One Church Plan Receives Additional Support

January 10, 2019

2:41 PM

Reading One Church

The Rev. Tom Steagald of Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, reads the One Church Plan during a break at the July 17 Uniting Methodist Conference in Dallas. The three plans and the full Way Forward report were part of the Judicial Council’s October docket. (Photo by Sam Hodges, UMNS).

Joining with the many others speaking about their hope for the future of The United Methodist Church as the special called session of General Conference draws near, a group of John Wesley Fellows has issued the statement below. Speaking for the group Drs. Rebekah Miles and Steve Harper said, "We want to express our appreciation for the work of The Way Forward Commission and The Council of Bishops, and voice our support for The One Church Plan."

Here is their statement...

A Statement of Support for the One Church Plan by a Group of John Wesley Fellows

As the called session of General Conference in St. Louis draws near, we want to register our support of the One Church Plan. We do not speak officially for A Foundation for Theological Education, nor do we claim to represent the entirety of the John Wesley Fellowship.

Rather, we speak as a group of Fellows who wish to state our affirmation of the One Church Plan as the overall best design for the future of The United Methodist Church. We do so particularly opposing the expressed or implied bent toward schism or dissolution that some are voicing. And we also do not agree with the way some are using words like biblical, orthodox, and Wesleyan to make their case, instead believing there are other legitimate ways to speak of them.

In supporting the One Church Plan, we recognize that it is not perfect, but it gives us a spacious and generous place to stand as we move into the future, and as we continue the work to better incarnate Wesley's admonition to "do no harm" toward any individual or group of people.

We join with everyone in praying for the General Conference session in February, and we do so with the hope that the institutional unity of The United Methodist Church will be preserved through the implementation of the One Church Plan.

Signers (as of January 8, 2019) listed in order of selection for membership in the Society of John Wesley Scholars

Steve Harper 1977

Paul Chilcote 1979

Dan G. Johnson 1981

Mark Abbott 1983

Michael G. Cartwright 1985

L. Dan Hawk 1985

Alan Padgett 1986

Priscilla Pope-Levison 1986

D. Stephen Long 1988

Rebekah Miles 1988

K. K. Yeo 1990

Kenda Creasy Dean 1991

Lester Ruth 1991

Brent Laytham 1993

Elaine Heath 1998

Jason Byassee 1999

Charlie Collier 2000

Roger Owens 2001

Joel Marcus LeMon 2003

Kristin S. Oh 2004

Melanie Dobson 2007

Stephen S. Cady 2010

Zhenya Gurina Rodriguez 2012

Amy Valdez Barker 2012

Natalya Cherry 2013

Collin Mueller 2014

Maureen Knudsen Langdoc 2015

Comments (7)

Comment Feed

Wow! A sub-group of 27 rates a press release touting their support? Who knew?

If only 27 people somewhere had ebola virus or typhoid, that might be relevant in a universe of 7 million, but 27 opinions of unknowns out 170 unknowns doesn’t even rate a “Really? So?” And, out of 7 million UMC members? Gets a laugh. How did anything this irrelevant rate a ”press release”?
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Oh, now I remember; this press release is from “A Way Forward”, that costly, closed door, Council’s committee, selected to show us the way forward, based on their due-diligence in closed meetings around the world. At this point, I guess they believe that even just 27 supportive voices rates a PR.

Reese more than 7 years ago

Wesley Fellows Find Way Forward

Reese, It is at least comforting to know that you thought it worth emphasizing that these 27 brothers and sisters found it worthwhile to state their opinion. A now out gay clergy person, I have worked with several of them over the years and believe it is important that persons with this common recognition as Wesley Fellows speak out.

James Dwyer Ph.D. more than 7 years ago

a minority of the Fellows

There are 170 Wesley Fellows. All were apparently given the chance to sign. Only 27 (15.88%) signed the document.

In Christ,

The enemy hates clarity

Mike Cooper more than 7 years ago

Wesley Fellows

That's because AFTE and the John Wesley Fellows are highly skewed 'in a more evangelical direction'. "Because commitment to the renewal of United Methodist theological education in a more evangelical direction is primary." Capeche?

Wayne more than 7 years ago

Fewer than 5% of all Methodists...

...can name their Bishop, just like fewer than 5% of voters can name their State Senators and State Representatives. I understand, in your attempt to act as a persuasive voice to the nonassertive persons reading this that this seemingly miniscule percentage is of little importance, such an assertion is erroneous, despite your seeming glee that you think it is clever, It is not. That you have a need to post it says more about you and your faction than it does about the 170 Wesley Fellows.

George Nixon Shuler more than 7 years ago

Fellows

Looks like UM Insight is pushing the OCP. Given that they need to show a groundswell of support. Must be tough. Kind of like pushing a rope. They keep on spinning as best they can.

Kevin more than 7 years ago

But, UM Insight does publish you and me and Betsy

I see it this way: Um Insight is designed to publish what they are sent or offered, and the progressive presses are really grinding out the sausage now. But, the fact that UM publishes so much from me and others challenging that sausage requires that I consider them balanced. It is important that you and I and others continue to challenge the "party line" coming out of bishops and clergy and those with a vested interest in the progressive agenda. Peace, brother, and keep up the good work!

Reese more than 7 years ago