A young woman decided not to join the United Methodist
Church last Sunday.
In one sense that’s rather unremarkable. After all, every
Sunday there are millions of people who don’t join the United Methodist Church.
But the young woman’s decision was noteworthy, and I want
you to know about it. She gave me permission to tell her story.
She attended confirmation classes for weeks, learning about the
church, the theology and history of Methodism, and about what it means to be a
member. And those classes were happening during a significant, tumultuous
season for the denomination.
In February the General Conference met and tightened our restrictions
on participation of LGBTQIA persons in the denomination. That decision was then
upheld by the Judicial Council at the end of April. And then Confirmation
Sunday was May 5th.
And because the young woman does not want to be a part of a
church that excludes people, she decided not to become a member. Her decision
did not make headlines; her story will not go viral. That’s not why she made
her decision.
She made her decision because she doesn’t want to be a part
of the United Methodist Church as long as gay people are only conditionally
accepted here. “You are welcome up to this line, but not beyond” is not her
theology, nor does it represent her understanding of who God is, nor does it
reflect her interpretation of the Bible.
She is a young woman of principle, of courage, and of high
integrity. I have the utmost respect for her and for her decision. It was not an easy decision, and she made it
with much prayer and discernment. Nor did her decision take any of the joy away
from the other nine who decided to be confirmed and join the church; no
judgments here, on anyone’s part.
A part of why she gave me permission to share her story was
to help people recognize the writing on the wall for the UMC. This is the
future of the denomination, as it has come to be.
We have not shattered in one explosive Thanos snap moment. Rather, the United Methodist Church is gradually disintegrating, just steadily eroding, one decision at a time. And no conference resolution, petition, or piece of legislation can even begin to reverse that slow yet unrelenting decline.
A young woman did not join the United Methodist Church last
Sunday. Do you see her? Do you hear her? Will you affirm her story?
I baptized her a year ago; she professed her faith in Jesus
Christ, made her baptismal vows, and was affirmed by the church surrounding her
in that moment. So she is a disciple, but not a member. Which is wonderful of
course, and at the same time heartbreaking.
A young woman made a decision to not join the church last
week. And we need to hear her voice, respect her integrity, and affirm her story. And then we need to go to work so that no young person makes that decision ever again.
