Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! I did a blog honoring mothers on Mother’s Day, so I should return the favor to dads on Father’s Day. In that blog (read it here), I reflected on the mothers who were influential in my life, but I kind of did that previously (here and here) for dads, so I don’t feel the need to repeat all that again.
Someone asked me this week, “What are your plans for Father’s Day?” I answered, “Go to church, eat lunch and take a nap.” Sounds like a pretty good plan to me. I think that for most fathers the routine of a typical Sunday is perfectly fine for them. It’s not that we don’t appreciate the warm and loving gestures of our wives and children, it’s just that we view the Hallmark holidays a bit differently.
We view days like today differently because men are different. I don’t care what our culture has been trying to tell us for the past 50 years, men and women are different. It has been that way since the beginning:
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)
Yeah, I could now launch into a long essay on how men and women are different from a biblical perspective, but if you’re reading this you probably don’t need my persuasion. Most of you probably already agree with me.
I also could expound on the impact that feminist ideology, and now trans ideology, has had (and continues to have) on culture’s view of fatherhood, but again, most of you probably don’t need my persuasion and most of you would agree with me.
I could connect feminist and trans ideology to Marxist ideology that has at its core the destruction of the nuclear family (see here if you don’t believe me). It really is eerie how that ideology is being played out before our eyes in today’s cultural climate. I won’t do that here, though, because most of you reading this already see it and you would agree with me.
Besides, doing so would be too much like work, and it’s Father’s Day. Most fathers would rather simply go to church, eat lunch and take a nap.
So, I’ll just say Happy Father’s Day to all our fathers, and I’ll leave you with a Facebook meme I saw this week that pretty much sums it up for me:
I leave that with you because it is what your children need. It is what your wife needs. It is what your church needs. It is what our culture needs.
It is always good to be with friends! I met a friend for coffee this week and the course of the conversation soon turned to our common journey of vocational ministry.
My friend mentioned a sermon he recently heard that challenged him. After our conversation, I was challenged, too.
A Moment of Conviction
Well, challenged is not really the correct word. Conviction is more appropriate in this case. The message of the sermon my friend heard, and the subsequent course of our conversation, centered around the nature of the gospel we have preached in our years of ministry.
It basically comes down to asking, “Have we preached a ‘value-added’ faith?” What do I mean?
“Value-added” faith is, in essence, coming to Jesus for what we can get out of it. Need a better marriage? Come to Jesus. He’ll fix your marriage. Want to be a better parent? Come to Jesus. He’ll make you a better parent. Financial problems? No worries! Follow these six biblical principles and soon your financial problems will straighten out. You get the picture.
Get Jesus…and this is the value He will add to your life!
And there was where the conviction came in! I am guilty of preaching a “value-added” faith. I also must confess that I didn’t do it occasionally, I did it often.
Enough with the Excuses
Don’t get me wrong, I have several excellent excuses. First, of course, is my desire to be relevant because if the preacher isn’t relevant, what good is he? How many sermons and sermon series have I designed based on topics rather than scripture? Too many, I’m afraid.
I looked back through my preaching calendars over the years. Here are the titles to a few sermon series I preached:
Breaking Bad (Circumstances, Decisions, Attitudes, Relationships)
Faith and Politics (Culture, Leadership, Role of Government)
Inside Out (Series on mental health)
I also looked back through the files for sermon titles. Again, here is what I found:
Learning How to Love
Living in Shades of Gray
Practical Advice for Surviving the Season
Priorities of Life
Racing is Life
There are too many others to list here, but you get the gist. They are all designed to speak to the value of having Jesus in one’s life. The routine was choose the topic, find a passage or two of scripture and craft a sermon that would be “relevant” to the congregation.
Another excuse is that I thought (or was taught) that in order to reach people with the gospel, sermons had to address a “felt need” in the listener (congregation). Actually, “felt need” and relevance are close cousins as you can see from the sermon and series titles above.
A “felt need” can be:
Financial security
Stability
Love
Peace
Stress (worry)
Loneliness
Again, the routine was to discover a “felt need”, find a passage or two from scripture and craft a message that would address that “felt need.” Sometimes it worked. Often times, it didn’t.
No matter how many times I sought relevance or addressed a felt need, the congregation always left pretty much like they came–at least time and reflection has proven it to be so. The Church in culture has been on the decline for generations. I’m not so sure that it isn’t because we preachers of the gospel have too often chosen relevance over honesty, felt needs over accountability. Perhaps it is only part of the reason.
I don’t mean to insinuate that my friend does that, or indict any other pastors. I speak purely from my own experience, and the conviction is mine and mine alone. Although, as I’ve conducted a few Google searches I can say there are a lot of sermons on the internet that, based on the title, are seeking the same end.
Having acknowledged my fault and repented of my failures, may I share a commitment for the future?
A Call to Surrender & Sacrifice
I believe what the Church (and the world) needs now more than ever is an honest, simple presentation of the Gospel. The world and the Church need to hear the Truth in a simple, straightforward way. I am reminded of the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
“The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over our lives to death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow him, or it may be a death like Luther’s, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time—death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at his call.” (The Cost of Discipleship, 99)
Bonhoeffer only echoes the words of Jesus to the ruler in Luke’s Gospel:
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Luke 18:22).
Or, of what Jesus told His disciples (also in Luke’s Gospel):
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? (Luke 9:23-25).
The call of the Gospel, the call of Jesus Christ, the call to discipleship is a call to die to self, a call to surrender, a call to sacrifice. I fear I have not preached that enough. I fear that I have not lived that enough. I fear that is part of the reason the Church is where it is in culture today. I am heartily sorry for my part in bringing the Church to that place.
The message of the Gospel is self-surrender, not self-help. I’ve yet to see a “self-surrender” section in any local bookstore. Surrender and sacrifice are not popular topics in today’s culture. Perhaps those topics will be a little more relatable if I untuck my shirt and wear skinny jeans while preaching them. Yeah…perhaps not (this body wasn’t made for skinny jeans!).
