The Real United Methodist Crisis: Loss of U.S. Political Power to the Growing Church in Africa

by

Special to United Methodist Insight

Editor's Note: This is an updated version submitted by the author.

The past few weeks have been marked by conversations from different people about the history of our denomination and more particularly how we have handled differences in the past. But the narrative provided is one-sided. As it is often said in our African circles, until the lion learns how to write every story will glorify the hunter. Our denomination has struggled with issues of differences in the past, and until today we continue to hear the story told by one side, the pretentious groups trying to speak without mandate and authority on issues of justice in order to separate people. How different will it be if we begin to hear stories of the oppressed and separated members of our society and church?

In 1939, three Methodist denominations reunited to form what was then the largest Protestant denomination in the United States of America. But to make the union possible Methodist Protestant clergywomen had to surrender their clergy rights. Most notoriously the Methodist Episcopal Church South required the creation of the central jurisdiction, which enshrined the segregation (and attendant second-class treatment) of the African-Americans in the new denomination’s constitution, leaving the conservatives comfortably hold power in the new denomination, a trend that has lived on until now.

I just wonder if this is when we outside United States of America earned the name central conferences whose majority are in Africa, the original home of the African-Americans who were being segregated through the Central Jurisdiction. Then those in the Central Jurisdiction and Central Conferences had no power, no control and were in the minority, which gave conservatives power to make decisions about how the denomination should function through General Conferences.

In recent years the numbers of the African delegates keep increasing by each General Conference and the USA numbers continue to go down. This growth in Africa is changing power dynamics and those who initially had power over decisions taken at General Conference feel threatened by those who were segregated few years ago. Fearing that they are losing power and unable to influence people who articulate views independently, they have now opted to dissolve the denomination and leave.

Connectional Conferences Plan not supported

Their original support of the Connectional Conferences Plan was not appealing to the Africans because they were clear in that plan that Africa wasn’t viewed as a respectable segment of the denomination. The Connectional Conferences Plan states that the church would divide itself in the United States of America and Central Conferences would then choose where they want to go. This comes from logic of segregation that “the church is us, and you are an extension ministry that can be kicked out so we enjoy our comfort.” The plan was not going to give them the votes they wanted from Africa and they hastily crafted a new plan they would use as a smokescreen o hoodwink African votes into dissolving the denomination using homosexuality.  To them Africans are only good as pawns to get the votes for them so they can achieve their grand plan, which is to dissolve our church. Their intentions are not hidden; they submitted a dissolution plan to General Conference.

History has it that same tactics were used for South America in the 1960s. Towards the formation of The United Methodist Church, conservatives hoodwinked Latin Americans where the church was growing and it would have led to Latin America being the majority at General Conference if that part of our denomination had stayed. But Latin Americans were told that they did not need to be bogged down by the segregation issues and racism challenging the churches within the new denomination that was being formed. Latin Americans were encouraged to be autonomous Methodist Churches with lots of promises. None of those promises were kept. Once South America was kicked out, power was reconsolidated by our conservative friends because then the churches in Africa were still pretty much under the leadership of American missionaries and not a threat to power. Today the idea of pushing Africa to be autonomous Methodist churches was floated and did not get traction, though they are selling the exit plan as part of their trying to entice Africa to leave using the same tactics used in the ‘60s, only that now the issue being used is homosexuality.

As The United Methodist Church was coming into being it was the Evangelical United Brethren Church, following petitions from the churches in Illinois conferences, that ultimately made abolishing the segregated institution a condition for union. That is why the Central Jurisdiction was abolished in The United Methodist Church. This reflects a longstanding position of the Evangelical United Brethren opposition to segregation and before that slavery. History has it that there were proposals to exit the new denomination for those who held strong positions against being in the same churches with African-Americans. If there has been an exit plan then, some of the churches who were being led by some of our friends would have left The United Methodist Church because of their position on segregation. They were using some biblical verses then to support segregation as they are doing today. This is why I believe General Conference should not consider any exit plan other than what we have now as ruled by the Judicial Council. There is already a process if any feel like they want to leave The United Methodist Church.

Theologies denigrated

I have often asked why is it that some of the founders of the groups that are pushing for schism now have denigrated the theologies created by black people as they struggle for freedom from oppression, segregation, apartheid, colonialism, and what authority do we ascribe to those groups to speak on behalf of people they denigrate. The Rev Charles W.  Keysor, founder of Good News, in July 1966 said, “Women’s theology, liberation theology, black theology, third world theology, theologies of human rights, their primary accent is upon man’s ideas and problems instead of God’s truth.” Rev. Keysor spoke these words at the time South America Methodists were being persuaded to be autonomous churches. One just needs to listen to Rev Keysor speaking in the 1960s. When I listened to his recordings, he was pushing the very same arguments that today’s Good News is using as a reason to dissolve The United Methodist Church, only that the issue being argued makes the difference in the speeches I have listened to.

