United Methodism’s General Conference started yesterday, April 23, in Charlotte, North Carolina. It will likely be the last important governing convention for United Methodism as the denomination, with the rest of American denominationalism, recedes into almost irrelevance.
This General Conference will liberalize United Methodism’s teachings on marriage and sex, over which traditionalists and progressives have fought across fifty years. Between 2019 and 2023, over 7660 traditionalist churches, including up to 1.5 million members, exited the denomination under a temporary policy allowing departure with property.
In 2019, a special General Conference reaffirmed United Methodism’s official policies affirming sex only within monogamous male/female marriage, by a vote of fifty three percent. After the traditionalist mass exit, this General Conference should easily overturn the official teaching. Proposed new language would remove prohibitions and simply “affirm human sexuality as a sacred gift and acknowledge that sexual intimacy contributes to fostering the emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being of individuals and to nurturing healthy sexual relationships that are grounded in love, care and respect.” It declines to connect sex to marriage or even to monogamy.
Of the seven major Mainline Protestant (historically liberal) denominations, United Methodism, which is the largest, is almost the last to liberalize sexually, preceded by the United Church of Christ, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), Evangelical Lutheran Church and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The American Baptist Churches (originally the Northern Baptist Convention) have not officially liberalized.
United Methodism is nearly the last to liberalize thanks to its large membership in Africa, which is overwhelmingly traditionalist, and where the majority of church membership is. Previously United Methodism had reported seven million church members in Africa, and 5.7 million in the U.S., but inexplicably recently reported 4.6 million in Africa. After church exits, U.S. membership is likely about four million. In 1968 United Methodism, in its year of birth after a merger between The Methodist Church and The Evangelical Brethren Church, had eleven million members in the U.S.
In the 1960s, United Methodism and the Southern Baptist Convention had about the same membership. Southern Baptists are also losing members, but its membership is now about three times United Methodism’s: four million versus thirteen million.
Many have wondered why traditionalists exited United Methodism when they had across five decades won all the major sexuality votes from 1972 through 2019. Before the exits, most delegates elected to the 2020 General Conference, which was postponed repeatedly until 2024, were traditionalists. But traditionalist churches were in a bind. The deadline for a temporary policy allowing church exits with property, approved in 2019, concluded in 2023. Waiting for what happened in 2024 was risky.
And even if traditionalists had won another win on sexuality at this year’s General Conference, it made slight difference. Only the African votes made this win possible. Traditionalists were losing ground in the U.S., no longer able to elect traditionalist bishops anywhere in the country. The national and local bureaucracies were hostile to traditionalists. After fifty nine years of continuous membership loss, United Methodism is sclerotic and bureaucratic, unable to reverse its six decades of decline. The old bones could not rise again.
Traditionalists hope that this General Conference, at most, might create a new path for churches to exit. After this General Conference liberalizes, more churches will want to exit. Many local churches were urged to await this General Conference, ignoring that their path to exit would likely conclude in 2023. This General Conference is unlikely to offer another exit path. But we can pray.
The African delegates will be disappointed by this year’s General Conference, but they are hopefully prepared for defeat. They are also far fewer in number than they should be because of the usual visa problems, which were worse than usual this year. In 2019, thirty-one African delegate seats were empty because of visa failure. This year, seventy seats, or twenty five percent of African seats, apparently are empty thanks to visas. Many complain that United Methodist authorities were especially delinquent and unhelpful this year, even with four additional years to plan.
We renewal movements in United Methodism, at every General Conference since 2004, have worked to help African delegates with their visas, sometimes asking United Methodist members of Congress to intervene, with mixed success. (Then U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions personally phoned some U.S. embassies in Africa.) When visas were denied to delegates, alternate delegates had no church funding to replace the blocked delegates. Often renewal groups paid for alternates to attend. It has always been a struggle to attain fair African representation. Even if all Africans could get visas, their representation, because of the formula, never assigned seats proportionate to their population. Although a majority of the church, they get only one third of the delegates this year. With twenty percent of them unable to attend, they are perhaps only one quarter of the present delegates.
When the U.S. delegates vote to liberalize church teachings, the African delegates, even if prepared, will be anguished. It’s unclear to what extent they remain in United Methodism. U.S. institutionalists are pushing “regionalization” allowing Africa to set their own rules on sexuality. But many and likely most Africans will not find that plan tolerable. They have by large majorities rejected this proposal in the past. Within five years I expect eighty to ninety percent of Africans will have exited United Methodism, leaving the denomination almost entirely U.S. only with small numbers in Europe and the Philippines.
