March 19, 2024
By Rev. Dr. Scott Field
I thought you’d appreciate a letter, written by a regional leader of the Iowa Wesleyan Covenant Association, who was also one of the participants in the initial gathering of the WCA. Though he is now part of the Global Methodist Church, he has a parting appeal for United Methodist General Conference delegates. It was hard to write, and it might be hard to read.
In my opinion, that is what makes it worth reading and sharing.
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Friends,
This is hard to write and receive.
It is hard to write because it requires revisiting wounds, sadness and other “stuff” born in the dissonance of leaving the denomination I loved and faithfully served for four decades. It may be hard to receive because you have feelings and frustrations regarding people and congregations who felt compelled to leave.
Fully cognizant of the awkwardness of the moment, I reach out to you with an appeal for mercy, love and grace. You no doubt are busily preparing for General Conference, a watershed moment in your denomination. Given what was on the legislative table as 2020 approached and given the new makeup of delegates it seems obvious the UMC will lean into the more progressive ideology many of you have advocated for decades.
These gains will have collateral impact, thus my appeal. Please consider working to extend on a limited basis the provisions of paragraph 2553. This is the most hospitable and graceful way to conclude the season of disaffiliation. Here is why:
First, it seems only just to offer Central Conference Methodists the same freedom of conscience provided you and me by the 2019 General Conference. Denying the Central Conference Methodists disaffiliation is an optical and actual injustice standing in opposition to the equitable and inclusive ideology long championed by the UMC.
Second, some churches and pastors in the United States were given unclear or erroneous information while others have been unaware of the disaffiliation process. Of course, the responsibility to gather information was on these laity and leaders, yet, giving those who feel post General Conference United Methodism no longer confluences with their faith an opportunity to exit seems a loving and peaceful way forward.
Third, and maybe most importantly for the United Methodist Church. 2024 can be the moment when a half century of internal conflict comes to a gracious conclusion. While the extension of the deadline of disaffiliation may not feel good, it seems worse that all your toil to transform the church to align with a new path could be lost without it. The long-desired moment of “uniting” United Methodism cannot be gained if disagreement, dissension, and division within the body continues to abate congregations, leaders, Boards and Agencies in moving forward.
Lastly, if you have read this far, thank you. I know it was difficult for you to read a plea with my name attached, and, certainly it was hard to write. However, we have walked a long way together, and as a cousin in faith I pray God’s best for you all.
In greatest hope and expectation,
Rev. Mike Morgan
I talked to another former United Methodist today about the upcoming General Conference. He was at the contentious 2019 Special Session of the General Conference in St. Louis and described how traumatic it all was. He has concluded that the delegates coming to UM General Conferences are not there to listen, discuss, consider, pray, and come to consensus. The delegates, he said, don’t think. They react. And they don’t react to ideas or possibilities, but they react from the agenda of their ideological and political “team”. They won’t even consider a thoughtful and worthwhile proposal, he said, if the wrong person’s name is associated with the petition.
You may or may not agree with that assessment of General Conference delegates. Maybe the upcoming UM General Conference in Charlotte will demonstrate a glorious spirit of thoughtful discussion, prayerful consideration, and peaceful intent. That is the appeal of Rev. Morgan. Perhaps some of the delegates in Charlotte will listen, discuss, consider, pray, and craft widely supported decisions which allow for those congregations and conferences who decide they must depart to do so and, at the same time, free the continuing UMC to be pursue a genuinely united future.
We will all know the outcome very soon. The General Conference begins in just five weeks.
If you would like to know more about the WCA’s Fair for Some Fair for All initiative, click here. A new podcast will launch on Thursday (March 21), featuring Rev. Helena Titus of Los Angeles.