If a United Methodist Church must leave denomination, member urges peaceful departure
Go in peace
It is no secret the United Methodist Church is splitting on the issue of homosexuality. Some local churches soon will be voting to leave the denomination, and I truly wish them well.
What I can’t abide, however, is the propaganda campaign launched against the UMC in order to push this agenda. Such statements stating that the UMC will be disavowing the divinity and resurrection of Christ are categorically false. Those beliefs are bed-rocked in the doctrinal standards of the Methodist Church.
The UMC Book of Discipline, however, is revised every four years. In 1972, a resolution was passed adding the wording, “Homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth.” Additional wording was added, by way of compromise, to state that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.
Since the majority of United Methodists no longer believe that subsequent statement to be true, the wording will be removed, and homosexual Christians will have the same rights as heterosexuals within the UMC.
All United Methodists can continue to maintain their individual beliefs regarding interpretation of scripture, and we can finally live up to our promise of “Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors.”
Sidney Gatch, Lexington
Drug needed
In 2019, I lost my grandfather to Alzheimer’s. With the development of a medicine that can affect the course of the disease, I hope that more people will benefit from this progression of treatment. I do not want anyone else to have to go through losing a grandparent to this terrible disease.
In January 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lecanemab, now known as Leqembi. But because of a decision by the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), Medicare will not cover this treatment.
People who are living with Alzheimer’s and their doctors should be able to decide if an FDA-approved treatment is right for them and should have it covered by Medicare. Everyone living with Alzheimer’s deserves better, and we need support from Congress.
Please join me in asking your representatives and senators to urge CMS to take action to ensure individuals living with Alzheimer’s have equitable access to FDA-approved treatments.
To learn more about Alzheimer’s, visit alzimpact.org.
Camryn Hipp, Greer
Too much to lose
I am 89 and am writing this letter to reflect upon 10 years of work in a clinic where abortions were performed.
I worked in a New York women’s clinic for the three years before abortion was legalized nationwide. Parents of females, one as young as seven, teenagers and mature women would call in tears hoping for an appointment.
Patients were met by me, as receptionist, a counselor, an anesthesiologist, and the doctor. Some women left crying, and some left relieved, but they knew that the choice was theirs, and that they would be safe.
Too strict abortion laws will send South Carolina back to the dark day of illegal abortions for women, children and mothers.
How much more can be taken away from our supposedly democratic state?
Joyce Eickmeyer, Rock Hill
Public no more?
Our State House and grounds were closed last week as part of security measures for former president Donald Trump’s campaign visit. Further reporting indicates the meeting held with the former president was closed to the public.
As a citizen of this state, I think that it is wrong to use “the people’s” State House, with security provided by public law enforcement, at taxpayer expense, so a candidate for elective office can have a private meeting with a partisan constituency.
I am registering my strongest possible complaint to what I view as a totally inappropriate use of our State House and grounds.
W. Kennedy Jr., Elgin
