Reflecting On Recent News in the WNC United Methodist Church

A reflection from Pastor Lisa

You might have seen in the news that some churches in Western North Carolina have sued the Conference to be able to leave. If you are wondering about what this is about, let me catch you up on what’s happening and some of the history behind it.

For the last several decades United Methodists have disagreed around issues of human sexuality. Some have wanted to maintain traditional understandings that held that the practice of homosexuality is sinful, and some have maintained that it is not a sin but rather part of God’s created world. Forty years ago, the first group was in the majority in the United States; now the latter is. However, the African contingency makes the numbers close to even. In 2019 a special General Conference (basically it’s the congress of United Methodism) met to figure out a way forward where all opinions could have a home. Sadly, instead theC debate only got more divisive. An option was given then that allowed churches to be able to leave the denomination and take their properties with them. Without this, the church buildings belong to the conference.

Since this time, 18 churches in our conference have decided to leave the United Methodist Church. The current lawsuit is from 31 other churches who would like to leave, but do not want to follow the procedure that General Conference laid out because it requires money and a vote of two-thirds of a local church. To let them leave without the procedure being followed would break the Methodist “method” and wouldn’t be legal by our rules. I don’t think there is much chance that this suit would change anything. Most likely the only outcome is that our denomination looks a little worse in the public eye.

To put this in prospective, we have over 1,000 churches in our conference, so the percentage of Methodists wanting to leave is small. The remaining United Methodist Church is not trying to advocate that everyone must believe the same thing about human sexuality. The goal is to create a big tent where Christians can focus on the things most central to the gospel, even when individuals believe different things about this topic. If a church feels it cannot be associated with people who hold some different beliefs, then they can follow the procedure and leave.

I don’t want people to leave. It is sad to lose our brothers and sister in Christ from our denomination. I love and respect many people who disagree with me on this topic, and I believe we are weaker when we limit the perspective of others.

The ability to leave, however, allows churches to follow how they are being led. they are being led. When all is said and done more churches may well leave. However, at least in our conference, it will very likely be a small percentage.

How does this affect life at Mars Hill UMC?

Quite honestly, very little if at all. We will remain a congregation that affirms all of God’s created people, including those who disagree with us! And we will continue to strive to do gospel actions in the world.

Peace,

Lisa