by Jay Therrell
December 6, 2022
With just barely over a year to go before paragraph 2553 sunsets, the disaffiliation process for local churches continues. In many annual conferences, while painful, the process has proceeded with order and respect. Sadly, in some annual conferences that has not been the case. Acrimony and hurt feelings have guided some decisions.
One issue that continues to rear its ugly head relates to the ordination credentials of clergy departing The United Methodist Church to unite with another denomination. In most cases, that new denomination is the Global Methodist Church, although some clergy have moved to other churches. Some annual conferences have taken the position that clergy must turn in their ordination certificates along with their membership certificates in their annual conference. (Not all clergy received membership certificates in an annual conference. This seems to be inconsistent even within conferences.)
There are two main provisions in the United Methodist Book of Discipline that are relevant. One is found under paragraph 360.1 and is used for clergy withdrawing to unite with another denomination. The second is 360.2 and is used for clergy withdrawing from the ministerial office. While clergy should be allowed to use paragraph 360.1 to withdraw from The United Methodist Church to unite with the Global Methodist Church or any other church, some annual conferences are instead requiring clergy to withdraw from the ministerial office. Sometimes conferences argue that The UMC has not officially recognized the Global Methodist Church. This is a bogus argument since The UMC has not “officially recognized” many other denominations but allows clergy to transfer to them.
The good news is that the Global Methodist Church anticipated this. In its Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline, the GMC included paragraph 417 which allows current “or former” clergy in The United Methodist Church to transfer into the GMC. Accordingly, it doesn’t matter how the UMC treats a departing clergyperson, s/he will be warmly accepted into the GMC pending the completion of the transfer process.
In all honesty, there is no need for this level of discord. As many, including the WCA have pointed out, ordination is an act on behalf of the whole church universal. In that sense, it would be similar to one’s baptism. Accountability of clergy comes through their membership in the annual conference, not their ordination. Accordingly, we have encouraged clergy to return their membership certificates, if they have one, but not their ordination certificate. Of course, this is up to individual clergy to decide.
Recently, in one conference, a letter was sent to a clergy person by the bishop informing them,
You are receiving this letter because I have no record you have submitted any or all of your credentials to your District Superintendent or the Conference Secretary….Should you elect not to submit your credentials in their entirety or send a statement that you have lost them, I will file a complaint against you under ¶2702.1d, “disobedience to the order and discipline of the United Methodist Church.” Since you no longer hold membership or credentials in the United Methodist Church, you do not have the right of fair process.
The letter went on to say, “If you do not comply with their request by December 9, 2022, your withdrawal will be under complaint pursuant to ¶360.3 ‘withdrawal under complaints or charges’ (under 360.4), and will be noted in your permanent record.” This is simply petty.
There is no need for this type of discord. It only deepens conflict and hurt. It dramatically decreases the likelihood that there will ever be opportunities for the GMC and UMC to do ministry together in the future. It does nothing to bring about healing and allow people to finish well. It does not honor the many years of service provided by a clergyperson to The United Methodist Church. It does not demonstrate grace.
At this point in the process, with a short time left, everyone should do their best to treat each other with respect and dignity. That doesn’t mean we have to agree with each other. It does mean, however, that annual conferences, local churches, and clergy should do everything they can to treat each other in the manner that they, themselves, would wish to be treated (Matthew 7:12).
As we get nearer to the time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray that we also follow His commands of treating each other with respect. I pray that annual conferences treat servants of the church, clergy, with the honor they are due for the years of sacrifice they have offered to further the cause of Christ. We can and must finish well.
The Rev. Jay Therrell is the president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church.