First Omaha confirmands
An Easter Sunday service at First United Methodist Church in Omaha, Neb., on April 21, 2019. Eight new confirmands recently addressed the congregation to say that they do not want to become full members at this time. (Photo courtesy of FUMC Omaha)
If anything besides the movie "Avengers: Endgame" captured young United Methodists' attention this week, it would have to be the rejection of United Methodist membership vows by the confirmation class of First UMC in Omaha, Neb.
A historical fact that most news stories overlooked: First-Omaha is the same congregation where its former pastor, Jimmy Creech, performed two same-sex weddings in the mid-1990s. Creech ultimately was defrocked in a church trial over his actions.
The earliest reports came out April 29 in religion media such as Religion News Service and United Methodist Insight. Various secular news outlets picked up on the confirmands' story and kept it going most of the week – a lifetime in today's media cycles. Mentions as of May 2:
Omaha confirmation class chooses to delay becoming members of United Methodist Church – Great Plains Annual Conference.
Methodist Teens Reject Membership Over Church's Anti-LGBTQ Policies – Pride.com
Confirmation class refuses to be confirmed in protest of United Methodist Church's stance on ... - Metro Weekly
Teens take a stand against United Methodist Church over LGBTQ+ rights - KCCI Des Moines
Eight teenage members of a confirmation class decline joining the Methodistchurch in protest over ... – Daily Mail
In contrast, two big institutional separations, of Baldwin Wallace and Ohio Wesleyan universities, has gotten far less attention outside United Methodism. Only one mention came as of May 2:
Ohio Wesleyan takes stand against United Methodist Church over LGBTQ vote – 10TV
California church vows to continue welcoming all
Expressing sentiments common to other congregations and groups across the United States, the Rev. Colin Kerr-Carpenter, senior pastor of Walnut Creek United Methodist Church in California, reassured his church members that their 25-year commitment to welcoming LGBTQ people wasn't going to be halted by the 2019 General Conference or the Judicial Council ruling on the Traditional Plan. Rev. Kerr-Carpenter wrote in part
"My purpose in writing you today is that despite General Conference’s decision and the affirmation of our Judicial Council, it changes nothing for our ministry here at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church. This year we will be marking our 25th anniversary as a Reconciling Congregation, which means we believe that we are to love ALL people, especially those that have felt separated from the church because of their sexual orientation. Furthermore, our Board of Trustees have declared our sanctuary a place where both heterosexual and same-sex marriages can be blessed. And by because of this decision and my own belief that all are welcome at our church, your pastor is willing and able to bless these sacred moments in people’s lives.
"Many of you have acknowledged to me the hurt and anger you feel over these recent events and decisions. I too share your pain. But even as I experience pain that my church has further codified its unjust laws, there are small glimmers of hope springing forth out of the darkness. Our church is part of the California-Nevada Annual Conference, which in turn is part of the Western Jurisdiction. Our region of the church has explicitly stated its opposition to the unjust laws of The United Methodist Church. This has resulted in such events as the election in 2016 of Karen Oliveto as the first openly gay bishop in The United Methodist Church. Furthermore, Annual Conferences in our jurisdiction have chosen to defy church law pertaining to the ordination of gays and lesbians and have vowed to ordain persons based on their ability and skills for ministry.
"There are also serious deliberations among conference leaders in various Annual Conferences on the possibility of creating a new denomination that would be free of these present discriminatory and harmful rules that have been placed as yoke upon so many. Most notable of these meetings have been those that centered themselves around the One Church Plan. This was the plan presented to General Conference that essentially does away with all discriminatory language in our present UM Discipline.
"Where does this leave us as a local church? Some may say it leaves us in limbo. I disagree. As I worship and work among you, I see ministry happening all around us. Our church DNA is centered in love. And I witness us living out that love every day. We still are working to alleviate suffering in our community. We still are loving on those that sometimes do not feel loved. And yes, we will always be a church that proclaims that God’s grace is open to ALL!"
New book looks at Methodism's future options
A new, quickly published book, Where Do We Go From Here?: Honest Responses From Twenty-Four United Methodist Leaders, features the perspectives of four bishops, several pastors, laypeople, campus ministers, students, general board directors and others.
According to a press release:
"Voices from the traditional, centrist and progressive viewpoints share their thoughts on where their church is and where it should go from here. Thought-provoking, inspiring and sometimes troubling, this book offers individuals and groups a place to better understand what United Methodist leaders are thinking in this crucial time.
"Printing was delayed until after the Judicial Council rulings in late April, giving co-authors the opportunity to update their chapters and respond to the decision.
"Kevin Slimp, publisher at Market Square Books, credits Bishop Kenneth Carder (retired) for his support in connecting with many of the writers so quickly. 'Bishop Carder believed in the project from the beginning, and his support can’t be overstated,' said Slimp.
"Other bishops involved in Where Do We Go From Here? include president of the Council of Bishops Kenneth H. Carter, Jr. (Florida), Robert Farr (Missouri) and Sharma Lewis (Virginia).
"Other contributors include Jorge Acevedo, Sydney Bertram, Sharon Bowers, Wil Cantrell, Alex da Silva Souto, Talbot Davis, Katie Z. Dawson, Thomas E. Frank, Erin Hawkins, Donald Haynes, William Lawrence, Laquaan Malachi, Douglas Meeks, Rebekah Miles, Chris Ritter, Don Saliers, Kevin Slimp, Amy Valdez Barker, Laceye Warner, and J.J. Warren.
"Where Do We Go From Here? will be available at Amazon.com beginning May 7 and through other booksellers shortly thereafter. For more information, visit marketsquarebooks.com."
Media Mentions as of May 2, 2019
DSM church debates exodus from United Methodist affiliation - KCCI Des Moines, Iowa
UMC on 'wait and see' mindset after church court upheld Traditional Plan on homosexuality: bishop – Christian Post
Local Methodist churches move forward after controversy – KQ2.com, St. Joseph, Mo. (press release) (blog)
Too late to patch things up? How to cover a schism, United Methodist Church edition – GetReligion (blog)
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.