Some time back, I had a conversation with a former Wesleyan Covenant Association member (they were also a WCA leader in their annual conference) who revealed to me that they were no longer part of the organization because they were concerned with their trajectory. In addition, a parishioner of mine told me she had a conversation with my former predecessor shortly before his death. He was a former WCA insider who purportedly worked on some of their proposed legislation. My parishioner says they were told not to trust WCA or the Global Methodist Church (is there a difference at this point?) because he did not like the direction the organizations were headed in.
I’ve written extensively about my distrust and dislike of WCA and GMC because of their activities and what I believe is a sheer lack of integrity. While WCA and GMC may not be directly responsible for the misinformation being pumped out, they are complicit because they have refused to hold those spreading it accountable. This has led to many congregations making rash decisions based on lies, decisions that I believe will harm them down the road. The Instagram account @Gnarles_Wesley has been documenting the GMC debacle within their annual conference, including promises made to small congregations to have pastors in time for Christmas Eve communion, only to have GMC devote resources to planting congregations in affluent areas.
I’ve said it once, and I’ll repeat it: The GMC does not want, nor do they care, about small congregations.
And, why do I include the above? Questions about integrity, which leads to the true purpose of this post.
I know for a fact that there are clergy and laity who have made their intentions to leave the United Methodist Church and to join the GMC well-known and who continue to serve on UMC boards, to serve as leaders, and who unashamedly share GMC social posts and who are actively leading their congregations out of the UMC (ironically, this is a violation of the Book of Discipline, Paragraph 2702). This is dishonest and shows an apparent lack of integrity on their part. The saddest thing is that many of these people serve on DCOMs, BoOMs, and General Conference delegations, positions with much power and responsibility. People planning to leave the United Methodist Church should not be in these positions, period, full stop.
I don’t wish for any of this to sound lacking in grace or friendship. I consider some of the people I’ve talked about above friends and hope to continue those friendships for many years. Ultimately, we are brothers and sisters in Christ. With that said, anyone desiring to leave the UMC should stop the dishonesty and have the integrity to resign from positions that involve ministerial credentialing and their annual conference General Conference and Jurisdictional Conference delegations. If one who is in the ordination process in the UMC intends to depart for the GMC, they ought to stop the process immediately. To make vows that one cannot uphold (also known as lying) and accept a stole from a bishop they intend to serve no longer is a severe lapse of integrity and honesty.
Jesus is recorded as saying, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24 NLT) While Jesus was teaching about money, this truth can be applied to having one foot in the United Methodist Church and the other in the Global Methodist Church. How is serving in the UMC while openly promoting and recruiting for the GMC not a lack of integrity? How is this not dishonest? I note this accusation hurled at the UMC regularly: the leadership lacks integrity. Does a lack of integrity make up for an alleged lack of integrity? Let’s say both parties are wrong: Two wrongs do not make a right.
More or less, here’s my sermon from Epiphany Sunday at my two churches. As soon as I started studying for this sermon, the title popped into my head and wouldn’t leave, so I ran with it. I hope my attempt to share the story of the Magi and ponder whether they knew who they were visiting is a blessing to you! – Jonathan
Matthew 2:1-12 (NLT)
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men[a] from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,[b] and we have come to worship him.”
3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
are not least among the ruling cities[c] of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’[d]”
7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”
9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
During the weeks leading up to Christmas, two songs seem to be all over the place on the radio and playlists at gatherings: “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey and “Mary, Did You Know.” So many artists have covered this song, and I couldn’t name them all in the time we have today. I would be shocked if you didn’t know the song because I’m sure every one of us has heard it at least once. Perhaps you’ve heard it sung as a special here. Mary Did You Know initially written by Mark Lowry in 1984 and recorded by Michael English in 1991. I was surprised when I first learned that Mark Lowry wrote the song because I know him more as a comedian than a prolific music writer. Yet, he did. He has been part of the Gather Vocal Band and has some great singing chops.
I get the question in the song; Lowry wasn’t the first to question whether Mary truly understood what she was being asked to do and the significance of the baby she would bring into the world. For the record, I do believe that Mary knew. She wasn’t an idiot, and she undoubtedly knew what the angel Gabriel meant when he said to her, as recorded in Luke 1:31-33, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel[f] forever; his Kingdom will never end!””
Today is the day we observe the Epiphany, traditionally celebrated on January 6th. We remember when the Magi followed the star to Jesus’ house, paid tribute to him, and even worshipped him. Of all the people involved in the story of Jesus’ early days, the Magi are the ones I wonder about. Did they truly know who it was they were going to see? Did they understand the significance of their participation in the coming of the Messiah? Magi, Did You Know?
