October 24, 2023
By Rev. Dr. Scott N. Field
MainstreamUMC, an unofficial advocacy group within the United Methodist Church, infers that it speaks for the mainstream of United Methodists – perhaps as many as 80% of United Methodists. After their recent press release, I doubt it. Sadly, they seem to have become decidedly “unMethodist.” I expect most United Methodists will recognize this unhappy development for what it is.
MainstreamUMC identifies its critical mission as “A United Methodist advocacy group working for unity in the Body of Christ.” The “The Mainstream UMC Board voted unanimously at a recent meeting to end congregational disaffiliation through paragraph 2553 entirely. Such a churlish and punitive commitment seems entirely out of step with United Methodist self-identity.
Is this retaliatory commitment confined to activists and perhaps administrative networks within the UM denomination or does it accurately reflect the sentiment of the 80% of United Methodists for whom they purport to speak?
It has me wondering: whatever happened to the United Methodist self-description as the people of “Open Hearts, Open minds, Open Doors”?
Open Hearts
I believe both the Progressives and the Conservatives/Traditionalists in this long intramural denominational disaffiliation conflict are “good Methodists.” Methodists regard the circle of God’s inviting grace to be so expansive that every person, everywhere, for all time is included in the offer of redemption in and through Jesus Christ. This includes, of course, both “Progressives” and “Traditionalists”.
To be sure, our current denominational departures arise from where we draw the line within that expansive circle of redemptive invitation. Certainly “whosoever will may come” (Revelation 22:17), but also, Jesus says, to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24). The invitation is without limit; for those who respond, however, the cost of discipleship is rigorous. Faith in Christ requires repentance; it is a complete re-orientation of life. Part of Methodism’s distinctive history has involved exploring the dimensions of consecration, personal and social holiness, and, as we more recently call it, “accountable discipleship.”
After over 50 years of contending with variations of this geometry of how big the circle and where to draw the lines, we have concluded that it is time to part company…not from the gospel mission, but certainly from organizational connection. As an outcome, it seems, each “side” will gain what it desires: Progressives will, likely at the upcoming General Conference, shape the post-separation United Methodist Church toward their preferred denominational culture. And the traditionalists/conservatives, through the disaffiliation of congregations, already are shaping the Global Methodist Church to reflect their preferred denominational culture.
So why, as “good Methodists”, would MainstreamUMC so strongly, unanimously, want to slam the door on congregations who, after prayerful discernment and following the disciplinary requirements, desire to separate from the UMC for their preferred future? Most “good Methodists” in my experience are more open-hearted than that.
Open Minds
I wasn’t invited, of course, to the MainstreamUMC Board meeting that “voted unanimously” to lock the door on any congregation seeking disaffiliation from the UMC. It is hard to know what they were thinking.
It may well go without saying that all United Methodists, the Bishops, conference administrators, advocacy groups, and, above all, the members and the pastors of local congregations…all United Methodists are weary of this long and winding disaffiliation drama. I can understand that some of us would finally have reached our limit, slam our fist on the table, and shout, “That’s it! No More! We’re Done with this!”
And, truth to tell, I have been in the meeting room with board members of other advocacy groups. Somebody lights the fire with a stemwinding speech, a swamp-fever righteousness sweeps over the group, and before long, with loud assent and hearty hallelujahs, the group is united in one spirit and one conviction to either storm the gates or lock the gates, depending upon the particular definition of “what must, in God’s name,” be done.
Experiences like those “rally the troops, call out the enemies, and raise the funds” sort of meetings are certainly energizing. But they also have a predictable outcome of narrowing the mind and dismissing any sense that the folks on the “other side” might be people worthy of respect.
