{"id":2266293,"date":"2024-06-12T17:51:01","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T21:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/historic-church-embraces-deadly-sin-by-blasting-pride-anthem-from-bell-tower\/"},"modified":"2024-06-12T17:55:45","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T21:55:45","slug":"historic-church-embraces-deadly-sin-by-blasting-pride-anthem-from-bell-tower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/historic-church-embraces-deadly-sin-by-blasting-pride-anthem-from-bell-tower\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic Church Plays &#8216;Pride Anthem&#8217; from Bell Tower, Flouting Traditional Sin Doctrine"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhistoric-church-embraces-deadly-sin-by-blasting-pride-anthem-from-bell-tower%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2266293&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In June\u200b 2024, a historic \u2063United\u2062 Methodist Church in Durham, North Carolina, became the center of attention when its bell tower \u2063played a non-hymnal song by queer\u200d artist Chappell Roan titled \u201cHOT TO \u2063GO!\u201d The song, known\u2064 for its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-k-ad-campaign-features-young-boy-wearing-dress-makeup-jewelry-and-womens-shoes\/\" title=\"U.K. Ad Campaign Features Young Boy Wearing Dress, Makeup, Jewelry, And Women\u2019s Shoes\">explicit sexual content<\/a>, was played by Katelyn MacDonald, a transgender, queer activist, and church member. MacDonald&#8217;s decision was reportedly made to celebrate Pride month and the LGBTQ+ community, an action\u200b which received backlash as well as support. Despite not being an official of the church, \u200cMacDonald&#8217;s actions were \u200cappreciated by the\u200d congregation&#8217;s lead pastor, Rev. Heather Rodrigues, who \u2063saw it as a bridge between sacred and secular, expanding inclusivity and \u200creaching out to the queer community.<\/p>\n<p>The event highlighted the divide within the United Methodist Church, with a\u2062 significant number of members splitting from the church in both the U.S. and Africa primarily due to disagreements over LGBTQ+ inclusion \u200band church teachings. This \u200cincident underscores the\u200c ongoing\u200c internal \u200dconflicts regarding the balance between upholding traditional\u2063 doctrines and embracing inclusivity.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/commentary\/\">  Commentary <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/igcolonel\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/igcolonel\/%20\"><span>Warner Todd Huston<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   June 12, 2024 at 12:00pm <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>A historic United Methodist Church in Durham, North Carolina, raised eyebrows this month when a song that couldn\u2019t be further from a hymn was played on the bells in the church\u2019s bell tower on June 1.<\/p>\n<p>Duke Memorial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/african-church-elder-stands-firm-denominations-rewrite-marriage-holds-bible-high-declares-word-god\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">United Methodist Church<\/a>, which was founded in 1886, played a song by Chappell Roan, who identifies as \u201cqueer,\u201d from its century-old bell tower.<\/p>\n<p>The song, \u201cHOT TO GO!,\u201d is decidedly not a religious tune, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0bw5K138hoU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lyrics<\/a> including \u201ccall me hot,\u201d \u201cNo one\u2019s touched me there in a damn hot minute,\u201d and \u201csleep with me.\u201d The song is all things sexual and secular \u2014 everything the modern \u201cpride\u201d movement\u2019 glories in.<\/p>\n<p>Despite that, congregation leader Katelyn MacDonald claimed responsibility for playing the song and happily told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/news\/local\/article289157744.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Charlotte Observer<\/a> that members who play the bells can choose whatever they want.<\/p>\n<p>MacDonald, who is \u201ctransgender,\u201d \u201cqueer,\u201d and an activist and LGBT supporter, said he was thrilled to have his choice of songs go viral on TikTok.<\/p>\n<blockquote cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@healthpolicyprincess\/video\/7375534720706268462\" data-video-id=\"7375534720706268462\">\n<section><a title=\"@healthpolicyprincess\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@healthpolicyprincess?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@healthpolicyprincess<\/a> HAPPY P R I D E @chappell roan \ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf08 <a title=\"pride\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/pride?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#pride<\/a> <a title=\"nc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/nc?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#nc<\/a> <a title=\"hottogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/hottogo?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#hottogo<\/a> <a title=\"chappelroan\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/chappelroan?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#chappelroan<\/a> <a title=\"pridemonth\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/pridemonth?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#pridemonth<\/a> <a title=\"\u266c Putting the chapel in Chappell Roan - Hannah Preston, MPH\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/Putting-the-chapel-in-Chappell-Roan-7375534739773492011?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u266c Putting the chapel in Chappell Roan \u2013 Hannah Preston, MPH<\/a><\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>MacDonald posted a \u201cpoint of view\u201d video on his own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wsj-tiktoks-algorithm-exposes-minors-tsunami-booze-drugs-pornography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TikTok<\/a> account.<\/p>\n<blockquote cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thatkatemac\/video\/7375563845122723114\" data-video-id=\"7375563845122723114\">\n<section><a title=\"@thatkatemac\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thatkatemac?