This blog has gotten way too long, so let me close with my commitment to do better in my preaching. I’ll do my best to “give ’em Jesus.” He’s relevant enough. I’ll trust the Holy Spirit to do His work if I do mine.
What? Another blog post on the situation in the United Methodist Church? From someone who left the United Methodist Church? Can’t you please just move on?
Yes, I probably should move on, but honestly, it’s hard to simply walk away from an institution that was an integral part of my life for over 50 years…an institution that shaped me spiritually and theologically…an institution in which I still have many friends and acquaintances…an institution that I loved for so, so long. That, and when I write a blog about the United Methodist Church, my readership generally explodes, so there’s that!
Everyone (well, almost everyone) who reads my blog is reasonably familiar with the recent decisions of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church that has many UM traditionalists reassessing their prospects of remaining United Methodist, so I’m not going to rehash those General Conference decisions here. You can find all the information you want here and here if you need to revisit those decisions.
What I am going to suggest to my traditionalist friends who adopted the “wait and see” approach (and now find themselves considering what’s next) is that you may be in a season of wonderful opportunity, and to encourage you to embrace the opportunity that lies before you. I’m suggesting there really is a bright side to the situation in which you find yourself.
Opportunity #1
If you are a traditionalist in the United Methodist Church, the recent decision of General Conference has forced you to the margins of both the institution and the culture. Being on the margins is a good thing. The Church has always flourished best on the margins.
You are now in conflict with “the system.” Well, that’s exactly where Jesus was when he established His ministry on earth. The “power” dynamic has flipped. That’s a scary (and terribly uncomfortable) place to be. Traditionalists have been accustomed to palace living. What do I mean?
Ever since the Edict of Milan in 313 A. D. (when Emperor Constantine “legalized” Christianity), the institution of the Church has enjoyed relatively “favored” status in the culture. The palace (the power structure) looked favorably on the Church. Likewise, traditionalists were part of the structures that maintained the institution. It is relatively safe to say with GC’s recent decisions, that is no longer the case. You are on the margins.
Should you and your congregation choose to remain in the United Methodist Church, you and your congregation can be like “a voice crying in the wilderness” (John 1:23, et. al), or as a remnant left behind in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 52) to tend the vineyards and till the soil.
Opportunity #2
If you are a traditionalist congregation in the UMC, you may now be forced to deal with your “edifice complex.” You now have to assess just how much your property is worth to you. That is a good thing.
The Church has never been about a building or property. The Church has always been about people.
Yes, I know it is sad that you, your forefathers and foremothers poured your life and soul into a building and property. You made the investments. You raised the money. You made the commitment to pay the debts.
Your parents and grandparents were buried there. Your children were baptized there. You were married there. There are too many memories to count. That property carries a ton of emotional weight and the prospect of walking away from it generates an equal amount of grief.
Considering the emotional worth of your property forces a reflection on the purpose and mission of the Church, and that is a very good thing.
It can take the focus off the parking lot and put the focus on people. It can take the focus off the color of the carpet and place it on the process of discipleship. It can provide the opportunity to create new spaces that will be attractive to new people.
Can you imagine what a church budget would look like if 50% of it was dedicated to evangelism rather than light bills and maintenance?
Yes, leaving your property will require sacrifice (and it will seem totally unjust), but what is the Christian life apart from sacrificial living? The greater the sacrifice, the greater the blessing. What is the price of faithfulness?
And, who knows? Walk away from your property for a season and you might be able to purchase it back in the future for pennies on the dollar. I recall a time in the not too distant past when a particular Annual Conference was begging cemetery associations to form legal entities so it could unload abandoned properties and get them off the AC’s books.
Tons of abandoned properties will soon be an albatross around the necks of many Annual Conferences. Some have even explored the possibility of hiring additional Conference staff just to manage the properties. That will get old (and expensive) really quickly.
Seriously, beyond a few properties (mostly in downtown areas valued by real estate developers), there is little value in church property, especially if there is a cemetery attached to it.
You are being given that opportunity to revisit the purpose and mission of your congregation. Embrace the opportunity.
Opportunity #3
I believe that traditionalist congregations in the UMC are now being given the opportunity to rely on God in a new way. In the past, congregations had a power structure (the Annual Conference) that it depended upon for direction and connection. A departure from the power structure brings a new freedom to listen to the Lord for direction.
In the past, top down decisions dictated the direction and the leadership of a congregation. I am intimately familiar with one former UMC congregation who is living this reality even now. In the “good old days,” if they needed a pastoral change they conferred with the District Superintendent and the issue was resolved.
Now, in their search for a new pastor, the prayer life of the congregation has increased dramatically. Everyone is praying for the congregation’s leadership as they navigate the new waters of pastoral selection. They are living in an era of reliance on God in ways they never had to before. That is an amazingly good thing!
The congregation is out of its comfort zone, and that is the place where great things can happen.
One Consideration
One thing that I’ve been reflecting on has me concerned. It may surprise you. It is the name “Methodist.” Yes, what an amazing heritage and history! I have always been honored to be called Methodist, even if (or especially because) it was originally a derogatory reference.
I am concerned for all in the Wesleyan family who carry the name Methodist because the observing world doesn’t distinguish between those in the Methodist family. The world doesn’t know the difference in a United Methodist, an Evangelical Methodist, a Free Methodist, a Wesleyan Methodist or a Global Methodist. The world only sees “Methodist.”
The challenge is for all of us to be intentional in communicating who we are to a watching world. Of course, that should have been the challenge all along.
A Final Word
There are probably more opportunities for congregations. These are just the ones I’ve thought about as I’ve reflected on the situation. If you know more, please include them in the comments for others who might read the blog.
Traditionalists, you wanted to “wait and see.” Well, you waited and now you’ve seen. It is time to make a decision about where God is calling you in the future. Embrace the season. Embrace the challenge. Embrace the opportunity. But always, keep looking on the bright side!