To what extent does this United Methodist story matter to U.S. Christianity and wider culture? Not very much, as it is the culmination of a multidecade trajectory for Mainline Protestant denominations that began theologically over one hundred years ago, accompanied by sharp membership losses since the 1960s. Mainline Protestantism and United Methodism are no longer important institutionally in America. For that matter, these institutions are increasingly unimportant to even members of these denominations. Church members under the age of sixty typically are indifferent to denominations and attend only because of commitment to the local church. Most will not be interested in what this General Conference does. But the liberalizing impact of this General Conference will, with time, affect nearly all local churches. The clergy pool will grow even more liberal, as traditionalist clergy leave or retire, and traditionalist young people pursuing ministry look elsewhere.
I expect that United Methodism will functionally not exist in ten years (although church agencies with large endowments will independently survive). Its four million current members will shrink by hundreds of thousands annually. And remaining members will not be interested in paying for national church bureaucracy, submitting to distant bishops, or tolerating their church property’s ownership by a denomination. For that matter, other denominations will functionally not exist either. The Southern Baptist Convention, also affected by denominational indifference, may not be with us in 10 years.
Methodism and Wesleyanism as a belief system and movement of course will endure in different formats, bringing new vitality. I’m grateful to been raised and spent my life in United Methodism, to which I owe so much. I first held office in my United Methodist church in 1985 at age twenty, representing my congregation at the Virginia Annual Conference. In 1988, I compiled a report for my congregation about the United Methodist missions agency exchanging radical politics for evangelism, which led to my career to church activism. It’s an odd sensation not to attend General Conference this year, having attended and submitted legislation to every gathering since 1992. This experience, typically ten days of night and day of labor and combat, amid countless tensions and emotions, was always draining and exhilarating. There were adversaries and defeats, but also victories and many friends. It’s been a wonderful journey.
When this United Methodist General Conference liberalizes, there will be media attention followed by indifference, as the denomination recedes. There is a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted. United Methodism and its predecessor denominations play their providential role. I will miss the idea of a great national denomination, as American Christianity becomes post denominational. But the new, less centralized expressions of Christianity in America will continue and even amplify God’s work.
Comment by Melanie Jean Garuffi on April 24, 2024 at 8:07 pm
That is why I left my pastoral position in the UMC in 2008. I saw that I would not be able to preach Bible Truth without conflict within the hierarchy (NJ).
Comment by Old Gorilla on April 24, 2024 at 8:11 pm
Well said. I knew that the UMC was doomed when I realized that the bishops in charge of enforcing discipline took their ordination vows and BoD no more seriously than those who were openly breaking the rules.
The non-denominational model that I’ve encountered since has been far more effective. Laity hold elders responsible , elders hold pastors responsible, pastors hold laity responsible. Everyone watched over in love.
Thank you for your decades of service.
Comment by Gary Bebop on April 24, 2024 at 9:33 pm
The deed which is now almost done (delivering the denomination into the hands of a perverse sexual culture) may not have transpired if not for the many “fellow travelers” among those who ostensibly supported the historic consensus. In my experience, the fellow travelers delivered the votes and the influence at critical times, and on a more sinister level, obfuscated, obstructed, and muddled when they should have made a stand. That’s the nature of deception: it works by night and by stealth.
Comment by Larry James on April 24, 2024 at 10:44 pm
I think the word “no” should be added to this sentence: “ Mainline Protestantism and United Methodism are [no] longer important institutionally in America.”
Comment by Corvus Corax on April 24, 2024 at 10:49 pm
Is it really necessary for African delegates to physically attend the conference? Could the United Methodist Church in its infinite generosity and wisdom not make some accommodation for virtual participation?
In any event, it’s a problem that will solve itself because the Africans won’t stick around after mandatory homosexuality is imposed this year. Chalk up a W for the liberals—yet another institution formed by the sacrifice any devotion of the pious has become an ever-shrinking therapy group for post menopausal hags.
Comment by Pudentiana on April 24, 2024 at 11:16 pm
It has been a long schlage. The battle for truth and righteousness has done much to build our faith. With this, the wisdom gained and the love of fellow laborers, there is hope for the new Global Methodists: like a phoenix from the flames. God be praised!