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@thatkatemac<\/a> Serenading the people of Durham with a queer icon on the first day of pride <a title=\"chappellroan\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/chappellroan?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#chappellroan<\/a> <a title=\"chapelroan\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/chapelroan?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#chapelroan<\/a> <a title=\"\u266c original sound - thatkatemac\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7375563863028271914?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u266c original sound \u2013 thatkatemac<\/a><\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>What is more important for a church?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cI did it primarily because I thought it would be a fun song to play,\u201d MacDonald said, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/abc11.com\/post\/durham-memorial-umc-goes-viral-playing-chappell-roan\/14937887\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WTVD<\/a>. \u201cAlso, I mean, you can\u2019t like, practice on an instrument like that. You play a note and the whole city hears it. So, I did it because I thought it would be fun, but also because it might put a smile on faces in Durham.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The activist churchgoer said he was touched by the outpouring of support from the gay community.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI got these DMs from people that were just beautiful and said like, \u2018This really healed something in me, like I\u2019ve dealt with a lot of religious trauma, the church has pushed me away, and this like really helped me come to terms with some stuff,&#8217;\u201d MacDonald said.<\/p>\n<p>MacDonald said he feels vindicated if playing the song brings all people \u2014 especially those from the LGBT community \u2014 to the church.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s hard to do for a queer person, or for anybody, but especially somebody who has been marginalized by churches in the past, specifically harmed by churches sometimes, but also just broadly having your existence questioned by the church can just be exhausting,\u201d MacDonald insisted. \u201cSo to see something that says unequivocally, \u2018Oh, like, they\u2019re playing a song that I see myself in that might be a place for me,\u2019 I think is really powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to the Charlotte Observer, since MacDonald rang in \u201cpride\u201d month, he has since used the bells for other songs by Roan, including \u201cGood Luck, Babe!,\u201d \u201cPink Pony Club,\u201d and \u201cRed Wine Supernova.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/lists\/lgbtq-anthems-queer-pride-songs\/chappell-roan-good-luck-babe-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Billboard<\/a> has labelled \u201cGood Luck, Babe!\u201d number 8 on the list of \u201c70 Top LGBTQ+ Anthems of All Time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While MacDonald is not a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/methodist-church-calls-ministers-repent-hurtful-language-like-husband-wife\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">United Methodist Church<\/a> official, the lead pastor, Rev. Heather Rodrigues, celebrated MacDonald\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n<p>Rodrigues thanked MacDonald for playing a \u201csong that would be recognizable to and supportive of our queer community as she blurred the lines between sacred and secular in this important, fruitful way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rodrigues went even farther and claimed that the original song was better than the church\u2019s religious teachings because it reached more people \u201cas a message of God\u2019s love and inclusion than a Duke Memorial sermon, service, program, or ministry ever has, or probably ever could.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Duke Memorial United Methodist Church \u2014 if it wasn\u2019t already apparent \u2014 is also an activist, left-wing establishment, saying on its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dukememorial.org\/welcome.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a> that it embraces \u201cthose of every age, race, ethnic background, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, family or socioeconomic status, educational background, and physical or mental ability.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With church leaders glorifying the radical LBGT movement and welcoming transgender congregation leaders, perhaps it is no surprise that more than a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/faith\/2024\/06\/05\/united-methodist-church-loses-1-million-members-over-lgbt-acceptance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">million members split<\/a> from the United Methodist Church in Africa over the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/african-church-elder-stands-firm-denominations-rewrite-marriage-holds-bible-high-declares-word-god\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">main church\u2019s divergence from the Bible<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The split has been an ongoing issue for the UMC. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/thousands-churches-across-us-disaffiliating-major-denomination-heartland-states-seeing-hundreds-go\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Last year<\/a> 5,000 congregations in the U.S. also split from the church.<\/p>\n<p>The reasons are deep and impossible to reconcile. For instance, the UMC has officially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/united-methodist-church-caves-embraces-lgbt-ideology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recognized<\/a> gay coupling despite that the Bible unequivocally states that marriage is between one man and one woman. Jesus defines it as such in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew%2019%3A4-6&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Matthew 19:4-6<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Mark+10%3A6-9&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mark 10:6-9<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Church leaders used worldy justifications for this move. \u201c[C]ynics and young adults will not listen to us talk about Jesus if we say we do not condone people they love and care about,\u201d Rev.