Why I Can't Be a Methodist Right Now

I don’t remember being baptized at St Johns United Methodist Church by Reverend Keck but mom told me it happened and I’m sure she has a certificate saved somewhere. My kids were baptized Methodists. My mom and dad grew up in Methodist homes, as did their parents. Methodism is a generational thing for the Templeman family.

That’s part of what made what I did this week so difficult. After spending part of six decades as a confirmed member at one of five different United Methodist churches I am resigning my membership in the church due to it's continued delays on sanctification of LGBTQ+ marriage and clergy. When I was confirmed, and each time I joined a new church as a member I pledged to support them with my presence, gifts, service, or witness. I can no longer do so in good conscience.

The United Methodist Church is, well, methodic in structure and decision making. The structure is laid out in our “rules” called the Book of Discipline. Originally written by John Wesley it has evolved over time and continues to be updated by the General Conference (GC) every four years. Here’s a quick history lesson on the Book of Discipline and the Methodist Church's stance on homosexuality.

1968: “We recognize that many persons who are troubled and broken by sexual problems, such as homosexuality…” (aka the wrong position.)

1971: “Homosexuals no less than heterosexuals are persons of sacred worth, who need the ministry and guidance of the church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship which enables reconciling relationships with God, with others, and with self-ensured though we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.” (aka the “Incompatibility Clause / Civil Rights Assurance” position).

That’s it. The position of the church for over fifty years has been either it's a “sexual problem” or “incompatible with Christian teaching”.

FIFTY YEARS!

There has been opposition to this position within the church going back to when the Incompatability clause was first introduced, and there have been meaningless gyrations of the wording to the BoD’s stance, but the “Incompatible” position in the most recent BoD (2016) remains in place.

Here it is:

Marriage

We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant that is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman.

Homosexuality

All persons need the ministry of the Church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship that enables reconciling relationships with God, with others, and with self. The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching. We affirm that God’s grace is available to all.

I love how over time the GC has managed to bury the 'practice of homosexuality' rule right in there with all the ‘spiritual care / reconciling relationships / God’s grace’ terminology. Cleaver, huh?

I’ve had an awareness of this rule since a large group of members left my high school church over the Pastor’s refusal to dismiss a great youth leader who happened to be gay. Jeff Brinkman gave me some good clarity over 10 years ago and asked me to be an advocate if the BoD changed. That's when I really started paying attention to the issue. In 2015 our oldest son came out which further fueled my fire to see this change made in my church - HIS church! In the time since I have been discouraged nothing has been done despite a significant percentage of people across all levels of the denomination opposed to the ban.

To change the BoD you need to bring a proposal to the GC. Being a divisive issue that likely would (will) fracture the United Methodist Church the GC has never brought an "Inclusive Plan" to the floor for a vote. 

In Feb 2019 the GC held a special session in St Louis with specifically to vote on the issue. There was a an Inclusive Plan and a Traditional Plan, the latter proposed by a conservative faction made up of the African church and conservative churches,  many based in the southern US. The Traditional Plan passed by a margin of 53% - 47% upholding the BoD's "incompatible with Christian teachings" stance AND putting a disciplinary process in place for pastors who performed gay weddings. The conservatives also approved a Disaffiliation Plan with a “hefty price tag” for exiting churches.

Enter COVID.

Many inclusion leaders in churches & conferences have been working with conservative church leaders to come up with a more realistic disaffiliation plan because at this point a split is inevitable. (A split has ALWAYS been inevitable.) From my understanding they either have or are close to having an agreement, one that could be finalized and voted on by the GC. 

They understandably cancelled the 2020 session. They considered a 2021 virtual session but “logistics” make it “impossible”. The next GC is scheduled for Aug 2022. Who knows what will happen then?

We’ve spent fifteen plus months adjusting to our “new normal” and figuring it out. I don’t understand why leaders in the United Methodist Church can’t figure out a way to get eight hundred votes cast on a proposal where both sides have agreed to terms.

I’m done waiting. Other Protestant denominations are inclusive: Episcopalians, Disciples of Christ, the ELCA Lutheran (among others). I considered leaving in February of 2019 but was hopeful for this issue to be resolved in a reasonable time frame and three years is not a reasonable time frame.

I cannot in good conscience support a church that refuses to recognize a loving, Godly union between two LGBTQ+ individuals. Tomorrow is the first day of Pride Month. It is also the first day my name will not be on a Methodist church membership roll since 1977. The timing is fitting.

This in no way impacts my faith. God is good all the time. Jesus is my Lord and Savior and I will find a place to praise him.

I will miss my friends at Woods Chapel. I will miss serving you in worship at Woods Chapel. I want you all to know I love you and this has absolutely nothing to do with Woods Chapel. When you see me out and about stop and say hi.

I will continue to fulfill one of the aspects of my pledge as a Methodist - I will continue to pray for Woods Chapel, the Missouri Conference, and the church as a whole. It's going to be a bumpy ride and I wish I was going to be there with you. I will also pray that perhaps someday we can once again call Woods Chapel our church home.

