Things you need to know

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Recently the James Webb Space Telescope led scientists to insights that reveal the universe is more grand and amazing than even they had imagined.  One scientist put it this way, “It is not that our knowledge was wrong; it’s that our knowledge was incomplete.”    That seems to me to be a good description of the place in which many United Methodists find themselves today.  So much information is being circulated. How do we separate fact from fiction?  I have been asked by the Study Committee of First UMC, Montgomery, AL, to offer my reflections, “Reflections of  a Former Senior Minister.” 

 

(One person asked how honest I could be since it might affect my pension. The truth is:  clergy pensions are protected by the federal government– so no worries there.)  

 

The following reflections are my own and do not represent any other persons or groups.  I have benefitted so much from the reflections and insights of others.   My prayer is that I might in some way contribute to the ongoing conversation in which we are engaged these day.  

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WORLDWIDE

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First, I am reflecting on data related to the worldwide United Methodist Church.

 

Worldwide membership in The United Methodist Church is around 12.9 million persons.  Some sources put the membership in the United States at about 6.5 million but others, perhaps relying on more recent data, have it lower than that. United Methodist membership in Africa is reported to be 6.1 to 6.5 million persons.  For decades we have known that United Methodism is growing fastest in Africa.  This is the fruit of the missionary outreach in which we have been engaged for over 100 years.

 

The figures indicate that we are now reaching the tipping point at which there will be more United Methodists in Africa than in the U. S.  

 

This “tipping point” means that the number of African delegates at General Conference will be greater than the number of delegates from the United States. 

 

United Methodists in Africa tend to be orthodox, traditional, conservative.  It is often pointed out that the African vote is what led to the adoption in 2019 of the most conservative Book of Discipline we have ever had.  

 

In addition, world population is expected to grow by 1.9 billion between 2020 and 2050.  And 1.2 billion of that growth will be in Africa.  It is good that we already have over 6 million United Methodists in Africa. We are poised for continued growth in disciple making.  The other 700 million births will be in Asia.  The U. S. and Europe are barely at “replacement level” in terms of deaths/births.  

 

Taken together, all of this indicates that the influence of orthodox United Methodists in Africa will be steadily increasing as their numbers lead to increased representation at General Conference (the basic policy making body of The UMC).  

 

My interest is not only focused on the General Conference to be held in 2024, but especially on the one to be held after that, 2028.  By that time, new delegates will have been elected and orthodox, traditional African United Methodists may well have a majority of the delegates.

 

I know all 13 bishops in Africa and have found them to be faithful to the Bible and faithful to The Book of Discipline.  Bishop Mande Muyombo, for example, preaches the Bible, loves Jesus, and obeys The Discipline.   His annual conference, North Katanga (Congo), has 900,000 members. Bishop Benjamin Boni, Cote d’Ivoire Annual Conference (Ivory Coast, West Africa) has 1.2 million members in his annual conference.  By comparison, the largest annual conference in the U. S., North Georgia, has 300,000 members.

 

Others with whom I have worked directly, include:  Bishop Joaquina Nhanala (Mozambique); Bishop Gaspar Domingos (Angola); and  Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa in Zimbabwe (where I have preached and also visited Africa University— built by the United Methodist Church to raise up Christian leaders for Africa.)  These, and all other UM bishops in Africa are solid orthodox Christian who love the Bible, preach the Cross of Christ, and live in alignment with The Book of Discipline.

 

The influence of the African delegates was so strong at the 2019 special session of General Conference that it resulted in the passage of the most conservative Book of Discipline we have ever had. 

 

How will the growing numbers of orthodox, conservative  United Methodists in Africa influence the future of The United Methodist Church.

 

                                    

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

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I am also reflecting these days on the United Methodist Church  in the United States in terms of which local churches are choosing to remain in The UMC and which are choosing disaffiliation.  Currently,  90% of U. S. churches are not disaffiliating; 10% are disaffiliating. 

 

In 2022 there were approximately 30,500 local United Methodist Churches in the United Stated.  By the end of 2023 it is likely that 3,000 of these churches will have disaffiliated.  This means that 27,500 will not have disaffiliated and that is 90% of the total. 

