrap only serves a divisive purpose. But, hey, that's the GOP playbook. Thank you, Newt Gingrich, — oh, another violator of the Top Ten.

Chris Walker, Fairlawn

Anything to stay in power

I am appalled at the Republicans’ devious, and seemingly desperate, tactics to maintain control of the state and stifle the will of Ohio’s citizens! (“Ohio GOP Seeks Party Registration for Primaries”)

In 2018, Ohioans overwhelmingly adopted Issue 1, the Congressional Redistricting Amendment to stop gerrymandering. Even though this amendment was passed by 74% of voters, the General Assembly has, to date, blatantly refused to abide by it.

In addition, the legislature is spending millions of dollars on a special election in August to thwart over 50% of the people’s voice on abortion.

Now the GOP want to change Ohio’s partially open election system to a closed primary system. This could force an estimated 5.7 million independent voters to either declare a political party or lose their right to vote in a presidential election. It would also force Republicans and Democrats to vote for the person nominated by their party, even if they don’t feel that person is the best choice for the office.

Many Republicans and Democrats alike have voiced opposition to having to choose between Donald Trump and Joe Biden again in 2024. But House bills 208 and 210 would eliminate the possibility of a third party choice. What has happened to the concept of “vote for the person, not the party” or “one man, one vote”? These bills could easily result in another unqualified, corrupt person in the White House, and are a continuous threat to our democracy.

House bills 208 and 210 are simply another plot to maintain GOP majority in Ohio.

Carol Ray, Fairlawn

Explore Akron on a bicycle

In response to the Akron Beacon Journal’s June 25 editorial (“Downtown Akron is about to get very busy and that’s good news”), we have this to add.

I, my wife and many of our friends love to visit downtown Akron. Our favorite way to get there is by bike.

With the completion of the Freedom Trail, it has become a fairly easy ride from the Kent Trailhead (just off Route 261) into Akron. It is a bit harder on the return going up the University Avenue hill, but not all that difficult.

Of course, no trip to Akron would be complete without visiting the Peanut Shoppe. On any visit, this establishment is always a “must visit” for us.

Another favorite trip is to park behind the Spaghetti Warehouse, and then bike the Towpath to Barberton.

Our reward for all that biking is lunch at one of several Akron restaurants (Diamond Deli always being our No. 1 go-to place).

Biking is a wonderful way to explore Akron, especially allowing one to take in the full experience of the Rubber Worker Statue.

Thus, your final statement, “For now, we urge you to spend some of your time and treasure downtown this summer and beyond” is advice we will continue to follow.

Ed Arida, Stow

Enough already

The Beacon Journal has thoroughly covered the Jayland Walker case over the past year. And now it is doing a series over multiple days about it! Enough already! No wonder people are canceling their subscriptions, and I’m nearly ready to do just that.

Peggy Fuller, Akron

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Methodist Church schism is reminiscent of divide over slavery