Well, when you plan to go see your daughter out of town and you leave work and forget your computer, you take it as a sign the Lord doesn’t want you to write what you were planning on writing. Or, you take it as a sign that you needed the weekend to focus on other things. Either way, there is no meaningful blog this week. Just me rambling about nothing.
So, y’all have a great weekend, and remember what this weekend is all about. A great shout of appreciation to those who gave all for our nation and freedom.
Maybe I’ll write that blog I was planning today next week.
So, I’ve often told folks that I never preach a sermon that I haven’t first preached to myself. In large part that’s true…but not always. It wasn’t necessarily true this week when, in the middle of a sermon I was preaching, the Holy Spirit convicted me on a deep, deep level on a matter I had not previously considered.
Going on a “Journey”
I had the blessed opportunity to preach on Thursday evening to the gathered body at the last “Journey” session for the Evangelical Methodist Church in Copperas Cove, Texas.
What is a “Journey” session? For all my former United Methodist (and present UM) friends, think Annual Conference. “Journey” is the time of year when EMC pastors and laity gather for meetings, business, worship and encouragement.
The theme of the evening was “Be Watchful,” and the passage of scripture around which the Journey session was framed was Paul’s departing speech to the elders from the church at Ephesus in Acts 20:
28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock.30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.
I chose as the text for my message Ephesians 6: 10 – 20:
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
Bermuda Shorts and Battleships
I’ll do my best to make a long story short. The title of my message was “Wearing Bermuda Shorts on a Battleship,” with the point being that many people come to Jesus expecting life to be a cruise ship when, in fact, we are boarding a battleship. We have to have the correct attire for the occasion. We must put on the full armor of God to be prepared for life as a disciple, otherwise it’s like wearing Bermuda shorts on a battleship.
The full armor of God is, of course, Jesus Himself. He is our salvation. He is our righteousness. He is our peace. He gives us the gift of faith. He is Truth. He is the Word made flesh. We must clothe ourselves in Christ and we do so through prayer. And, that’s where the Holy Spirit convicted me in the middle of the message.
I was bringing the message to a crescendo (don’t you like that word?) with these words:
“Friends, we don’t strap on a Colt 45 and look for some evil to confront. Evil will find us on its own. Our battle is won or lost on the field of prayer. We cannot advance, let alone win the spiritual battle, if we are not empowered with prayer. We need to pray for each other. We need to pray for protection from the evil one. We need to pray that God would guard our moral lives and protect our people from moral failure. We need to pray for the strengthening of families in our church. We need to pray for love and unity within the church. We need to pray for wisdom to discern false teaching. We need to pray and not give up. But, we must never pray to be taken out of the battle.”
And, there it was…”we must never pray to be taken out of the battle.” I even repeated it twice for emphasis. In that moment, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me that praying to be taken out of the battle is exactly what I had done in 2019 when I left the United Methodist Church.
Jumping Ship
Between 2019 and 2024, the United Methodist Church was in a battle for its future. I like to believe that in 2019 after General Conference, I saw the handwriting on the wall…that the battle was already lost…so, what was the point of sticking around?
I prayed for a door to open so I could make my exit. Time to move on…time to fight other battles. Well, doors did open, and I thought those doors were answers to prayer. Perhaps they were answers to prayer because, well, God is just good that way, but as a result of the message I preached on Thursday evening I feel convicted that I left friends on the battlefield. To use the analogy of the message: I jumped ship. I abandoned a church I loved and friends I loved because I thought the battle wasn’t worth fighting.
I don’t mean to suggest that either side in the battle for the UMC was “good” or “evil.” What I am suggesting is that the devil got all up in the business of the UMC, and the division is a direct result of the devil having his way with us. We spent years fighting each other when who we should have been fighting was the devil. At least, that’s my perspective (with all due respect for those friends of mine who remain UM).
Now that I’ve had a couple of days to reflect on the Holy Spirit’s conviction, I think I need to apologize to my shipmates–I’m sorry I jumped ship. I got caught wearing Bermuda shorts on a battleship.
The Goodness of God & Coming Home
Yet, God is good! After almost a year of being spiritually homeless, the Lord (in July 2020) led me to the Evangelical Methodist Church. In His goodness and grace, He has shown me over the past three+ years that I have always been an evangelical Methodist, now it’s just official. I’m glad to be home. Yet another answer to prayer, for sure. He answers our prayers in positive ways even when we’re not praying for the right things.
So, I’ll do my best to fight the good fight in my new home. I’ll do my best to serve Him wherever He might lead me as a result of this new relationship. I’ll do my best every day to put on Jesus Christ (the armor of God) and board the battleship in the fight against the spiritual forces of wickedness. I’ll do my best to pray and never give up. I’ll do my best to never abandon my shipmates again. I’ll do my best to honor Him at every turn. I’ll do my best to be prepared for the journey that is faithful discipleship in Christ. I’ll try not to bring Bermuda shorts to a battleship.
I’m certain I may fail at some point. For those times, as in this one, I’ll ask for forgiveness, for mercy and for grace. I’m sure the Lord will extend all three, well, because He’s just good that way. I can only pray that others will, too.
Happy Mother’s Day! Let me take a few lines on this special day to say “Thank you!” to the mothers in my life, and to all mothers everywhere. None of us (and I mean literally none of us) would be who we are without our mothers (for better or worse).
I say “for better or worse,” because I know not everyone has been blessed with incredible examples of motherhood in their lives, and that is truly unfortunate. I, on the other hand, have been blessed beyond measure with those mothers who are shining examples of what it means to be a mother.
Great is Thy Faithfulness
I tell folks that I was raised at the foot of a Methodist piano. My mother, Sonda Womack, played piano for three Methodist churches in our home area. She rode the circuit just like the circuit rider preacher every Sunday so that those congregations had the benefit of music in worship. Most Sundays, my brothers and I had to make that circuit with her, and there we would sit, often listening to the same sermon three times (talk about insufferable!) just for the opportunity to make it to the “big” church so we could be with all our friends.
