On
Friday, January 4, news broke of a new proposal to be presented to the United
Methodist General Conference. The proposal came from a task force of sixteen
United Methodists from a diverse array of groups within the denomination. The
people were not necessarily leaders of the groups, or even representing the
groups per se, but they were certainly members. The groups in question reflect
the theological diversity of our denomination, from conservative to progressive
and everything in between.
The
proposal, known as the “Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through
Separation,” will be presented to the United Methodist Judicial Council for a
declaratory ruling as to its constitutionality. Then it will be presented to
the General Conference for consideration, potential amendment, and a vote. And
so, while the content of the Protocol sounds quite dramatic, as of now it is a
vision, not a plan of action.
The
vision is a way for the United Methodist Church to remove our prohibitions on
marriage and ordination for our sisters and brothers who are LGBTQ+. In doing
so, the Protocol creates a way to leave the United Methodist Church and start a
new denomination that would neither allow same-sex weddings nor ordain people
of the LGBTQ+ community.
Following
this separation, the United Methodist Church would convene another General
Conference for the purpose of removing the prohibitions on same-sex weddings
and ordination of people in the LGBTQ+ community. Everything else that the
United Methodist Church does will remain the same at this point, though all
acknowledge that further reform is required in order for the denomination to
flourish as God intends.
Importantly,
everyone would remain in the UMC unless choosing to leave, and the Protocol
calls for the Annual Conference to decide first. In other words, if an Annual
Conference wants to stay in the UMC, no vote will be required. At an Annual
Conference session, if 20% of the delegates want to vote, we will. Then, if 57%
of the delegates want to separate (obviously a number reached by compromise) we
would do so. Annual Conferences would have until July 1, 2021 to make this
decision.
After
the action of the Annual Conference, congregations would respond. If the
congregation aligns with the decision of the Annual Conference, no vote is
needed. (For example, if Missouri decides to remain United Methodist, then all
of our congregations remain United Methodist.) However, if a congregation wants
to affiliate with a denomination other than the one chosen by their Annual
Conference, the church council would determine the vote threshold required, and
a church conference would be convened to hold the vote. Congregations would
have until December 31, 2024 to make this decision.
At
this point, we are all asking questions about the implications of this
proposal. It is good to prayerfully and faithfully speculate about the future,
as long as doing so does not make us fearful or anxious. The Holy Spirit is on
the move within us, around us, among us. God is truly doing a new thing.
Seasons of uncertainty are also seasons of great promise and possibility. The
words of Jesus give assurance: “Remember I am with you always, even to the end
of the age.”
Manchester
UMC is in a position to be a leader in the denomination for such a time as
this. Again I hear Jesus saying to us, “You are the light of the world. A city
built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the
bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In
the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your
good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
This
is not a time to dim our light, Manchester. This is a time to shine even more
brightly. To shine with the God-given light of the Holy Spirit reflected in our
lives. To shine with the light of our vision, to be an inclusive community of
people who love deeply, worship passionately, and serve boldly. To shine
through our mission to make a difference for Christ by transforming church and
community.
Church,
this is a season to shine!