The Magi were far from dumb. These men were highly educated in many areas. Today, we may call them Renaissance Men, meaning they had knowledge of many fields but were not experts in most areas of study. Mike Leach, Mississippi State’s football coach who recently died, was considered such a man by many people. Another way of describing the Magi and Leach would be to say they knew a little about many things and were experts in a few areas. For Leach, it was pirates, war strategy, and the air raid offense. For the Magi, it was astrology.
Above all, they were seekers of truth, and when they saw a star that heralded the arrival of the long-promised King of the Jews, they were intrigued. As learned men, they were familiar with the prophecies of Isaiah, even if only in passing. They knew the signs and that God would let His people know when the Messiah arrived. So, when all of this started to come together, they had to go and see for themselves. They also knew that the right thing to do in the event they did meet the king was to pay him tribute, which they did with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We often imagine they each held a small box or bag of the stuff, but the more likely scenario was that they brought a lot of each and probably traveled in a caravan to carry it all. On top of being well-read, they were also a wealthy bunch.
When they stopped for directions and met up with Herod, I imagine they felt very uneasy when they heard his request. Sometimes, we “just know” something is off, and Herod’s words would have given me pause. Indeed, someone as powerful as Herod would have known the whereabouts of a king within his realm. One reason for suspicion would have been that this wasn’t right after Jesus was born. The Magi’s journey likely took months, more than enough time for Herod to have been informed of the presence of the so-called king of the Jews. The Magi knew something was up.
Did they know whom they were paying tribute to and even bowing to worship? If we believe in prevenient grace, we must assume they had at least an inkling. The gifts were indeed providential, as the gold and perfumes could be used to finance the family’s flight to Egypt to escape the edict of the firstborn males being killed. Frankincense and myrrh were commonly used, among other things, to prepare bodies for burial, thus creating an illusion of what was coming later for Jesus.
Did they know? If they didn’t, they came to understand once they saw Christ. I hope they came to a saving knowledge of him, but I am confident that their encounter, and God’s prevenient grace, helped the word to spread in their part of the world of what God had done to save his people. Who would have ever thought a group of wealthy pagan astrologers would have been the first to lay eyes on the Lord and presumably tell of him? Some of the most unexpected people to be the first evangelists because I’m pretty sure… they knew.
We say that we know and spend much time wondering if people like Mary and the Magi knew as well. But what about our knowledge? Do we know? Do we tell of the wonderous salvific love God has shown us in the Christ child? The definition of epiphany is “a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being.” The Magi had their epiphany. Have we? Perhaps, like the Magi and Mike Leach, we know a little about this and that about Jesus but are we experts? Do we know him and who he is? Do we know whose we are?
Mississippi’s new bishop, Sharma Lewis, has issued a Bible reading challenge for all United Methodists in Mississippi. I hope you will join me in this endeavor to read the Bible from cover to cover through 2023. So here’s a resolution: Become an expert in all things Jesus in 2023.
This is, more or less, the devotion I gave at the Christmas Eve service for my charge tonight. We held a combined service at Pleasant Hill UMC in Lucedale. A video of the service can be found here.
Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,[c] a light will shine.
You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
Isaiah 9:1-4 (NLT)
Please take a moment and appreciate that we are sitting in a warm place with lights, running water, and heat. Right now, there are people even in our state who can’t make that claim. The arctic system that has brought us our lovely sub-freezing temperatures has caused havoc north of us in the form of snow, ice, and other nastiness. I’ve lived in two cities outside of Mississippi, and they are among the areas most impacted by the storm system. In Fort Wayne, Indiana, it was 10 degrees earlier today with a windchill of negative 14. Their forecasted low tonight is 5 degrees with a windchill of negative 15. Stanton, Kentucky, isn’t much better with a temp around 13 degrees, a windchill of 2, and a forecasted low of 9 with a wind chill of negative 5. Oh, and in both places, snow has already fallen, and more is on the way.
I say all this to help us remember to be grateful and that the people of Israel were experiencing spiritual darkness and bitter cold. They felt as if no hope was to be had for them. Indeed, there were rabbis and others who knew of the prophecies promising a messiah, promising that Emmanuel would come, hope was alive, and God would deliver His people. But that was a long time ago. Many had given up, while others clung to the hope promised by Isaiah and others. Under the thumbs of people like the Romans and the Pharisees, the regular folks felt pressure from all sides. Pressure to conform to Roman culture, pressure to conform to the version of the faith that the Pharisees and Sadducees peddled. Even the Zealots had an influence demanding the people’s attention. People were crying out for the Messiah to come, for relief, crying out… for light.
