Some United Methodist institutionalists presumably hope that postponing the General Conference until 2024 will, by delaying ratification of a formal denominational split, weaken traditionalists. They are mistaken. But the unfolding split now becomes messier and more prolonged in ways that potentially hurt all factions.
About 130 United Methodist congregations, both conservative and liberal, out of more than 30,000 in America, have quit the denomination since the 2019 General Conference enabled departures for local churches dissenting from the church’s sexual teaching or its failure to enforce. This departure requires paying two years’ worth of apportionments to the general church and pension obligations, which for small churches might be tens of thousands and for larger churches is hundreds of thousands if not more. Most of these churches have become independent. A few have joined other denominations. Only fully unified and motivated churches with resources can take this path.
Some additional conservative churches, unwilling to await 2024, will buy their way out. Some additional liberal churches, unwilling any longer to abide the denomination’s traditional teaching on marriage and sex, will do the same. The Protocol for Separation negotiated by various factions in 2019 anticipated General Conference would approve the split in 2020 before the pandemic intervened. That pandemic has weakened United Methodism in attendance and finances. It likely has weakened liberal churches more than conservative ones because the former stayed closed longer. Even now some have not fully reopened. Even without the split, United Methodism’s local and national bureaucracies will be sharply pruned, and thousands of churches ultimately will merge or close altogether.
Postponing General Conference increases exasperation and uncertainty for everybody. Almost nobody is happy with the status quo. Traditionalists want to join the new Global Methodist Church. Liberals want the church officially to endorse LGBTQIA+. Only General Conference can fully give everybody what they want. Meanwhile, bishops will have to process increasing applications for church departures, with the increasing prospect of litigation. There will be controversies as liberal clergy and churches defy church law by celebrating same-sex rites, prompting official church complaints by church traditionalists, which bishops must process. Liberal regions will try to evade enforcing church law, while more traditional ones will strive to enforce, especially under the tighter restrictions approved in 2019. The Protocol had urged abeyance in such church complaints but had assumed General Conference was meeting in 2020.
There is a solution. The bishops can call a special General Conference specifically to vote on The Protocol. It could meet online, perhaps in a distributed format, and could be accomplished in one or two days. There was never the need for a physical 9 or 10-day General Conference costing $10-12 million. And while proponents of delaying General Conference cited the African delegates’ inability to get visas, this problem was perennial. Every General Conference, even before the pandemic, disenfranchises dozens of African delegates unable to get visas. An online event, with technology, could ensure fuller African participation than any physical event in America.
Some conservatives dismiss the prospect of the bishops calling a special General Conference. But it would take only a majority vote among about 60 active bishops. Why would the bishops do so? It would not be because of high minded idealism. The bishops, like all humans, follow what they understand to be their interests. Is two more years of turmoil, with formal complaints against violations of church law, and potential litigation, among other controversies, in their interests? Some bishops may think they can benefit from the chaos. But others who are wiser and more discerning can understand they benefit from a consensus division of the church instead of further acrimony. A special online General Conference, focused on The Protocol, can fairly quickly allow everyone to do what they believe they are called to do. Liberals can then use the 2024 General Conference to fully liberalize the church’s teachings and spare themselves from future battles over sexuality.
Traditionalists must be discerning and patient. Responding with anger to the General Conference postponement does not help. How can we use this time better to prepare for strengthening Global Methodism? How can we collaborate with others from across the spectrum in persuading a majority of bishops to convene a special online General Conference? How do we more deeply understand our Methodist faith?
This last question is most important. Even many traditionalists lack strong catechesis in Wesleyan doctrine, practice and life. The official church has not provided it, and too often we have relied on generic or non-Wesleyan resources. Many traditional Methodists, whether they realize it or not, think more like Baptists or Congregationalists. God loves our friends in those other traditions, but we are Methodists, and we cannot create a new, faithful denomination without serious application of Wesleyan distinctives. A generically “evangelical” or generically “conservative” church will not work. Global Methodism will have to be thoroughly Wesleyan if it is to have substantive purpose and appeal.
