John Lomperis and I signed this statement with United Methodist bishops and other leaders urging our denomination to move forward by ending our theological conflicts and adopting the Protocol for dividing our denomination into separate new churches:
February 16, 2021
Coalition of Traditional Leaders Continues to Support the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation
Over a year ago, a diverse group of United Methodist Church leaders released the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation. Never before had leading bishops, general church officials, and leaders of advocacy groups representing centrists, progressives, and traditionalists agreed on a plan for resolving the church’s long dispute over its sexual ethics, teachings on marriage, and ordination standards. Among the members who negotiated the agreement were United Methodists from Africa, Europe, the Philippines, and the United States. Additionally, they had the services of Mr. Kenneth Feinberg as their mediator, a world-class attorney with a distinguished record of mediating conflicts and managing high profile settlements.
In response to the Protocol, we, the undersigned, met in Atlanta, Georgia, in early March of 2020 to cast a vision for a new traditional expression of Methodism. We are a group of bishops, clergy, and laity, men and women, African-American, Asian, Caribbean, Caucasian, and Hispanic persons from every U.S. jurisdiction, and three central conferences who seek a faithful future for United Methodists. Over the past year, and in light of the anticipated passage of the Protocol, we have focused on preparing for a new, traditionalist, and global Methodist church that is committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly. Like the mediation team that produced the Protocol, we have gone about our work in a spirit of grace and peace, looking forward to the future God has for us.
Our preparation for this hopeful future has been interrupted by the global Coronavirus pandemic. We grieve the loss of over two million people worldwide, the severe economic hardship caused by measures to combat the virus, and the geographic, racial, and economic inequities highlighted by the pandemic. The Christian Church, including The United Methodist Church, has been severely challenged to find new ways of ministering to the heightened needs of a broken world. Financial shortfalls are affecting all aspects of the UM Church, threatening the survival of some congregations and drastically changing the work of general church agencies and bishops.
In this critical time, it is all the more important for the UM Church to make crucial decisions about our future. Structural changes precipitated by this crisis must involve those who envision a long-term future together, while giving those who are called to different directions the opportunity to craft those directions unhindered by ongoing conflict. The absence of a decision on the way forward only exacerbates institutional inertia and loss of momentum for ministry.
We therefore urge the Commission on the General Conference, working with the Council of Bishops, to find a way in the spirit of the Protocol for the General Conference delegates to debate, deliberate upon, and ultimately pass the Protocol’s implementing legislation at the earliest possible time. Our local churches, annual conferences, and the church’s general boards and agencies can no longer remain in a state of uncertainty and unrest where there is no clear guidance or official direction for the future. For the sake of the greater mission of the church catholic, we must bless one another and then be about God’s mission as each new church discerns it.
We affirm and support the Commission on the General Conference in their significant responsibility to provide for a General Conference experience that can accomplish what needs to be accomplished for the present and future of the church within the limitations imposed by current circumstances. We uphold the non-negotiable principles of ensuring the greatest safety practical for delegates and participants, as well as the equal voice of all delegates, regardless of geographic location or access to digital technology. We urge the church to continue in fervent prayer for the Commission and all charged with planning and administering the General Conference.
We continue our wholehearted support for the Protocol as the best mechanism to free our church from its debilitating conflict and position the church to move forward in ministry. We support the passage of the Protocol’s implementing legislation that would allow for an amicable separation of the UM Church into two or more new churches. It is our prayer that the people drawn to them will be given the freedom and space to discern God’s will for their missions as they seek God’s guidance. We call on all bishops and clergy to allow local churches, annual conferences, and central conferences to determine freely with which new church they wish to align, once the Protocol’s implementing legislation is adopted.
We reiterate our intention, after the Protocol is passed, to form a global Wesleyan movement committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the authority and inspiration of the Scriptures, and the work of the Holy Spirit in conveying God’s truth, grace, renewal, and sanctification to all people who repent and believe. The pandemic-occasioned crisis in our church only increases our urgency to bring to fruition the vision articulated in our statement of last year. We remain committed to a global church that ministers to all and is mutually accountable throughout our connection to the high calling of our identity in Jesus Christ.
We urge conferences, districts, clergy, and congregations to prepare now for the changed reality of a post-pandemic church, including a post-separation church. Knowing the identity of our churches coming out of the pandemic will facilitate reengaging members who have fallen away in the interim and will form the basis for new outreach in mission to the world. As we long to move forward into a new reality, we embrace by God’s grace the current reality of expectant waiting, trusting God to provide the wisdom and strength needed for this liminal time.