Indeed, our God is a promise keeper. God has never broken a promise to His people, and he was not about to start breaking promises where a deliverer was concerned. The light of Christ was about to enter the world, relief was coming, and life was being given to the people who had waited so long! The warmth of the Holy Spirit was also coming to comfort God’s people. God’s prevenient grace was already assuring the people that help was on the way. On the night Jesus was born, everything changed. The prophecy was fulfilled, and a promise made long ago was kept. God had sent the long-promised deliverer.
As tomorrow is Christmas and we will be gathering to worship, we will not light the Christ candle tonight, but we do remember the night Christ was born. Look around and see the light that fills the sanctuary. Feel the warmth. If you’re joining us online, look at the light and feel the warmth around you. When Jesus came into the world as a baby, this was the spiritual light and warmth that had entered the world like never before. Grace and love were spilling into the world like never before. God’s people had been delivered. Today, because of the baby born in a stable somewhere in Bethlehem, we know true freedom from our sins, the warmth and light that only God can bring us. Love came down in a barn! Thanks be to God.
This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.[b] He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.
6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people.
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Romans 1:1-7 (NLT)
Several times, I’ve met people who seemed to be going through an identity crisis. This seems most common at milestone years in one’s life, where one may feel the need to “find themselves.” Often, the person will look for contentment in things like Corvettes, boats, or something else with wheels. Perhaps they hope that their identity can be found in a new large house. Or, maybe, a new career that is so far out of their typical wheelhouse that the change seems outright bizarre. Or, in some extreme cases, the person may feel the need to “find themselves” by having an affair or even abandoning their family to live on an island in the Pacific.
I believe the church has been. in the midst of an identity crisis for many years. The church claims that God is the supreme focus but often acts in ways that make us go “hmm.” We forget that our identity has already been decided. We are the people of God, we are beloved, we are forgiven. We are children of God. I believe Paul’s greeting to the Romans is intended to remind the reader of who they are and of whose they are. Paul goes to great lengths to remind us that we belong to God and that God has already declared us His beloved. That’s who we are and that’s the message that God wants us. to pass along. Not only do we belong to God, others are claimed by God as well if they but believe. That’s our identity.
In a time when the church often acts like it doesn’t know whether it belongs to Jesus or to the world, let us claim our identity in Christ and Christ alone. Especially at the dawn of the Christmas season, let us renew our commitment to Christ and Christ only.
The last time Christmas Day fell on a Sunday was in 2016 and I remember the appalling feeling I had when churches began to announce that they were canceling their worship services for that week. The reason most often given was to allow parishioners and staff to spend time with their families. I was shocked that this was even a debate, let alone that churches were choosing to forego services on one of the holiest days on the Christian calendar. I said as much in a Facebook group for clergy and was derided by nearly everyone who responded. One that I remember informed me that I was “insensitive and out of touch with today’s church.” Another accused me of not caring about families and that I was an “egomaniac for demanding that people come to hear (me) preach.”
And, yes, these were pastors saying these things.
As you may know, Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year. I recently began seeing comments from pastors who state their intention is to either not hold services at all or that they will be virtual-only for Christmas 2022. As you may have seen, dear reader, I’m very much pro-digital worship, hybrid worship, and other innovative means of encountering Christ. With that said, I do believe that communities that typically meet on Sundays should do so without interruption as much as possible (a pandemic being a prime example of when a church should consider gathering virtually and not physically). The statement I made on my socials was that any church that cancels worship on Sunday, December 25th, because it’s Christmas day is not a church, it’s a social club.
I stand by that conviction.
A Small Word About Me
First, you need to know these things about me: I’m a foster father with two young foster children. My wife and I have family spread all over the state of Mississippi and beyond. We will have to travel a minimum of two hours in any direction to celebrate the day with any of our family.
The reasons cited for calling off worship typically revolve around one’s family or to give volunteers a break. Family is important and so is rest. I get it and I really don’t want to sound like a jerk, but I believe those are awful reasons to cancel an in-person worship service or to offer a digital-only option if the congregation typically meets physically.
Put down your pitchforks and hear me out.
