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.