January 17, 2024
By Rev. Dr. Scott Field, President
A recent round of conversations with various regional leaders of the Wesleyan Covenant Association as well as the monthly meeting of the WCA Global Council highlighted the present disaffiliation disarray among many Methodists. While “official disaffiliation” in the US under paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline ended a few weeks ago (12/31/23), the impact of this season of disaffiliation for local congregations continues.
Congregations as well as individuals and small groups of individuals are seeking to make sense, find direction, and gain traction in an environment in which “things have happened”: disaffiliation, failed votes for disaffiliation, refusal of pastors or church boards to allow a vote, becoming part of a new denomination that is still putting things together, feeling betrayed by bishops or other UMC administrators, wondering if they’ve made a big mistake and should just go down the street to another church or, perhaps, forget church altogether. It is sort of like a tornado has ripped through and there are varieties of impact; yes, the opportunity for building afresh, but first there is the clean-up, the healing, the re-knitting of community, the grief, the massive disorientation, and long-term disruption.
None of us should be surprised if some people identify in the turning points of their life/faith journey a milestone something like “when I used to be United Methodist” and/or “when I became GMC…or something else…or gave up on church.” This is not just organizational re-shuffling. It is a major change for most.
The Journey of Recovery and Renewal
I think of stages or stations on the recovery and renewal journey for a church, a congregation’s leadership cohort, a Bible study group or Sunday School class, a Men’s or Women’s Fellowship, a wandering individual, or a United Methodist with his/her hand on the doorknob just about ready to leave:
Re-orientation: What has happened and where are we/am I now?
Re-connection: Who is my/our “tribe”? Who are the trustworthy people of integrity with whom I/we can be in legitimate Christ-centered community?
Rehabilitation: Who can help deal with the wounds, grief, distrust, battered faith, anger, and damaged relationships that have resulted from this discernment/ disaffiliation/re-affiliation journey?
Re-visioning: What is the Lord calling us/me to in this new season? With whom? What are the next steps? Who can help guide us/me? What resources are available?
Re-igniting: This is when a fresh vision, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, dawns and takes hold. It is the time when we/I no longer seek to re-construct the past but turn forward into a new future. This is a time for spiritual re-fitting, re-connecting a team of leaders, influencers, and do-ers.
Re-launching: A common vision begins to be shared by a group, a rudimentary organizational structure is developing, newcomers are welcomed into the vision and mission, and a re-engagement with both the Great Commission and Great Commandment are undertaken with Holy Spirit-given passion and gifting.
What Does This Have to Do with the Wesleyan Covenant Association?
This is our “wheelhouse.” The movement of renewal, reform, and, now, launching a new denomination has been blessed by a number of advocacy groups, leaders, and influencers. Among those associations the Wesleyan Covenant Association is comprised of the “boots on the ground” network of local, regional, jurisdictional, and global chapters. Our unique role has been informing, supporting, advocating, and preparing for the new day that has dawned with and through the Global Methodist Church.
But we have not abandoned the “boots on the ground” ministry of providing information, counsel, resources, and advocacy on behalf of those congregations and individuals that are still on the journey of recovery and renewal. We’ve identified the need for focused resources. We are now in the process of developing a consultancy network in order to respond with practitioners, consultants, and thought leaders to assist congregations still finding their way through the journey to their preferred future of faithful and fruitful ministry.
Rev. Jan Dillard, formerly a WCA regional leader in Missouri, will be heading up the resource development and deployment of our emerging recovery and renewal initiative. Many of our regional WCA chapters are concluding their work. Others have ongoing disaffiliation matters in the courts. In all cases, however, there are churches and individuals still finding their way. Our recovery and renewal initiative anticipates a widespread network of practitioners and resources in the areas of spiritual renewal, financial counsel/assistance, legal counsel, congregational development, visioning, planning, leadership development, and continuing learning options to support the trajectory of congregations seeking to fully engage their new season of ministry.
For many, of course, this new chapter is already, and joyfully, underway within the Global Methodist Church. For others still finding their way, or finding that they are still discovering their way, our present and developing “boots on the ground” network is available to you. If that seems like something you can assist in a “consultant/colleague/resource” role, please let us know.
And if our newly forming recovery and renewal initiative seems like it might have resources for you and/or your congregation right now, we welcome your email to explore ways we might collaborate with you during this time of hope-filled change.
To reach our recovery and renewal initiative coordinator, Rev. Jan Dillard, email her at jdillard@wesleyancovenant.org.