Ist Bishops Anticipate Some Texas Churches Will Move To New Conservative Offshoot
When Houston-based Bishop Scott J. Jones sees division or disagreements among his fellow parishioners, he often reflects on the words of John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement in England.
Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? said Jones, a fourth-generation preacher, quoting the 18th century clergyman.
Jones is likely reflecting on Wesleys famous musing more this month after a historic split within the United Methodist Church, a Protestant denomination with more than 6 million members in the United States.
Following years-long disputes within the United Methodist Church over same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy, a breakaway sect called the Global Methodist Church launched on May 1. Jones, the resident bishop of the UMCs Texas Annual Conference, said he now expects a major migration to the more conservative Global Methodist Church.
I think we will undergo significant split throughout Texas, with traditional churches affiliating with the Global Methodist Church, said Jones, whose conference includes more than 600 congregations and nearly 300,000 members. It will take several years for it to all shake out, but we’re going to see a major split.
Jones said the church officially prohibits same-sex marriages and members of the LGBTQ community from being in the ministry, but several bishops and conferences have deliberately disobeyed those rules for some time.
He posits Texas will likely see a higher number of disaffiliations for that reason.
Breakaway Global Methodist Church Exasperated By Liberal Churches Defiance Of Bans On Same
The United Methodist Churchs Council of Bishops, ending a five-day meeting Friday, acknowledged the inevitable breakup of their denomination a schism that will widen this weekend with the launch of a global movement led by theologically conservative Methodists.
The breakaway denomination, called the Global Methodist Church, will officially exist as of today. Its leaders have been exasperated by liberal churches continued defiance of UMC bans on same-sex marriage and the ordination of openly gay clergy.
Bishop Thomas Bickerton, who became the Council of Bishops new president Friday, described the launch of the new movement as a sad and sobering reality. Bickerton said he regrets any departure from the United Methodist Church and values the denominations diversity of thought.
There is no perfect church, he said. The constant fighting, the vitriolic rhetoric, the punitive behaviors have no place in how we preserve and promote our witness as Christian believers.
He said he prays the infighting will stop and the United Methodist Church will rediscover its mission to make disciples for Christ. He urged the United Methodist Church, even as it suffers defections, to think of May 1 as its launch day as well.
Bickerton, who heads the United Methodist Churchs New York City region, succeeded Louisiana-based Cynthia Fierro Harvey as president of the bishops council.
A leader of the breakaway movement indicated that todays launch would take place with little fanfare.
Ists Defer Plan For Separation
Frank E. Lockwood
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
A plan that would have made it easier for theological conservatives to leave the United Methodist Church was derailed Thursday by members of the Arkansas Annual Conference, a development that surprised and disappointed many traditionalists.
A motion to defer the legislation passed 366 to 270 after opponents argued it was premature to consider the proposal during the conference, held at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
Referred to by its drafters as a “Comity Agreement,” it would allow any of the conference’s 630 congregations to join a new denomination, the Global Methodist Church or another evangelical body.
Transfers would only be permitted if they had the backing of a supermajority — two-thirds — of a local church’s voting members.
The Book of Discipline, which contains United Methodist doctrine and laws, already includes a provision, Paragraph 2548.2, allowing a congregation to transfer to another evangelical denomination with the consent of the presiding bishop and the annual conference, among others.
But skeptics have questioned whether the 2548.2 would apply to the new body, which was only launched May 1.
Last month, the United Methodist Council of Bishops asked the church’s Judicial Council to rule on the application and meaning of Paragraph 2548.2.
“We don’t know whether this paragraph can be used or not for the purpose of disaffiliation,” she said. “And we won’t know until they make a decision.”
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Community Of Hope Was Founded In 1993 As An Outreach To People On The Margin Including Lgbtq People And People Living With Hiv/aids According To Its Former Pastor
A worship service at Community of Hope church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the 1990s. Photo courtesy of Leslie Penrose
When Asbury Memorial Church in Savannah, Georgia, announced its disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church last year, Asbury said in a press release that it believed it was the first church in the USA to leave the United Methodist denomination due to its unequal treatment of LGBTQ people.
The churchs claim points to the sense of historic justice many United Methodists feel in the denominations proposed split over LGBTQ issues, awaiting a vote delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But United Methodists debate over sexuality did not begin with the ban on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination the denominations global decision-making body reaffirmed at its 2019 special session. It has been a topic at every quadrennial General Conference since 1972, when delegates edited the Book of Discipline to call homosexuality incompatible with Christian teaching.
And Asbury Memorial isnt the first church to disaffiliate from Americas second-largest Protestant denomination over its official stance toward its LGBTQ members. Before the current wave of churches disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church, there was Community of Hope in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Community of Hopes story begins before its founding pastor, the Rev. Leslie Penrose, 69, had thought much about LGBTQ issues. Or about ministry.
