It was quick. Within the first normal convention for the reason that most conservative congregations have been unable to, the United Methodist Church liberalized its teachings on marriage, sexuality and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy.
In different main teams, such because the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (USA), there was a conservative exodus. after progressive victory. However within the UMC, the conservative American occasion was already gone, so the vote wasn’t off.
Because it stands, the subsequent and maybe closing battle between American Methodists, who’ve been on reverse sides of theological and social points for greater than half a century, will concern who can win over the Africans, who “oppose main group change” to the coverage” of sexuality. Largest UMC contingent on and off the U.S. The breakaway conservative denomination referred to as itself the World Methodist Church as a result of members hoped to keep up fellowship with church buildings within the World South, the place Methodism was extra orthodox—and didn’t develop as Methodism did in america.
However the United Methodist Church has additionally launched a plan to permit regional autonomy that might internally fracture the denomination. This could permit African church buildings to stay conventional in how they outline marriage and—so the pitch goes—separate themselves from the in any other case liberal path of Individuals.
African Methodists have beforehand rejected related proposals, maybe realizing how such guidelines would diminish the affect of African church buildings and absolve parochial US church leaders from accountability to their African counterparts. It will be smart to reject their plans once more.
I give that recommendation as a conservative Methodist myself—and face related issues with denominational involvement. For now, I stay a United Methodist. My church falls in need of the congregational vote threshold for being theologically conventional however unaffiliated, and there’s no World Methodist presence in my space.
Nonetheless, in the long run, I see no future for conservatives of any nationality on this neighborhood. With many evangelical congregations and far organized resistance to theological liberalism gone, the trajectory proven on this week’s convention vote will solely speed up.
A greater path, as we close to the top of the unique line, would be the continued connection between African and American Methodists who collectively prevented the UMC from happening this street for greater than 50 years. Breaking away from the outdated forms, Methodists worldwide have the chance to inherit probably the most vibrant elements of United Methodism. Extra importantly, they’ve the chance to supply an orthodox Wesleyan witness that isn’t compromised by liberalism or fundamentalism.
The UMC lasted so long as it did as a result of it was orthodox on paper however progressive in apply, besides in jurisdictions the place traditionalists have been numerically prevalent. However in the long run, liberals who noticed bans on same-sex marriage as morally equal to racial discrimination might now not reside with nominal bigotry. And conservatives can now not watch these sanctions routinely violated with out consequence.
But our variations have been by no means nearly same-sex relationships. When Methodists started debating homosexuality in 1972, it was a dependable proxy for perception in biblical authority and Christian understanding of affection. Right now, I nonetheless consider that liberalism on sexual morality displays a mistaken, culturally biased view of Scripture and custom, however I additionally suppose that Methodists produce other necessary questions to handle—questions which might be generally debated over same-sex marriage and associated points. Cuts the traces.
There are a lot of extra Methodists right this moment who passionately disagree with one another on LGBTQ questions whereas having the ability to recite the Creeds collectively with out crossing their fingers. And there are some Methodists who’re transferring away from very primary doctrines about Christ and the Scriptures. If we will bridge the denominational divide and welcome African church buildings into world Methodism, maybe conservative Methodists can put apart the decades-long sexuality debate and focus as an alternative on core theological points and the bigger work of the church—with out compromising marriage or abortion. Can
That view is especially fascinating as a result of many people on the conservative facet have come to consider that we aren’t bold sufficient. Over an extended time frame and with appreciable effort, even with out actual govt authority to hurry up the method, maybe we might have regularly reworked the UMC from a center-left denomination with a robust evangelical subculture to a (delicate) center-right one. A powerful liberal subculture.
That chance, if it existed, has handed. However now, maybe, we will do higher by going our separate methods. I used to be just lately at a dinner exterior Washington, DC, with long-time warriors within the struggle for Methodist renewal. Many now specific their shock and aid that the battle is “misplaced”—that they will now comply with conscience and conviction with out lively resistance from progressive church leaders.
Just some years in the past, once they have been clamoring to do battle at Basic Convention, a pastor pal as soon as recounted to me an expertise of attending the Republican and Democratic Nationwide Conventions on the identical time. Now, Conservative Methodists are free to apply an orthodox religion marked by the distinct a part of our Wesleyan custom.
After all there isn’t any assure that conservative Methodists will prosper. However new beginnings maintain actual promise, and our prospects will probably be higher if our African brothers and sisters be part of us. World Methodism continues a convention that shares its values and biblical imaginative and prescient, and membership within the World South is important to the church now we have lengthy sought to construct collectively.
W. James Antell III is govt editor Washington Examiner journal
