From the Depths of Despair, Hope

For most people, the past four days passed by unremarked. For those of us in the United Methodist Church, who were paying attention, it has been literally life-changing. From Jan 23-26, the UMC held a Special Session of their General Conference in St. Louis to decide on a new plan for how the church relates to the LGBTQ+ community. The results, while somewhat anticipated, have been devastating for many of us in the church, our friends and family. But, somewhere, in the darkest hour of the darkest day, a glimmer of hope continues to shine through.

Just for a little background, since 1972, the UMC Book of Discipline (our rulebook) has maintained that homosexuality is "incompatible" with Christian teachings. Confusingly however, we also like to say, "Open hearts, open minds and open doors." So, in other words, love the sinner, hate the sin. Along the way, the church has also made it clear that "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" shall not be ordained and that clergy are forbidden to officiate at same-sex weddings.

These rules have become more and more out of step with the general US public  and with progressive Biblical scholarship. In 2016, a Pew report found over 60% of Americans supported same-sex marriage. And, the UMC was the last of the so-called "mainline" Protestant churches to oppose ordination of LGBTQ+ members. Some clergy and congregations have chosen to violate these rules and face the consequences of their actions. Many more congregations have declared themselves "reconciling" and embraced activism for LGBTQ+ causes and inclusion. Punishments have been applied inconsistently and, in the US, there has been a growing movement to change our Discipline.

In 2016, the General Conference assembly appointed a commission to address the issue and make recommendations to this Special Session. Several plans were considered, and one option, The One Church plan, was formally endorsed by the Council of Bishops and a majority of conferences in the US. This plan would call for each conference, church and clergy to search their own hearts and seek God's discernment to determine for themselves whether or not to extend LGBTQ+ people full rites of marriage and ordination. While this plan did not nearly go far enough for me and other LGBTQ+ members and allies - at least it gave us a way to fully embrace each other locally while still fighting to extend the rites everywhere.

But, standing in the way of the One Church plan, was the so-called Wesleyan Covenant Association, a group of staunchly conservative clergy and laity who cling to their own selective reading of Scripture. Actually, both sides accuse the other of incorrectly interpreting Scripture which kind of proves the point that we all interpret and none of us owns the Truth. The WCA, joined by members from outside the US (especially the fast-growing UM churches in Africa) put forward their Traditional Plan, which not only kept all of the exclusions for LGBTQ+ for ordination and marriage, but increased the penalties for clergy who do not comply. Despite many of parts of the Traditional Plan being declared unconstitutional by our Judicial Council, the Traditional Plan was passed by the Special Session of the General Conference on Feb 26.

So here we are. The hearts of many LGBTQ+ members and allies are broken. Even many so-called moderates are disappointed because of the deep divisions that this vote has reinforced. Many clergy, churches and conferences feel that they cannot, in good conscience, abide by these new rules. We have a plan with major constitutional problems. A split in the church seems imminent. Lines have been drawn, people are choosing up sides, more meetings and commissions are in the works. We are prepared for a long period of chaos, messiness, and downright uncharitable behavior as all of this works it way through the UM system and the courts.

My first response upon seeing the final vote for the Traditional Plan was heartbreak and sadness. I cried over my beloved United Methodist Church. I love its history, its theology and its people. I love all of the work that the church has done around the world - the hospitals, schools, universities, the disaster relief, the water wells, the after-school programs. The Methodists have always combined a spirituality with a social conscience. We seem to have forgotten John Wesley's words when faced with dissension among believers, "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and, in all things, charity."

But even in the midst of our human-driven turmoil, I have to recall the words of Revelation, "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Rev 21:3-5) Maybe, in the midst of all of this suffering, God is making something new, something beautiful, something for all of God's children. This is my hope!