Everything was upside-down. The values were very different, he said.
Rights Of New Methodist Denominations
a)Future Participation in programs of The United Methodist ChurchNew Methodist Denominations, as well as their local churches and Controlled Entities, are not required to participate in any program of The United Methodist Church and do not have a right to participate in any such program, except as provided in ¶¶ 2556.11b or 2556.13 and except as provided in ¶¶ 2556.8, 1504, or other provisions regarding General Board of Pension and Health Benefits services. Any continuing relationship shall be made by mutual agreement.
b) General Boards and Agencies UMC InstitutionsNew Methodist Denominations, as well as their intermediate bodies, local churches, and affiliated organizations, may contract for services from and enter into missional agreements with any of The United Methodist Churchs general boards and agencies and the subordinate related entities of such boards and agencies, subject to the approval of that board or agencys board of directors or related entitys governing body and the relevant governing body in the New Methodist Denomination. Affiliated Institutions may affiliate or have relationships with The United Methodist Church or New Methodist Denominations, or both, if permitted by their organizing documents and applicable local law.
d) CopyrightAny New Methodist Denomination formed under ¶ 2556 may borrow provisions and language from the Book of Discipline without such borrowing being considered an infringement of copyright.
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The Latest United Methodist Bombshell Will Create News Throughout 2022 And Beyond
Religion Unplugged believes in a diversity of well-reasoned and well-researched opinions. This piece reflects the views of the author and does not necessarily represent those of Religion Unplugged, its staff and contributors.
Yet another United Methodist bombshell will create news throughout 2022 and beyond.
In this, the 50th anniversary year of the 12.9 million-member United Methodist Churchs fierce debate over the Bible and sexuality, a late summer General Conference was set to settle how to split. But a March 3 bombshell announcement canceled this all-important meeting, already postponed twice due to COVID-19. Without plans for an orderly and respectful breakup, rancor will persist till delegates finally do assemble, presumably in May 2024.
Heres some lay of the land for the media through 2022 and beyond.
The only problem with is everything, Every major faction in the church agrees on the need for schism. The status quo is untenable.
The liberal Reconciling Ministries Network supports the delay, but says this lengthening test of patience postpones the road to justice for LGBTQ+ kin who want a policy change that regularizes weddings and clergy ordinations for Methodists in same-sex relationships.
Its important to note that a statement from United Methodists in Africa assured General Conference planners that all their delegates will be vaccinated and able to obtain U.S. visas in time to attend, partly thanks to help from U.S. conservatives.
United Methodist Divorce Nears As Progressives Moves Further Left
As one of the founders of the United Methodist Centrist Movement, the Rev. Doug Damron spend years hiding his rejection of his church’s rule that the “practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.”
Centrists used a “perfectly delicious” theological platform defined by words such as “unity,” “peace” and “moderate,” he said, during a recent guest sermon at the historic Broad Church United Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio. After decades of fighting about sex, many hoped “traditionalists” and “progressives” could keep “United” attached to “Methodist.”
The goal was “compromise,” he said, a “sweet word” that hid a “status quo of oppression.” But there was “an institution to protect” and many clergy feared being honest. Thus, they didn’t openly attack the denomination’s Book of Discipline.
“By nature, I am a rule follower,” he said. “I knew that such defiance may have cost me my clergy credentials.”
Now it’s time for candor and courage, said Damron. When United Methodists finally split, conservatives will build a church defined “by who they will exclude today and who they will exclude tomorrow.” The question is whether progressives will act on their convictions.
“I think a lot of more progressive clergy would have similar thoughts, but don’t really have the courage to jump in and put themselves on the line for advocating something that’s going to shake the boat. Change is slow and change in the church is slower.”
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Scripture Church History And Details For United Methodist Split
Leaders of every major faction and region of the United Methodist Church have now agreed that our debates over homosexuality come from far deeper divisions over more basic questions, and our denominations level of infighting has become unsustainable, and so we must have some sort of a split. Absolutely no one in the United Methodist Church has any serious, honest, and sustainable plan for how all United Methodists could still remain in one denomination. And yet for most rank-and-file church members, there are many unanswered questions, big and small, about the impending United Methodist split.
Last Sunday, I had the chance to speak to a United Methodist congregation in the Midwest about the coming United Methodist split.
As a sermon in the Sunday morning worship service, I preached on 1 Corinthians 6:1-11, 18-20 and Jude 1-4, 17-23. My sermon/presentation offered a big-picture birds-eye view of the United Methodist split, in light of relevant Scripture, church history, and how United controversies over homosexuality have become about far more than just homosexuality.
I begin around the 18:00 mark of the embedded video below:
Then during the Sunday school hour, I offered a more in-depth worms eye view of specific details and questions related to the coming United Methodist split.
This Sunday school hour discussion is included in the video embedded below:
Documentation:
The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church .
