-A Guest Post by Bob Phillips*
- I did not join the WCA…because I hate gays, lesbians, liberals, Democrats, science, intellectuals or tofu eaters. Where there are two Methodists, there are three opinions. The UMC is like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get. Church is tastier to God and to non-Christians when this freedom is affirmed. Wesley said, “At all opinions that do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think.”
- I did not join the WCA…to create a pure church where impure people are excluded, or a ‘wheat church’ where the tares have been pulled. The One who came “not to call the righteous but sinners,” who warned us against fixating on splinters while ignoring logs, and who made clear God is his own weed-puller was pretty clear about this.
- I did not join the WCA …because our worst problem is the sex stuff and once we neatly kennel this pup, American Methodism will grow. Nearly every UM church that affirms or opposes same sex marriage shares this common quality. They are in decline. The “wicked problem” of our denomination (a technical term for a real, colorful and complicated mess) will not be fixed by the 2019 special General Conference or any action focused on any one problem.
- I did not join the WCA…because happiness is a known enemy, it’s fun to ‘round up the usual suspects,’ and the prophet Samuel had the most fun of his ministry when he “hewed Agag into pieces before the Lord.” Facebook commandos with incendiary remarks, energy poured into criticisms, questioning of motives or integrity, and definitions of success measured by how “we” flattened “they” waste spiritual energy and don’t honor God.
- I did not join the WCA…to snuggle in a ‘Bible-believing church’ that knows better than focus on ‘social gospel’ stuff best left to politicians. I pastor a church that decided, even before I arrived, to remain in the heart of the city, knowing that the biblical definition of a ‘regional church’ is one located where the poor can reach and attend. “Bible-believing Wesleyan Christianity” has produced a church that feeds tens of thousands of meals, tutors, provides summer sports for kids on the margin, partners with underserved schools for Fine Arts and mentoring support, offers the only faith-based ministry to AIDS-HIV patients with limited resources between Chicago and St. Louis, aligns with the Mexican consulate in Chicago to provide legal assistance to over 1,000 Mexican citizens each year, runs a free clinic, provides free clothing and supplies to hundreds of needy families…and all in the name of Jesus. And the church is doing is all because of its commitment to an unapologetic evangelical Wesleyan Christianity. Anything else falls under the judgment of Matthew 25:41. Look it up.
[Watch for a Companion Post: “I Joined the Wesleyan Covenant Association… for These Reasons”]
*Dr. Bob Phillips retired July 1, 2017, as Directing Pastor of First UMC, Peoria, Illinois. Bob is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Illinois, with advanced degrees from Asbury, Princeton and St. Andrews (Scotland). He retired with the rank of Captain as the senior United Methodist Chaplain in the US Navy in 2005.
People Need Jesus 
Well, I’ll anxiously await your next verse, because as best I can figure, from the people who have joined, and their actions and writings thus far, the things you list here as not the reasons you joined, are all the things WCA is explicitly working to do.
Paul Scherer wisely observed that our point of view depends on our point of viewing. I have heard the MFSA described in ways that would scare Satan into a Holy Ghost revival for protection from true evil…the problem is, I have too many friends who are part of the MFSA to buy the stereotype, even though undoubtedly one can always find the stray nut that bounced too far from the tree. Same for the Reconciling Movement, the Western Jurisdiction (where I ministered 15 years and always was cordially received)…or Good News or Confessing folks from the other side of the aisle. Let the ongoing dialogue set the stage, be aware of one’s one preconceptions (left-right-center-whatever) and remember ‘you will know them by their fruit.’
I rejoice to hear of the fruits of your ministry and I look forward to the companion piece, to learn your reasons for your decision re: the WCA. But in the meantime, I do have two questions.
1) All of what you have said of your own convictions notwithstanding, do you acknowledge that there are a few/some/many who DID join the WCA for one or more of the reasons for which you did not join? and
2) If so, do you feel it in any way incumbent upon you to engage those WCA members in dialogue (holy conversation, if you prefer) about why they hold the views they do?
Disclosure: Because you went to the trouble of disavowing a certain set of reasons for joining the WCA, I am assuming you find them somewhat wanting in legitimacy, or perhaps even wrong-headed/wrong-hearted and unworthy of United Methodist Christians. If this is not the case, I apologize for my assumption while at the same time wondering why you wrote this blog.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Keith. This is Chris Ritter. I will notify Bob that he is getting questions and comments so that he can perhaps interact even though he is not an administrator on this site.
Keith. Yep, part of the task of integrity through this process as I see it is the willingness not only to speak truth to power but truth to friends as there is need, whether on the left or the right. The ‘negative’ reasons are, in my book, barnacles on the hull of the “Old Ship of Zion,” which, like any barnacles, cut the speed up to 50% and eventually can eat through the hull and sink the sucker altogether. Creating ground for healthy conversation involves all stakeholder parties representing organized positions to keep the spiritual discipline of self-discipline and critique always before them (and I count at least 9 such major groups of left, right, institutional protectors, etc).
I did find a number that represented the WCA membership. It is small and as its members pass, so will the WCA. Younger, educated people along with those of us who are not so young but are educated realize that people who are LBGTQAI were always LBGTQAI thus they were born as they are. No one “chooses” their sexual identity or their gender orientation.
Carla,
God has a history of doing great things with few people!
Bill