The Biblical Case
The simple thing is this: God is to be the first priority for a disciple. This means that everything else – yes, even our family – takes a lower place on our list than God. I don’t believe God was bluffing when He told Moses, “I am the Lord your God… You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:2-3 NIV) Jesus expands on this later on when he talks about the price of discipleship in Luke 14. The reality is this: The cost of discipleship is high. To be a true disciple, we must put everything else on the back burner and give our primary allegiance to God. This is the expectation that’s given to us and this is part of what it means to “take up (our) cross and follow (Him).” While I don’t believe that Jesus was literally teaching disciples to hate their families, I do believe that the point is clear that our families are not more important than our discipleship.
Next, let’s talk about the meaning of the day we gather for worship. In the case of Christmas day, we will not only celebrate the birth of the Christ child but we will also celebrate resurrection and the life to come, a life that was only possible because Jesus was born and has ultimately conquered sin and death. Let’s think forward to the season of Lent: The reason it’s said that Lent is 40 days of fasting minus Sundays is because every Sunday – the day most Christians gather for the main time of worship – is like a little Easter, therefore we take a break from fasting and enjoy the grace and the victory that Christ has brought us. In other words, adherents don’t fast on Sundays because of the significance of the resurrection. Think of Christmas Day falling on Sunday in the same way: We’re celebrating more than “the baby Jesus in the manger.” We’re celebrating the fact that Jesus was born as one of us, ultimately died as one of us but also rose again and gave us victory over sin and death.
Advent is not only about preparing for the Christ child but also about getting ready for the return of Jesus. Why would we not want to gather and celebrate that day together? #UMC
The last time Christmas day fell on a Sunday, I was approached by a couple of people who were part of the church I was serving at the time who believed I should cancel the worship service. As one put it, “No one’s going to show up because they’ll be getting ready for lunch.” I flatly refused and made clear that we would be holding a worship service on that day. What was predicted to be a low attendance day by many ended up being more attended than our Easter service earlier in the year, partly because of people visiting from out of town as well as a couple of churches in the area that did cancel their services and their people wanted a place to go. For such as those, I will be leading worship in some form on that day.
Consider this: Not everyone has a family with whom to spend Christmas with. Not everyone travels out of town. Not everyone has plans that would prevent them from attending a worship service. For some, Christmas is a very traumatic and sad day and to deprive them of the opportunity to attend worship on a day when they would normally do so would potentially (likely?) cause harm. I believe such deprivation would even be an act that would deprive them of love, the very definition of sin. I simply cannot wrap my head around not offering an in-person worship service even if only for them.
“But it takes people to run a worship service and I want to give my people a day with their family!” That’s commendable, truly. Here’s my suggestion: Give them that day off. I promise, the worship service will be just fine without them. For nearly 2,000 years, the church did just fine without an army of volunteers to run things. In fact, the church flourished long before volunteers to run the projection and sound systems were even a thing. This is an opportunity for a simple worship service to be offered. Is it really vital to have projection and a light show? I promise, God will still be glorified if, in the case of large churches, the coffee shop and bookstore are closed so that people can relax. I promise that the lack of laser lights will not take away from the birth of Jesus. I’m also certain that, if projection isn’t done and we simply sing familiar songs even without instruments, that the worship will be acceptable and pleasing in God’s sight (perhaps even more so!). If the preacher simply tells the Christmas story and gives a few personal thoughts, I believe that’s perfectly fine too. The bottom line is that worship services need not always be a production, and Christmas day falling on a Sunday is a perfect time to put the concept of “simple church” into practice.
Digital Isn’t Enough on Christmas
Obviously, this doesn’t apply to a digital church or an online campus. For a congregation that typically gathers in-person, I don’t believe that digital is enough. As large of a proponent as I am of streaming and digital church, I don’t believe that a congregation that typically gathers physically should only offer digital for the sake of “family.” Are we going to start calling off services for the sake of secular Easter observances? Of course not (I hope not, anyway!). While that may seem hyperbolic and/or like a comparison between an apple and an orange, I believe the significance is similar. Easter is our holiest of days, but Christmas is not far behind.
If we start compromising on meeting together for Christmas, where will it end? What does this say to other believers? What does this say to the world?
If you’re tempted to comment “but what about covid shutdowns,” stop it. That’s a completely different situation and not even close to what I’m talking about here.
It’s worth nothing that this discussion is almost entirely an American evangelical phenomenon. Christians in other parts of the world would not even dream of calling off worship for a holiday, especially one like Christmas that has a deep and direct connection to our faith. Christians in branches of faith such as Roman Catholicism and the various orthodox denominations would also scoff at the very idea of not worshiping on Christmas Day, especially when the day falls on a Sunday.
