Bishops Johnson, Schol Respond to WCA Accusations

During a Q&A session after updating North District clergy on Zoom Thursday evening, May 6, Bishop Peggy Johnson was asked if her successor, Bishop John Schol could be trusted to deal with pastors and churches fairly in light of accusations made against him by the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) at its recent Global Legislative Assembly. (See UM News story.) 

The WCA, which is leading the formation of a new denomination to break away from the United Methodist Church, approved a resolution condemning the actions of Bishop Schol, leader of the Greater New Jersey Conference, and two other bishops for moving appointed pastors. It says their moves did not involve consultation with the pastors as required by the denomination’s Book of Discipline and were “provocative and disruptive, and are meant to punish pastors and churches who are theologically conservative and have expressed their desire to align with the Global Methodist Church….”

Bishop Johnson responded to the anonymous question that she is familiar with the full story and there is another side not being told. She said Bishop Schol is constrained from telling that other side by episcopal discretion also required by the Discipline. She appealed to clergy members to consider that they don’t know the full story and thus, to not prematurely judge her successor bishop. She also vouched for his integrity, fairness and fidelity to church laws and protocols.

Bishop Schol responded May 5 to the accusations in an episcopal message on his conference’s website:

These accusations are false. I and the superintendent have worked with the pastor for over four years to address specific issues. Regretfully, a complaint was filed against the pastor by the superintendent when some of the issues persisted, and the pastor refused to accept an appointment on two different occasions. In an effort to resolve the complaint, including steps that could be taken for the pastor to stay at the church failed, the pastor suddenly and surprisingly turned in his orders. 

The cabinet and I follow The Book of Discipline when making appointments, including consultation as outlined in our protocols listed on the GNJ webpage. In my career as a bishop, I have never moved a clergy person because of a difference in theology or because they sought to leave The United Methodist Church. We work with all of our clergy and congregations to make appointments to further the mission of the church. 

I have pledged to lead and seek to unify a theologically, culturally and racially diverse church. My ministry and leadership have been enriched through the diversity of ideas and theology, and I pledge to support all of our congregations and clergy to the best of my ability and our church’s polity in making appointments. (Read the full message.)

In a further statement, Bishop Johnson writes: "During these liminal times between now and the next, 2022 session of the United Methodist General Conference, there will be many conversations and opinions flying around. Sometimes we are at odds with one another and feel a need to draw lines of right and wrong, good and bad among Christians of good will.  

I urge you to resist the temptation to believe everything you hear from one group or the other, and instead seek to learn all sides of a story and obtain a full picture of reality. It is rarely as simple as it may seem, and there is always danger in having a "one story" perspective on anything in life. Handle the precious Body of Christ with care and prayer.

This article is republished from the Eastern Pennsylvania newsletter, NEWSpirit.