GNW Cabinet
The cabinet of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church reaffirmed its commitment to resist elements of the Traditional Plan that went into effect Jan. 1. The cabinet also reaffirmed the "Safe Harbor" invitation issued last fall by the Western Jurisdiction offering sanctuary to clergy and LGBTQ+ persons resisting the anti-LGBTQ+ stances of The United Methodist Church. (Facebook Photo Courtesy of Resist Harm)
CORRECTION: The Rev. Drew Ensz performed a same-gender wedding in 2019 prior to the effective date of the enhanced punishments in the Book of Discipline. Therefore if he faces a church trial, it will be according to the 2016 Book of Discipline before it was amended by the 2019 General Conference. Our thanks to Paul Steidler, Communications Representative for the Virginia Conference for the correction and our apologies for the error.
As General Conference delegates and church communicators make their way to Nashville, Tenn., for the Jan. 23-24 Pre-General Conference Briefing, church leaders on opposite sides of the United States have made known whether they’ll abide by the request for “abeyance” of complaints regarding LGBTQ+ stances.
Inclusion advocates report being saddened by the Jan. 17 announcement from Virginia Bishop Sharma Lewis that she intends to follow through with the new punitive stances in the Book of Discipline rejecting LGBTQ+ clergy and banning same-gender marriages. Bishop Lewis wrote:
“I respectfully ask that the Virginia Conference clergy do not perform same-sex weddings, keeping to our sacred vow in the Book of Discipline. However, if clergy preside over same-sex weddings and a complaint is filed about such conduct, I will process the complaint by the 2016 Book of Discipline and the legislation that was passed at the 2019 Special Session of General Conference.”
A complaint was filed in Virginia against the Rev. Drew Ensz, director of Arise Campus Ministry at George Mason University, for conducting a same-gender wedding in 2019. Rev. Ensz reported Jan. 18 on his Facebook page: “I just received word that the United Methodist Bishop of Virginia has made the decision to move the complaint to the judicial process by ‘referring the matter to counsel,’” (meaning that Rev. Ensz will likely face a church trial).
Rev. Ensz preached on “Speaking Up and Doing What Is Right” Jan. 19 at Beverley Hills Community United Methodist Church at the invitation of its lead pastor, the Rev. Deborah Dickison Porras. Rev. Porras provided a video of Rev. Ensz’s sermon.
On the West Coast, members of the cabinet of the Greater Northwest Area recommitted themselves to resisting elements of the Traditional Plan at their first meeting of 2020, reported communicator Patrick Scriven.
“Last November, the bishops of the Western Jurisdiction issued their Safe Harbor Declaration, explicitly refusing to implement the new provisions and prohibitions of the Traditional Plan,” Mr. Scriven reported. “The GNW Area Cabinet welcomed this statement at the time and continues its move forward with the clear guidance it provides.” The cabinet is pictured above with their #ResistHarm signs.
February Guide for #ResistHarm
February is almost on our doorstep, and the Resist Harm movement has termed its schedule for the “Acts of Love.” The group offers a PDF of its suggestions for observances, which includes the kind of reaffirmation of marriage vows that took place in late December at First United Methodist Church of Dallas, Texas.
Pat Luna, spokesperson for the movement, posted 12 photos of Resist Harm events on its Facebook page, including a kickoff gathering in Memphis Jan. 19 (see photo below).
Memphis Resist Harm
United Methodists pledging to "resist the harm" of the denomination's new punitive anti-LGBTQ+ stances gathered Jan. 19 in Memphis, Tenn. (Facebook photo courtesy of Resist Harm)
Media Mentions as of Jan. 21, 2020
This isn't the first time United Methodist Church has tried amicable divorce – Minneapolis Star Tribune
Loving your unlovable opponent is the hardest thing in the world. But it's the right thing. – Lexington Herald Leader
Why the split in the Methodist Church should set off alarm bells for Americans – The Washington Post
Looming Methodist Schism Would Enable Marsh Chapel Dean to Perform Gay Marriages – BU Today
United Methodist Mediation Team proposes protocol of separation – St. Louis American
United Methodist leaders explain plan to split denomination – The Commercial Dispatch
Local Methodist church to vote on LGBTQ inclusivity – Half Moon Bay Review
Same-sex, LGBTQ issues may divide Methodist church – Tahlequah Daily Press
United Methodist Church: To split or not to split – Seattle Weekly
Divinity School faculty divided over proposed United Methodist Church split over LGBTQ+ rights – Duke Chronicle
To Split or Not To Split: United Methodist Church on the LGBTQ Community – WFHB News
The evolving issue of marriage equality – NWAOnline
Amicable divorce best for United Methodist Church – Newsday
Missoula Methodist leaders weigh in on potential split – The Missoulian
Split in United Methodist church over LGBTQ issues saddens Siouxland church leaders – Sioux City Journal
Chris Scott: Everyone deserving of equality – Charleston Gazette-Mail
Moving beyond conflict – The Tand D.com
As United Methodist Church prepares for split, local Methodists pray for unity – Loveland Reporter-Herald
United Methodist churches on Long Island bracing for 'divorce' – Newsday
United Methodist Schism and the 'Protocol' of 2020 – Religion News Service
Why is the large United Methodist Church splitting up? – Patheos (blog)
Local United Methodists torn over LGBTQ schism proposal – Times-West Virginian
Letter: What is happening to children in this country? – Greenville News
Vote that could split United Methodist Church worries some Southern California pastors – San Bernardino County Sun
LGBTQ or bust: Some churches say it's worth splitting for – Williamsburg Yorktown Daily
LGBTQ issue creates divide in local church – WDTV
The Methodist Church will probably split in two over homosexuality, and that's bad for all of us – jacksonprogress-argus