Now can a group of people with these kinds of perspectives about the struggles of the black people, the African people be trusted to be fully supporting and standing with us in our current struggles, or do they just want to use Africans for their benefits? This makes me think the crisis is about how the powerful conservatives in The United Methodist can contain the increasing numbers of the Africans in the denomination. They are feeling overwhelmed and their power is going so they want to dissolve this denomination before it’s too late.

What is unsettling for the power holders is the fear of facing such reality that in the coming 10 to 20 years. The United Methodist Church will be mostly an African Church. That is terrifying to many who are not used to be led by others. Are there any across the aisle prepared to be in a Church where Africans are the majority when it comes to General Conference and all commissions, boards etc. There are some realities that the USA’s culture of being the dominant power in everything in the world. That political culture is found in the church also. It would be naïve for anyone to say we do not use political realities and language in the church. That approach would be just to hide your head in the sand or just being a victim of neocolonialism.

Our brothers and sisters in the USA are seeing real difficulty, that is why some of them are now pushing for the dissolution of the denomination, once Africa indicated that we will not leave The United Methodist Church they see it better dead than continue journeying towards the reality of being in a denomination where Africans are in the majority.  The alternative is changing the structure so that we have a segregated structure where Africa can be on its own, since they do not want to continue in the same General Conference where USA delegates will be a minority.

When you pay enough attention you can see through the fears and when you listen deeper you hear it.  Now as we go towards General conference 2019 pay attention, listen and observe well, also in 2020 pay enough attention and you can see the fear. I have observed that in all the fights for the votes those in the USA want to make sure an agency like Westpath (the pension and benefits agency) is safe and secure. It is about money and power.

A friend's perception

A friend in the USA told me that in 20 years’ time Africa will be its own regional conference. There are already plans to make that happen. The plans will be coated in some nice positive language so that it becomes attractive and Africa will have to support that just like how South America was pushed away.  The reason could be, as my friend went further to say, “It is not possible to imagine a church financed by the USA to legislatively allow so many from the Two-Thirds World and Europe determining programs and policies.” (The Philippines is the also a Two-Thirds World region where the UMC is growing also in leaps and bounds.)

I understood my friend well when he added, “Progressives and conservatives will unite on that structural change once sexuality is off the table.” The new argument to change the current structure will be equitability. Now because Africa and the Philippines are slowly becoming the majority there is need for equitability; for over 200 years that was not an issue because the USA was the majority. American delegates could make any decision they want and the rest of the connection just had to follow or adapt. His final argument was even, “I don’t understand how General Conference can approve five new Bishops in Africa without thinking through the cost to the Church in the USA, and it makes no sense.”  He concluded his arguments and I think he was being very honest with me. (This American friend is neither white nor black just in case you may be wondering.)

So as we get involved in all the discussions happening in our denomination, we need to be careful as Africans and understand the real issues so that we are not simply dragged along and used to shoot ourselves in the foot. The thinking that we have not invested financial resources in The United Methodist is weird, very weird because Africa has contributed a lot and in many ways and we continue to contribute in many ways. If those who are focusing on power start focusing on the mission of the church the perspectives will be very different.

When it comes to the plans before the 2019 General Conference, I see the One Church Plan as the plan that would help the church focus on the mission of making disciples for the transformation of the world rather than using resources to fight unending battles in the church. None of those in the two entrenched camps in the USA are prepared to move or change. Therefore providing space for mutual respect and consideration in a unified church is key as we make disciples in our churches and communities. For the clergy who have membership at conference level, letting each annual conference make the decision about who to ordain is the reality that is happening today. That is why I love our worldwide connectional nature which is based on unity in diversity.

As we look forward to General Conference next month, I am reminded that on March 3, 2019, millions of people across the world will come to our sanctuaries and worship places, not to talk about sexuality, but to worship their Lord and Savior. The sick will be healed, the hungry will be fed, the hopeless will see hope in Christ and people will be renewed in their faith. The mission of the church is alive and we can do it better when we value the gifts and graces of every member of our denomination.

God bless the people called United Methodists and our global denomination. That is why I will always be a United Methodist.

The Rev. Lloyd Tichaenda Nyarota, a United Methodist clergyman, serves the Sedgewick-Lougheed Pastoral Charge of The United Church of Canada, located in Sedgewick, Alberta.