By Thomas Lambrecht
Recently, United Methodist News Service, along with several bishops, has issued articles aimed at correcting what they perceive to be misinformation being shared about what The United Methodist Church will become in the future. Unfortunately, some of what they share about perceived misinformation is itself misinformed.
It is understandable that people get caught up in the emotions of conflict and separation. This is a fraught time within our denomination. The future ministry, and in some cases even existence, of congregations and clergy are being decided during the next 18 months. People have deep feelings about their faith and relationship with Jesus Christ, as well as about their church, which has been a spiritual home for them for decades in many cases. Some laity feel betrayed by a denomination that has changed beyond their recognition and in some ways has “left” them. Other laity feel betrayed by the fact that they have not been made aware of the deep theological conflict in our denomination and are just now finding out that the church is experiencing separation. Other laity feel betrayed by the fact that some congregations, laity, and clergy can no longer in good conscience be part of The United Methodist Church.
Given the emotions and stakes involved, it is understandable that some people get the facts wrong or exaggerate what they perceive about those with whom they disagree. In such a time as this, it is important to focus on the facts and not allow our feelings to carry us into the realm of speculation and character assassination. This temptation can afflict people on all sides of the current divide in our church. Though we disagree and are not afraid to speak clearly about that disagreement, we should still speak and act in love toward all people, including those with whom we disagree.
With that in mind, several points of misinformation need to be corrected.
A Matter of Doctrine
Both the UM News piece and a letter from Bishop Michael McKee (North Texas) allege that some traditionalists are saying the UM Church “is about to alter its doctrine to deny the virgin birth, the divinity of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, or salvation through Christ alone.” I know of no reputable traditionalist spokesperson who is making this charge. To be clear, it is very difficult (some would say impossible) to change the official doctrinal standards of The United Methodist Church. It requires a two-thirds vote of the General Conference and a three-fourths vote of all annual conference members (see Par. 59 of the Discipline).
The issue for traditionalists is not whether the denomination changes its official doctrinal standards. It’s whether those doctrinal standards are worth the paper they are written on. Can doctrinal standards be standards if they are not enforced?
Since at least the late 1990’s, there have been bishops, seminary professors, and clergy in the UM Church who have written and taught doctrine contrary to the doctrines contained in our standards. They have done so openly and publicly, yet without any accountability or consequences. To be clear, those teaching such non-Methodist doctrines are a minority in the church. Yet, where doctrinal standards are not enforced, they do not matter.
The flip side of this question is the acknowledgement that in some annual conferences it is impossible for someone who affirms unquestioningly all the Methodist doctrines to be approved for ordination. They are thought to be too “fundamentalist” and not sufficiently “pluralist” or open to new ideas. In this case, the doctrinal standards function almost in reverse. Rather than insisting a candidate for ministry affirm all our doctrines, a board of ministry sometimes penalizes someone who does affirm them.
So the issue is not whether our doctrines change on paper. The issue is whether our doctrines change in practice, and whether clergy are held to our doctrinal standards. Unquestionably, the doctrinal standards in our denomination do not function as such, or they only function in some annual conferences or only inconsistently. This is unlikely to change in a future UM Church.
Split or Splinter – a Rose by Any Other Name
The UM News piece maintains that the UM Church is not splitting. They define “splitting” as “a negotiated agreement within the denomination to divide assets and resources.” Under that definition, adoption of the Protocol would have foster a split in the denomination.
Instead, they say the UM Church is “splintering.” “What is happening is that some traditionalist leaders have decided to create their own denomination (the Global Methodist Church). Leaders of that denomination and other unofficial advocacy groups … are encouraging like-minded United Methodist congregations and clergy to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church and join their denomination instead.”
This is a distinction without a difference. We prefer to use the term “separation” to describe what is happening in the church. People of different theological perspectives are separating from one another, which involves some congregations and clergy disaffiliating from the denomination.
Whether it is separation, splitting, splintering, or dividing, The United Methodist Church is undergoing profound change through the withdrawal of congregations, lay members, and clergy. Whether we want such an occurrence to take place or not, it is happening. This puts congregations in the position of having to make a decision to either join those who are disaffiliating or to remain part of the UM Church in order to be faithful to their understanding of Methodism.
