Do What’s Hard, Support the Connectional Conference Plan

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A Way Forward

We’re less than 30 days out from the heralded General Conference 2019. This special-called session of General Conference was called for during the 2016 General Conference. It’s hard to believe that after three long years of blog posts, commentary, arguing, praying, listening, political maneuvering, and praying some more that we’re finally on the cusp of what could be a watershed moment in the history of the Methodist movement.

Is this the year we finally choose a way forward for our United Methodist Church regarding issues surrounding the inclusion of LGBTQ persons?

A lot of digital ink has been spilled about the One Church Plan with its merits and deficiencies. And the same can be said for the Traditionalist Plan (now known as the “Modified Traditionalist Plan” following a Judicial Council review finding holes in the original plan).

Interestingly, however, very little has been said about the merits of the third plan, the Connectional Conference Plan. Most believe this plan has no hope of passing because of the supermajority needed to pass certain constitutional elements of our structure. “Dead on arrival,” many are saying. However, Chris Ritterthinks we might be able to achieve the goals of the Connectional Conference Plan without tinkering with our constitution. And Bishop Gary Mueller thinks the Connectional Conference Plan might be just the plan we need to achieve our missional goals as a church.

As a vocal supporter of the One Church Plan, I’ve found myself in recent weeks asking a big question: Why is being the hardest decision the reason why we can’t consider passing the Connectional Conference Plan?

Consider This…

  • The Connectional Conference Plan is basically the One Church Plan with structure laid on top of it. I do not believe we can be naive enough to think we can legislate a change of heart. And faithful Methodists of all stripes believe this is an issue of conscience. Why force people to stay together in one large, dysfunctional group when a structural change offering 2 or 3 new avenues of ministry, while seeking to preserve what is essential in our Wesleyan tradition and shared ministries, could be exactly where God is leading us next?
  • The tools are already in front of us and the Connectional Conference Plan could be the umbrella under which they all fit. Imagine one branch of the new Methodist Church where the WCA and their renewal efforts guide the structure and missional activity. Imagine a second branch where unity in diversity is the way of structuring ministry much like the One Church Plan offers. And then a third branch, one where the Simple Plan can lift all exclusions in one fail swoop.

We are a divided church whether we want to admit it or not. But, as Dr. Ted Campbell reminds us, “No other church that has even dared to think of a way to allow presently divided groups to work in their own space while sharing at least tentative common structure.” 

My Favorite Possibility of the CCP

  • This is the one plan that seeks to restructure the church as a whole, not just around a single issue, thus making it the only possibility we have to create a better church when it’s all said and done. The Connectional Conference Plan is the only plan that makes our shared mission the main focus. It’s not primarily about changing this line in the Book of Discipline or holding that person accountable. It’s an opportunity to not just end 40+ years of debating, it’s a chance to write the future of the next 40+ years of ministry as we reshape the whole church for mission.

At 36 years old, I realize my vision of the past is fairly limited. But my vision of the future of the church I love, the church I was ordained in, the church I want to raise my children in, is fixed on the notion that we can grow and do ministry in more effective ways. This doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game where we declare winners and losers. It doesn’t have to be about getting my way taking the highway. We can all find a place where God calls us to serve. But treating our missional failings with a quick fix around a single issue is like treating a cancer like a common cold. God wants more from us than just choosing the easiest way forward. Leaders do what’s hard and, with God’s help, so can we.

The Rev. Ben Gosden serves as pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Savannah, Ga. This post is reprinted with permission from his blog, Covered in the Master's Dust.