UMC Conservatives Actions

On the surface it seems that the UMC is separating solely on the LGBTQ issues. There is some truth to that, but that is really a misleading way to view things. The Conservatives Methodists have viewed the UMC leaning left. Compared to other Protestant denominations, the UMC is more liberal and fewer fundamentals. Its social principles reach more toward the underdog and ostracized peoples, as Jesus taught. With that comes change. Nevertheless, the conservatives Methodists wants to keep UMC doctrines unchanged. They are more likely to take the Biblical text as literal – even when it conflicts with other sections of the Bible.

The conservatives Methodists feel that liberal ministers have been placed in their local churches in order to move their congregation’s political needle to the left. They feel as if they are “Methodism’s silent minority.” Their reasons are mostly about the Methodist Church prior to 1968.[10]

There two loudest concerns after the 1968 creation of UMC are about Bishops.

Beginning in 2002 with Bishop Joseph Sprague of Chicago. His theological opponents obtained the transcript of a lecture he gave in 2001 at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver. In his remarks, Sprague held that "the myth of the Virgin birth was not historical fact." He also said he didn't believe that Jesus' resurrection "involved the resuscitation of his physical body." Sprague suggested an alternative Trinity of Jesus, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King. Sprague repeated those views in his published book, "Affirmations of a Dissenter."

To some ears, his ideas didn't sound much like Methodism.

A year later, heresy charges against Bishop Sprague were dismissed after investigators found no reason to sustain an accusation that he had violated church doctrine. The investigators concluded that Sprague was "obedient to Christ's teachings." Noting that Methodism historically has been accepting of personal differences, they suggested that a dialogue be opened between the bishop and his opponents.

"Just like with people who can't let go of Nixon or Clinton, there will always be someone going after Sprague," said Rev. Philip Blackwell, senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church/Chicago Temple.

Blackwell, a Sprague supporter, thinks the bishop has come to personify a profound intellectual division between conservative Methodists who honor every word of Scripture as binding, and Progressive Methodists who strongly feel that biblical narratives need symbolic interpretation.[11]

The conservative Methodist’s view Bishop Sprague as abusing his office as bishop, and his views being against a core Christian doctrine, for which received a symbolic a slap on the wrist.

There are five Jurisdictions in the United States. Each Jurisdictions oversees about the same number of local churches. On a map, the Western Jurisdiction covers about 1/3 of the United States. Some conservatives Methodists believe the larger area means greater power. This is not the case.

In 2016, Karen Oliveto was elected bishop of the Western Jurisdiction. Bishop Oliveto is an married lesbian. This in itself has conservatives Methodists upset on two accounts: Same-gender marriage and openly out LGBTQ clergy – let alone a bishop.

On April 28, 2017, the UMC's high court ruled 6-3 that while her lesbian status was in violation of the church's policies, but she could still retain her position as bishop and the Western Jurisdiction would handle the matter. The UMC high court also ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to review her nomination, election, or assignment.

After the ruling, the Western Jurisdiction stood with Bishop Oliveto where she remains as bishop.[12] Needless to say, this brought the conservative Methodist argument to a head.

Bishop Oliveto constantly on the conservative Methodist’s watchlist, they found in 2005, she made a speech addressing “the benefits and flaws” of Scripture. The Conservatives focused on “flaws.”

Another thing founded on their watchlist was in 2017; Bishop Oliveto spoke that Jesus had bigotries and expressed concern about making “an idol” out of Him. She said, “If Jesus can change, if he can give up His bigotries and prejudices, if He can realize that He had made His life too small, and if, in this realization, He grew closer to others and closer to God, than so can we.”

Conservatives found Bishop Oliveto words “contrary to our theological and doctrinal standards regarding the divine/human nature of Jesus, but

• a) they denigrate Jesus to being that type of human being we might not always have respect for, due to His alleged prejudices, and

• b) in doing so they elevate her own beliefs to a level higher than the beliefs that Jesus had early in his ministry.”[13]

Like with Bishop Sprague, Methodism historically has been accepting of personal differences. As Dr. Randy Miller[14] responded:

And since when did ‘divinity’ and ‘idols’ become synonymous with each other in Christian thought. Bishop Oliveto stands in a long line of Christian thinkers who believed that Jesus was not an ‘idol,’ which in the Pauline context always means something or someone trying to usurp the appropriate role and place of God.
Say it loud now: ‘Jesus was NOT an idol.’
To affirm this statement is to affirm both his humanity and his divinity.
To go further, the plain meaning of Bishop Oliveto's meditation was that Jesus was also an ‘iconoclast,’[15] meaning one who breaks through stale church conventions to bring people into deeper relationship with God and neighbor.
Yes! Sounds a lot like the synoptic gospel’s depiction of Jesus.”

writing on the wall

Understanding the lead with the next 2022 General Conference, the progressive Methodists might not leave their church and the conservative Methodists will not be keeping the UMC with their theologically conservative views. The conservative Methodists have proposed and started a movement of creating a new denomination – Global Methodist Church.