Comment by Gary on April 24, 2024 at 11:48 pm
Well done Mark. Thank you for your insight. I believe history will find us faithful. However, we have a lot of work to do. Our churches are shrinking and a new path must be forged. God Bless
Comment by David S. on April 25, 2024 at 5:11 am
We will be passing through Charlotte, heading up your way for a work trip. My wife expressed agnst over going through because of the General Conference. I told her we’re not going through Downtown, and even if we were, there has been noticeable shrinkage in the denomination.
Also, I noticed another, small UMC church building in Atlanta is now up for sale. If it weren’t for the adjacent church cemetery, the parcel would probably be scouped up quickly to build a west Buckhead mansion.
Comment by Tim on April 25, 2024 at 7:59 am
John 12:47-48
47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.
2 Timothy 3:16
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
The UMC no longer believes the two scriptures above and many more.
Comment by Doug Bower on April 25, 2024 at 9:40 am
These words aren’t being heard and don’t need to be if they are true. We are living in the time of the greatest awakening in history. It is not drawing people to local churches or to denominations. Yet, thousands of people are being exposed to the Gospel every day. The evidence first is the decline of the denomination, second the decadence, chaos, and confusion, and hostility in the word (always present of course) as the forces of evil rage in deviance of God at work, third the prolific availability of publications, videos, radio programs, fellowship opportunities, mission opportunities, translations, and study programs including workshops and conferences. God is moving powerfully. This awakening is not being overtly noticed as the old model of denominations and local churches still is the standard. But as the article points out that standard is waning. It is being replaced by a far more non-bureaucratic model closer to that of the models asserted in Acts and in the writings of Paul. It is also closer to that of the model of the time of Wesley as Methodists and Baptists and Presbyterians engaged an expanding frontier.
Comment by Daniel on April 25, 2024 at 9:43 am
Given that the UMC has been since its establishment dominated by U.S. Democrat operatives, it should come as no surprise that members of the party that gave us the Era of Jim Crow has worked to disenfranchise African Christians.
Comment by Curtis Nester on April 25, 2024 at 10:49 am
For some reason, the Southern Baptist Convention was injected into this article. All SBC churches are autonomous and not beholden to any organization. We work together to further Missions. Our goal is to win a lost world to Jesus, and prepare them to live the Christian life, on earth and in Heaven.
We do not try to bring Heaven to Earth by saving Society, but saving individuals by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone.
Comment by Jay Westfall on April 25, 2024 at 3:11 pm
So the Committee on General Conference had 4 years to get the roadblocks removed for the Africans to be able to attend?
What transpired was an organized hit job.
Comment by David Willard on April 25, 2024 at 3:20 pm
“If all the other mainline churches jumped off a bridge, would you?”
UMC Leadership, “Hold my grape juice.”
Comment by Gary Bebop on April 25, 2024 at 5:35 pm
If the Africans want to be heard, they will have to assert themselves against the bald-faced orchestrations of the marriage revisionists. Will Africa speak up? They will have to speak up against the oily and glib ideologs such as Mark Holland and Adam Hamilton.
Comment by Edward Hunter on April 26, 2024 at 5:47 am
It seems rather clear that the shrinking influence & membership of many churches and denominations is because the Holy Spirit has withdrawn, finding no place in the sociopolitical focus of men’s (& women’s) hearts.
Does our Heavenly Father and our Lord still love us all? Yes, of course, they do — that is an unconditional fact of reality. But the Holy Spirit’s companionship is scripturally conditioned on obedience to the Savior’s words & commands. The Comforter will not abide in unholy tabernacles.
Likewise, we are commanded to love our neighbor unconditionally. But many have taken that injunction to mean that there are no standards that must govern the Church and its members. We have an old rule which makes the principles clear — we must love the sinner, but not the sin; and we may add, or any behavior that offends the Holy Spirit. Yes, charity faileth not, but the Lord’s words shall be fulfilled.
Without the Holy Spirit to bear witness of eternal truths, the socially & politically “correct” doctrines of man are as “… sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal”. No wonder the faithful look elsewhere for the Lord.
Does the Church seek What is the will and word of God? Or is it more concerned with approval in the eyes of men (mankind)?
Lo, they have their reward.
Comment by Robert Frost on April 26, 2024 at 8:53 am
The change in the retirement for US Clergy will be the major change that many will not focus on, but will have long term impacts. How many have “ answered the call” with the promise of lifetime employment with a Pension that has almost vanished from employment practices?