Love the Sinner...

I am a follower of Christ. I have spent the better part of the past fifteen years reading, studying, and contemplating scripture. I'm not a Biblical scholar by any stretch, but I have the Word written on my heart and I am confident in the truth within its pages. Note I didn't say my understanding of the truth. I am confident in THE TRUTH within its pages.

Disclaimer: I do not believe the Bible teaches homosexuality is a sin. Here's a link to a two-part argument by the Reverend Elder Don Eastman, an Assembly of God educated theologian who, among others, helped form that belief. I'd encourage you to read about that point of view. You don't have to agree with it, but you should know about it. 

With all that said, this post isn't about homosexuality and sin. This post is about a phrase that we Christians need to quit using. You've used it before when referring to someone who is LGBTQ+. I know I did for years.

Did Jesus say it? (Nope. What He said was quite contrary.)

Is it in the Bible? (Not the one I've read time and time again.)

If Jesus didn't say it, and it's not in the Bible, why do Christians commonly invoke it when referring to people in the LGBTQ+ community?

It's origin is from one of the Patron Saints of Brewing Augustine, who wrote "Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum" in a fifth century letter. The Latin roughly translates to "with love for mankind and hatred of sins". 

Note the nuanced difference in Saint Augustine's comment. Love for mankind is not love the sinner. Sinner is personal and accusatory, mankind is universal and impartial. Hatred of sins is not hate the sin. He's using plural vs. singular vernacular. 

I'm no Saint, but as a brewer of beer I appreciate Saint Augustine's but I disagree with his philosophy on this topic. The overarching theme of the Bible is love, not hate. He should have stopped with love for mankind.

The phrase reappears fifteen hundred years later in Ghandi's autobiography, possibly as a response / clarification to what Saint Augustine wrote. Unfortunately those who use his words to justify "love the sin and hate the sinner" probably don't know important context that makes his an opposing viewpoint.

This is What Ghandi Wrote

Paraphrasing to Drive Home a Point

Today this poison comes in the form of Christians justifying their condemnation of LGBTQ+ because they believe that by simply being their authentic self individuals in the LGBTQ+ community are committing a mortal sin.

"Love the sinner and hate the sin" is dangerous because Christians think they're meeting Jesus's command to love people when in fact they are breaking it. There is NOTHING loving about "Hate the Sin". Would you say to "You are a sinner and I hate sin" to a stranger? To your neighbor? To your spouse? 

Here's the result of winning souls to Christ by preaching Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin.

According to Pew Research nearly half (48%) of LGBTQ+ adults say they have no religious affiliation compared to 20% among the general public. Of those LGBTQ+ adults who ARE religiously affiliated a full third (33%) say there is a conflict between their religious beliefs and sexual orientation / gender identity. 

As a straight white guy I'm appalled by the fact that straight white guys seem to be driving these statistics. Nearly three quarters (74%) of white evangelical Protestants along with a majority of all U.S. adults (55%) with a religious affiliation say homosexuality conflicts with their religious beliefs. 

Here's a link to the study if you want to read all the data around our current success in bringing LGBTQ+ people to Jesus. The data doesn't lie. "Hate the Sin" repels Children of God away from experiencing the love, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ.

THIS HAS TO STOP. 

Jesus was asked which was the most important commandment. Remember what He said? Here's a refresher, and I'm going back to the King James version so even "old school" Christians get the message. 

By the way - I used a more accurate representation of Christ's human form than the "European Jesus" common in New World churches because I sincerely believe that we as American Christians need to take a deep look into our world view and decide if ideas and theologies that have been baked into our culture for centuries needs to be challenged.

Okay, so back to the Word. Did you hear it? Love God. Love your Neighbor. Keep these two commandments and you fulfill the rest of them. You are Christ's representative. You are His hands & feet. 

"Hate the sin" is figuratively kicking the LGBTQ+ community with your feet and using your hands to push them away. I'm going to say it again: the data doesn't lie.

Know what else Jesus said? Don't judge other's sins. If you're going to judge, judge your own sin. Remove the plank from your eye you hypocrite. 

Bottom line, even if you think being gay is a sin you are commanded by Jesus to love the sinner. Period. End of sentence. Half of the LGBTQ+ community is not affiliated with religion because they are being poisoned by "hate the sin" Christians.  

I'm imploring you to follow this advice cleverly written in rainbow letters as a sign of my love for my LGBTQ+ family, friends, and neighbors:

STOP HATING THE SIN! 

Your LGBTQ+ neighbor is a child of God. Accept them without judgement or hesitation. Go out of your way to invite them to your church and welcome them with open arms.

Celebrate their victories. Comfort them in grief. 

Consecrate the life-long bond they wish to share with another in God's love. Provide an answer for those who hear the call to ministry.

LOVE. THE. SINNER. 

 If you're in a church that doesn't believe in that you're in the wrong church.

Love Mankind. Period. End of Sentence.