We also need to remember that not everyone has reliable internet access to view an online service. There are also people who, for reasons all their own, don’t engage in online worship.
To only offer digital worship this Christmas is a move laden with privilege. #UMC
I know, I know. You think I’m just being a big mean and green Grinch. Perhaps you also want to say some (ahem) Christian words to describe how you believe I’m being insensitive and even hypocritical in saying that I love some digital church but believe digital isn’t enough for one of our high holy days, not in a physical congregation. What I’m saying is that I believe that a congregation that gathers in its sanctuary on a Sunday morning should not call off the service just because of secular observances.
We say we want to remember the “reason for the season,” and to “keep Christ in Christmas.” Year after year, people trot these lines out as a way of showing off their piety reminding us of what’s truly important about Christmas. We either actually believe this or we don’t. If we cancel Christmas worship, then these sayings are mere slogans for social media clout.
On Sunday, the General Conference delegation from Mississippi hosted a webinar where they presented the actual facts about disaffiliation and the hopes of those who wish for the UMC’s stance on human sexuality to change, those who want to change our stance to remain the same, and the hopes of those whose intention is to remain United Methodist regardless (a camp that I find myself in). As we were going through all the points presented, I sat with many of my folks from Pleasant Hill and Salem and started pondering questions I believe should be asked of congregations wishing to disaffiliate. David Stotts, Mississippi’s conference treasurer, did an excellent job of presenting subjects that congregations ought to consider as they discern their path forward. However, there was one question that I found myself believing was left out that I really wish disaffiliating churches would be asked:
“If you are not making disciples of Jesus Christ now, what will you do differently that you cannot do now as part of the United Methodist Church?”
I believe this question is especially relevant as a significant percentage, if not the majority, of churches that choose to disaffiliate are small (less than 50 average worship attendance) and, often, have not reported a profession of faith in years, sometimes in a decade or even more. More often than not, I hear people claim that the debate has kept them from focusing on the Great Commission. Every single time I hear or read such statements, I just shake my head. Nothing should keep the church from being the church and doing what Jesus commanded us to do, which is to make disciples. I’ve written before that distraction is a choice. I believe that people are choosing to make the debate over human sexuality the main focus of their church rather than evangelism and mission. I would be very interested to know what disaffiliating congregations and clergy believe will be different for them apart from the United Methodist Church. This is a question that I believe should have to be answered and thought through as part of the disaffiliation process.
I’ll never forget when The Orchard and Getwell Road were trying to leave the Mississippi Annual Conference before a disaffiliation process was codified in our church laws. Brian Collier, the lead pastor of The Orchard, said something to the effect that the debate over human sexuality was a distraction to their mission of being the church. My question back to him would have been: Why? Also, how? How has any of this, other than choosing to be distracted, made bringing people to Jesus harder? How has a debate over human sexuality impeded your ability to conduct missional outreach? Exactly how has a General Conference debate kept you from being the church?
Hot take: It was an excuse then, and it’s an excuse now.
In my last post, one of the things I harped on was the spread of misleading and false information about the UMC being conducted by people connected with the Global Methodist Church/Wesleyan Covenant Association. Below is a prime example of what I’m talking about:
This is petty and ridiculous. While I do not know exactly who created this tissue of lies (I’m trying to find out – and I fully intend to find out), I do speculate it was someone connected with WCA and/or GMC. The fact that GMC is doing absolutely nothing to refute or to discourage this kind of mudslinging is pretty telling. But let’s talk about a few of these points they allege about a “post-separation” UMC:
No, the UMC will not become pluralistic. As I have already stated in my previous writing (see link above), the Articles of Religion affirm faith in Jesus Christ as the sole means of salvation. Because of the Restrictive Rules, these can not be amended. It’s not happening. Period. But let’s say it did happen: I would be one of the first out the door.
There’s no guarantee that annual conference boundaries will change, but at some point perhaps they will. There’s no way to know for sure at this time if, or how, that will happened (that will ultimately be up to General Conference/Jurisdictional Conferences).
As for international membership, I speculate that a lot of the African central conferences are going to opt to remain in the UMC for various reasons. As has already been demonstrated in places such as Nigeria, the GMC has very limited support within some of the conferences on the African continent.
The Trust Clause claim is also false. Let me be very clear: Annual conferences DO NOT own or control the banking accounts of congregations. They never have and never will. Period. This is patently false and intentionally misleading to cause fear. The only time the Trust Clause even is a factor is in the event a congregation chooses to close or disaffiliate, otherwise it has no bearing on the day-to-day operations of a congergation.