Our MainstreamUMC friends have already suggested that their pursuit of “unity in the Body of Christ” will likely sever Africa and the Philippines from the rest of the UMC. Can you see that when the trance of chest-thumping self-righteousness overtakes us, we do something as unfathomable as seek “unity in the Body of Christ” by willingly severing the African Methodists, for example, where the actual majority of United Methodists currently live, worship, witness, and serve? I’m not lying about this. This is not “misinformation”. (See the MainstreamUMC blog post focused on where their advocacy efforts will likely lead at and after the next UMC General Conference here ).
Most “good Methodists” in my experience are much more open-minded than that.
Open Doors
And what about the “open doors”? I think most “good Methodists”, even in this season of disaffiliation, know that the “open door” swings both ways. Our churches, of whichever denomination, should have their doors open to all who want to come. And the UM denomination should also have its doors open for any and all congregations who decide to leave.
The October 12th MainstreamUMC blog post by their Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Mark Holland, contends that a “trio of far-right advocacy groups” are threatening to once again overwhelm the UM General Conference that will meet next spring. If you are wondering, the Wesleyan Covenant Association is identified as one of this trio of despicables. The allegations he makes against us are indeed breathtaking: the WCA is sabotaging efforts at unity, we are seeking to harm “their” church as we depart, we “operate as a cancer”, and the nefarious three groups cooperate so strategically and so effectively that we “probably share a Netflix account.”
He goes on to infer that he can discern our motivations for this odious agenda.
But then, in revealing his own motivation behind identifying us as the “enemy” of mainstream United Methodists, he says he will need a lot of money to defeat the three-headed monster of the “far-right advocacy groups”. So, please send anything from $5 to $5,000 to MaintreamUMC. Then, together, “good Methodists” can slam the door on disaffiliations. Maybe this is really about conjuring up a cause and targeting an enemy to raise funds. That doesn’t seem very “Methodist”, either.
Most “good Methodists” in my experience don’t want anything to do with slamming doors shut; that goes for Progressives and Traditionalists/Conservatives alike.
“Good Methodists” do, in my experience, firmly believe what is fair for some should be fair for all. The disaffiliation provisions of paragraph 2553 have been administered exclusively on behalf of UM congregations in the US. The Central Conferences of Africa, the Philippines, and Europe have been excluded by decision of the Council of Bishops.
The paragraph 2553 sunset provision, to closing disaffiliations on December 31,2023, was approved at the 2019 Special Session of the UM General Conference. You will remember that 2020 brought a pandemic and, eventually, the postponement of the General Conference not once or twice, but three times. During that time most of the decision-making processes of the UMC, at the local church and denominational level, were on hiatus. Limiting the application of paragraph 2553 to the US exclusively may have been an unintentional consequence. The coming UM General Conference, in April-May 2024, will have the opportunity to correct that injustice by extending the disaffiliation provisions of paragraph 2553 to those areas of the UM church which have been excluded: Africa, the Philippines, and Europe.
That is the WCA agenda for the upcoming General Conference because what is fair for some should be fair for all. We believe delegates to the UM General Conference should extend the provisions in paragraph 2553 in a fair and uniform way that is accessible for all congregations everywhere.
I can understand the weariness and frustration with this long season of congregational conflict and disaffiliation. But the actual majority of “good Methodists” I continue to experience are more open-hearted and open-minded than the recent unanimous decision by the MainstreamUMC Board. And “good Methodists” are also clear that the “open door” swings both ways.
There is, however, a redeeming opportunity related to MainstreamUMC. In their statement, “Role of MainstreamUMC for General Conference 2024”, the group states they will, “Work with the ‘coalition of the willing’ to strategize and organize for 2024 General Conference, annual conferences, and jurisdictional conferences.” (Role of MainstreamUMC at General Conference 2024)
Hey, MainstreamUMC, WE’RE WILLING…to strategize and work together so every congregation can end up where it chooses to be. How about it? Working together would help fulfill your “critical mission commitment” to bring unity within the Body of Christ.
(Friends, if you want to read the MainstreamUMC commitment to stop all disaffiliations for yourself, here you go: 4 Reasons To End Disaffiliations.)