Membership and attendance at most all churches dwindling. Younger people not going to church and not supporting churches financially. How will this help? What would Jesus do? He would tell us, yet again, to love one another.
Oh, thanks, I hadn’t heard this! Well, most Methodists are not evangelicals; I don’t think they’re as attached to guns. I could be mistaken, especially in some areas of the country, including Texas.
What a perceptive essay. I’ve been a United Methodist for 45 years. These last few have been difficult for me. I’ve come close to quitting, even though our particular church has been open and affirming for years. But how could I belong to this denomination that treated LGBTQ people with such contempt? I likened it to belonging to Augusta National in the days when blacks were not admitted. It’s unthinkable. To those who are disaffiliating, I say good riddance. They’re on the wrong side of history.
But as you write, Cheryl, it’s all a part of a larger movement in society. There’s so much I don’t understand. How can sensible Iowans back the politicians who get elected these days? What happened to people’s common sense? Their ability to sniff out BS artists? Their desire to protect the environment for future generations? Their support for strong public schools? Caring for the least of us.
Sorry for the screed. But I just don’t understand.
Thank you, Dave. Like you, I am a lifelong Methodist, and I have so much affection and shared history with its members. Other denominations have struggled as well. I do think (and I could be wrong) that other countries with a growing number of churches have contributed to the General (worldwide) Conference decisions. But that is not an explanation for the huge exodus of churches in the Southeast and South Central U.S. No apologies needed—I share your frustration and confusion about the degree of meanness and lack of grace among Christians these days. I have to attribute some of this to a sense of being threatened by a greater openness in today’s society, as well as the progress made in affording new legal protections to marginalized groups. Keep the faith!
I dropped my longtime official membership in the UMC after General Conference in 2019 during which the delegates voted to continue the long standing policy of targeted, institutionalized discrimination toward gay clergy and marriage. I was happy that since then, some conferences and bishops have chosen to pull back on punitive punishments for violations of these policies.
Almost enough to make me want to join again. But current local efforts to hijack the community UMC for personal ambitions, using stealth actions and disinformation have caused me to step back and just watch for a while. I also do not understand.
The United Methodists are no different than many other religions and the people who attend. Humans seem to do a lot of genuflecting with their fingers crossed behind their backs! They don't really want to know that the church accepts people they don't want to be associated with. The South-east side of Cedar Rapids at St. Pauls UMC, had a shism in the late 50's early 60's over Robert Armstrong selling property to a black doctor in the upper end of the neighborhood, and "white flight" ensued. Rather quickly "Lovely Lane" Methodist was started almost next door to Kennedy High School, the "new" public high school being filled with kids of these racially discriminating parents. Meanwhile, back in the old neighborhood, the amount of attention to a large section of the inner city neighborhood went from solidly middle class working folks into a gehetto tail spin. It hasn't changed much as a result, I lived there for 37 years and can attest to that.
Had a chance to read the Global Methodist Church's 20 page "book of discipline" last year. It also contains language that specifically condemns abortion. I have been a life long Methodist. Always took pride in our church's open mind. Unfortunately Rockwell City United Methodist Church has also voted to disaffiliate. Sad times for Methodists
Oh, my! Some churches hold services that strive to be more of a professional performance than a service of fellowship and music that could come off as amateur (but genuine). I still love movies at a theatre, too.
Excellent piece!! I recently relocated back to Iowa from the Kansas City area and the UMC church I attended in KC (Church of the Resurrection) was one of the leaders in trying to prevent the split. Sadly Pastor Adam Hamilton lost at the General Conference and the schism is the result.
Our UMC church in Pocahontas County voted to disaffiliate in January. We, in response, disaffiliated with them! Not long after we transferred our membership, to a geographically distant but theologically compatible church, a friend had a stroke. It was days before I found out though, because I'm now an outsider.
Conservative Religious hair splitting is especially well thought out scheme to build rancor and disassociation with others and it appearsto be working quite well for the Republican juggernaut.
Thank you for your thorough article. I have a couple of comments. First you say, "This focus of this column isn't specifically on the schism of the second-largest mainline Protestant church." I think the UMC is the largest mainline Protestant church.
Second, I think another source of the anti-LGBTQ sentiment is from Matthew 19: 4-6 , where Jesus says "“Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” I don't agree with this, but I think it is a source of the disagreement. It's interesting that people will quote the Bible like this, but be perfectly quiet about divorce, which Jesus specifically condemned. I don't agree with that either, but it goes to show that proof-texting never solves an argument. God help us...