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My reflections also include an awareness of violations of The Book of Discipline within the U. S.  I am thinking especially of the Western Jurisdiction, for example, which includes California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and other western states.   When some actions of that Jurisdiction are declared unconstitutional by the Judicial Council, one would think such a clear ruling would result in change. However, because of the jurisdictional system in which we are organized the Judicial Council had to send the case back to the Western Jurisdiction for remediation.  To date, the ruling of the Judicial Council has not been addressed. The jurisdictional system has only been in place since 1939 and was a product of the South wanting to elect their own bishops rather than having them elected denomination-wide. I am in alignment with those who want to address this situation in such a way that a ruling of the Judicial Council becomes directly applicable throughout the denomination, rather than being referred to any other entity. 

 

Fortunately, I am also aware that the vast majority of United Methodist bishops are faithful to the Discipline.  I have personal knowledge of bishops who have upheld the Discipline at personal cost to themselves.  For example, when his annual conference attempted to pass a progressive petition related to homosexuality, Bishop Suda Devadhar ruled them out of order because he knew it was in conflict with The Book of Discipline. Bishop Frank Beard, in the Illinois-Great Rivers Conference, met personally with “Miss Penny Cost” (Isaac Simmons) to inform him that he was out of harmony with The United Methodist Church and would not be ordained.  Bishop Sharma Lewis is currently processing a complaint against two female clergy in Mississippi who conducted a same-sex wedding in violation of The Book of Discipline.

 

I could go on and on citing the faithfulness of others, such as:  Bishop Jimmy Nunn (Oklahoma);  Bishop Bob Farr (Missouri); Bishop Ruben Saenz (Texas);  Bishop Leonard Fairley (Kentucky); Bishop Debbie Wallace Padgett (North Alabama and Holston); Bishop Jonathan Holston (South Carolina); Bishop David Graves (Alabama-West Florida and South Georgia);  Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball (West Virginia); and Bishop Eduard Khegay (Russia).  

 

Faithful bishops do not seek publicity and they do not use social media to announce their faithfulness.  They simply do the right thing day in and day out.

I stand in support of those faithful bishops who continue the daily work of serving Jesus Christ and His Church. 

 

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ANNUAL CONFERENCE

 

Moving to the annual conference level, I am reflecting on the following figures: of 568 local churches in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, about 250 will have disaffiliated by the end of 2023. This means that 318 local churches will be continuing in Alabama-West Florida Conference of The UMC.

 

Here is a sample of local churches that have chosen not to disaffiliate. This list includes churches in Alabama, Northwest Florida, and Georgia.

 

 

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Also at the annual conference level, it should be noted that an annual conference has a great deal of autonomy.  Annual Conferences are not micro-managed by the denomination.  The Book of Discipline says, “the annual conference is the basic unit of the denomination.”

 

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Within the annual conference, I am reflecting on matters such as: how bishops are selected and assigned; how clergy are credentialed; and how appointments are made.  I am reflecting on these matters because of questions I have heard from church members, such as: how can we be certain we will not get a bishop whose Biblical/theological understanding is not what we consider to be orthodox within the Methodist tradition and within the 2,000-year tradition of the Christian faith?

 

In the U. S., bishops are elected at the Jurisdictional level.  We are in the Southeastern Jurisdiction and our elections are held at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.  Unlike General Conference, the delegates in attendance at Lake Junaluska do not come from all over the world nor from all around our country.  The delegates come from around the Southeast.  They are equally divided between laity and clergy.  They are elected by the annual conference of which they are a member. 

 

We are in the Alabama-West Florida Conference and we elect delegates to represent us at both General Conference and Jurisdictional Conference. 

 

At the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, the delegates we elect get to interview and vote on those who are candidates for election as a bishop.  After new bishops are elected, the Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy meets to decide where to assign ALL bishops (new and continuing bishops).  

 

The Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy is composed of two representatives (one laity and one clergy) from each annual conference in the Southeast.   That means we have two persons from our conference who are on the committee that assigns bishops.  Before assignments are made the Committee gets a report from each annual conference giving a profile of that conference and a description of the characteristics needed in a bishop appointed to that area.  This includes being aware of the Biblical/theological stance of that area and of each bishop under consideration.  The goal is to assign each bishop to an area where there is likely to be a good “fit” resulting in effective ministry. The point is:  our annual conference has direct involvement in the process of selecting and assigning bishops.
 

