The Future of our Churches, pt. 1

Every four years, Methodist delegates from around the world gather to worship God, to celebrate our shared ministry, to set a budget for our work, and to consider any legislation which will govern the official doctrines and behaviors of the denomination.  These delegates are chosen by the Annual Conference from a pool of candidate which includes a Clergy delegate and a Lay delegate from every charge in the conference!

For nearly 50 years, the General Conference, which is the ONLY voice of United Methodism, has found itself at an impasse over several social issues.  Our differences are firmly rooted in our understanding of scripture and its authority over our lives.  When the last General Conference decision failed to resolve our 50–year conflict, a group of church leaders – ½ conservative and ½ progressive – met to draft legislation which we hope will resolve the conflict and help both sides move forward in mission and ministry.  The legislation is called The Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.

The Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation, if approved by General Conference, allows Annual Conferences and Central Conferences to withdraw from the United Methodist Church in order to form a new expression of Methodism.  The General Conference was expected to take up this legislation as part of its meeting in 2020.  This General Conference was delayed by the Covid epidemic and was rescheduled for 2021.  Sadly, the General Conference was delayed again due to Covid and rescheduled for 2022.  Thus, the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation is still pending.

In the meantime, local churches across the denomination have become impatient.  Some of these churches have voted by 2/3 majority to pay a fee to leave the denomination and have become independent churches (though some are forming alliances among themselves).  Some of these churches are awaiting the formation of a new, conservative expression of Methodism.

A new, conservative expression of Methodism is being formed.  Along the way, conservatives formed the Wesleyan Covenant Association, who with the input of African and Asian Bishops, have drafted a new Book of Doctrines and Discipline which includes many of the hopes and dreams of conservatives across the UMC.  The next expression of Methodism being proposed is The Global Methodist Church.  However, nothing these two groups – the Wesleyan Covenant Association or the Global Methodist Church – has said or done is legally binding.  These groups – like you and me – are awaiting a decision by General Conference (2022) which will approve the Protocol.

Should the Protocol Legislation be rejected, local churches across the denomination will be forced to debate the issues and vote to either remain in the UMC or leave the UMC at a cost.  Should the Protocol Legislation be approved, a congregational debate and vote will only be necessary if the local church disapproves of the decision of the Annual Conference.  For example, if the Annual Conference votes to join the conservative expression of Methodism (GMC) and the local church wishes to remain in the UMC, the local church would debate and vote.  Or if the Annual Conference votes to stay in the UMC and the local church wishes to join the GMC, the local church would debate and vote.  The earliest projected date for the consideration of the Protocol Legislation is August 2022.

What are our options in the meantime?  Our churches could vote to leave the UMC and become independent Methodist churches.  There would be a financial cost involved in this decision.  Or our churches can be patient, wait for the General Conference and the Annual Conference to make their decisions and then, make a decision about our future.  Our churches should pray – for the UMC, for the newly forming GMC, for our Annual Conference, its bishop, pastors, and lay delegates.  Our churches should move beyond the emotions and the angry rhetoric and know the facts related to all these issues.

Your pastors are conservative in our approach to scripture and social issues.  We believe our mandate from God is – not to judge, but – to love EVERYONE.  We believe scripture is a sacred trust that has absolute authority over every aspect of our lives.  It must not be altered, added to, or taken from.