Finally, how can we traditional Methodists better appreciate our global nature? Half or more of United Methodists are in Africa, but the Africans are commonly disregarded by the institutional church. Many African leaders appealed for General Conference to meet this year. African members of the General Commission on the General Conference supported meeting this year. Many got little to no official help in joining the online meeting. African delegates to General Conference never get the help they need to travel to the U.S. They face endless obstacles to full participation in United Methodism.
In Global Methodism Africans will be the majority. Are we American traditionalists ready to be a minority in our new church? Will we accept African leadership? Will we forebear their weaknesses as they must forebear ours? We need each other equally. We do not need another U.S.-only denomination. Only a global church can save us from cultural captivity.
Let’s pray and work for the challenging but ultimately bright days ahead, knowing with Whom our fates rest.
Comment by Pastor Mike on March 4, 2022 at 4:52 pm
Mark, thank you for some wise, prudent words. It is difficult to watch our church leadership run and hide from this difficult decision (to divide); their status-quo decision is not surprising at all. We can only hope and pray (and write, call, e-mail and urge!) that our Bishops will do better at moving this needed decision forward!
Comment by Anthony on March 4, 2022 at 6:45 pm
Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson:
“I think we’ve reached a point, sadly, where we must have some sort of separation to end the harm. I am tired of the name calling and the nastiness. I’m tired of folks piling on with descriptors that are horrific for progressives and conservatives. So I beg you, I beg you in the name of Jesus Christ and his church, let us move forward in a systematic, supportive, relational, loving and mutually supportive way that furthers the ministry of the church.
I would like to say though that I think this Protocol is a gift to the church. The key players, the key leaders of different caucus groups, who have been at the heart of this conflict for decades, sat down at a table together. I think that is a work of the Holy Spirit.
Another way this work is necessary is to avoid years of litigation. Other denominations have had years of litigation and they’ve paid more in legal fees than they put into the mission of the church. And that is a travesty. I practiced law and I’ve done my time doing that. I really do not want to spend the rest of my life immersed in legal stuff. So spare me that please, in the name of God. I’d much rather be in ministry. I’d much rather be furthering the mission and church of Jesus Christ than being immersed in litigation until my dying day.”
Rev Tom Lambrecht:
With the launch of the GM Church, the way is now open for local churches and annual conferences to align with the GM Church via ¶ 2548.2 in the Book of Discipline, allowing transfer into “another evangelical denomination,” rather than the ¶ 2553 Disaffiliation process. The parameters of such transfer are determined by each annual conference. Bishops and annual conferences can implement the principles of the Protocol on an individual basis. ¶ 2548.2 does not require payment of extra apportionments or the value of church property in order to transfer with buildings and assets. It allows pension liabilities to be transferred to the local church or to the other evangelical denomination. It allows local churches to choose whether their vote to transfer to the new denomination requires a simple majority or two-thirds vote. All that is required is the approval of the bishop, cabinet, district board of building and location, and the annual conference.
BOOK OF DISCIPLINE:
¶ 2548. Deeding Church Property to Federated Churches or Other Evangelical Denominations—1. With the consent of the presiding bishop and of a majority of the district superintendents and of the district board of church location and building and at the request of the charge conference or of a meeting of the membership of the church, where required by local law, and in accordance with the said law, the annual conference may instruct and direct the board of trustees of a local church to deed church property to a federated church.
2. With the consent of the presiding bishop and of a majority of the district superintendents and of the district board of church location and building and at the request of the charge conference or of a meeting of the membership of the local church, where required by local law, and in accordance with said law, the annual conference may instruct and direct the board of trustees of a local church to deed church property to one of the other denominations represented in the Pan-Methodist Commission or to another evan- gelical denomination under an allocation, exchange of property, or comity agreement, provided that such agreement shall have been committed to writing and signed and approved by the duly quali- fied and authorized representatives of both parties concerned.