Room for Traditionalists?
UM News asks, “Is the UMC really asking traditionalists to leave the denomination?” Of course, no traditionalists are alleging that the UM Church wants traditionalists to leave. UM leaders and bishops are trying very hard to persuade traditionalists to stay in the denomination.
The issue is better put in Bishop McKee’s letter that says, “Clergy and laity alike have voiced that they have heard there will not be a place for traditionalists in The United Methodist Church moving forward and that their only option is to depart the denomination.” The Council of Bishops and others have worked hard to articulate that traditionalists will be welcome in the UM Church in the future. Their narrative document states, “We cannot be a traditional church or a progressive church or a centrist church. … All of our members, clergy, local churches, and annual conferences will continue to have a home in the future United Methodist Church, whether they consider themselves liberal, evangelical, progressive, traditionalist, middle of the road, conservative, centrist, or something else.”
For traditionalists to remain in the UM Church is a legitimate choice, one that at least some traditionalists will make.
The real question is whether a traditional theological voice and presence will be respected and welcome in a future UM Church. The fact is that no one can say for sure. What we do know is that the traditional voice is currently not respected or welcome in some parts of the church.
A pastor of youth ministry at a large, traditionalist UM congregation recently attended a meeting of youth ministry leaders from many large UM congregations across the country. In visioning for the future of youth ministry in the UM Church, these leaders overwhelmingly agreed that they could no longer use masculine pronouns for God and they could not address God as Father. They resolved not to speak of the Kingdom of God, using instead the term kin-dom of God. And they would use preferred pronouns for people in accommodating the trend towards transgenderism and non-binary gender identity.
The traditionalist youth ministry leader felt like a fish out of water at this meeting. The traditional voice would play little to no role in shaping the future of youth ministry in the UM Church, according to this gathering of leaders. The Kingdom of God is the essence of Jesus’ message and the first thing he proclaimed when his ministry began: “The time has come; the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15; cf. Matthew 4:17, Luke 4:43). Turning God’s reign to be established on earth into a relationship among people (kin) is to exchange the vertical dimension of the faith for the horizontal. Removing the Fatherhood of God is not only unscriptural, it also contravenes our doctrinal standards, where God is named as Father, and jeopardizes our understanding of the Trinity. These are serious doctrinal matters.
I have heard from students in the Course of Study for licensed local pastors that some of their professors grade their papers down for using masculine or Father language for God. Some annual conference boards of ministry require candidates to use gender-neutral terminology for God, or their ability to be ordained is put at risk. Interestingly, God is referred to as Father 32 times in our Book of Discipline, and baptism, confirmation, and ordination are required to take place in the name of “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” The official stance of the church allows the use of masculine language for God, yet parts of the church in the U.S. have taken it upon themselves to make the use of masculine language unacceptable, even for traditionalists.
One wonders where the traditionalist pastors of the future will come from in the UM Church. Congregations that are traditionalist and want a traditionalist pastor may find there is a shortage of traditionalist UM pastors. Many annual conference boards of ministry are routinely delaying or excluding traditionalist candidates for ministry. Many district committees on ministry discourage traditionalist candidates from pursuing a calling to ministry in the UM Church. Without an ongoing supply of traditionalist clergy, traditionalist congregations will need to accept clergy who may not promote the same theological perspective as the congregation. And it will certainly diminish the traditionalist voice.
While we cannot know for sure that traditionalist voices will not be welcome in the future UM Church, and we accept at face value the sincerity of those who promote that they will be welcome, past and current experience does not provide a hopeful indication that will be the case.
Inaccurate information and caricatures abound in the sharing of material related to congregational discernment of their future alignment. We should make our best effort to share accurate facts and, when speculating, make clear the basis of that speculation. We will not be perfect in that regard, but we make our commitment to make every effort to do so. Correcting misinformation is a job for all of those who are leaders in the UM Church and those in the process of disaffiliation. An accurate understanding of reality gives a solid basis for decision-making that will lead to no regrets later and avoid any feeling of having been betrayed or misled. The best decision is one that considers all the relevant facts and information while prayerfully considering one’s understanding of the faith, seeking the best alignment with a denomination that reinforces one’s values and beliefs. That kind of decision is a win for everyone involved.