Another example of Annual Conference autonomy can be seen in the work of the Board of Ordained Ministry.  Each annual conference has a Board of Ordained Ministry composed of laity and clergy.  This group oversees the process defined in The Book of Discipline by which candidates for ministry are approved for ordination at United Methodist clergy. The laity and clergy who serve on the Board of Ordained Ministry come from within our annual conference and reflect the beliefs and values of our area. This Board decides the requirements for being ordained and then evaluates candidates for ministry to determine their readiness for ministry (which includes not only Biblical understanding but also integrity when it comes to obeying The Book of Discipline).  The annual conference Board of Ordained Ministry cannot take away from The Book of Discipline, but it can add to the requirements listed there.  For example, if it wanted to a Board of Ordained Ministry could indicate that its understanding of the Bible leads the Board to affirm that those seeking credentialing for ministry must be either a celibate single person or in a marriage of one man and one woman. 

 

When appointments of clergy are being made, the bishop and cabinet follow the process outlined in Paragraph 427 of The Book of Discipline.  This calls for profiles to be developed for each local church and each pastor. These profiles include the Biblical/theological stance of both the local church and the pastor.  The goal is to appoint clergy who will be a good “fit” for each congregation.  In fact, the bishop and cabinet are required to share with the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee the ways in which the pastor aligns with the profile of what the local church says they need in a pastor.

 

The bottom line: an annual conference has a lot of autonomy.  

 

One of the strengths of The UMC is the high degree of autonomy given to the annual conference.

 

I believe it is very important these days for us to appreciate and exercise our autonomy as an annual conference—and not be distracted by the actions of any other annual conference regarding any particular issue.  

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LOCAL CHURCH

 

Next, my reflections move from the annual conference to the level of the local church. Like the annual conference, the local church has a great deal of autonomy. For instance, the Trustees of the local church have charge of who gets to use the property for weddings or any other events (Paragraph 2533).  The pastor cannot be forced to perform any wedding (Paragraph 240).  No one mandates what is taught to children, youth, or adults.  Rather, each local church decides for itself what will be taught, who will asked to teach, and what curriculum is used. 

 

Each local church is free to define its core values, its non-negotiable convictions, and the practices that are essential to its overall health and vitality.  This can give to the congregation a sense that it knows who it is and will remain faithful to that identity rather than being tossed about by social and cultural forces that swirl around us from time to time.

 

For example, if it chose to do so a local church could approve a statement such as:  “Based on our understanding of the Bible and in solidarity with 2,000 years of Christian history, our conviction is that marriage is to be affirmed as the sacred union of one man and one woman.”

 

Here is yet another reflection:  Sometimes I hear someone say that “we do not own our property.”  Upon reflection, I can say that this is not how the “trust clause” is understood in the United Methodist Church.  The “trust clause” means we are all co-owners of all the local churches and other properties (such as our retreat centers at Blue Lake and Lake Junaluska).  This reflects a New Testament approach as described in Acts 2 in which believers shared their possessions so that there was not a needy person among them.  The “trust clause” is a very real expression of our connectedness to one another in The United Methodist Church.  To further clarify, if a local church sells a piece of property the proceeds stay in that local church and are not given to the annual conference or to the denomination.  

 

A remarkable amount of autonomy is given to local congregations within The United Methodist Church.  I believe each local church can find a lasting sense of peace and confidence if it will take the time to:  pay attention to its own story; identify its core values; and name the practices and behaviors that define how the church operates when it is at its best.

 

Having a clear sense of identity helps a church keep a tight focus on following Jesus Christ and fulfilling the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

 

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GENERAL CONFERENCE

 

Looking ahead to the “Postponed 2020 General Conference” which will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, from April 23 to May 3, 2024.  

 

There will be 862 delegates.  They represent United Methodists in the United States, Europe, Eurasia, Africa and the Philippines.  There will be approximately 2,000 pieces of legislation that have been sent in for consideration.  Each petition will be assigned to one of 14 legislative committees.  The first week is spent doing committee work. The second week finds all the delegates meeting together to receive the reports of all legislative committees and to vote on each petition.  