Whether or not LGBTQ clergy will be allowed to be ordained or licensed for ministry, or whether or not LGBTQ marriage rites/weddings will be allowed will be up to the General Conference. Frankly, given the trend of conservative representation from the central conferences only expected to increase (with the prediction being over 50% by 2028), I find it hard to believe that our stance is honestly likely to change.
The UMC’s position on abortion can be best summed up as being against abortion except in rare circumstances but that abortion should be legal and rare. For more, see our social principals. You will note that it’s very pro-life and not what many people seem to believe it is. One thing you will see very plainly is that the UMC DOES NOT endorse abortion as a means of birth control. Never have, and I doubt ever will.
The primary church focus is “social justice?” Really? (eye roll emoji goes here).
I’m sick and tired of having to explain these falsehoods to both parishioners and others who, when they find out that I’m a pastor in the UMC, they make all sorts of assumptions and repeat the junk that floats around online. Frankly, me and my colleagues should not have to invest so much time and energy into dispelling these falsehoods.
Once again, I call on the Transitional Leadership Board within the Global Methodist Church to do everything they can to stop this kind of fear mongering and misinformation being distribubuted by people clearly affiliated with their denomination. If they choose not to, they are complicit and I will only assume they endorse these tactics.
I greet you in the strong name of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the One who was, is, and is to come. The One who lived and died and rose again so that we may share in His victory over sin and death.
This letter is one that I hoped to not have to write but it’s become evident that someone needs to say these words to you. If no one else will, I will. The reason is simple: I love you all.
Seriously, I do. Do not agree with your choice to leave the United Methodist Church and to encourage others to follow you, but I also support you all in going in the way which you believe you are led to go. May you all continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ, may the love of Christ and the hope of resurrection be proclaimed, and may you and your congregations grow in grace, love, and in truth. My sincere hope is that we can all continue to be co-laborers for Jesus at the end of the day.
With that said (and know that this next statement does not apply to all of you): I do not agree with your tactics, the lies many of you are spreading, and the fear that is being sown. Your attempts at spiritual and other manipulation are sickening and. it pains me to know that many of you willingly and, perhaps, gleefully participate in these games. Lying is a sin and I urge you all to repent. Even if you believe that you’re building God’s kingdom, the end does not justify the means. Based on what I have seen and heard, here are some areas where I believe the GMC needs to come clean.
Admit that this was the plan from the start.
You can’t kid a kidder and you can’t con a con artist.
I told many friends of mine that, when the Wesleyan Covenant Association launched, a new denomination was also on its way. I was told repeatedly by WCA insiders that a new church was not in the works and that they had no such ambitions. One even told me – and yes this is a direct quote because I will never forget it – “We will stay. in the United Methodist Church until Jesus comes back.” (the person who said this to me is no longer involved in WCA/GMC because they realized they were being lied to) Well, here now we have the GMC, launched by people also involved with WCA. New denominations don’t just happen overnight, they take years of discernment and planning to launch. Just be honest and admit that this was the plan from the beginning of WCA. That much became clear to me quickly.
Stop the misinformation campaign
One of the main problems with politics today is that there is so much misinformation put out by campaigns, parties, and outside players, that it’s difficult to tell the truth from the lies. The biggest misfortune is that church folks seem to be keen on not only believing the political lies but also employing the tactics used on them. Especially the clergy, you all know that the United Methodist Church is not going to change to a doctrine that denies the divinity of Jesus, denies the trinity or any of the other fear-inducing claims some of you are making. Yes, there certainly are individual people within the UMC who hold such beliefs, but they are few and far between. It’s not uncommon for someone to make such a claim and when asked to name someone who said any of these things, they suddenly claim to feel attacked or otherwise can’t name anyone. Even if there was a movement within the UMC to change our articles of religion and confessions of faith, it’s next to impossible to do so because of the Restrictive Rules (again, this is something that should be common knowledge). This tells me that either people are intentionally misrepresenting the truth or that outsiders with no knowledge of UMC polity are being allowed to spread such rumors to benefit the GMC. Either way, it’s dishonest, disgusting, and sinful.
