A United Methodist pastor in suburban Philadelphia receives a 30-day suspension for performing a same-gender wedding involving his son and now that the penalty has concluded is challenging the denomination to restore his credentials so he can continue advocacy against its policies.
A retired United Methodist bishop from California performs a same-gender wedding in Alabama, defying the request from the resident bishop to refrain from doing so.
A same-gender clergy couple marries in Seattle, and their District Superintendent officiates at the ceremony.
And people in the pews of the typical Methodist churches, in areas where Methodism has historically been the strongest (the South-Central and Southeastern Jurisdictions) are shaking their heads in bewilderment.
How in the world did so many among us travel so far left so quickly & so publicly?
From where does the resolve come not only to mutiny against the larger connection but to do so while claiming the mantle of victimhood?
Actually, the answer to that question, in Methodist terms, is relatively easy.
We’ve been funding our own subversion for years.
You read that correctly. We, the United Methodist Church, have been underwriting our own insurrection ever since 20th Century Protestant Liberalism became the theological norm 100 years ago.
We didn’t do it deliberately. We did it because we are “nice,” because we believe in academic freedom, because we typically choose grace over discipline. We did it because we’ve rarely been as protective of our doctrine as Jude is of his.
That’s why we have had professors at United Methodist seminaries who did not believe in Jesus’ bodily resurrection.
Don’t believe that Jesus rose from the dead? Come teach our pastors and we’ll pay your salary with the tithes and offerings of church people!
That’s why we’ve had agency staffers who’ve made public pronouncements at odds with the denomination’s official stand on abortion and same-sex intercourse.
Don’t believe what the collective wisdom of Methodist people says about when life begins? Come lead our agency and we’ll pay your salary with the tithes and offerings of church people!
That’s why pastors being examined for ordination can waffle on the Virgin Birth but can’t call God “Father.”
Don’t believe all of God was in Jesus? Come on and pastor our church and we’ll pay your salary with the tithes and offerings of church people as long as your benediction says ‘in the name of the Creator, Savior, and Spirit!’
So the Methodist news that to many of us has come with a shocking swiftness is really almost 100 years in the making.
Because what you tolerate today will dominate you tomorrow.
We’ve been pouring money into our own demise for a century now.
It’s time to stop.
There are 17 comments
Sad but true. Is it possible that the only thing that will get our bishops attention and force them to lead is if churches begin withholding their apportionments? I’ve been wrestling with that issue myself, and wonder what I will do as a pastor if my church council proposed such a thing.
This is disturbing and not unique to Methodism. I was in two churches who withdrew from the PCUSA denomination primarily due to the abortion and same-sex issues (not marriage at the time, because we could not conceive of such 20 years ago!).
What might we be called to do? Time to pray and especially not keep our heads in the sand and our voices silent. Talbot, thank you for shining light on these concerns.
thanks for standing up for the Word of God.
and as you know, Bishop Talbert himself basically licked me out over this issue. Great point on the resurrection..in the heat of the controversy, our Ad Board wrote Bishop Talbert and asked if he believed in the resurrection. He answered that he had met all the requirements of a travelling elder, and did not need to answer.
Blessings
The members and leaders in the UMC churches must look at what has happened in recent years to the Episcopal Church (US), ELCA (main US Lutheran body), and the Presbyterian Church. There have been disastrous losses in membership, churches, and funding. Churches have split and legal battles over property have occurred. This is the results of decisions made by a small number of people. The UMC can avoid this if action is taken at the church level. Members and pastors must speak out and lead the UMC to adhere to the doctrine of Biblical authority. This will take a major effort, patience, and time. May God guide and give you strength in this endeavor.
James
James
As a pastor in the WNCC, I have experienced first hand what happens within the appointment process, when your church re-allocates apportionment dollars to alternative ministries other than what is prescribed by our conference. Many pastors talk a good talk, but show little action when it comes to faithfully teaching their congregations on how the money gets used in our boards and agencies. Sadly, we’re often more concerned with our pension balance and the potential level of salary increase that may or may not come with our next appointment. If you re-direct apportionments, don’t expect a pay raise or a “good” appointment.
Of course, kicking out all the 20th-century style protestant liberals and having a takeover by 20th-century style fundamentalists is no improvement. We have both in the UMC and each have their doctrinal and other problems. We have UMC churches that do not have regular Eucharist offered, or that rebaptize people, both clearly against church teaching and tradition. We have premillenialists spouting Hal Lindsey-style end times garbage from pulpits. In short, it is not a problem of “those liberals,” it is that we have plenty of liberals and conservatives in pulpits who could hardly be described as heirs of Wesley – because they are really just liberal protestants or conservative evangelicals who care nothing for the UMC or the Wesleyan family of faith.
