General Conference 2019 Most Likely Outcome
In a few days, representatives or our United Methodist Church will meet for the much anticipated special General Conference with the goal to find a way forward for our divided denomination. It will take place between February 23rd and 26th, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. The divisions run deep and are many-faceted, but the breaking point is identified with the question whether we can open our doors, hearts and minds to LGBTQ+ persons, many of whom have been worshiping and ministering among us for many years. Can we make the circle wider to include them in our Church's life, membership, rites, and ministry?
The United Methodist Church’s bishops put together a “Way Forward Commission” and this group of diverse people has been working hard to come forth with three proposals, one of which was endorsed by the Council of Bishops: the One-Church-Plan. If voted in, this plan would allow local churches, ministers, and Annual Conferences to decide for themselves. It would end church trials for LGBTQ+ ministers and those who celebrate Same-Sex weddings in the church. Current restrictions on funding the “promotion of homosexuality” will be maintained, however. Ministers and/or local congregations who are in disagreement can negotiate a “gracious exit” from United Methodism with their Annual Conferences.
The second, the Connectional Conferences Plan, proposes to divide the Church in the United States into three Conferences—Conservative, Unified, and Progressive. The third option, the Traditional Plan, would stick to the current rules as outlined in the Book of Discipline, define marriage between one man and one woman, bar LGBTQ+ people from the ordained ministry, and strictly enforce those rules.
Of course, the question on everybody’s mind is: what will happen? Here is my prediction: As I said above, the question of inclusion we’re discussing is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The divisions in our denomination run very deep and are fundamentally irreconcilable. Conservative and progressive Christian beliefs are in many respects farther apart than beliefs between different religions.
John Wesley is attributed with these words: “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion?”
The problem is that we’re not talking about opinions. These irreconcilable differences are deeply held convictions that are fundamental to our beliefs. We’re talking about matters of conscience. For many conservative Methodists gay marriage is a direct violation of the Scriptures--which are typically interpreted literally. It constitutes a sin. For many progressive Methodists who read the bible more metaphorically and contextually, the sin is in the discrimination against LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. Neither of the camps consider this a matter of opinion, but rather a matter of deep convictions.
Given this reality, I am pessimistic about the outcome of the Special General Conference. If the Traditional Plan or the One Church Plan should be adopted outright, I anticipate an immediate denominational split. The Connectional Conferences Plan may be the only plan that could keep us “united” but is also the least likely to be adopted.
Most likely, the can will be kicked down the road again until General Conference 2020. And from there it may be kicked down the road even further. But eventually, in the not too distant future, I anticipate our denomination to split. The days of the “United” Methodist Church are numbered due to irreconcilable differences in theology, ethics, and practice. We have probably never been united around the most fundamental points in those areas and it is naive to think that we ever will. The concept of a United Methodist Church has always been an unrealistic dream and the sooner we understand the reality and depth of our divisions the sooner we will be able to undo our corporate structure and move on with our different practices and interpretations of Methodism.
My son Tim (who is about to graduate from Brite Divinity School—so proud!) and I have employed the metaphor of divorce in this discussion. While we acknowledge that every metaphor has it’s shortcomings (for one thing, we as local churches never said: “until death do us part” when we united in 1968), this metaphor has some interesting parallels: think about a bad marriage in which the couple’s children are the ones who suffer the most. The Church’s children in this case are our LGBTQ+ members who are made to suffer. As is true in bad relationships, the children almost always think they are to be blamed for the bad relationship, but in truth they are never at fault. Our LGBTQ+ members are not at fault either because the irreconcilable differences that divide us as a Church have been in place long before we even talked about gay marriage.
For this reason alone, I think a “divorce” is justified and really the best solution for all parties involved, including the children. It’s still heartbreaking to think that some of our LGBTQ+ children will grow up in non-inclusive Methodist churches, but at least they can find out that there is a large part of Methodism where they are fully accepted, welcomed, and supported in their sexual orientation or identity. In that regard, the split will make a statement to all that there is a safe and welcoming place in the Methodist Church for all God’s beloved children.