Replacing an open guaranteed payment with a defined 401K will be impactful.
Follow the money
Comment by Rev Lauren R Ley on April 26, 2024 at 9:11 am
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has had similar problems. Formed in 1988 by a merger of three Lutheran Synods it had 5.1 million members. Today, the ELCA has 3 million, a 40% decline. As my theological mentor Carl Braaten, a Lutheran professor whose parents were missionaries in Madagascar put it, Liberal Protestantism is dead. It can no longer legislate itself because it has no grounded teaching office. I left the clergy roster in 2009 the year the national assembly approved the ordination of practicing homosexuals for ordination. Biblically speaking there is no homosexual orientation. There is only homosexually immoral and perverse behaviors because “it”,
the orientation, does not exist as an aspect of
God’s ultimate intention nor God’s permissibility until the end day. The ELCA is arguably the most liberal Protestant Church in America today.
Even the Roman Catholic church is struggling with this apostacy in its ranks. We Protestants must return to Rome and to the Orthodox Patriarchs which we have dismissed ever more vociferously since 1517 with hope and support of and in their necessary authority, for the sake of God’s mission to the world in Christ and through the Holy Spirit’s power.
Comment by Thomas on April 26, 2024 at 9:53 am
Remember that even the Roman Catholic Church has these liberal, revisionist influences. Germany was the birthplace of liberal theology, so its not surprising that the Roman Catholic Church in that country is now schismatic, with 80% of their bishops approving women`s ordination, sex outside marriage, blessing of same-sex unions. What does Pope Francis does facing this situation? He creates even more divisions with the totally unnecessary declaration “Fiducia Supplicans”, which claims not to change anything but allows blessing individuals in same-sex unions. Fortunately I think the next pope most likely will be a conservative.
Comment by MARK SIEGMAN on April 26, 2024 at 11:56 am
Sadly, the (formerly) United Methodist Church is traveling the same road as the PCUSA. From a peak combined membership of 4.5 million in 1965, the 2 prior denominations that merged in 1983 to form the PCUSA have shed 3.5 million member since then. The 2023 statistics haven’t yet been released, but are expected to be under 1.1 million. What a sad witness to the world.
Comment by Mike Thompson on April 26, 2024 at 2:50 pm
Truth be told, Christianity itself will no longer be relevant in the developed world within ten years. It has already disappeared in Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The United States will soon join the rest.
Comment by MikeB on April 27, 2024 at 6:38 pm
A little leaven has leavened the whole lump.
Almost all of Paul’s writings were to preserve the Truth vs the Lies of Satan.
His warning about how a false gospel will corrupt rings true, just as how Leavened bread could not be used for Passover as it was not holy, the UM leadership is not holy, but leaching into the lump and making it of no use for God’s purpose.
Comment by John67 on April 30, 2024 at 8:04 am
It hasn’t been clear to me: Are the churches leaving the UMC required to pay future costs of their pastors pensions? Aren’t they vested with the contributions to date in the pension plan? What is the UMC doing with all that money?
Comment by Soon to Be UMC Refugee on May 1, 2024 at 5:33 pm
In my church, it is the older members who are indifferent. A solid majority voted to disaffiliate, but not enough to clear the 2/3 threshold. I doubt even 25% of the congregation actually supports the doctrinal changes that are being made, but many older members voted to stay because they did not want to pay the money or were scared of uncertainty (“why should we go on our own when the UMC has not even changed the doctrine?” was a common theme). Well, the church is about to be in pretty uncertain waters. Giving has already dried up to the point where they are already giving stewardship sermons in April while not actually discussing the reason why people stopped giving and are leaving the church. There is about to be another wave of departures (including my own) now that the conference made it official).
Comment by Pastor Mike on May 3, 2024 at 9:14 am
Now that the UMC has liberalized and is officially an apostacy, traditional churches that remain face tough decisions. Do they stay and try to operate below the radar of the denominational leadership? Do they withhold apportionments? Do they openly rebel?
In any event, while the “official” season of disaffiliations has ended, the “unofficial” tide of persons who walk away and UMC churches that simply close their doors to start anew elsewhere will continue to rise. Once the African churches leave and I believe the majority will, the UMC will shrink to primarily a US only denomination. It will be a hollowed-out shell. What we witnessed at the UMC GC in Charlottee, NC. was the death of a denomination.