Rev. Keith D. Boyette, Co-convener
President, Wesleyan Covenant Association, Spotsylvania, VA Virginia Annual Conference
Bishop Scott Jones, Co-convener Resident Bishop
Houston Episcopal Area, Houston, TX
Patricia Miller, Co-convener
Executive Director, The Confessing Movement, Indianapolis, IN
Indiana Annual Conference
Bishop Young Jin Cho
Retired
Southeast Jurisdiction, Centreville, VA
Bishop Eduard Khegay
Resident Bishop
Eurasia Episcopal Area, Moscow, Russia
Bishop J. Michael Lowry
Resident Bishop
Fort Worth Episcopal Area, Fort Worth, TX
Bishop Pedro M. Torio Jr.
Resident Bishop
Baguio Episcopal Area, Baguio City, Philippines
Bishop Mark Webb
Resident Bishop
Upper New York Episcopal Area, Liverpool, NY
Rev. David Alexander
Senior Pastor, First UMC, Mansfield, TX
Central Texas Annual Conference
Rev. Nola M. Anderson
District Superintendent, Crossroads District, Liverpool, NY
Upper New York Annual Conference
Rev. Dr. Joe Connelly, J.D., D.Min., M.Div.
Pastor, Bethany UMC, New Orleans, LA
Louisiana Annual Conference
Rev. Dr. Jan Davis
Senior Pastor, Central UMC, Fayetteville, AR
Arkansas Annual Conference
Rev. Dr. Maxie D. Dunnam
Minister at Large, Christ UMC, Memphis, TN
Kentucky Annual Conference
Rev. Walter B. Fenton
Vice-President for Strategic Engagement Wesleyan Covenant Association, Spring, TX
New Jersey Annual Conference
Rev. Dr. Jeffrey E. Greenway
Pastor, Reynoldsburg UMC, Reynoldsburg, OH
Vice Chair, WCA Global Council
West Ohio Annual Conference
Rev. Jay Hanson
Pastor, The Chapel UMC, Brunswick, GA
South Georgia Annual Conference
Rev. Eric Huffman
Lead Pastor, The Story, Houston, TX
Texas Annual Conference
Rev. Thomas A. Lambrecht
Vice President, Good News, Spring, TX
Wisconsin Annual Conference
Rev. Jae Duk Lew
Senior Pastor, Valley Korean UMC, Granada Hills, CA
California-Pacific Annual Conference
John Lomperis
Director of UM Action, Portland, OR
Indiana Annual Conference
Rev. Dr. Ken Loyer
Lead Pastor, Spry Church, York, PA
Susquehanna Annual Conference
Rev. Dr. Carolyn Moore
Lead Pastor, Mosaic Church, Evans, GA
Chair, WCA Global Council
North Georgia Annual Conference
Rev. Martin Nicholas
Lead Pastor, First UMC, Sugarland, TX
President, UMAction
Texas Annual Conference
Rev. Rob Renfroe
Pastor of Discipleship, The Woodlands UMC, The Woodlands, TX
President, Good News
Texas Annual Conference
Rev. Steven Taylor
Pastor, Panama UMC, Panama, NY
Upper New York Annual Conference
Mark Tooley
President, Institute on Religion and Democracy, Washington, DC
Virginia Annual Conference
For more information, contact Keith Boyette at president@wesleyancovenant.org or at 540-891- 4007.
Comment by Walt Mac on February 18, 2021 at 12:34 pm
“Liberal” Christians (or non-Christians in church clothing, if you will) have been sucking the lifeblood out of traditional denominations for decades. I was confirmed in a Untied Methodist church eons ago, but when I returned to church, I avoided the denomination, seeing as how it was slipping down the slope. I stumbled into a Presbyterian (USA) church that happened to be led by a solid pastor, not knowing that the congregation was itching to drive him out. We all know where the PC(USA) is now. Now I’m in the Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod), which seems to be holding its ground pretty well. Anyway, my point is that maybe the non-serious Methodists are dragging their feet on a split because they suspect they won’t have any more blood to suck, and will slide alone into the abyss. I would have considered joining a traditional, serious-minded United Methodist Church if one existed. (Now stop laughing at the theological gymnastics performed by us denomination-hoppers — it’s tough to find a serious church if you believe in infant baptism!)
Comment by Bruce C. Sdunek on February 20, 2021 at 9:23 am
Amazing! Those that want to glorify and promote sin want to split and keep everything. Those of us that try to follow God’s word get set aside with nothing. After nearly 75 years as a Methodist, I will just say “goodbye”! I’m sure many others will also. The Liberals will find that there aren’s so many that agree with them and will end up going broke.
Comment by td on February 25, 2021 at 4:46 pm
Walt mac- i agree and am sympathetic.
And yes, it is true that it can be hard to find a serious church that baptizes infants, but they do exist – they are the ones have held to the orthodox, apostolic tradition- roman catholic, mo synod lutheran, and isolated traditional UMC churches. Those are the common available choices in the US. I realize there are also anglicans and greek orthodox, but those are generally even less common than a traditional umc church.
Non-denominational churches are all over the map and there is no way to tell what beliefs they are adhering to.