I didn’t necessarily enjoy all that time at the foot of a Methodist piano, but her faithfulness in serving the Lord by serving those congregations gave me an early example of what discipleship and servanthood looks like. Being an accompanist for all those years was ministry for her. I know that because she was never paid a salary by any of those churches. Yes, there were frequent love offerings the congregations shared, but she never “charged” for her services. It was a gift of love to the Lord.
Her faithfulness shaped me and my brothers. Of that, I have no doubt. She was, for much of our early years, a single mom. She worked long, hard hours to insure that we had what we needed…not always what we wanted…but always what we needed. I can remember her working three jobs when we were little. She worked at the local bank. She would leave that job and head to the local post office where she was a part-time flexible worker. And, if you think playing piano at three churches on Sunday morning isn’t work (whether you’re paid or not), well you’ve got another think coming.
Even now, into her 80’s, she continues to serve two congregations through her gift of music. Still riding the circuit after all these years!
She was, and is, an example of faith and faithfulness and love for which I am forever grateful. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!
The Heart of Our Family
Let me tell you something else. When I married, I married up. I mean I married way up! My wife, Vanessa, is the most amazing mother I know (my own mother notwithstanding). Vanessa has throughout our lives together demonstrated the sacrificial love of Jesus in the most profound of ways. I honestly believe that she was born to be a mother…and grandmother.
I have spent the last forty years watching her nurture our children and grandchildren. I can tell you that she raised our children while I was off going to school and pastoring churches and chasing dreams. Anything good our children have attained or become can be credited to her love and diligence in caring for them.
Raising our children was never a sacrifice for her. It was her gift. She was, for many years, the nurturer, the care-giver, the chauffeur, the cook, the cleaner, the confidant, the disciplinarian, the encourager, the helper and the friend to all four of our children, and she has quickly become that to our grandchildren, too. I might also add, she is all those things to me as a spouse. She is my best friend, and I’m not so sure our children wouldn’t also call her their best friend, either.
She is amazing and beautiful and funny and sacrificial and loving. Try as I might, there really aren’t words to describe what she is to me and to our family. She is the heart and soul of who we are as a family. Happy Mother’s Day, Vanessa!
An Enduring Legacy of Love
The examples of love and sacrifice goes back beyond our present generation. My grandmothers…well…what can I say about them?
My maternal grandmother, Aline Johnson Roberts, demonstrated for me how to serve your spouse. My Papaw lived with rheumatoid arthritis for as long as I have any memory of him. He was bedridden for most of later years of life. Mamaw never left his side.
Everyday, she busied herself waiting on him hand and foot. I never once heard her complain (and mind you, my brothers and I lived with them for several years) about his illness, or the necessity of her caring for him. She did it out of love. She did it out of compassion. And, that was after raising ten children and dealing with 18 (I think) grandchildren (nine of which either lived with them or next door to them).
She remains an example of self-giving love that demonstrates the heart of motherhood. Happy heavenly Mother’s Day, Mamaw!
My paternal grandmother, Kittie Oxford Malone, is a saint if there ever was one. We called her “Mama Kit.” Mama Kit earned her sainthood by putting up with my grandfather, my dad and my uncle. Don’t misunderstand me. I love all three of those men dearly, but they could be…oh, let’s just say…challenging to live with (that’s all I’ll say about that!).
When Vanessa and I married, we moved into her backyard. There we started raising our family. She was there when all our children were born. She was the go-to babysitter for our children. Every afternoon when the kids would arrive home from school, their first stop was usually her house. She generally had cheese toast or cinnamon toast prepared for them when they arrived.
She would spend countless hours reading to our oldest daughter and as she would read she would gently rub our daughter’s back. Our oldest daughter is her namesake, and I honestly think she still misses those back rubs today.
We discovered when ministry called us to Kentucky for seminary, that the worst part was not having Mama Kit to care for us from our backyard. Yes, we missed all our family, but not in the same way we missed Mama Kit. I only wish my grandchildren would have had the opportunity to know Mama Kit.
Mama Kit gave me an example of perseverance in the face of adversity, of commitment to life-long marriage and of selfless love. I am blessed to have her as part of the legacy of faithful motherhood in my live. Happy heavenly Mother’s Day, Mama Kit.
Thank You Mothers!
There are so many more memories and reflections I could share, but this is a long post already. Thank you for indulging me in this overly personal blog. And, thank you to all the mothers that we celebrate on this Mother’s Day.
If your mother is still with you, give thanks to God for her and make sure she knows how much you appreciate her. If your mother is no longer alive, then simply give thanks to God for the memories of love and faithfulness you have.
If you have no good memories of your own mother, can you at least be grateful to God that she gave you life? That is a gift unto itself and you should be grateful.
So, Happy Mother’s Day to all our mothers and grandmothers. May God bless you all on this special day.
I’m not one to say, “I told you so,” so I won’t tell you that what I expected to happen, happened. What happened? The United Methodist Church changed this week.
My phone notifications dinged numerous times over the past week from friends, colleagues and former colleagues alerting me to and asking about the “changes” that were happening at the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, which met April 23 – May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
I don’t intend to use this venue to offer commentary on the events or decisions (though I could!) of the past two weeks as it relates to the United Methodist Church. Any of you reading this blog, and who know me any at all, should know my position of many of the issues that were before the Conference (there’s a reason I left the UMC in 2019).
As I wrote in last week’s blog, I’ve moved on. I’ve had neither the time, nor the desire to follow the General Conference closely. I will simply say that nothing happened that I didn’t expect to happen.
