Trad Plan results
2019 General Conference passes Traditional Plan Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey observes the results from a Feb. 26 vote for the Traditional Plan, which affirms the church’s current bans on ordaining LGBTQ clergy and officiating at or hosting same-sex marriage. The vote came on the last day of the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis. (Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.)
April 10, 2019
Both formal and informal discussions continue across the U.S. United Methodist Church about what shape the worldwide denomination’s future may take. So far, few details have emerged from the discussion, but expressions of concern and hope are surfacing about and from the talks. In most cases, the reports don’t include support for the Traditional Plan as adopted by the 2019 General Conference (see accompanying photo).
‘Harvest of Joy’
Uniting Methodists, an unofficial group that promoted and supported the One Church Plan, has issued an online statement called “Harvest of Joy.” The statement lists a series of “dreams,” some of which sound a lot like the ideas behind the failed One Church Plan:
“We dream of the ways God will change our circumstances for the better as renewed and new institutional structures emerge to support our ministry and mission.
“We dream of a church that hears the groaning of the whole creation (Romans 8:18-25) for redemption and peace; a church that boldly participates in the coming of God’s dream of a transformed world in which the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the oppressed are set free, and the poor receive good news (Luke 4:16-21); a church that bears witness to the hope of that day when the kingdoms of this earth will become the Reign of God. (Revelation 11:15)
“We dream of a church that wholeheartedly affirms the Christian faith expressed in the Articles of Religion, Confession of Faith of The United Methodist Church, the General Rules, and the historical creeds and liturgies of the Church and defined in the Book of Discipline as ‘Our Theological Task’ (¶105).
“We dream of a church that, instead of mirroring the painful polarization of the world around us, is united in our faith, mission, and ministry (Ephesians 4:1-6) while honoring diversity of conscience and practices given the varied contexts in which we serve (Acts 15:1-29).”
The group is inviting United Methodist laypeople and clergy to sign it as an expression of hope for the future. Click here to read and sign the full statement.
Discussion leader challenged
At the same time, the former top executive of the Methodist Federation for Social Action has challenged a leader of current talks to think beyond trying to resurrect the One Church Plan in some form.
The Rev. Kathryn Johnson, now pastor of Parkway United Methodist Church in Milton, Mass.,
served as the executive director of Methodist Federation for Social Action for a decade. On April 9 she posted an open letter to the Rev. Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, who has been organizing various invitation-only discussion groups.
Among other things, Rev. Johnson zeroes in on the question of denominational unity via “local option” – again, a reincarnation of the One Church Plan and apparently a main focus of the Hamiltonian talks, according to some sources – versus full inclusion of LGBTQ people in the UMC. Read Rev. Johnson’s full letter.
Media Mentions as of April 10, 2019
Protestants softening stance on homosexuality, despite recent United Methodist vote on LBGTQ ... – Purdue News Service
Open letter calling for Duke leadership to condemn UMC's discriminatory LGBTQ policies – Duke Chronicle
The Difference Between a Welcoming Church and an Affirming One Is Huge – by Sam Brinton head of advocacy and government affairs at the Trevor Project, Advocate.com
Methodist Church Vows To Replace Rainbow Flag That Was Cut Down – The Public's Radio