The doctrine issue is only one aspect subject to rumors and fear mongoring. Spreading rumors that churches are not being allowed to leave is dishonest as well. A pastor stood up during my annual conference’s gathering and claimed that there was an annual conference in Texas (I don’t believe he said which) that was not allowing churches to disaffiliate if they wished to do so. I know for a fact that this is not true as I have colleagues in Texas – in two different annual conferences – who are actually part of disaffiliation teams that their conferences send to assist churches that wish to leave. There may be pockets of resistance, sure, but it’s not widespread and is most certainly not the conspiracy that a lot of you are making it out to be. The claim that pastors are being told not to talk about disaffiliation if asked is also almost entirely not true (again, I’m not naive enough to believe that it doesn’t happen but such “intimidation” is not widespread). At the request of our general conference delegation, there will be gatherings throughout the state to discuss specifics related to disaffiliation, largely to dispel the rumors and fear mongering going around. Frankly, this should not be necessary but since GMC is not doing anything to discourage such fear mongering, it is.
Having worked in radio broadcasting and gaining extensive marketing experience as a result, I can spot a campaign when I see one. When different people are saying similar things and changing to a different topic at the same time, it’s intentional and straight out of a marketing playbook. GMC needs to stop this foolishness. I emphasize once again: Lying is a sin.
Stop claiming that those who remain in the UMC are unfaithful
More than once, me and colleagues who have expressed that we desire to remain in the UMC have been told that our souls are on the line. I’ve been called a false prophet, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and told that I’m leading my people straight to hell more times than I can count. Laity also have been told similar things. There are people truly telling others that, should they remain in the UMC, they are at risk of losing their salvation (I can’t help but notice that many of these comments come from anonymous trolls on various social platforms). This kind of spiritual manipulation is sickening and unloving. GMC needs to denounce this kind of behavior and actively work to stop it.
The bottom line: Show love.
Why is an organization that claims to be more faithful to the teachings of Jesus participating in such activities or allowing them to happen in their name? You’re either with Christ or against Him. You’re either trying to build His kingdom or one of your own making. If GMC is truly about Jesus and nothing more, they will see that truth wins out. To do otherwise is to be complicit in sin. My hope and prayer is that love and charity are shown. Brothers and sisters, stand for truth. Don’t stand for fear and manipulation. Any gains made through such means are ill-gotten and, well, scripture has plenty to say about that too.
In Christ,
Rev. Jonathan Tullos Elder in Full Connection, Mississippi Annual Conference of the UMC
As the United Methodist Church has fully entered the annual conference session season, much of the talk has been about churches choosing to disaffiliate from the UMC. While there are exceptions such as Mt. Bethel in the North Georgia Annual Conference, many of the churches choosing to leave under Paragraph 2553 of the current Book of Discipline are small and/or rural. In the decade that I’ve been serving as a United Methodist pastor, almost all of my appointments have been to small rural churches, so I have seen first-hand the challenges these congregations face. Many are in areas that have been in decline for years, and can not even afford to pay a full-time salary for a pastor without going on a charge (for non-UM folks: This means they team up with other congregations to form a circuit, whereby they share a pastor and expenses such as salary and housing). Because of these factors and more, I am greatly concerned that these congregations will be the most harmed by this mess.
And, frankly, I don’t believe many of the people in these congregations fully understand what they are getting into by going independent or joining a fledgling denomination.
I’ve heard from several colleagues who have shared stories that only add to my concern. One such story came from a now-former DS who was meeting with a congregation that had indicated they would like to discern disaffiliation and the possibility of becoming independent. This congregation was receiving salary support through equitable compensation funds provided by their conference so that they could afford a full-time pastor. My friend indicated that they were not only surprised to learn that they would no longer receive these funds but that they would not receive a newly appointed pastor from their annual conference when their then-current pastor left. Somehow, they assumed they would continue to receive conference support after disaffiliation.
I wish I was making this up.
I heard another colleague tell of their bishop having a conversation with leaders from a denomination that was wishing to disaffiliate. This is a congregation that had been around for approximately 150 years. The bishop reminded them that one of the reasons they had likely survived for so long was receiving an estimated 70 appointed clergy during that time and the fact that United Methodist clergy must be held accountable for actions they take which are detrimental to the church. By being independent, they would not have such safeguards and likely have a difficult time hiring their own pastor due to their remote location.
Yet another former DS related a story of a congregation within his annual conference that was choosing to fight the trust clause in court and “they have spent more money on legal fees than if they had simply gone through the disaffiliation process.” Whoever is giving them advice clearly does not have their best interests in mind, but because they have refused to cooperate with the annual conference to reach a settlement, they are incurring debt at a fast rate that will possibly endanger their future viability.