General Conference Action
Since many have asked about the events and decisions, I’ll post a summary written by Rev. Chris Ritter. He has followed the legislative process closely (God bless him!) and prepared the following summary (no point in me reinventing the wheel):
May 4, 2024, Version 1.5 The main governing body of the United Methodist Church, General Conference, met in Charlotte, North Carolina from April 23-May 3, 2024. By anyone’s estimation, this long- delayed meeting was a watershed event marking a new direction for the UMC as a progressive denomination, especially in the United States. The denomination prepared a summary of laudable legislative outcomes. What follows is a summary of notable actions that run counter to traditional Methodism. Marriage is Redefined in United Methodism A revised set of social principles were approved that broaden the definition of marriage to include two consenting adults. The new language is, “Within the church, we affirm marriage as a sacred lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith, an adult man and woman of consenting age, or two adult persons of consenting age into union with one another.” Restrictions on LGBTQ Clergy Are Removed The following language was stricken from the Book of Discipline: “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church. ” Language Forbidding Same-sex Weddings in UMC Sanctuaries Are Removed Language barring same-sex weddings from being hosted in UM sanctuaries was removed. Although the Judicial Council ruled during General Conference that local church boards of trustees can set policies forbidding same-sex weddings, the ruling was vague on whether clergy are required to honor such policies. Non-binary Gender Categories Are Embraced Even before General Conference, official statistics used in the UMC allowed for a non- binary category of gender. At General Conference, all speakers were asked to state their name, conference, clergy/lay status, and age category for statistical purposes. Delegates who wished were invited to share their “preferred pronouns,” and many did. Specific Language Related to Adultery Is Removed from Clergy Chargeable Offenses General Conference edited the list of offenses for which a clergy could be charged by removing: “(a) immorality including but not limited to, not being celibate in singleness or not faithful in a heterosexual marriage; (b) practices declared by The United Methodist Church to be incompatible with Christian teachings, including but not limited to: being a self-avowed practicing homosexual; or conducting ceremonies which celebrate homosexual unions; or performing same-sex wedding ceremonies.” While “sexual misconduct” remains a chargeable offense, this definition of misconduct is less defined and subject to the discretion of bishops. There are concerns this change could open the door to permitting sex outside of marriage if consensual. Abortion Stance Changed General Conference approved a petition affirming a right to abortion and pledging “solidarity with those who seek reproductive health care.” The petition, “upholds a person’s right to an abortion after informed consideration with their family, medical practitioners, pastor, and other pertinent counsel.” It also denounces abortion bans. The Revised Social Principles are more nuanced on the topic of abortion, but the overall position of the UMC on abortion is pro-choice. The following words were deleted, “we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child.” Church Funds Can Be Used to Promote Homosexuality Annual conference and general church monies are no longer prohibited from being used to promote the acceptance of homosexuality. The General Commission on Archives and History quickly announced the formation of a new “Center for LGBTQ+ United Methodist Heritage” using apportionment dollars. Sexual Orientation Now a Mandated Diversity Category on Church Boards The category of “sexual orientation” was added as a required category for mandated diversity on church commissions and agencies. Alongside race and gender diversity, people of various sexual orientations are now to be included in governing bodies. Protections Previously Developed for Traditional United Methodists Mostly Omitted The 2019 One Church Plan produced by the Commission on a Way Forward provided a raft of protections for traditionalists in the UMC that would accompany liberalization of the human sexuality position. These protections were mostly omitted from the changes approved at General Conference. While General Conference made clear that no clergy can be coerced into conducting same-sex weddings, the following One Church Plan protections were omitted: (1) Language to “affirm those who continue to maintain that the Scriptural witness does not condone the practice of homosexuality. We believe that their conscience should be protected in the church and throughout society under basic principles of religious liberty.” (2) Language stating that marriage has been “traditionally understood as a union of one man and one woman,” (3) Language stating that same-sex weddings would only be allowed in churches that specifically voted to host them, (4) Language allowing annual conferences to develop their own policies on human sexuality, and (5) Allowances for bishops to decline to ordain practicing gay clergy (the jurisdiction would have provided another bishop to ordain gay candidates in such an instance.) Annual Conferences Required to Prepare Local Churches to Accept Gay Clergy The definition of Open Itineracy was expanded to include accepting clergy regardless of sexual orientation. The revised ¶ 425.1 directs annual conferences to train Pastor Parish Relations Committees to receive pastors regardless of sexual orientation. The UMC Divests from Israel In the first such action by a major Christian denomination, the General Conference of The United Methodist Church voted to divest from Israel bonds. Approved Petition 20554-CC- R6111-G calls on the UMC to lobby the U.S. government to end military aid to Israel. The General Board of Global Ministries Tasked with Furthering Intersectional Ideology General Conference added a new ¶ 1302.16 requiring that the UMC mission board “provide training, resources, and consultation for and with all levels of the global church to actively resist intersecting structures of white supremacy, heterosexism, sexism, patriarchy, transphobia, xenophobia, ableism, colonialism and classism.” Constitutional Amendments Allowing Regionalization Were Approved Sweeping changes to the UMC constitution were approved allowing U.S. jurisdictions to organize as a U.S. Region and adopt their own rules. If ratified in the annual conferences, these changes would prevent conservative global regions from affecting U.S.-based rules. Why the Shift in Church Teaching was So Dramatic In the fallout of a special General Conference in 2019 where the traditional understanding of marriage and human sexuality was upheld, U.S. progressives organized opposition with cooperation from certain U.S. bishops. Progressive slates of delegates were elected to represent several U.S. conferences. Amid this fallout, a high-profile plan, the Separation Protocol, was negotiated to divide the denomination. The General Conference set to approve separation was delayed twice due to COVID-19 and without controversy. A third delay until 2024 was viewed by traditionalists as unnecessary and shrewdly calculated. The Global Methodist Church announced plans to form in May 2022 and traditionalists began to disaffiliate under a provision approved at GC2019 (but only applied to US churches). A quarter of the 30,000 UMC churches in the USA exited. Meanwhile, the UM Commission on the General Conference styled the 2024 meeting a “delayed General Conference 2020.” This allowed the US the same delegate as before the exodus. African delegates, already disenfranchised from their new majority status, suffered further set- backs when a quarter of their delegates were unable to attend due to travel visa issues. All these factors created a ”boomerang effect” from the stated positions of the church in 2019. No Exit Pathways Were Approved The disaffiliation legislation had a sunset clause of December 31, 2023. It was not renewed by General Conference. This means that churches that wish to exit the United Methodist Church have no clear pathway out of the church. Some annual conferences, like South Carolina and South Georgia, have temporary mechanisms in place for churches that wish to depart. Other congregations will need to negotiate their way out if they wish to keep their properties.