Comment by Reynolds on March 4, 2022 at 6:51 pm
Mark,
I think I said it way too many times but liberals never want a vote on the Protocol. The questions is what is the best way to proceed. You can follow the SBC and fight and win. The numbers favor this in 2024 and it is guaranteed in 2028. If you play the losing hand like TEC or PCUSA conservatives, you will a very small denomination with many more stuck in the UMC. There is only one path to choose. I never understood why y’all that the Protocol was ever going to be voted on. I don’t know why you don’t understand the numbers are in your favor. It is going to be messy. The question is do you being all the orthodox with you or just a few rich churches leave everyone behind. This would be the like ECO in the Presbyterian denomination.
Comment by Gary Bebop on March 4, 2022 at 7:22 pm
Mark, are there thirty bishops willing to make such a call? Is this a real prospect or yet another bottle rocket cast up into the atmosphere? I think traditionalists like myself want to hear about meaningful initiatives. This is an urgency (not meant as criticism).
Comment by Anthony on March 4, 2022 at 7:41 pm
Reynolds,
Fight and win? Traditionalists have WON every vote of every General Conference since 1972 – then winning the final big vote of the Special General Conference of 2019 that was called to finally solve our schism once and for all. The liberal hierarchy have openly and defiantly rejected the Traditional Plan and have accelerated their disdain for General Conference while sabotaging church law by creating their own law. All the forces of American secular culture is on their side and they’re riding that wave. The ONLY solution for keeping the UMC together is to strengthen the Traditional Plan and FORCEFULLY remove-excommunicate all the entrenched liberal hierarchy who refuse to uphold General Conference church laws – removing them from all church properties under restraint orders and replace them with orthodox leaders. How could that be done.
Comment by Tom and Anthony on March 4, 2022 at 8:14 pm
Tom,
Is that statement from Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson a Babylon Bee article. Is she not suing Mt Bethel Church now. Is she not trying to take over the school?
Anthony,
The key is to takeover the court. They have the ability to settle disputes. Also, once they know conservatives have won they will leave on their own. In South GA AC, liberal churches have left cause they know they cannot win. This is still a battle to see who wins. Adam Hamilton has said he will leave UMC if his side does not win. The battle is in 2024 and it is over in 2028. I just don’t see why the WCA can’t do the math and just hold on
Comment by Joe R on March 4, 2022 at 10:39 pm
Leaders lead. UMC leadership smiles as they use the term “kick the can down the curb.” Beyond poor.
Internet based business is now the norm, except for the UMC. What is common for business seems to elude this movement’s so called leaders. The worst is dumping this on local Pastors and congregations. May the last Methodist simply turn out the lights and lock the door behind them.
Comment by Pastor Mike on March 5, 2022 at 12:12 am
I’m an elder in a liberal conference. Our leadership has shared their vision to ignore the BOD on human sexuality and permit same-sex weddings and ordain practicing homosexual clergy.
It may be time for conservative churches to play hardball and say, “If you’re going to ignore the BOD (time has run out on the “abeyance of the Discipline” stance), then we’re going to stop paying our apportionments. The only solution is for the Bishops to call a special session of General Conference to vote on the protocol and set us free. We also will not pay the salary of an unacceptable pastor if you move ours and appoint someone contrary to our wishes.”
Money talks. It’s likely the ONLY thing that will motivate the Bishops to “lead”.
Comment by George on March 5, 2022 at 7:21 am
It was just fine to close my local UMC church down and offer services over the internet via ZOOM. The only way to teach our children was looking into a computer screen while at home. Millions worked from home . But wait ! Now to be fair we must put off the General Conference once again for two more years to get this separation voted on and over with.
None of the other votes by the General Conferences meant anything. The Book of Discipline means nothing to the liberals. This is the result of an organization that is run by
weak committees made up by the faceless . There is no leader, therefore there is no leadership. I can’t vote on our laws in this country but I can vote on who makes these laws.
As a Methodist, I can’t vote on our pastor, our DS, or our bishop. Our weak leaders are selected by other weak leaders who form committees . Over time, surely nothing bad can happen, right ?
