No
doubt many of you have seen news – reported by the secular press (many of which
have reported incompletely or incorrectly) -- of a ”new” proposal to split the
United Methodist Church in light of its continued debate over LGBTQ-related
issues. The origin of this news is our own United Methodist News Service (UMNS),
which shared the original story earlier today (Read the complete article HERE).
Officially
titled “Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation,” this
proposal is actually not “new,” but merely a further form of one of the four
main proposals being considered for the United Methodist Church’s 2020 General
Conference this coming May (Read about these four main proposals HERE).
What makes
this proposal different is the fact that it was worked out through the efforts of
a professional arbitrator (Kenneth Feinberg), and has the blessing of a coalition
of leaders from across ALL the various theological perspectives. Traditionalist, Centrist, and Progressive leaders,
along with Bishops from United Methodism around the globe, have all endorsed
this proposal. Of course, like all such
proposals, it must still be approved by vote of the delegates of General Conference
this coming May, and could be subject to modification during the conference
debate time. What’s more is that some of the other proposals mentioned above
might also be presented for approval.
All
this means that, unlike what some secular news feeds are reporting, this is
merely one proposal among many that might be approved. It is NOT a “done deal” yet. Yes, it seems to have more momentum and more
backing from more of cross section of our denomination than any proposal put
forth to this point. However, there is
still a lot that must occur before this (or any other proposal) would become
reality.
IF
adopted, the key elements of this proposal would be as follows:
● The General Council on Finance and
Administration of The United Methodist Church (GCFA) would provide $25 million,
over four years, “to the traditionalist Methodist denomination established
pursuant to this protocol.” The new denomination would give up further
claims to United Methodist assets, including those of general boards and
agencies.
● GCFA would escrow $2 million to
help other potential new denominations.
● To support communities
historically marginalized by racism, GCFA would allocate $39 million over eight
years to strengthen Asian, Black, Hispanic-Latino, Native American and Pacific
Islander ministries, as well as Africa University. Of that total, $13 million
would come from funds the separating traditionalist denomination chose to
forgo.
● After the 2020 General Conference,
set for May 5-15 in Minneapolis, there would be a special General Conference
for the remaining denomination. “The protocol also references a plan which
calls for a special general conference of the post-separation United Methodist
Church. The purpose of the Special Session would be to create regional
conferences, remove the current prohibitions against LGBTQ persons, and to
repeal the Traditional Plan,” said a press release from the negotiating group.
● A (non-U.S.) central conference
would be able to choose with a two-thirds vote to affiliate with a new
Methodist denomination. The vote deadline would be December 31, 2021, and if no
vote is taken the conference remains in The United Methodist Church.
● An annual conference, whether in a
central conference or U.S. jurisdictional conference, also could vote to
affiliate with a new Methodist denomination. A vote of 20 percent or more at an
annual conference session would be needed to have the disaffiliation vote, and
a disaffiliation vote would have to pass by 57 percent. The disaffiliation vote
deadline is July 1, 2021.
● The leadership body of a local
church considering disaffiliation could determine a threshold of a simple
majority or two-thirds for the vote on whether to separate. Decisions about
disaffiliation must be made by December 31, 2024.
● A local church affiliating with
another Methodist denomination “pursuant to the protocol” would keep its
assets and liabilities.
● The pension plans of The United Methodist
Church would remain in place for all current clergy and lay employees, even if
they affiliate with another Methodist denomination under the protocol.
● Another important piece of the
agreement is that signatories from ALL the theological perspectives agreed to
suspend all administrative or judicial processes addressing restrictions in the
Book of Discipline related to self-avowed practicing homosexuals or same-sex
weddings beginning January 1, 2020 through the adjournment of the first
conference of the post-separation United Methodist Church. While this doesn’t prevent the filing of a complaint/charge
related to officiating at a same-sex marriage or the “coming out” of a LGBTQ
clergy, it does mean that such a complaint would not be processed until after
General Conference 2020.
So, while it’s true that the more
restrictive disciplinary language adopted by the 2019 General Conference technically
went into effect a few days ago (January 1st), this part of this
proposal effectively negates it. Even if it hadn’t, it would only affect us at
McKendree if I or Pastor Ryan were to violate our Book of Discipline and
officiate at a same-sex wedding. At this
point, neither of us will be doing that.
Read the text of the FULL PLAN HERE…
Read specific FAQs related to this
plan HERE…
* * * * * * * *
As to
my own thoughts about this proposal as a whole… while I would be sad about the
breakup of our UMC denomination, at the same time – if adopted – this proposal seems
to have a lot of merit. While I’m only now
reading and researching it just like many of you, based on my initial reading,
I believe this plan offers a practical and reasonable way to sustain the Wesleyan heritage and vibrant
witness and mission of The United Methodist Church, while offering a graceful
way for those who wish to depart the means to do so (along with start-up
monies) and provisions for sustaining pension plans for clergy who may choose
to align with a spinoff denomination.
While I (and I’m sure many of you)
will continue to review this proposal (along with others that have been and
will be presented), at present I welcome this as a constructive and positive
initiative that may bear fruit later in May.
If enacted, it can help us to move beyond our current impasse and – in
the words of an article I found helpful in interpreting the meaning of this plan -- “to release those whose hearts are with our hearts to make plain that the
continuing United Methodist Church is striving in every way to be passionate
followers of Jesus Christ, committed to the Wesleyan vision of Christianity, anchored
in Scripture interpreted by tradition, experience, and reason, who
energetically fulfill our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the
transformation of the world.”
In the meantime, I invite you patiently
to wait and pray for God’s will and work through the General Conference in May 2020,
and to join me in working through our church for the cause of Christ right here
in Gwinnett County, so that the Holy Spirit would work within and through us to
be “People. Doing Life Together.
Connecting all through Christ.”
Remember that God loves you and I do, too!
FOLLOW UP:
Watch an extensive Q&A interview with the developers of this proposal HERE...
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