August 22, 2023
By Rev. Jay Therrell
One of the hallmarks of the traditionalist movement is embracing the value of being structurally nimble so the movement can remain just that and not become an institution. As the Wesleyan Covenant Association begins to look toward the end of 2023 that also means recognizing that the disaffiliation process under paragraph 2553 will be sunsetting. The WCA, along with Good News and UMAction, are working together to secure a re-authorization of a new paragraph 2553 that would provide a consistent, uniform process across the entire UMC connection and prevent conferences from adding additional costs. We won’t know, however, whether that effort will be successful until the UMC General Conference in May 2024.
Over the next six to eight months, some WCA regional chapters will choose to wind down. Others will choose to continue in operation to aid in efforts at the General Conference 2024 and beyond. Regardless of what a regional chapter chooses, the WCA wants to ensure it maintains its strong presence across the United States, Africa, Asia, and Europe. To do this, the WCA is in the midst of forming four new regional chapters that will have boundaries along the U.S. UMC jurisdictional lines. If and when a regional chapter completes its work, it will merge into its jurisdictional regional chapter to ensure that churches in that area will have assistance and people to walk alongside them.
Leading the WCA-SEJ Regional Chapter will be the Rev. Chris Akers of Florida. The Rev. Patti Molik of Upper New York and the Rev. Ed Rodarmel of Pennsylvania will co-lead the WCA-NEJ Regional Chapter. Joining together to lead the WCA-NCJ/SCJ Regional Chapter will be Ms. Cindy Evans of Missouri and Ms. Norma Morrison of Iowa. Rounding out the new jurisdictional regional chapters will be the Rev. Helena Titus who will lead the WCA-WJ Regional Chapter. These are all dedicated and hard-working leaders who will ensure the WCA’s mission and presence continues with strength.
To be clear: THE WCA’S MISSION IS NOT OVER YET! We have multiple special annual conferences coming up in September, October, November, and December. After January 1, 2024, several annual conferences (most notably Mississippi and South Carolina) are allowing churches to close under paragraph 2549 under similar terms as 2553. Additionally, our African, Asian, and European brothers and sisters have had no exit pathway like American churches have, and it is now our turn to advocate for them at the UMC General Conference 2024 as they have stood by us for so long. We are not finished, and we need your prayers and your financial support.
The WCA remains nimble so it can continue to help churches around the world get to the theological home that best enables them to carry out their disciple-making mission. The mission continues and we look forward to finishing strong!
The Rev. Jay Therrell is the president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church.