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Page 31
AUGUST 4, 2023
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Volume 20, Issue 31
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Mariners Bethel to become Global Methodist By Susan Canfora Staff Reporter About two months after Mariners Bethel United Methodist Church in Ocean View received approval to disassociate from the main United Methodist Church, the local church’s members have voted for it to become a Global Methodist Church. Dennis Rader, acting chairman of Pastor Parish Relations, this week told the Coastal Point that Mariners is “in
the process of making the legal separation, transferring the property, transferring the assets and finalizing the legal documents to make that transition occur.” The name of the church will be changed and announced after disaffiliation is final, but will likely be Mariners Bethel Global Methodist Church. “We are known as Mariners Bethel, and that name will stay,” Rader said. Church signs will change, and United Methodist logos will be taken
down. A new sign will be erected, and stationery and business cards will all be updated with the new name. Rader said the difference between United Methodist and Global Methodist is that the Global Methodist Church follows scripture. “But what the misinformation is out there is it surrounds homosexuality and that we don’t accept homosexuals in our church, which is patently false. We accept all people, regardless of who they are, what they are, their race, creed.
Everyone will be welcome and always has been welcome. “We, as a church, will accept all. Our church is about redemption and salvation and having a relationship with Jesus Christ. The ordination of gay pastors will be accepted in the Global Methodist Church, but they have to abide by the doctrine of the church,” he said, meaning that a homosexual may be ordained as a pastor as long as he or she See MARINERS page 3
Fenwick candidates get the final say By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter On Saturday, Aug. 5, voters in Fenwick Island will go to the polls to choose between eight candidates to fill four seats on the town council. The candidates are Janice Bortner, Gary Burch, Kristy Clark, Natalie Magdeburger, Bernie Merritt, Jacqueline Napolitano, James Simpson and Kurt Zanelotti. Polls will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. at Fenwick Island Town Hall, 800 Coastal Highway. The Coastal Point asked each candidate to provide brief biographies and answer the following questions: (1) What do you feel are the most pressing issues for town officials to deal with in the next two years and why do you think so? (2) What skills or traits do you feel you have to offer the town of Fenwick Island and its residents and how would you put them to use to help deal
Special to the Coastal Point • Marian Dowling
Sometimes, all you need is a narrow strip of beach and a couple of birds by your side to start the day. See CANDIDATES page 4
Chambers: Extreme storms impact local business By Mike Smith Staff Reporter Extreme storms are having an impact on businesses in the local community, and the beach replenishment considered necessary to protect coastal infrastruc-
ture has itself disrupted commercial operations. “We have always had volatile storms here,” said Lauren Weaver, executive director of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s our geography between the bays and the ocean
and our ecosystems. But the frequency of these larger storms has increased.” Weaver noted that supply-chain issues and predictability of stock has created a dilemma for restaurants in the region. “You have to order things six months
out, ahead of time,” she said. “It can become a real crapshoot for our businesses.” “It’s a ‘perfect storm’ of personnel issues, supply-chain predictability and the See WEATHER page 9