California-Nevada Resists Disaffiliation, Withholding Apportionments

July 2, 2019

4:47 PM

Cal-Nevada center

The California-Nevada Conference center in West Sacramento, Calif. (Conference photo)

California-Nevada Conference leaders have come out strongly against congregations leaving The United Methodist Church and/or withholding apportionments to protest the adoption of the Traditional Plan by the 2019 General Conference

In a statement released July 1, 2019, Bishop Minerva G. Carcano and the extended Cabinet said that withdrawing from the UMC or withholding apportionments would simply play into the conservatives’ “40-year strategy” of destroying the denomination.

Western Jurisdiction communicator Ben Roe highlights this paragraph as key to understanding the implications of the California-Nevada statement:

“How does disaffiliation fulfill our calling to leadership as a jurisdiction within the denomination? Some members of the Wesley Covenant Association, Institute for Religion and Democracy, and others have been planning this deconstruction of the connection for almost 40 years. The schismatic endgame of this strategy is apparent. Yet many of their movement are no longer represented in General and Jurisdictional delegations. This does not mean the tide is turning; the numbers bear witness that they are not. However, facilitating THEIR exit should be the primary goal rather than having us waste valuable time and energy planning what is ultimately the will of the WCA and IRD. Remember, it was the Methodist Episcopal Church South that left the Methodist Episcopal Church.”

Read the full California-Nevada statement

Professor: Wesley calls modern Methodists to return to roots

United Methodist News Service has picked up a blog post from the Rev. David F. Watson, professor at UMC-related United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio and Wesleyan Covenant Association supporter. UMNS quotes Dr. Watson: “Methodism co-founder John Wesley knew that the people called Methodist were themselves liable to spiritual slumber. Wesley would direct today’s church back to the intentional practices of the Methodist societies.” Although content distributed through UMNS usually is freely reproducible, Dr. Watson has made it known in the past that he wishes no association with United Methodist Insight. To keep faith with his request, we can only direct you to his post on UMNS in its "Many Voices, One Faith" series.

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Comments (5)

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Disaffiliation

This looks like the real reason the West does not want to leave "As the weakest of all the jurisdictions, the West has been dependent on the connectional church for its survival. Loss of the connectional relationship will accelerate its decline."

Having defied the will of GC they are unwilling to cut the apron strings because they cannot stand on their own. The WJ wants to indulge itself without suffering any repercussions from its wayward behavior. Like a spoiled child that still needs Daddy's allowance.

Kevin more than 4 years ago

Split faster please

The sooner progressives can separate from the hillbilly churches preaching hate theology, the better. With two separate denominational entities, both groups could brand themselves accurately. We are both sick of the actions of the other reflecting on us. This rain is too fierce for one umbrella.

Scott more than 4 years ago

Incredible

"hillbilly churches preaching hate theology" So glad to see such a civil, grace-filled temperament devoid of any modicum of prejudice. Almost makes me want to separate from "apostate progressive churches preaching that sin is a fictional notion invented by homophobic, racist misogynists," except that I'd be engaging in the same self-righteous bigotry.

John more than 4 years ago

Hillbillies?

You’re not being inclusive. What about us Oklahoma oil and gas patch formerly poor white trailer park trash?! We’re rich itch. Now one third of our electricity comes from wind generation. We’d be happy to sell the Western Jurisdiction power but y’all gotta build pipelines

Richard F Hicks more than 4 years ago

And for just how much longer...

Do you expect conservatives--who you view as set on destroying the denomination--are going to feel a need to continue to support the Western Jurisdiction? And for the record, form my perspective, it is your progressive viewpoint of what the church should be and your determination that we must all submit ourselves to your understanding that is destroying the denomination.

And just for the record, we are nowhere close to being on the same page when it comes to understanding what it means to be a Christian of the Wesleyan/Methodist persuasion.

betsy more than 4 years ago