Thomas Lambrecht is a United Methodist clergyperson and the vice president of Good News.
The Global Methodist Church needs to make its position known concerning progressives. Rev. T. Lambredht, in a recent Post indicated that many current Methodist want Boundaries in the Global Methodist Church. How does Jesus want us to live? Will the Global Methodist Church, insist that progressives remain chaste, celebrate, etc. and not teach young people. Will they be able to take communion, as Paul says people shouldn’t take communion “unworthily”. I have read many comments asking these questions. The Global Methodist need to print out their “Boundaries” that will be inclusive into their BOD, on a few sheets of paper and circulated as soon as possible as to where they stand. Also, will the Church preach 1 Corinthians 15: 1 – 4, The Gospel of Grace? The world is under the dispensation of Grace, not the Gospel of the Kingdom, which belongs to Jews and was promised to them. Paul gives us a warning, if this Gospel of Grace is not preached, you are accursed, per Galatians 1: 8 – 9.
We must at this time live by the old addage, “Actions speak louder than words.”
If my church doesn’t “splinter”, I will find one that will. I don’t want to stand before God and explain to Him why I didn’t fight for Him.
Do we “traditional” Christians turn and run, or do we stay and resist the evil creeping into the Church? When our church property was purchased no member contemplated the trust clause as a tool to force homosexual clergy upon an unwilling congregation. While the traditionalists have maintained a good faith relationship with the UMC the UMC has failed to maintain a good faith relationship with us and this statement is proved by the openly homosexual clergy currently teaching and preaching within the UMC.
Regarding the payment to disaffiliate please provide Scripture references that justify payment to the UMC to disaffiliate. Providing righteous money to the UMC that is permitting unrighteous behavior seems sinful to me.
Please address this question and thank you for a forum to learn and apply the Truth!
Why do the progressives not leave since they are the ones changing the discipline?
About misconstrued facts and/or interpretations, a video entitled “Buyer Beware” was posted by United Methodist Communications on September 1st. Rob Renfroe referred to the early United Artists film company, incorporated in 1919 (footnote link #1 below) in one his online videos related to disaffiliation. After watching one of the videos, Indiana United Methodist Bishop Julius C. Trimble produced another video (the one posted on U.M. Communications). In it he associates Pastor Renfroe and the GMC with the Ku Klux Clan (footnote link #2). With all due respect for Bishop Trimble, he has torn Rob’s reference from its context and it is -in my opinion- a low blow. Publishing this in a national news outlet compounds it.
The truth is that many Institutions and Corporations in the USA have been guilty of racism. This includes The Methodist Church (formed in 1939) with its infamous Central Conference jurisdiction (footnote link #3). We are referring to something more egregious than guilt by association. Racism in the church was only addressed institutionally in 1968. United Artists, The Methodist Church, and many other collectives and individuals have needed to repent of a racist past, and have sought –sometimes rather slowly– to become something far different. Thanks be to God for mercy and grace.
Disagree if we will. Stand up for what we believe is right. But let us please think a bit more objectively and carefully about historical references, and charitably in our insinuations. Otherwise we risk violating the ninth commandment, “You shall not bear false witness” (Exodus 20:16).
1. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-artists-created
2. https://archive.inumc.org/bishop/bishop-trimble-buyer-beware/?mkt_tok=MDc4LUpYUS02NDMAAAGGmi3uZp37pOC3DHtF1mbojknxBZBWV_Jtem4CazwPp9NV6jWdfBd2u9ZLhpr0EYdDH69MGe9j3GUOf2vnv95QVdFpLLTD_HAM22sgETYefk7jgw
3. https://www.umnews.org/en/news/50-years-on-central-jurisdictions-shadow-looms
I read the article and have a few questions. 1. You use the word “many” in most of your descriptions. I have learned that “many” can be as few as “two” to “several hundred”. I am curious as to exactly “what annual conferences are you referring”, what “youth retreats are you referring where they change the “gender identity from “father” to something else”, where are prospective pastors being rejected because of their non-use of gender indemnification? 2. Your article is painting the UMC as the villain and making all the changes and the GMC is being painted as the savior to the traditional church, you bias toward the GMC is far too obvious without really giving a true look at the entire picture.