I truly do not believe that many of these congregations and clergy who are choosing to disaffiliate fully understand what will happen once they sever their relationship with their annual conference. My fear is that once they realize the gravity of their decision, it will be too late and the harm will have been irrevocably done. For me, this is not preserving an institution. Expressing my concerns is about doing my part to educate people on this issue that should not be taken lightly and begun flippantly. This is about doing what I can to minimize the harm done to these precious bodies of saints who deserve the best support and pastoral leadership they can possibly have.
And let me add that most of the decisions and policies made by the breakoff denomination seem to be best suited for large churches in suburban areas. There is very little that I’ve seen that has been done with rural congregations in mind. Within the Global Methodist Church, congregations will be mostly responsible for finding clergy from a list of available clergy provided by their GMC annual conference. The congregation and clergyperson will have to reach an agreement on salary, etc. that will have to be approved by the bishop and cabinet. However, that congregation will not receive a clergyperson under appointment, at least not in the way the UMC currently appoints pastors. If a congregation can’t find a clergyperson willing to serve their congregation, it seems they will not receive much, if any, assistance from the annual conference beyond providing a list. Clergy will not be sent to an appointment under the GMC system. It’s nothing more than a call system with a few more hoops to jump through.
Rural churches, hear me: If you decide to disaffiliate at this point, you will quickly find out that you will be on your own in every way imaginable. You will have to find your own clergy, which will be a huge challenge given that many rural and/or small churches simply can not pay enough for a full-time pastor on their own and are in areas where many people simply do not want to relocate to (and let me be very clear: This is NOT a reflection on my current appointment if any of my people see this. This is simply a fact for many rural and small congregations). While you certainly won’t have to pay apportionments or submit yearly reports anymore, you will find out that benefits such as conference-provided health insurance for your pastor will be an expense you will have to provide on your own; you also will no longer be covered under conference liability and property insurance, which also tends to be very expensive for churches. Many of the other safety nets you currently have – such as assistance with compensation to afford a full-time pastor – will be gone.
The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence, not without a bunch of manure being spread.
I’m certain some people are going to bristle at what I have to say and that’s their prerogative. However, I believe that a lot of this has not been said, and it’s been to the detriment of people who make up small and rural congregations who may want to float the idea of disaffiliation. Consent is either informed or it is invalid. Again, my hope is that no more harm comes to any of our churches for any reason.
One of my concerns has always been that the rural church be represented and cared for in the same way as larger suburban and urban churches. From the floor of annual conference this year, I advocated for as much when we had an opportunity to codify diversity on our delegations to general and jurisdictional conferences, one of those means of diversity being congregation size and setting (the measure ultimately failed, unfortunately). I said that the rural church is largely not being well represented currently and it’s not. But know that the rural church won’t be represented at all by leaving for the new denomination on the block.
Over and over as the chasm between conservative, centrist, and progressive factions within the United Methodist Church has been growing, the word that keeps being thrown around over and over is: “Distraction.” On both sides of the theological aisle, churches have left with “the distraction of the continued debate on LGBTQ inclusion” cited as a primary reason. They claim that the “distraction” of the debate has prevented them from effectively ministering and otherwise working for God’s kingdom.
My response was (note: I have protected my Twitter account so my response is copied and pasted):
I have maintained throughout that anything is only a distraction if one allows it to me (sic). Anyone who says any of this has kept them from doing the work of the kingdom is admitting thay they have allowed the enemy to win.
Here’s the thing: Ministry must still be done regardless of our desire to engage in endless debates and discussions over human sexuality. Now, I’m not saying that these conversations aren’t important. What I am saying is that when one chooses to make this the sole focus of their life, then, yes, they are distracted from the work that God has called us all to undertake.
“Distraction” is a choice.
The truth is, all of this is only a distraction if we one allows it to be. For me, I have discussions about denominational things from time to time, but I spend much more of my time talking about Jesus and the gospel. I do this because I have chosen to not allow human sexuality debates to be what keeps me from ministering to the people in my midst and to those outside it I’m able to reach. Simply, anyone who cites the “distraction” of LGBTQ inclusion as why they want to leave or why the church should split is admitting defeat. At the end of the day, no matter how many pieces the UMC is carved into, things are going to continue to come up. If it’s not LGBTQ inclusion, it will be something else later on. Then what? Are we going to keep splitting and not doing God’s work because we’re “distracted” by something new?
Citing “distraction” is an admission that one has allowed the enemy to win. You better believe the enemy finds this hilarious, a joke at your expense. Or, perhaps, at the expense of your witness.
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