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Yes, I will fact check! The topic of divorce is not treated in the same way—you’re so right. It is very easy to be selective about one’s Biblical focus, isn’t it?
Wow, who would have thought - religious divisiveness could serve as a tool for downtown storefront redevelopment in small towns?
Your piece today certainly stirs emotions for many of us current and former United Methodists. Thank you for writing and sharing.
In our case (Humboldt County) the disaffiliation effort is being driven, not so much by anti-LGBTQ prejudices, but by clergy dissatisfaction with the UMC hierarchy and a desire to have their own church, not subject to control or accountability by a larger denomination. That, and the specification that churches disaffiliating this year can take advantage of a special paragraph in the Book of Discipline allowing for departing churches to “keep our own buildings and assets” if they meet (or claim to meet) specific criteria.
But the fractionalism has already begun and will only get worse (our vote is scheduled for late June, right before the deadline). A resulting loss of the UMC here will add one more county to the growing “Methodist desert” across this part of Iowa.
Years ago I visited my aunt Helen who lived in a small town in Missouri. She invited me to a small house church (about six people) she was attending there, which was formed when a few church members got upset at the current pastor. Little did I know then I might become part of a similar fate here, now at my late stage in life, for a different reason!
You are so welcome, Jim! Your description of the situation in Humboldt is interesting. So these churches are eager to take on the responsibilities of identifying and vetting pastors, as well as the financial costs of insurance, etc. that is not reduced by being part of such a large pool. No apportionments if they go it alone, I assume. Even though it is possible to keep their buildings, if they act by the end of the year, it could amount to a huge outlay for many congregations. I hope it will not come down to you being set adrift! Take care!
Dear Cheryl,
As a fellow writer, I particularly loved the delightful work in your last two sentences.
Dave Engelken
Thank you.
Membership and attendance at most all churches dwindling. Younger people not going to church and not supporting churches financially. How will this help? What would Jesus do? He would tell us, yet again, to love one another.
Oh, thanks, I hadn’t heard this! Well, most Methodists are not evangelicals; I don’t think they’re as attached to guns. I could be mistaken, especially in some areas of the country, including Texas.
What a perceptive essay. I’ve been a United Methodist for 45 years. These last few have been difficult for me. I’ve come close to quitting, even though our particular church has been open and affirming for years. But how could I belong to this denomination that treated LGBTQ people with such contempt? I likened it to belonging to Augusta National in the days when blacks were not admitted. It’s unthinkable. To those who are disaffiliating, I say good riddance. They’re on the wrong side of history.
But as you write, Cheryl, it’s all a part of a larger movement in society. There’s so much I don’t understand. How can sensible Iowans back the politicians who get elected these days? What happened to people’s common sense? Their ability to sniff out BS artists? Their desire to protect the environment for future generations? Their support for strong public schools? Caring for the least of us.
Sorry for the screed. But I just don’t understand.
Thank you, Dave. Like you, I am a lifelong Methodist, and I have so much affection and shared history with its members. Other denominations have struggled as well. I do think (and I could be wrong) that other countries with a growing number of churches have contributed to the General (worldwide) Conference decisions. But that is not an explanation for the huge exodus of churches in the Southeast and South Central U.S. No apologies needed—I share your frustration and confusion about the degree of meanness and lack of grace among Christians these days. I have to attribute some of this to a sense of being threatened by a greater openness in today’s society, as well as the progress made in affording new legal protections to marginalized groups. Keep the faith!
I dropped my longtime official membership in the UMC after General Conference in 2019 during which the delegates voted to continue the long standing policy of targeted, institutionalized discrimination toward gay clergy and marriage. I was happy that since then, some conferences and bishops have chosen to pull back on punitive punishments for violations of these policies.
Almost enough to make me want to join again. But current local efforts to hijack the community UMC for personal ambitions, using stealth actions and disinformation have caused me to step back and just watch for a while. I also do not understand.
The United Methodists are no different than many other religions and the people who attend. Humans seem to do a lot of genuflecting with their fingers crossed behind their backs! They don't really want to know that the church accepts people they don't want to be associated with. The South-east side of Cedar Rapids at St. Pauls UMC, had a shism in the late 50's early 60's over Robert Armstrong selling property to a black doctor in the upper end of the neighborhood, and "white flight" ensued. Rather quickly "Lovely Lane" Methodist was started almost next door to Kennedy High School, the "new" public high school being filled with kids of these racially discriminating parents. Meanwhile, back in the old neighborhood, the amount of attention to a large section of the inner city neighborhood went from solidly middle class working folks into a gehetto tail spin. It hasn't changed much as a result, I lived there for 37 years and can attest to that.