Will there be a place for the progressive voice in the GMC? Will the progressive voice be respected in the GMC? Will progressive ministers be given quality assignments in the GMC?
David,
The GM Church will not be a “big tent” church. Therefore, it will not have equality for progressive voices. Agreement with the doctrinal standards will be required.
The UM Church bills itself as a “big tent” church with room for traditionalist voices. They are trying to convince as many traditionalists as possible to stay in the UMC. If they want traditionalists to stay, they should guarantee equality. Otherwise, why would traditionalists want to stay in the UMC? The GMC and the UMC have two different approaches.
Tom Lambrecht
The hierarchy of the United Methodist Church is as corrupt as that of the Anglican Church that my wife and I were forced to leave. To stay as close to our Anglican roots we joined a small rural Methodist Church in Indiana. They are choosing to didafillate and looking at the Global Methodist Church. In my search for the facts I found more often than not it is the United Methodist Church that is the one spreading lies and misinformation. Why, because it is in their best interest to do so so that they can retain as much property and wealth as possible to pad their coffers and ensure their power and comfortable life long appointments. Otherwise in some conferences the evil liberal Bishop s wouldn’t be putting punitive extra financial conditions beyond those in the defunct exit protocol. To be fair this is not the case everywhere. When our district superintendent came to visit us she declared that she was biased and didn’t like the fact that those who recently joined had a say. She also said that traditionalist would have a space while at the same time talking out the other side of her mouth essentially saying the standard UMC mantra that we aren’t after your property and to first don’t use labels and do no harm. I found such statements a smoke screen and very hypocritical. First they fail to enforce their own rules to accommodate on group of people’s beliefs. Second, they say do no harm but the progressives and Bishop’s sure want to lable those who are Orthodox and hold traditional lifestyles as homophobic, transphobic, and bigoted for not confirming to the liberal progressive views. Third, the mantra of don’t use labels , again, they are perfectly willing to label us who are Orthodox as the one’s causing all the trouble when it’s actually the other way around. Rules of fair play that thee has to follow but not for me. So why would any Orthodox traditionalist want to stay on a ship that is obviously sinking and doesn’t want to play fair cause money and wealth. As for those church’ s witholding apportionments cause of excessive punitive measures. They have every right to withold funds from a corrupt organization that is obviously not playing fair for financial reasons. As Moses said to Pharaoh ” Let me people go or their will consequences from the Almighty.” I spent 15 years in military intelligence and am 60 years old. I have found that if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and smells like a duck then it’s a duck. There may be those in the United Methodist Church who will take extreme dislike over this post. My advice is get your own house in order cause it’s being destroyed from an evil from within before you accuse those of us who uphold traditional Orthodox values as being the trouble makers when your corrupt infiltrated organization is the one who is causing all the trouble. Our Bishop here has equated the Global Methodist Church and WCA as akin to the Klu Klux Klan from what I can gather. What such BS from a supposed man of God. More liberal misinformation, lies, and false inuendo. So to all you bleeding heart liberals get a life we don’t have to confirm to obviously evil and perverted lifestyles. If you don’t clean up your act the Bible I read says there are consequences for Evil and false teachings. I would hate to be in your shoes come that time. For me and my wife who are hardline Orthodox Anglicans who were forced to leave that church and join a local church that is disafillating and thinking of joining the Global Methodist Church; which I believe to be more Orthodox and closer to the early church of the 4th and 5th centuries than the current United Methodist Church we are tired of being depicted as evil bogeymen when it’s the other way around. If you want my respect and to play fair then the United Methodist Church and the liberals should treat us who dissent likewise. Otherwise you are enemy combatants that deserve no mercy or quarter. From what I gather we weren’t the one’s who started this fight in the first place. You-all did because you want your way and to force your liberal beliefs on those of us that hold traditional Orthodox family values. You deserve what you get. Thank you very much have a nice day.