The Future is Now
Thanks to Rev. Ritter for his diligence in compiling the information. Find the original post here. You can also find a list of helpful links to additional articles by clicking here.
In the interest of fairness (and because I have many whom I still consider friends in the UMC) I’ll share the official summary provided by the United Methodist News Service. You can do the work of comparing the two yourself.
Conclusion
So, why am I sharing this information if “I’ve moved on?” One reason: There are many congregations that remained United Methodist who adopted a “wait and see” attitude. They chose to wait and see what the General Conference would do.
Well, the GC has acted, and those congregations might now choose to make a decision about their future. I share this information for those congregations, lest they miss it in their discernment process.
If you are a part of one of those congregations, and your congregation will be entering a discernment process to determine its future, I’d love to visit with you and your congregation about the Evangelical Methodist Church. The EMC is where I’ve found my home, and I would love to help you explore the advantages of being a part of our denomination. Simply reply in the comments section below, or email me your contact information. We’ll go from there.
This has been a week that has been filled with questions…questions I’ve pondered as I’ve encountered situations, listened to conversations, spent time in prayer and watched the world stage.
I’m posting questions via this venue, not really seeking answers (though I invite you to comment if you like) but to offer others the opportunity to ponder with me, or to get others to think about what is happening in their own lives.
Deep Questions
Let me start with the theological questions I’ve been asking this week:
Is it possible to be totally abandoned to God?
What does total abandonment to God look like?
I know! You want me to answer those questions, don’t you? Well, I’m not going to answer them because I’m not sure I can. As I’ve pondered the questions this week, they’ve only raised more questions. Asking the questions doesn’t diminish my desire to be totally abandoned to the Lord, but even asking the question makes me believe that I’m not totally abandoned.
I know Jesus was totally abandoned to the Father’s will, but then again, he was/is Jesus. He is God! He knows the beginning from the end. Surrender/abandonment seems easy for Him.
What about me? What about we mere mortals? Can we not ask questions? Do we simply accept every situation, circumstance or event as a place God would have us be? Even when we make stupid decisions? Does the Lord lead us into hell, or rather, does He accompany us there because we’ve led ourselves there?
See? Answering questions with more questions. That’s kinda’ been my week. Hey! If you’ve got answers, leave them in the comments section below.
“End Time” Questions
Here are more theological questions I’ve been mulling over the last week or so, especially in light of world events:
Are we living in the “end times?”
Am I ready for the “rapture?”
Are there too many interpretations of the “rapture” to really understand it?
Yeah! I actually went there–end times stuff. All the chaos in the world has many people (Christians) believing that the end is near. As I ponder these questions, I have to remind myself that every generation, including the Apostle Paul’s, believed the end was near. I also have to remind myself of what Jesus said:
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Matthew 24: 36 (NIV)
Go study Matthew 24 – 25 for a more in-depth understanding of Jesus’s discourse on the end times, but with every answer be prepared for more questions. Questions like: “How self-absorbed must I be to believe that this generation is so pious that the Lord wants to ‘deliver’ us from the ‘Great Tribulation’ that is to come, when there were other generations of believers who suffered so much more persecution than we have or will?”
I refuse to answer that question, too. I’m sure some of you will attempt it. Go ahead. There is a comment section below.
Honest Questions
I haven’t only been mulling theological questions this week. I’ve also been asking myself these questions:
Why can’t some former United Methodists simply move on?
Why do some current United Methodists feel the need to continue to berate those that left the United Methodist Church?
These questions have been prompted by the fact the General Conference of the United Methodist Church is gathered in Charlotte, NC. Yes, it’s the postponed 2020 General Conference that is meeting in 2024. Seriously, only United Methodists could have a meeting in 2024 and call it a meeting for 2020.
Honestly, I haven’t followed the goings-on of General Conference very closely. Number one, I’m no longer United Methodist so it doesn’t really matter, but number two, who has got that much time? I only mention it because my Facebook feed has been packed with posts and comments from both current and former United Methodists who just can’t seem to let go of all that has transpired through the disaffiliations of the last four years.
I will offer this counsel to all my friends: Move on! If you are my friend and you are a former United Methodist, don’t feel the need to comment on anything that is happening at General Conference. What is happening is exactly what you knew would happen and is the reason you left the denomination. It is unnecessary to say, “I told you so,” or to cry, “Apostasy!” Move on! Look forward. Serve with faithfulness where God is calling you NOW.
If you are my friend and you remained United Methodist, don’t feel the need to complain about and berate those of us who left. Move on! Look forward. You’re getting the church you want because we’re not there. Go do what you believe the Lord is calling you to do. Don’t make yourself look less Christian because of your snide and condescending comments on Facebook.
The circumstances surrounding the General Conference have caused me to ask, “Can’t we just show one another grace?” But, hey? I’m just asking…
Trust me. These aren’t the only questions I’ve been asking myself this week. Just demonstrates how muddled my mind can get sometimes. With as many questions as I’ve had (with few answers), I still feel like I’m not asking the right questions.
So? What about you? You got questions? Better still…do you have any answers?
You know the definition of insanity, right? Insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting a different result. The definition has been attributed to Albert Einstein. No one really knows if Einstein said it, but regardless, it is still true.
I bring up insanity only as a follow-up to my previous blog (here) dealing with the pastoral supply shortage in the church world (particularly among Methodists). Many congregations are searching for pastors and they are doing so with a mentality that is either dying or already dead.