Comment by Paul on March 5, 2022 at 8:57 am
Two way-too-political sections of this column: 1) “That pandemic has weakened United Methodism in attendance and finances. It likely has weakened liberal churches more than conservative ones because the former stayed closed longer.” 2) “In Global Methodism Africans will be the majority. Are we American traditionalists ready to be a minority in our new church? Will we accept African leadership? “
Comment by Bruce Sdunek on March 5, 2022 at 9:33 am
Interesting! All the talk is about protocol, Wesleyan doctrine, practice and life. I look at the Bible! What are God’s words? After doing that, I conclude that all this LBGT??? crap, same sex marriages (which aren’t marriages) are not what we are supposed to do.
My prayers have been that when the final vote is done, the traditionalists win and those that want to promote and glorify sin will leave in disgust. Then, maybe, they’ll see the light. Guess I wait and see what God does.
Comment by George on March 5, 2022 at 11:21 am
History and current events show that a greater “church split” is coming. It will be between “sheep” and “goats.”
Jesus is returning for a “bride” that has “made herself ready” and is “without spot or wrinkle.” This article describes some major spots and wrinkles that are infecting more denominations than just the Methodist. In fact, our denominations themselves are
spots and wrinkles” that will likely soon be purged. Middle Eastern African Christians, with a Muslim’s sword at their throats, have no denominational thoughts at all…only thoughts of Jesus whom they expect to see in just moments. It will likely soon be so for us in the West. Christ’s “sheep” may soon be separated by persecution as the “goats” join the persecutors.
Comment by John Smith on March 5, 2022 at 5:29 pm
I hope you are right but I don’t think it will happen. I think the progressives and institutions will not want to waste the crisis.
I did find this amusing: ” Even many traditionalists lack strong catechesis in Wesleyan doctrine, practice and life.”
I’ve been in a lot of UMCs. I have never seen any real catechesis outside of half hearted confirmation classes. Based on my experience I would have have thought that Methodists considered catechesis the second universal sin with gambling.
Comment by Star Tripper on March 6, 2022 at 11:18 pm
Mark, you are pretty sold on this selling out of Methodism to the Globalists/Secularists who infect the West. I am with Pastor Mike. It is time to play hardball with the heretics.
Comment by Pat on March 7, 2022 at 9:37 am
Mark,
Thank you for your comments. With all the turmoil and the anger over another delay on a vote on the Protocol is there a realistic opportunity for a majority of bishops to call a special conference remotely to set up a vote?
For those of us who are traditional Methodists, we are weary of the wait and see further delay as a tactic to remove as many traditional pastors as possible in order to keep more churches with the new liberal Methodist Church doing all they can to impact the new Global Methodist Church.
If there is a continued delay in the formal split many traditional Methodist will continue to leave the Methodist church and look for new places to worship and this impacts the new Global Methodist Church. Maybe that is one of the strategies with the current Methodist Church leadership.
Comment by Chappy V on March 7, 2022 at 12:27 pm
I agree with Pastor Mike and Pat. I think the conservative leaders have worked very hard and with great integrity on the issue. The problem is that they are fighting under Marquis of Queensbury rules while progressives are operating as MMA no moves barred. They have been ordaining LGBTQ for years and are now getting rid of not just traditional clergy, but they are moving less important progressives to smaller appointments in order to appoint LGBTQ+++ clergy from outside the denomination to the larger, more urban (better paying) churches. The image that comes to my mind is the scene where a man with a whip threatens Indiana Jones and Jones simply takes out his gun and shoots the whip bearer. His skill with a whip was ultimately irrelevant because he did not see that his opponent was playing by different rules.
