A Pastoral Letter for Hope UMC
August, 2018
How We Got Here -
The United Methodist Church, as we know it, was formed from two main denominations - the Methodist church and the Evangelical United Brethren church - in 1968. From our very inception, differences over human sexuality emerged and have grown in intensity with every General Conference, which meets every four years. There is much diversity of thought in the United Methodist Church everywhere, but there is also general differences of conscience in different parts of the country when it comes to practical matters such as marriage and ordination.
This conflict at General Conference reached a boiling point in 2016. Recognizing that we were at an impasse regarding issues related to ordination, marriage, and human sexuality, the General Conference voted to ask our bishops to lead us out of the disagreement (this is unprecedented since in our polity, bishops do not have influence over the decisions of the General Conference). A plan was put in place for the bishops to develop a Commission on a Way Forward. The Commission was empowered to provide a recommendation on this issue and present that to a specially called General Conference of the world wide UMC to be held in February of 2019.
The Commission was instructed that we must be open to new ways of being in relationship and in new forms of autonomy, the use of apportionment funds, etc. People from all over the world were represented on the Commission. The Commission met 9 times over 17 months, with 25 days of face time and many conference calls.The work of the Commission has since completed its work and 3 proposals were offered.
For the complete report, you can go to: http://s3.amazonaws.com/Website_Properties/council-of-bishops/news_and_statements/documents/Way_Forward_Report_-_Final_-_ENGLISH.pdf
To summarize the full report, three models under consideration - the Traditional Model (with enhanced accountability), the One Church Model (which removes current restrictions and decentralized decisions regarding wedding and ordinations in some way), and the Connectional Conference Model (a multi-branch model, which provides an entirely new structure with different kinds of relationships).
In the May 2018 meeting, a motion was approved overwhelmingly. All three plans would be considered by the Commission on a Way Forward and by the called General Conference in 2019, but the majority of the bishops approve the One Church Plan.
The Traditional Plan would streamline the process of imposing penalties for not following the Discipline and maintains the current structure of the world-wide church.
The One Church Plan protects churches, pastors, and boards of ordained ministry who choose NOT to be progressive. Yet it provides the ability to minister in context.
The Connectional Conference model features a unified core and shared doctrine, but would create a different kind of unity including 3 “values based” connectional conferences that would replace our present-day Annual Conference structure. Central conferences like African Conferences could be their own values-based conference, or join one of the 3.
In addition, alternative plans can be presented at the General Conference in 2019. The Judicial Council (a sort of “Supreme Court” of our United Methodist Structure) was requested to answer a question about whether or not petitions could be received at the called General Conference beyond the report of the Council of Bishops on the Commission on a Way Forward. They determined that yes, they can, as long as the petitions are “in harmony” with the Council of Bishops report.
The essential decision is about our world-wide structure - we do not anticipate a sudden change in the ministry and practices of Hope UMC or the Florida Conference and, in fact, if any changes are made, it could take several years of adjustment.
What We Can Do -
Our bishop has asked us to pray during this time. Fasting and prayer are common practices as it relates to discernment and are encouraged. As part of our heritage, a Wesleyan fast, from Thursday after dinner to Friday afternoon, has become common place. In addition, if you would not choose to fast from food, there are, of course, other things we could choose to fast from, such as social media.
In addition, each day for 4 minutes, from 2:23 to 2:26 (either am or pm - The General Conference will be held Feb. 23-26, thus the times of 2:23-2:26), we have been asked to pray. We are called to pray for the effectiveness of the Church and for the called General Conference.
I myself have made the commitment to the daily Wesleyan prayer time and do so every afternoon. Regardless of what you may decide to do, I invite you to do something as a way of joining in this great call to prayer.
Now that the lengthy report is made public (see link above), I would encourage you to read it carefully with the following things in mind:
First, do not make any judgments until you have read the plans.
Second, read them several times - first from your own perspective, than again from a perspective different from yours, and than a third time from the perspective of the Philippines and Africa.
As I have said before, and will no doubt say again, we can hold to our convictions, while maintaining love and compassion for the differing views of others. The POV in September, and any subsequent meetings, will be focused on having peaceful conversations, as we listen to one another to understand, rather than to convince.
With that in mind, as we enter into this time of discernment and our upcoming POV, we will follow a “rule of life” to guide our conversations:
- Assume the best about each other’s intentions.
- Follow the Matthew 18 Principle.
- Do not speak ill of others.
- Practice Facebook and Twitter restraint.
- Observe the 24 hour email/text rule. (do not forward or create an email until you have had 24 hours of reflection prior to sending)
- Participate in daily prayer and a weekly fast.
- Accentuate the positive with those outside the UMC family.
In Conclusion -
It is my sincere hope and prayer that this information is helpful to you.
We are in liminal space, on the threshold of something potentially new, a fresh way of being in communion with one another across the world. I invite us to pray through it together. Along the way, I invite us to love somebody different than we are and somebody who doesn’t think like we do - that is the only way to grow in understanding and empathy.
I am not sure yet whether this is a “Barnabas and Paul” moment (Acts 15:36- 16:10) when different groups go different directions, or whether it’s an Acts 15: 1-35 “moment” when together we discern, through holy conversation and a bit of compromise, a new direction.
This is a truly divisive time in American culture, and the Church must lead with a spirit of love and humility. If the church cannot model civility and gentleness, no one else will.
Perhaps that is a larger part of the whole process for us - to be a witness to a dying world of what real love and humility can accomplish.
You will, if you haven’t already, see negative energy from both extremes, on social media and otherwise. I invite you to lead from the holy center. We don’t have to agree with one another to be in loving community and stand against the cultural propensity for polarities. Agreement and unity are not the same thing … as the song reminds us, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.”
Hope UMC is a church where everybody is welcome with open minds, open hearts, and open doors. Our Vision and Mission call us to “connect with God, each other, and our community, as we become mature followers of Jesus Christ ... (as we) experience the love of God and share God’s love with others.” My desire (and I believe God’s desire) is that our church not be distracted from our focus.
Grace and peace to you in the name of Christ.
You Are Loved,
Kelly W. Smith
Senior Pastor, Hope UMC
