Now that the United Methodist Church has voted to strengthen the church’s bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy, Methodist churches across the Valley have a decision to make — stay with a denomination that continues to be exclusive or consider leaving for greener pastures where the idea of inclusion is not viewed as a bad thing.
Many are predicting the United Methodist Church will splinter after delegates at a Feb. 26 conference in St. Louis rejected a proposal that would have allowed gay-friendly policies to be decided by local and regional church bodies under a proposal called the “One Church Plan.” Instead, the delegates passed a “Traditional Plan” reaffirming the faith’s divisive bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy.
The Feb. 26 vote at the congregation’s recent general conference was close — 438 to 384. Even though conservatives from the United States are in the minority in this country, delegates from outside the U.S., particularly from Africa, overwhelmingly back the LGBTQ bans.
Many leaders of Methodist churches throughout the country labeled the decision a disappointment. They predict tremendous upheaval in the United States, with an Associated Press report quoting Methodist theological school leaders warning that the church will lose an entire generation of leaders in America.
Formed in a merger in 1968, the United Methodist Church claims about 12.6 million members worldwide, including nearly 7 million in the United States.
Close to home, Methodist churches lean toward the liberal viewpoint, as one would expect in this corner of the world, and the early readout of pastors and congregations seems to be to stay the course.
“I’m not surprised at the vote, just heartbroken,” United Church of Bernardston Pastor David Neil told the Recorder.
In Shelburne Falls, Trinity Church Pastor Marguerite Sheehan, who says she is gay, said she is discouraged, dismayed and unhappy about the vote, but will continue to be hopeful.
Both said their congregations are talking about it, but no one has come up with any suggestions at this point.
Orange United Methodist Church Pastor Judy Jones said she is heartbroken, as well, but will continue to welcome everyone into her churches in Orange and South Athol, so the church will be considered non-conforming.
Unfortunately, a majority of the Methodist flock worldwide disagrees, putting local churches in a tough position trying to decide how to respond to a policy that is anything but loving and compassionate.
Local congregations will be having intense discussions in coming weeks.
Those congregations that include Methodists should also begin to address what happens next. Do they stay and fight by performing same-sex marriages regardless of the church punishment that might bring? After all, they’ve been carrying on in this way for years. Do they wait until the next general conference in 2020 in the hope that the more progressive One Church Plan wins the day?
Or do they leave the United Methodist Church outright and look at forming their own denomination? That’s already happening on the conservative side, where a group of 1,500 churches that favor the current, more traditional stance are working on becoming a new Methodist denomination.
A fissure that began 20 years ago is only getting wider. Whatever path local Methodists choose, we are glad to know that they believe in and have forged a path of love, compassion and inclusion.