Comment by Jim Radford on March 7, 2022 at 1:16 pm
I fear a divided church, but I much more fear a divided world. The battle for LGBTQIA legitimacy is being universally fought. Most of the legislatures, in western nations at least, have already voted to strike down bans on gay marriage. The struggle for me, personally, is how to affirm homosexual persons as persons standing in need of grace and redemption–no more so than heterosexual persons, who also stand in need of grace and redemption. Homosexual persons are worthy of love, acceptance, and persons who should not be punished, penalized, or marginalized. And heterosexual persons don’t get an exemption from guilt and culpability because they happen not to be gay. Heterosexuality, in my understanding, is also in great need of redemption. But homosexuality–as differentiated from homosexual persons–is a different matter. People on this site seem to be thinking so much about the Discipline’s wording in the sections referring to the Social Principles, Ordination, and Membership. I am less concerned with what the Discipline says than I am with what is actually true, whether the Discipline happens to state what is true or what is not true. Wesley’s quadrilateral is the best test of truth that I know. If experience says, “Yes”; if scripture says, “Yes”; if reason says, “Yes”; and if tradition says, “Yes,” then the resulting course of action should be regarded as an affirmative. If, however, experience says, “No”; if scripture says, “No”; if reason says, “No”; and if tradition says, “No,” than the resulting course of action should be regarded as a negative. “Yes” answers have never been associated with LGBTQIA; they have always been “No,” and historically this is never been something that people universally felt that we should do or uphold (and please don’t try to suggest that this issue is basically the same as the upholding of a slave culture). Incidentally, I very recently heard on NPR (which seems to have become a pro-gay bastion) a gay rights activist express in an interview, “We don’t want it just “accepted,” we want it embraced and celebrated.” This is a bridge too far. I can’t do it; I can’t go along with it. I won’t. To me, this is where the battle should be fought. I have said, as a pastor, there is no way that I could ever affirm the legitimacy of homosexuality as a form of sexual expression that is equally legitimate as heterosexuality. Nonetheless I do recognize that some people are born with an orientation toward LGBTQIA, and this would represent about 16.5 million people in this country, which is roughly 5% of the population. That’s a lot a homosexual folks. But compare with the 95% who aren’t–roughly 316 million–the percentage is vastly larger. Some post-modern persons undoubtedly will cry out in protest that this is an argument from one’s “straight privilege,” or rather, the “tyranny of the majority.” However, the way it is being portrayed now in the media, in commercials, in movie and teleplay story lines, the pro-gay agenda suggests that it would be more like the tyranny of the minority. Why not to speak to that and oppose it? Why do people have to leave in a mass exodus in order to have what they want?
I do realize that the above article about when the church will split is the subject at hand here. Personally I don’t want to see a split. I want to see the post-modern, logical positivist, agnostic, existentialist, secularist, nay-saying, gain-saying world-view defeated by the Truth and the Lordship of Jesus Christ. “They have overcome him (the accuser) by reason of the blood of the Lamb, and by reason of the word of their testimony….” The article mentions 130 congregations as having already broken away from the approximately 30,000 UMC congregations in this country. If the departing body–the so-called “Global Methodist Church” which, in my view, represents merely one more schism among countless others over the course of history–what do you think that it will have in the end? A more “faithful” church? A more “unified” church? A church without nay-sayers and gain-sayers? I very much doubt it. Stay and fight. That’s what I’m doing.
Comment by Anthony on March 7, 2022 at 1:45 pm
With the launch of the Global Methodist Church on May 1, 2022 – UMC liberals should see this as the final solution to their agenda and should launch an all out effort to cause a on-line Special General Conference to be called in order to vote on one thing – the Protocol Plan of Separation. Then, they help with the migration of traditionalists to this new denomination over the next two years. Consequently, they would assume total control at the 2024 General Conference and could do what they have been trying to do for the past 50 years -finally liberalize the Book of Discipline thus OFFICIALLY liberalizing the denomination.
Comment by Steve on March 7, 2022 at 6:11 pm
Would someone please explain to me why we need a Global Methodist Church that starts May 1 when we have the traditional Free Methodist Church denomination that has been around for 160 years that bans gay marriage/clergy and allows churches who join to keep their property out of trust? Exactly what the GMC is offering.
