IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THIS WAY
By Dr. Riley Case
These are difficult days for many evangelical (or traditionalist) individuals and congregations in the United Methodist (UM) Church. The issue is disaffiliation, whether to remain in the UM Church or disaffiliate and become either independent or part of a new church, such as the Global Methodist Church. The disaffiliation process is complicated and expensive. It varies from annual conference to annual conference. In some conferences it entails congregational study, a two-thirds vote, payments to the annual conference covering unfunded pension liability and some other costs (these can vary from $100,000 to a million dollars depending on the size of the church) and approval by the annual conference.
It was not supposed to be this way. We recall discussions about an amicable separation that would allow evangelical churches and centrist churches and more progressive-minded churches each to get a fresh start that could reverse numerical decline and renew Methodism. These discussions supplied much of the energy and hope behind what is called the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, a plan worked on and negotiated between the various factions of the United Methodist Church. But alas. The cancellation of several General Conferences and the withdrawal of promised support by a number of liberal and progressive leaders has put the future of the Protocol into serious doubt. Thus, because of delays and foot dragging, a new denomination, the Global Methodist Church (GMC), was launched May 1, 2022. And with the launching came immediate pressure for churches to make decisions about what direction they would like to go. At the moment it is evident that not nearly as many churches will be disaffiliating as would have joined the evangelical expression of the Protocol Plan.
Where is the Confessing Movement in all of this? The Confessing Movement has been working for church renewal for nearly thirty years, with a major emphasis on commitment to historic Christian truths as interpreted through our Methodist heritage. With the church’s continual decline toward doctrinal compromise, the Confessing Movement has joined with others in believing the best way forward is through some kind of amicable separation.
But even with the separation (or disaffiliation) it has become apparent that the evangelical witness of the Confessing Movement is still needed, indeed even more so, in the continuing United Methodist Church. So that is where our commitment will be in the days ahead.
The dynamics have changed and are changing. As can be imagined, many of our supporting individuals and groups and churches have already or are in the process of transitioning to the new Global Methodist Church, or some other evangelical expression of the faith. We intend to encourage them in every way we can. But we are aware that with this, our continuing supporting base is and will be smaller. Thus, we need more than ever the prayers and encouragement and support of those who believe God still has a plan for the Confessing Movement and United Methodism.
May we hear from you, not only with information about where your church is in the disaffiliation process, but also with an expression of your hopes and vision not only for the Global Methodist Church, but also for the continuing United Methodist Church the Confessing Movement.
