Uniting Methodists Leaders Call for Referral of Exit Proposals

February 7, 2019

4:03 PM

(Feb. 6) The leaders of the Uniting Methodists movement have urged delegates to the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference in St. Louis to refer all petitions providing a process for congregations or annual conferences to leave The United Methodist Church to the 2020 General Conference.

Speaking on behalf of the movement’s Coordinating Team, The Rev. Dr. James A. Harnish gave three reasons for referral.

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First, Harnish said, “It’s biblical.” He pointed to Paul’s call “to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together” (Ephesians 4:3) as the central motivation for the Uniting Methodists movement which has drawn the support of over 5,000 clergy and lay persons. Harnish added, “It’s clear that the first priority for the Body of Christ is always to search for unity rather than division.”

Harnish, a retired pastor who served as a delegate to nine General Conferences, also said that action on exit plans are not consistent with the primary purpose for establishing the Commission on a Way Forward or the Council of Bishops’ call for a special session of the General Conference. “The action of the 2016 General Conference was clearly to find a way to build unity in the church rather than division. If delegates begin with plans for dissolution or separation, it will draw attention away from the mandate and vision for our vibrant global witness that brings us to St. Louis.”

Finally, the leaders of the Uniting Methodists movement underscore the brevity of this General Conference session. “Delegates will not have adequate time to gather all of the facts, understand the consequences, and participate in thoughtful debate. In the meantime, there are already clear processes for separation provided in the current Book of Discipline that have been effectively used for some churches in the last two years.” Referring exit proposals to the 2020 General Conference will enable the global church to discuss them in light of all actions of the 2019 General Conference. “Let’s take this one step at a time and watch how the Spirit leads us,” said Harnish.

About Uniting Methodists

Uniting Methodists is a movement of Christ-centered, hope-filled United Methodists that bears witness to the unifying love of Christ in a deeply polarized church and culture. (www.unitingmethodists.com).

Comments (4)

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So, Uniting Methodists wants no discussions of church/conference separations? Who knew?

Is that why the general Methodist membership was locked out of the Way Forward meetings? Is that why those hand-chosen members of the Way Forward flew around the world to hold secret meetings that they could have held at a Motel 6 in Nashville?
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Their position that it is too late to bring up exit plans is convenient for a group which posts this: “Uniting Methodists is a movement rather than an organization. As a movement we are striving for greater inclusion and genuine representation in pursuit of shared goals.” Wonder if the “Uniting” position is why the Way Forward world-travelers did not even consider an exit plan as a possible “way forward”…
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For me, and evidently several others, an exit option would be a most logical alternative for consideration. We of any reality-recognition skills know that there is an impasse which cannot be prayed away, voted away, or swept away by political power. Uniting Methodists wants a UMC where we of traditional values, morals and our religion’s long-time rules simply throw up our hands and give up. Had the Way Forward been of open doors and open minds, they would known of and delivered an exit plan for equal consideration. Predictably, the bishops’ hand-picked minions delivered only studies in naivete, long on cliches and short on reality.

Reese more than 5 years ago

Seems like empty breath

I don't see how moving this to 2020 makes any sense. The congregations and conferences that support the Traditional plan already intend to leave regardless of what this GC says. Best to simply resolve this now and move on as a denomination sans malcontents.

eric pone more than 5 years ago

It's like the Hotel California

They can check out anytime they like, but....well, if they wanted to leave, they would have done so long ago. Instead they want to damage the institution now that they are a remnant and few individuals under 40 years of age support their bigotry. So instead they want to take buildings which do not belong to them. Not so fast. Let them wither on the vine. Let them be subjected to a drawn out process, the hangout route. Let them endure rhetoric reminiscent of that employed by Charles Manson's defense attorney Irving Kanarek, who was characterized by prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi as "the Toscanini of Tedium." We've endured their bigotry so long. Let 'em wait. Those edifices in Opioid Country aren't exactly appreciating.

George Nixon Shuler more than 5 years ago

Vindictive Huh?

Couldn't help but notice the vindictiveness in your post. Doesn't sound like a church with similar church members that I would want to be a part of

Bryan Nazworth more than 5 years ago