Personally, I believe as the traditionalists continue to gain numbers in the UMC we should submit a proposal at 2024 GC that strengthens the excumincation of clergy/bishops that violate the Discipline. We have the votes to enforce it. BUT if churches/members want to leave for a traditional Methodist denomination then why do we need the GMC when it’s the same process to leave the UMC to join the FMC as it is to join the GMC? The megachurch Frazer UMC in Montgomery, Al is FMC now. Why do we need a GMC?
Comment by John Smith on March 8, 2022 at 7:39 am
Steve,
The FMC was not incorporated into the UMC when it formed for various reasons on both sides. To say the orthodox of the UMC should just fold into the FMC because the FMC is for traditional marriage is an oversimplification. Looking at what happened to the EUB when it entered theUMC the FMC may not want a horde of UMC refugees.
Comment by Steve on March 8, 2022 at 9:54 am
John,
Read the FMC’s Book of Discipline. It’s not much different than the GMC’s transitional BOD. Seems that if traditionalist are not happy with the UMC they already have a home. There doesn’t seem to be a need for a GMC and churches can leave the UMC to join the FMC today. Some have.
Of course, if traditionalists stay in the UMC we would have the votes to change our BOD to what the supporters of the GMC want and restructure the leadership to be more in line with our membership. We have already demonstrated we have the votes. Why not save the local churches the expense of changing denominations and fight for them? Let the progressives leave if they don’t like our denomination.
Comment by Angelo on March 8, 2022 at 5:23 pm
Traditionalist Wesleyan denominations:
Free Methodist Church
The Wesleyan Church
Church of the Nazarene
There are even Wesleyan Pentecostal Denominations:
Church of God (Cleveland)
Pentecostal Holiness Church
A dear Cousin: The Salvation Army
Why not join one of those rather than create another split?
Comment by Anthony on March 8, 2022 at 6:56 pm
“Restructure the leadership” — unrealistic expectations and wishful thinking DOES NOT GET IT DONE. Liberals ignore, mock, abuse, misuse, and hate the mean, biased, homophobic Book of Discipline on sexual immorality and marriage in lock step with the culture. They always turn to their allies in the liberal cultural media to come flying in to bring shame and consternation down on the UMC when it attempts real enforcement of its laws on these matters. They manipulate the narrative to demonize traditionalists. They control the message and have essentially captured the soul of the UMC turning it into a secular institution at the top.
Under this reality – General Conference passes excommunication laws and hires a private police force to remove these people from church properties, beginning with the bishops, as the evening news reports this abhorrent, forceful removable, in the name of Christianity, of these loving defenders of full inclusiveness and human rights, especially the rights and full inclusiveness of those from the LGBT+ community?
Comment by Steve on March 8, 2022 at 9:08 pm
Anthony,
How is the GMC going to remove progressive UMC Elders who go with their traditional churches to the GMC? I am in the Southeast and there are a lot of progressive Elders who graduated from progressive UMC seminaries, such as Duke, who are going to go with their churches, and maybe entire conference, to the GMC or they will lose their jobs. Is the GMC going to hire a private police force? How do you think the media will report it?
Either deal with the problem now or deal with it later. Eventually, it will have to be dealt with. The GMC is not the solution. Just kicking the can.
Comment by Anthony on March 9, 2022 at 9:44 am
Steve,
Thanks for responding. I’m in the North GA Conference with a radically liberal bishop who is destroying this conference – over 22, 000 members have departed since her arrival in 2016. The previous 15 years, prior to her arrival, , the conference had grown by over 53,000 members in that it fortunately had bishops who remained mostly true to its Wesleyan heritage and were orthodox-traditional Christians.
With all due respect, how do we “deal with this problem now” and stop the bleeding? There is NO WAY this bishop would be allowed to transfer to the GMC in any leadership role and continue her destruction. If the GMC is not a viable option for traditionalists to move away from people like her, in that she’s entrenched in the present church, then what is their option if the want to remain true, historic Wesleyan Methodists?