Yes, it's sad, but true. Human beings are full of frailities (and seem to have a basic instinct to sort themselves into tribes). Thank you.
Had a chance to read the Global Methodist Church's 20 page "book of discipline" last year. It also contains language that specifically condemns abortion. I have been a life long Methodist. Always took pride in our church's open mind. Unfortunately Rockwell City United Methodist Church has also voted to disaffiliate. Sad times for Methodists
I am so sorry to hear about Rockwell City. I don’t understand how they believe the future will be kind to discriminating and closed off congregations.
Our local movie theater was sold to a church. I still am not over our town of 7000 people not having a movie theater. Angry, sad and frustrated.
Oh, my! Some churches hold services that strive to be more of a professional performance than a service of fellowship and music that could come off as amateur (but genuine). I still love movies at a theatre, too.
Excellent piece!! I recently relocated back to Iowa from the Kansas City area and the UMC church I attended in KC (Church of the Resurrection) was one of the leaders in trying to prevent the split. Sadly Pastor Adam Hamilton lost at the General Conference and the schism is the result.
Our UMC church in Pocahontas County voted to disaffiliate in January. We, in response, disaffiliated with them! Not long after we transferred our membership, to a geographically distant but theologically compatible church, a friend had a stroke. It was days before I found out though, because I'm now an outsider.
Oh that is so sad! It is breaking up a lot of longtime relationships, and I'm not sure why people think it's worth it.
Conservative Religious hair splitting is especially well thought out scheme to build rancor and disassociation with others and it appearsto be working quite well for the Republican juggernaut.
Cheryl,
Thank you for your thorough article. I have a couple of comments. First you say, "This focus of this column isn't specifically on the schism of the second-largest mainline Protestant church." I think the UMC is the largest mainline Protestant church.
Second, I think another source of the anti-LGBTQ sentiment is from Matthew 19: 4-6 , where Jesus says "“Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” I don't agree with this, but I think it is a source of the disagreement. It's interesting that people will quote the Bible like this, but be perfectly quiet about divorce, which Jesus specifically condemned. I don't agree with that either, but it goes to show that proof-texting never solves an argument. God help us...
Charles R. Crawley
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Yes, I will fact check! The topic of divorce is not treated in the same way—you’re so right. It is very easy to be selective about one’s Biblical focus, isn’t it?
Wow, who would have thought - religious divisiveness could serve as a tool for downtown storefront redevelopment in small towns?
Your piece today certainly stirs emotions for many of us current and former United Methodists. Thank you for writing and sharing.
In our case (Humboldt County) the disaffiliation effort is being driven, not so much by anti-LGBTQ prejudices, but by clergy dissatisfaction with the UMC hierarchy and a desire to have their own church, not subject to control or accountability by a larger denomination. That, and the specification that churches disaffiliating this year can take advantage of a special paragraph in the Book of Discipline allowing for departing churches to “keep our own buildings and assets” if they meet (or claim to meet) specific criteria.
But the fractionalism has already begun and will only get worse (our vote is scheduled for late June, right before the deadline). A resulting loss of the UMC here will add one more county to the growing “Methodist desert” across this part of Iowa.
Years ago I visited my aunt Helen who lived in a small town in Missouri. She invited me to a small house church (about six people) she was attending there, which was formed when a few church members got upset at the current pastor. Little did I know then I might become part of a similar fate here, now at my late stage in life, for a different reason!
You are so welcome, Jim! Your description of the situation in Humboldt is interesting. So these churches are eager to take on the responsibilities of identifying and vetting pastors, as well as the financial costs of insurance, etc. that is not reduced by being part of such a large pool. No apportionments if they go it alone, I assume. Even though it is possible to keep their buildings, if they act by the end of the year, it could amount to a huge outlay for many congregations. I hope it will not come down to you being set adrift! Take care!
The Beat Farmers had a thing or two to say about this when they saw it coming in 1986
Well let's pack up the kids and take a break, get away
Leave the hustle and bustle of living from day to day
And I know that the crime in the city is-a getting worse
So we're going on down to the gun sale at the church
Well my lady's all set to have us a real good time
Baby Johnny's got fins but he don't seem to mind
So the family's all ready to pray at the holy perch
That's set up in the middle of the gun sale at the church
Well we'll ask the lord to forgive us all of our sins
And we'll look at the latest in gold plated firing pins
Well my two main men are Jesus and old John Birch
So we're going on down to the gun sale at the church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe01Bvvzt6U