 

I will be particularly interested in pieces of legislation, such as: The Protocol of Grace and Reconciliation through Separation, as well as other petitions that might offer fresh options for resolving issues related to human sexuality.

 

Another item upon which I am reflecting is what is called “regionalism”?  I will be paying close attention to any petitions that address “regionalism”. This term refers to the fact that the United Methodist Church exists in several regions:  Africa, Europe, Asia, the Philippines, and the United States.  Each of these regions have their own unique issues and concerns. If “regionalism” means providing opportunities for those in each region to meet together to envision, plan, and evaluate ministries to their area –then I am in favor of that.  I would not be in favor of any “regionalism” that undermines the orthodox beliefs, doctrines, or practices of The United Methodist Church – those represent our fundamental identity and belong to us all, so they are not up for alteration.

 

Of particular interest to me will be any and all petitions that seek to strengthen the process of holding clergy and laity accountable for violations of The Book of Discipline.  I imagine that such accountability will be greatly strengthened as African United Methodists become the largest group of voters at General Conference.   We must define clearly the ways in which bishops, and others, will be held accountable for violations of The Book of Discipline. 

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I also am reflecting on a question that I often am asked:  Is it too late in 2024?  The questioner is referring to the disaffiliation paragraph, 2553, which sunsets on December 31, 2023.  The question is about whether or not it is then too late to disaffiliate.  The answer is that our annual conference Trustees have followed the example of other annual conferences in pointing to Paragraph 2549 as an alternative that can be used for exiting local churches from The UMC.  That paragraph is already being used in the South Carolina Conference.  By pointing to Paragraph 2549 the Conference Trustees are seeking to provide relief from “deadline anxiety” so local churches can move forward with a sense of confidence that their backs are not against the wall.   Actually, Paragraph 2549 is the way we have exited local churches for many years.  

 

A further note about disaffiliation and the annual conference. 

Disaffiliating churches are only asked to pay their apportionments plus the pension liability that has accrued for the clergy who have served that church.  The property is then released to the local church with no cost at all for the property (land and buildings).  In other words, annual conferences are not trying to “get” the property of a local church.  The annual conference is only asking for what the local church has already promised:  to provide financial support to the clergy appointed to serve the church.       

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NEXT STEPS        

 

What can we do immediately?  The word “immediately” occurs at least 40 times in the Gospel of Mark.  It served to move the action along.  What steps might each of us take “immediately”?  

 

Rejoice that we all care passionately for this Church.

 

Embrace and use the remarkable autonomy given to an annual conference and to a local church within The UMC.  While we may or may not agree with actions of other annual conferences, we have the opportunity to shape the life of our annual conference in accordance with our understanding of the Scriptures, the Christian tradition, and The Book of Discipline.

 

Recognize the “spiritual muscles” our local church has developed over 200 years of navigating World Wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, economic and social upheavals.

 

         Embrace and use the remarkable autonomy given to a local church 

         within The UMC.  Constantly reaffirm our belief in and

         practice of the orthodox Christian faith that has survived for

         2,000 years in spite of “dungeon, fire, and sword.”  List the core 

         beliefs and practices that define us and indicate that this is who we

         will continue to be both now and in the future.

 

And now, here are three practices that will build unity and refresh our spirits:

                                   

1.    Taking an interest in each other

“Is there anything you need from me today?”

 

2.    Sharing admiration for each other

“I thank God for your passionate devotion to Christ.”

 

3.    Turning toward each other instead of away

“Let’s walk together on the Emmaus Road, in the confidence that the Risen Christ is walking with us even when we do not recognize his presence.”

 

 My reflections conclude with a focus on Ephesians 2:11-17.  The Apostle Paul acknowledges that there are dividing walls of hostility between individuals and groups of people.  Then he points to Jesus Christ as the one who breaks down those dividing walls:  he reconciles us to God and to one another through the Cross, creating in himself one new humanity.

 

My hope is that we might all unite in seizing this moment as an opportunity to become an Ephesians 2 church.   What a powerful Christian witness this would be in today’s world.