According to their new website, they “assumed that delegates to The United Methodist Church’s next General Conference will approve a plan for the denomination’s amicable separation.” Once this happens a “Transitional Leadership Council will officially launch the new denomination.” The position of Bishops will be term limits.[16] And they will “believe that human sexuality is a gift of God that is to be affirmed

An example of a church not waiting is Boyce Church[17], a 100-member congregation in the East Ohio Conference, that left the denomination last fall.  They blamed the East Ohio Conference for not valuing the church’s conservative doctrinal stance on issues such as homosexuality and not finding conservative ministers to serve their church.  Their move came at a cost to this East Liverpool, Ohio, church.

The Methodist Church has maintained a trust clause, which states that churches hold property in trust for the entire denomination. To depart with property, churches can use a provision added by the 2019 special session of the General Conference, allowing churches to disaffiliate for “reason of conscience” related to human sexuality.  But this comes in a hefty financial obligation by means of several years of contributions to the pension and payment of two years of apportionments.[18]   Boyce Church had to pay $92,000 to break from the UMC.

Another church that opted to leave before a protocol was in place by the next General Conference is Grandview UMC in Lancaster, Pa. Grandview Church leaders announced that they carefully arranged disaffiliation from the denomination in a news release.  Grandview will retain its property but is required to pay a $607,000 fee.

The United Church of Altona, now The Grove Community Church of Altona, Illinois.  Their fee to leave the Illinois Great Rivers Conference was $120,000. 

With no protocol in place, some churches are getting a fight back from the domination.  In July 2021, Asbury Memorial Church and Wesley Oak Church, both based in Savannah, Georgia[19] recently voted to disaffiliate from the UMC South Georgia Conference.  In April 2021, Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church of East Cobb—the largest congregation in the North Georgia Conference—announced leaving the denomination and merge to form a “nondenominational, independent church continuing to be rooted in Wesleyan theology.”

But the UMC domination fought back by seizing this Mt. Bethel Church.  They took their appointed pastor – who led the schism – out of the equation [20].   The North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church, its board of trustees, and the Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson statement states:

“Acting out of love for the church and its mission… have unanimously determined that ‘exigent circumstances’ have threatened the continued vitality and mission of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, Georgia.

“Given this determination, all assets of the local church have transferred immediately to the Conference Board of Trustees of the North Georgia Conference,”   The operation of Mt. Bethel will continue, “but under the direction and control of the Conference Board of Trustees.”[21]

August 2021, the Northwest Texas Conference passed a resolution indicating its intent to join a new traditionalist Methodist church under a proposed denominational separation plan. People across this conference stress that the resolution is nonbinding, and there remain many unknowns. Still, if this happens this conference is the first to say it would join another denomination if permitted to do so.

pick a side
by clicking the image below
and see how those umc members are moving toward

The Great Banana Spilt

[10] In 1968, the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merge making the United Methodist Church [UMC].

[11] From Chicago Tribune 13 February 2003, “ Methodist bishop cleared of heresy” by Ron Grossman.

[12] Oliveto serves as bishop of the Mountain Sky Area, which includes Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming and a church in Idaho. Her spouse, Robin Ridenour, is a church deacon.

[13] Rev. Robert Barnes, a pastor from the Baltimore-Washington Conference.

[14] Dr. Randall’s other professional experiences include leadership stints at the 1987 March on Washington for LGBT Rights, the Jesse Jackson ’88 Campaign for President, the National Task Force on AID Prevention, the Vanguard Foundation, the Tides Foundation, the Pacific School of Religion, and Affirmation: United Methodist for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns.

[15] From Dictionary.com
Noun
- a person who attacks cherished beliefs, traditional institutions, etc., as being based on error or superstition.
- a breaker or destroyer of images, especially those set up for religious veneration.

[16] Currently in the UMC, Bishop position is for life.

[17] https://www.facebook.com/BoyceUMC/

[18] Money local churches give to support the conference and denomination.

[19] Article with more information: https://www.wtoc.com/2021/07/14/savannah-churches-merge-after-break-with-united-methodist-church-over-lgbtq-rights/

[20] Local pastors are appointed by their Annual Conference - not by the local church.

[21] Quote information: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/07/methodists-seize-control-rogue-anti-gay-church/

Click the cross for the Epilogue