Thank you, Mack.
Two alternative thoughts: 1) you bring up the Wesleyan Family Of Faith. If we look at our Wesleyan siblings in the Wesleyan Church, the Free Methodist, the Salvation Army & others, they all have much more in common with conservative evangelicalism than with Protestant liberalism. Do we in the UMC have any more of a claim to Wesley’s heritage than they? I don’t think so.
2) The core issue of the post is how our tithes & offerings have underwritten the salaries of people who hold doctrinal positions at odds with our core principles.
3) Finally, while I am no dispensationalist and share your suspicion of Hal Lindsay & others, I don’t regard it (or anapbaptism or infrequent communion) as anything comparable to the kind of resurrection-denying stuff Bishop Sprague & others came out with a few years ago.
Thanks for your comments, Talbot. They are spot on. We had to leave our local UM church over the issues you speak of. And it has been a long battle for us, not just against leadership but against apathetic laity. It’s time we had more straight talk about what’s really going on. The leadership of the UMC is presiding over an evolving new religion which is a curious combination of New Age spirituality and modern left-wing politics. Activists within and without the UMC have been working for decades to assume unprecedented levels of power in order to forward an agenda that is essentially political and largely anti-Christian. And members are either unaware or don’t care. If I’ve heard it once I’ve heard it a hundred times from UM church members: “Well, THAT will never happen.” It’s happening.
If our Bishops fail to uphold the BOD when it’s a ‘matter of conscience,’ how will they use the same Discipline to respond to local churches who choose to withhold mission shares for the very same reason? (I’m a UM pastor in the Great Plains Annual Conference. My ID is anonymous because I don’t have an account to sign in.)
Methodists are a “nice” people but a nice coup is still a coup
I wonder if it’s possible to withhold apportionments in a special escrow account? The money would be set aside but not available to the Annual Conference. Kind of like dealing with a landlord who refuses to do proper maintenance. This may give added leverage and “momentary pause” if passion begin to run too hot.
I consider myself to be “liberal” on most issues. I am a feminist clergywoman, and I endorse the current United Methodist social principles whole-heartedly. You and I disagree on several matters.
I am still trying to come to terms with being called “conservative” for the first time in my life because I endorse our church’s statement that single Christians should be celibate and married Christians should be faithful to their spouse (of the opposite gender).
I believe in Christ, crucified and risen. And I am a feminist who believes that women have been oppressed by male authorities in the church for millenia.
I am grateful for the official, well-considered social principles and doctrine of our church; but I am frustrated by our never-ending love of controversy, and our in-house partisianship. Voting is a very bad way to make decisions in a Christian community. It is NOT Biblical, and it is inherently divisive. We should be looking at Biblical alternatives.
I would like to know, does Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Charlotte discriminate against gays attending their church for worship? I know there is no same sex marriage or anything like that, but are they allowed to attend and worship? Without being ridiculed of course.
We have a good number of folks who are homosexual who attend Good Shepherd. Some are same sex attracted and have decided to live celibate lives for the sake of the Gospel. Others are in same sex relationships. People tell us it is a safe place to hear a sometimes uncomfortable message.
Can gays become members? I only ask because I consider myself a very progressive person. I am a married heterosexual, but do believe in the human rights for the lgbt community. As far as Christian views go, people are always going to have disagreements, it’s part of being human. My wife and I are members of a Charlotte UCC church, but are actively looking to find a new church. I’ve been UCC all my life. My grandfather was a UCC minister, he is with God now. I love your church! The worship service is everything I ever wanted! My grandfather would be like “whoa”! I love my church, but we are struggling, and probably not gonna make it. The other UCC church is thriving, but way too far away. We live right down the road off of Moss Rd from Good Sheperd. It makes me feel better that you at least let EVERYONE attend, unlike the southern baptist churches who go out of their way to discriminate against gays. Jesus didn’t deny anyone from following him, nor should churches. Thank you for listening to little old me and my questions, I greatly appreciate it. I look forward to visiting your church again and hopefully my wife and I will be members one day. Thanks again for your time, much respect.
All people can become members. We have a membership covenant that is serious without being legalistic. The next membership class (called Next Step) goes on Sunday nights, August 3-24, 5-7 p.m. each night. We’d love to have you! You can sign up on the http://www.gsumc.org web site. You’ll see the covenant on the first night. Thanks! Glad you like GSUMC!