Process Of Alignment In The United States
The following shall be the process for churches in the United States to separate from The United Methodist Church to align with a New Methodist Denomination.
a)Annual Conferences
Anannual conference may, by a vote of 57 percent of the lay and clergy members present and voting at a regular or called session, choose to separate from The United Methodist Church to form or join a New Methodist Denomination. The annual conference shall consider this decision upon motion from the floor that is supported by one-fifth of its lay and clergy members present and voting or may do so through its normal processes. The annual conference may also call a special session for this purpose upon motion from the floor or through its normal processes. If the annual conference does not vote to separate by July 1, 2021, it shall by default remain part of The United Methodist Church.
b) Lay Equalizing MembersFor the purposes of this decision, all lay equalizing members shall be elected, as required by ¶ 32, except as otherwise provided for in the Constitution. The formula used by the annual conference in the election of lay equalizing members shall be made public prior to the annual conference session at which the decision regarding alignment is made.
c)Local Churches
Local churches are permitted to take such votes prior to their annual conferences vote at any time following the adjournment of the 2020 General Conference, after appropriate notice to all members.
d) Approval
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Getting Divorced Or Separated From Your Spouse
If your marriage breaks down, under the law you and your spouse may divide the total value of all the assets either of you accumulated during the marriage including the value of your pension. This is known as equalizing your net family property.
You dont have to split your pension, but they are often one of a couples biggest assets. If you do plan to divide your pension, you will need to determine their value, known as the Family Law Value.
Note that if you were in a common-law relationship, your pension can only be divided if you both agree.
FSCO has more information about family law as it pertains to your pension, as well as the forms you need to apply for your Family Law Value. This can be a complicated process to ensure you understand your legal rights and obligations, you and your spouse may want to get independent legal and financial advice.
Financial Support For New Methodist Denominations
a) Set Aside FundsA total sum of $27,000,000 shall be set aside to assist New Methodist Denominations. The General Conference commits to these funds being paid. These funds can come from a variety of internal and external sources, including but not limited to restricted funds to be used for said purpose and unique contributions, as determined by The General Council on Finance and Administration in consultation with the Connectional Table and existing general boards and agencies.
b)Payment Process.
AdministrationThe General Council on Finance and Administration shall be responsible for making payments and may establish procedures for application and payment that are not inconsistent with this ¶ 2556.10.
LimitsTobe eligible to receive these funds, a New Methodist Denomination must meet the requirements of ¶¶ 2556.2c and be a party to all separation agreements for any central conference, annual conference, or local church that joins the New Methodist Denomination, and the New Methodist Denomination must, either alone or jointly with other parties to the agreement, assume all liabilities, and provide full indemnification to and insurance for the annual conference and other United Methodist Church entities, as specified in those separation agreements.
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Local Churches Disaffiliating And Not Joining A New Methodist Denomination
a) ApplicationThe terms of this ¶ 2556.12 shall supersede those of ¶ 2553, effective as of the close of the 2020 General Conference. If a local church votes under this ¶ 2556.12to separate from and end its connectional relationship with The United Methodist Church, and to not form or join a New Methodist Denomination , the following provisions shall apply.
b)Time LimitsThe deadline for a local church to vote to end its connectional relationship under ¶ 2556.12 and disaffiliate is December 31, 2024.
c)Local Church Decision-making Process.
If the church council of a local church determines that the church wishes to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church, that church council shall submit a request to the district superintendent. The district superintendent shall, within thirty days after receipt of the request, call a church conference under ¶¶ 246 and 248 for the sole purpose of deciding whether the local church wishes to end its connectional relationship with The United Methodist Church.
The decision to end the local churchs connectional relationship with The United Methodist Church must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the professing members of the local church present and voting at the church conference.
a. The church conference shall be held within one hundred twenty days after the district superintendent calls for the church conference
More On Bishops Plans
The four United Methodist bishops in Europe and Eurasia have drafted three documents to help guide next steps for their areas.
They are:
We need to think and prepare proactively for the future and work for as much unity and missional strength as possible, while we ensure that all local churches, clergy and annual conferences are able to live into the future with integrity.
In planning for the future church, Alsted joined Bishops Eduard Khegay of Eurasia, Harald Rückert of Germany and Patrick Streiff of Central and Southern Europe.
The four have drafted three documents outlining next steps for churchgoers during this time before General Conference can meet and for those who plan to separate after the gathering. The documents also include a mandate to form a European-wide Task Force to convene after the postponed General Conference.
But before General Conference can meet, the four bishops also plan to form a working group to prepare with a perspective towards a common vision for all branches of Methodism in Europe. The bishops plan for the working group to have representatives from each annual conference in their areas and to meet online.
All three documents assume the passage of the much-endorsed Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation, and base next steps on procedures outlined in the proposed legislation.
In any event, the four bishops expect separation will lead to big structural changes.
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