Comment by betsy on March 9, 2022 at 12:51 pm
All this is moot point for me. I used the covid shutdown as an excuse to distance myself from the local UMC I have been a member of for decades. A driving factor in the distancing was a realization that the local church no longer had enough backbone to discuss leaving the UMC. A series of pastors who could not have been more different in their understanding of what it meant to be a United Methodist Church started it in numerical decline long before it ever had a chance to confront the sexuality question. I also realized that the only thing that could save it would be if traditionalists held on until Africa was in control; but given the behavior of American leadership, there has never been a guarantee that would have made a difference. The postponement of General Conference for another two years confirms that concern.
Furthermore, Mark Tooley’s observation re the lengthy shutdown of more liberal local UMC’s is right on: Other churches in town were figuring out how to safely gather and my own business was up and running long before the UMC reopened and stayed reopened. Safety was the primary concern. The lengthy shutdown also confirmed what I had been sensing for quite some time: worship was no longer seen as central to whatever it is the church thinks it needs to be doing.
Comment by Steve on March 9, 2022 at 12:52 pm
Anthony,
I am blessed to call you brother. I am in the AWF Conference. Frazer UMC in Montgomery is a megachurch that is leaving now to join the Free Methodist Church. They ban gay marriage/clergy and allow churches who join them to keep their property. Angelo in the comments above listed a number of traditional Wesleyan denominations that the Traditional Plan made easier for UMC churches to join today. I agree that the NGa Bishop is out of control (she was a former lawyer which may explain it) but the Traditional Plan offers a way out.
We traditionalists have the votes to counter these bishops. We should pass plans that enforce our orthodoxy rather than create a denomination that will just delay this conflict. Passing the Traditional Plan was a major victory. Why move the battle to another battlefield just before we win the war? So, the GMC planners can get their $25 million? It just seems suspicious to me. Especially since there are already traditional Wesleyan denominations out there. Sorry, I am a traditionalist, but I can not trust those creating the GMC. There are too many red flags.
Comment by Anthony on March 11, 2022 at 6:12 pm
Steve,
Thanks for your response. The GMC planners are not getting $25 million, which was a rip off offer to them in the first place given the UMC millions accumulated over the years MOSTLY from the donations of traditionalist folks, many of them now spinning in their graves. Likely they’ll never see any money from the rogues in charge of the present UMC, yet they’re launching the GMC on May 1st AS PROMISED on FAITH. God bless these people, and there are no red flags in what they’re doing. They have been as honest, as truthful, and as transparent as is humanly possible from the very beginning of their work. All the red flags are in the liberal camp and have been for the past 50 years.
In all honesty, traditionalists aren’t even close to winning a war, nor close to losing it. There are NO WINNERS in this schism within the UMC. No matter how many Traditional Plans are passed by General Conference, none could succeed in expelling-excommunicating these ENTRENCHED LIBERALS in America because they have the secular culture and all its powerful forces on their side. It would make glaring headlines, talk show chatter, social media exchanges favoring the liberals as they would be portrayed as being persecuted victims of hate, prejudice, homophobia, et al as the church tried to start identifying and forcefully removing them, my bishop at the top of that list. These people are not going anywhere no matter what laws General Conference passes, laws favoring the traditional perspective since 1972 and to no avail.
The only hope, and perhaps last hope, for the Methodist Church that we’ve been part of in order to recover orthodox Wesleyan Methodism in the first quarter of the 21st century is the GLOBAL METHODIST CHURCH as it will certainly not be the perfect solution. Of course we can move to, say, the Free Methodist Church. But, that’s not the denomination we’ve been a part of. It is a peculiar situation , but the GMC will be a CONTINUATION and PRESERVATION of the ON PAPER Methodist Church that we’ve been members of.
Comment by Daniel on March 14, 2022 at 11:23 am
If mail-in ballots were the solution to the 2020 U.S. presidential election, why not do the same for the approval of the separation protocol. Appoint a committee of equal numbers of progressives and traditionalists to oversee the process and count ballots. Problem solved.
BTW – Angelo, the dear cousins, The Salvation Army, don’t see any sacraments as essential to the Christian life (an extreme of personal holiness justifying a person), so no baptism, no Holy Communion. I would hope that would be a deal breaker for Methodists.