\u00a0 James Howell claimed. So, for them the old adage, \u201clove the sinner, but hate the sin,\u201d is outdated, and the church should strive to \u201clove the sinner and embrace\/allow\/accept the sin.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The church leaders have embraced the deadly sin of \u201cpride,\u201d thinking themselves above the teachings of God and turning the pulpit into a platform for their individual beliefs and not those founded in biblical principles.<\/p>\n<p>With acts like that of MacDonald, with the support of church leadership, to celebrate \u201cpride\u201d month, it is no wonder that the United Methodist Church is being torn asunder and split between those who support biblical teachings and those who would recreate them to satisfy radical wokeness.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>I heard a chilling comment the other day: \u201cWe don\u2019t even know if an election will be held in 2024.\u201d <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>That wasn\u2019t said by a conspiracy theorist or a doomsday prophet. No, former U.S. national security advisor Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn said that to the founder of The Western Journal, Floyd Brown.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Gen. Flynn\u2019s warning means that the 2024 election is the most important election for every single living American. If we lose this one to the wealthy elites who hate us, hate God, and hate what America stands for, we can only assume that 248 years of American history and the values we hold dear to our hearts may soon vanish.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The end game is here, and as Benjamin Franklin said, \u201cWe must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>All of this means that <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>without you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>, it\u2019s over. We have the platform, the journalists, and the experience to fight back hard, but Big Tech is strangling us through advertising blacklists, shadow bans, and algorithms. Did you know that we\u2019ve been blacklisted by 90% of advertisers? Without direct support from you, our readers, we can\u2019t continue the fight.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Can we count on <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>your support<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>? It may not seem like much, but a <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Western Journal Membership<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  can make all the difference in the world because when you support us directly, you cut Big Tech out of the picture. They lose control. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>A monthly Western Journal Membership costs less than one coffee and breakfast sandwich each month, and it gets you access to ALL of our content \u2014 news, commentary, and premium articles. You\u2019ll experience a radically reduced number of ads, and most importantly you will be vitally supporting the fight for America\u2019s soul in 2024.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We are literally counting on you because without our members, The Western Journal would cease to exist. Will you <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  in the fight? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Sincerely,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Josh Manning<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Deputy Managing Editor<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Western Journal<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-43\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/igcolonel\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-43\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-43\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-43\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-43\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Warner Todd Huston has been writing editorials and news since 2001 but started his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/byron-donalds-takes-shot-at-host-of-the-view-dares-panel-to-invite-him-on-as-a-guest\/\" title=\"Byron Donalds Takes Shot at Host of 'The View,' Dares Panel to Invite Him On as a Guest\">writing career penning articles<\/a> about U.S. history back in the early 1990s. Huston has appeared on Fox News, Fox Business Network, CNN and several local Chicago news programs to discuss the issues of the day. Additionally, he is a regular guest on radio programs from coast to coast. Huston has also been a Breitbart News contributor since 2009. Warner works out of the Chicago area, a place he calls a &#8220;target-rich environment&#8221; for political news. Follow him on Truth Social at @WarnerToddHuston.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Warner Todd Huston has been writing editorials and news since 2001 but started his writing career penning articles about U.S. history back in the early 1990s. Huston has appeared on Fox News, Fox Business Network, CNN and several local Chicago news programs to discuss the issues of the day. Additionally, he is a regular guest on radio programs from coast to coast. Huston has also been a Breitbart News contributor since 2009. Warner works out of the Chicago area, a place he calls a &#8220;target-rich environment&#8221; for political news. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On June 1, Duke Memorial United Methodist Church in Durham, North Carolina, surprised many by playing a non-traditional song on its bell tower bells. This historic church, established in 2024, chose a tune starkly different from typical hymns, sparking widespread attention<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":180,"featured_media":2266294,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Pride-Bells.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2266293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Pride-Bells.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/180"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2266293"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266293\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2266294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2266293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2266293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2266293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}