Many congregations want a pastor like the pastors from the “good old days”–one who visits the sick, comforts the grieving, preaches good sermons, leads great bible studies, attends all the church functions, opens and closes the church on Sunday, etc. Many congregations are looking for a pastor “Who can meet our needs.” They are looking for Pastor Fetch.
If you’re a congregation that is searching for a leader, and you’re looking for a Pastor Fetch, you’re being insane. The reason for your insanity is because you’re trying to do ministry in a world that no longer exists. The world (the culture) has changed and your congregation is not changing with it. My counsel to you is “Don’t be insane!”
The 21st century and the dawn of the Information Age (call it the rise of the internet), along with the introduction of social media, has changed the landscape for EVERYTHING in our world. The church, as per usual, is one of the last institutions to adapt to that changing landscape (although the Covid pandemic did speed up the process for some). The tectonic shifts in culture have rendered the “old” models of ministry (and ministers) dead, or at the very least, on life support.
The “Old” Models
What are the “old” models of ministry I’m referencing? First, there is what I will call the “priest” model. This model has the leader who has been “trained” in all the rites of the faith tradition, and has the credentials to prove it. This person “stands apart” from the lay persons in the congregation and is the go-between for God and the people.
Another model of “old” ministry is that of “chaplain.” Yes, this model has the congregational leader as a “shepherd” of souls. You need a “pastor” with counseling skills and psychological insight who can visit the sick and care for the needy.
Another “old” model of ministry is that of “preacher-teacher.” The leader has to be trained in Greek and Hebrew in order to interpret the ancient texts. This leader is the resident scholar and theologian, and the sermon is the centerpiece of this model of ministry. An entire industry of theological education grew up to support this model of ministry, and the reality is that industry depends on the survival of this model for its continuation.
A more recent “old” model of ministry is that of “CEO-Manager.” This model has a leader who manages budgets, recruits and manages people for tasks, develops programs for ministry, gains new “customers” (converts) and casts vision for the congregation. This model is pretty much a singular reason we have so many “megachurches” these days.
None of these models has been ineffective. None of these models are necessarily un-biblical (with the exception of the CEO-Manager model). Unfortunately, each of these models have been rolled into the job description for one person, thus the leader who became “Pastor Fetch.”
A “Pre-Christian” World
The parallels between the first and twenty-first centuries is striking. I guess we might say is “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The parallels include globalism, religious pluralism along with a new focus on “spirituality” (people are “spiritual but not religious), and the collapse of institutions (including religious institution) are but a few of the most obvious ones.
The re-emergence of a pre-Christian world (culture) necessitates a new model of leadership in the church. It is called the “Apostolic” leadership model, and it harkens back to the days of the first apostles. I believe God is calling congregations and Christian leaders to re-learn and re-engage in this model of ministry to be effective in this new “old” world.
The “Apostolic” Model of Leadership
So, what does it mean to engage in this new “Apostolic” leadership model? First, this model is “missional.” The congregation (and its leaders) must be on mission–the Great Commission.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28: 19-20 NIV).
Evangelism and sharing the Gospel must be at the heart of every congregation. We must be prepared to tell the story of Jesus to a world that increasingly has not heard the Word, and we must do it with creativity–taking the church to the street, or the amusement park, or the ball park, or the concert venue–well, you get the point. One congregation actually leases an amusement park once a year and invites the community free of charge to come as a means of promoting the Gospel.
Next, the new “old” model is “kingdom focused.” To be kingdom focused means that we believe Jesus’ kingdom does not fit the model of this world, and that it actually extends past the walls of church building programming. This does not mean we are pursuing political power, but are looking for collegial relationships that are community based and community focused. It is not about “how do we get people to come to our church,” but more about, “how do we take church to the people.”
Thirdly, the new “old” model is “team-oriented.” Pastor Fetch cannot and will not do it all in the apostolic model. Jesus had a team of twelve (probably more) that he taught and commissioned to begin the work of ministry. The Apostle Paul had Barnabas, Silas, Timothy and Luke as helpers for the work of ministry. A team orientation to ministry assists in bringing ALL the necessary skills to the work, and it promotes accountability among leadership in a much more spiritual way.
As part of this team orientation, ministry leaders will be focused on developing disciples who exhibit and practice the “five-fold ministry gifts” found in Ephesians 4.
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4: 11-13 NIV).
Ministry leadership is about developing others to fulfill the calling of the mission. Congregations seeking pastoral leadership need to be looking for persons who can lead them in learning to the do the ministry instead of leaders who do the ministry for them.
The Leader a Congregation is Looking For
In this cultural age, every congregation should be looking for a pastor who is evangelistic, meaning their primary desire should be to see others come to Jesus. The primary desire of your new pastor should not be to meet your spiritual needs, but rather should be concerned with inviting others into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Another characteristic that should be high on a congregation’s list of qualifications is a person who is interested in community engagement, a person who has demonstrated the ability to engage in building relationships across congregations, businesses and other non-profits in the communities they’ve served.
A final characteristic I would be looking for if I were looking for a pastor is a team-building mentality. Is the person capable and has he/she demonstrated the capacity to surround him/herself with other leaders and allow them to share the work of ministry. Has this person delegated responsibility to others, and has this person taught and trained others how to use their giftedness for ministry?
Those are not necessarily qualities that have been high on your list for previous pastors, but if a congregation goes looking for a pastor like their previous pastors, then they’ll likely get exactly what they’ve gotten in past, and that will only lead to a continuing decline in the congregation. But, I say, “Hey, if you want what you’ve always had, then by all means, go for it. You’ll get what you’ve always gotten, and that’s just insane.”
But, then again, what do I know? I’ve been out of vocational ministry for five years. I don’t know much of anything. I’ve just been observing from the sidelines. One can learn a lot, though, when observing from the sidelines.
Remember March 2020? I’m sure you do! It was the beginning of the Covid pandemic in the United States. Most of us remember where we were and what we were doing when the “lock-downs” started, and who among us will ever forget the great toilet paper shortage of 2020?
The Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020
Toilet paper became the brunt of all our jokes and countless social media memes due to its short supply during 2020. “Panic buying” was the most often quoted reason for its short supply, but the most likely reason had more to do with the way toilet paper is manufactured and supplied to stores, and they places we used it.
Think about it this way. People split their time between home and work, which meant they likely used as much toilet paper at work as at home. Suddenly, we were spending all our time at home, which meant toilet paper consumption at home mostly doubled (or more). We needed more toilet paper at home.
The toilet paper used in workplaces is usually different from the toilet paper we use at home, as is the packaging and distribution. Suppliers simply couldn’t shift packaging and distribution quickly enough to handle the transition, so store shelves were left empty until the transition could be made. It all eventually worked itself out and we were able to catch up on our toilet paper needs, and no one (that I know of) was relegated to ancient sources of clean-up as a result (crass, right?).
The Great Pastor Shortage of 2024
But, let’s not go on talking about toilet paper. I bring it up only because I’ve noticed another commodity that’s in very short supply these days–pastors. The pastoral supply shortage was taking place long before the pandemic, but the “epidemic” of departures/disaffiliations from the United Methodist Church seems to have exacerbated the problem.
I belong to a couple of Facebook groups that are dedicated to helping churches find pastors and pastors find churches. One is called Kingdom Leaders Association, and as of two days ago, it listed 17 congregations (all disaffiliated UMC’s) who were seeking pastoral leadership (and it’s a small Facebook group-199 members). The other group is called Pastor Search (over 20,000 members) and the churches that post there seeking a pastor is just too overwhelming to count (last time I counted it was over 200 from various denominations and independents).
I know the shortage was real before the pandemic because as a District Superintendent trying to staff congregations with pastors in my district of 84 churches, there were always those listed as TBS (to be supplied). There was an annual scramble to find retired clergy or lay persons who were willing the fill these slots, and yet many of them remained un-filled.
Why the Shortage?
There are a number of reasons for the shortage. One reason is pastoral burn-out. Pastors are tired. One study revealed that 42% of pastors have considered leaving the ministry in the past year. The stress of pastoral work and the toll it takes on a family has simply become too much for a pastor to be willing to continue, especially in a world where there are so many other options.
Another reason is a decline in seminary enrollment. Put another way, there aren’t enough new people entering the pipeline to ministry. There are now more pastors over the age of 65 than there are who are under the age of 40, and those numbers have flipped since 1992. Many young people are simply not answering the call to ministry in the same way they once did, and that is being reflected in congregations ability to locate “trained” clergy.
One reason some younger folks are not answering the call to pastoral ministry might have to do with the unrealistic expectations many congregations have of their leaders. In my experience, many congregations want a 42 year-old pastor with 20 years of experience, an earned doctorate, a family of four with a spouse who plays the piano, and the congregation wants to pay that person $35,000/year. The congregation’s mentality is, “Lord, you keep the pastor humble, and we’ll keep the pastor poor.”
They want their pastor to be available 24/7, cut short their vacation if a member dies, preach like Billy Graham and shepherd like Mother Teresa. I could go on, but you get the picture. Too many congregations want full-time ministry with only part-time pay. Those expectations are killing pastors and now they’re killing congregations.
I apologize if I drone on about the reasons for the supply shortage. I could unpack a dozen other reasons that add to the problem, but unpacking those reasons does nothing to solve the problem. So, I’ll shift my focus to some things that might be helpful to congregations that are searching for a pastor.
Recommendations
First, be encouraged that this is not the first generation to deal with a labor shortage when it comes to ministry leadership. Remember the words of Jesus to His first disciples:
37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9: 37-38 (NIV)
Jesus gives us the first key to identifying leadership–prayer! Pray for a pastor, and when I say pray, I mean set aside intentional times of congregational prayer to ask the Lord to send THE leader who will lead the congregation to faithfulness and fruitfulness. This doesn’t mean a passing reference during the prayer time in a worship service. Be intentional in praying for leadership.
Another helpful step? If you are an independent congregation, join a denomination. Joining a denomination may not be the end all and be all for finding pastoral leadership, but it certainly gives a congregation a head-start due to the simple fact that denomination’s have processes in place to assist congregations in finding clergy leadership. Keep in mind, though, that many denominations are dealing with their own clergy shortages. It is not a uniquely Methodist matter.
Let me also encourage congregations to look within. Your next pastor might be sitting in the pew next to you. Where do pastors come from? They come from congregations. If churches do not have enough pastors, it might be because the congregations (and their leaders) have not been intentional in identifying leaders within their own congregation.
No one knows a congregation better than members of the congregation. It’s time to start tapping people on the shoulder to say, “Hey, you have a gift for teaching. Ever thought about using it in the Kingdom?” A congregation’s next pastor could already be in the congregation. Pray about it. Identify them. Call them. Encourage them. Train them. And, then, most importantly, follow them. If necessary, ordain that person as a congregation. If John Wesley could do it, so can you!
Conclusion
This should probably be a much longer post, or at least a multi-part series, but the reality is that I’ve been away from vocational ministry too long to understand the issue as I should. I’ve just offered a few rambling reflections because the issue has been on my mind the last week or so, and because I’ll be serving as pulpit supply for a couple of churches on that list I mentioned earlier in the next few weeks.
I’m also a feeling a little guilty because I know I could be serving any of those churches, but I’m choosing not to do so right now. Yes, I’m praying about it, but I’m waiting on my next burning bush experience before I make a decision concerning future ministry opportunities (feeling a little guilty about that, too–and burning bushes are rare this day and time).
Forgive my comparison of toilet paper and pastors. They are only similar in that they both are accustomed to taking _______ off people. They are different in that it’s much easier to get toilet paper back on the shelf than it is to get pastors in pulpits. It’s easier to make toilet paper than it is to make pastors, and it takes less time, too.
Oh, well! I’m done now.
Until next time (if there is one after this blog), keep looking up…
Not the Perfect Pastor 