by Bob Phillips

The United Methodist General Conference (at long, long last) has come and gone. Among items passed that effectively re-booted and transformed the UMC was a strong, stern refusal to allow, at a denominational level, any more disaffiliations. Even use of the word was renounced. Many to most annual conferences and bishops have decided that NO further departures on grounds on conscience will be tolerated. Individuals are free to leave but all assets will remain with the legacy UMC. 

Earlier, a few bishops and conferences asked all their churches to remain after paragraph 2553 expired, with the promise that if GC2024 took actions that violated the conscience of those churches, an honorable course for departure would be offered. Bishop Frank Beard of the Illinois Great Rivers made that appeal and, on the cusp of extended medical leave, kept his promise.  For churches deeply troubled by the clear future direction and revisions that are the new UMC, these suggestions.

  1. Discernment is first. Seriously engage questions such as: How is the church ‘Wesleyan,” what is it doing well and not so well (really, no spin), how does attendance and median age compare with the year 2000, if it has noticeably declined, why and what would remaining with the legacy denomination or shifting to a new denomination/independent specifically do to make a difference, does the church wish to pay the price in commitment and change to turn around if that is needed, what attracts people to the church and/or keeps them coming back? These as sample questions, by no means compete, that are part of any healthy discernment, even for churches with no thought of leaving the UMC. The question is not, “How do we leave,” but “Who do we want to be?”
  2. Beware the demon of confirmation bias. Ensure fair and clear input from all relevant sources. That would include off-property information meetings if the conference has ruled no one affiliated with the GMC can make any presentation, preach or offer prayer at a UM church (IGRC unwritten but enforced policy). For those bothered by this closed door, beware confirmation bias! If you thought, as conference leaders do, that someone was coming to a local church to talk it into leaving, how would you feel? Since nearly every church is static or in decline, it is fair to ask how keeping the current UM name or changing to a GMC name will make a difference.
  3. Resist tactics or strategies unworthy of Christ. Gossip, making judgement of motives, name-calling, sarcasm (one of my special temptations) and venting anger or frustration in ungracious ways, all such have no seat at the table. Let Ephesians 4:32 be a guided…look it up! Remember, you are part of a broader secular community that is curious to see how Christians treat each other. They will know we are Christians by our…?
  4. Be transparent with everyone. Be clear and upfront with the DS and other conference authorities and laity. As you would resent surprise or bushwhack, go Golden Rule in steroids with the people who run the system.  If the response is threat or reprisal, factor that into the decision process. If the response is gracious freedom to discern with integrity, let that gratitude likewise be transparent.
  5. There are healthy and unhealthy ways to decide.  Avoid defaulting into a stay or go decision through group inertia or mental laziness. Resist the temptation to cut corners in a healthy discernment process. Refuse to let feelings push aside faith and facts. “Begin with the end in mind,” and embrace a strategic view of the church’s future rather than a momentary advantage (i.e., we keep a big endowment).
  6. Think “Mitosis,” not secession or civil war. Yes, mitosis is my hobby horse but beyond the angst of the moment the Holy Spirit again will create a win-win outcome for his people. The UMC and the GMC are not the Hatfields and the McCoys. The needs and challenges of the Wesleyan witness to an increasingly secular society are too compelling to get distracted by a list of grudges. “Offer them Christ” remains the Wesley call and “The world is my parish” remains the Methodist mandate.
  7. Beware social media and ‘test the spirits’ in news stories.  Informational Facebook sites (such as the IGRC Wesleyan Covenant Association) can be helpful. Postings from Facebook commandos of left or right, not so much. And remember…secular media carries its own bias. When the fireman was killed by an assassin at the Trump rally while protecting his wife and daughter, the New York Times initial coverage summed up his faith by saying he belonged to an unnamed congregation that left the UMC because of that local church’s opposition to gay marriage. No nuance, no mention of the GMC, simply a breezy insinuation of exclusion and bigotry. (Their coverage of his actual funeral was much more balanced). To assume flattering coverage is unreasonable. To expect fair coverage, yes but…’trust but verify.’ And do not expect denominational media to be friendly toward the foxy GMC that has invaded the UMC hen house, at least as they see it. It is what it is…
  8. Make prayer your state of being. Reject the temptation to mumble, “Yeah, of course.” Make prayers for discernment, guidance and grace daily fare. Pray by name for (not at) those with other viewpoints. Let prayer be the motor as you move gently and confidently to the center of God’s will.  “Thy will be done” was never more relevant as the united voice of the church looking for a future and a direction for Jesus’ sake.

Photo Credit

Bob Phillips

Degrees from University of Illinois, Asbury and Princeton Seminaries, University of St. Andrews

Graduate of Senior Executive Seminar on Morality, Ethics and Public Policy, Brookings Institution

Captain, Chaplain Corps, US Navy (ret)

See Bob’s work on Methodist Mitosis in Methodist Review.