New Era Begins with Resistance, Warnings

January 2, 2020

10:49 AM

Hamilton Strategy

The Rev. Adam Hamilton speaks March 28 at the Perkins Theological School for the Laity, at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology, in Dallas. His topic: “The Future of a Divided Church.” (Photo by Sam Hodges, UMNS.)

The Rev. Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of the multi-site, mega-membership United Methodis Church of the Resurrection based in Leawood, Kansas, endorsed the #ResistHarm movement in a year-end email sent to participants of the 2019 Leadership Institute.

In addition to recommending #ResistHarm as a resource for congregations in the run-up to the 2020 General Conference in May, Rev. Hamilton responded to frequent requests for updates on The United Methodist Church’s struggle over LGBTQ+ acceptance and potential schism. He cited the following:

“The WCA has published a draft of a new Book of Doctrines and Discipline as part of their plans to start a new Methodist expression or denomination following GC2020.
“Conversations initially convened by bishops of the Central Conferences with conservatives, centrists and progressives seeking an agreement between the various parties prior to GC2020 continue to take place. Expect news from these conversations to be released in the coming weeks.
“It appears that a vast majority of United Methodist laity and clergy do not wish to leave or dissolve the UMC. They do support allowing those who wish to leave to do so on positive terms.
“A majority of US leaders in the UMC support removing the restrictive language around homosexuality giving clergy permission to officiate same-gender marriages while not requiring them to do so.
“Conversations continue to take place among some regarding the US becoming its own Regional Conference and allowing parts of the Book of Discipline to be adapted to each Regional Conferences context.
“Some of our United Methodist colleges, universities, hospitals and other institutions are considering ways to distance their institutions from the UMC as a result of the Traditional Plan.”

Mainstream UMC Warns of IRD Fundraising

Mainstream UMC’s request for end-of-year donations focused on the efforts of the Institute for Religion and Democracy to build its war chest for the 2020 General Conference.

Maile Bradfield

Mark Holland

The Rev. Mark Holland, a Kansas clergy delegate to the special called session of the General Conference in February, speaks during the May 12 plenary session of the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.)

Mainstream UMC’s executive director, the Rev. Dr. Mark Holland, specifically cited IRD’s UM Action director, John Lomperis, as having “stalked” the Rev. Anna Blaedel out of UMC ministry by repeatedly bringing charges against her in the Iowa Annual Conference. (See resolution of Rev. Blaedel’s case). Dr. Holland also recommended a 12-year-old video, “Renewal or Ruin?” as a resource for progressive and centrist United Methodists to learn the IRD’s true nature. “The IRD is not even an organically Methodist group, they are a right-wing political group targeting multiple denominations—including the Methodists,” he wrote. Find the video at https://vimeo.com/381786.

Mainstream UMC is sponsored by Grace UMC in Olathe, Kansas. Dr. Holland writes: “The Center of Grace serves as the fiscal agent and provides financial accountability.” Find more details about Mainstream UMC donations on its website, www.MainstreamUMC.com/donate

Northern Illinois Schedules GC2020 Conversations in February

Mark your calendars for "conversations" around the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) about what is expected to take place May 5-15, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minn. during General Conference 2020 (GC2020). The scheduled conversations are co-hosted by the NIC Exploration Team and NIC Delegations with DCM/Cabinet. If you’re in the Northern Illinois Conference, find more information and registration at www.umcnic.org/calendar.

Media Mentions as of Jan. 2, 2020

With same-sex marriage vow renewals, Palm Springs Methodist church affirms support for all ... – The Desert Sun

Some Methodist churches vow solidarity with gay community – Oklahoman.com

RNS reporters look ahead at 2020 – Religion News Service

This Texas church is leaving the anti-gay United Methodist Church because it's not anti-gay enough – PinkNews

Texas Church Will Leave United Methodist Church For Not Being Anti-Gay Enough – Friendly Atheist - Patheos (blog)

Texas Megachurch Leaves UMC Over Looming LGBTQ Issue – The New American

United Methodists prepare for changes that get tougher on LGBTQ issues – Daily Commercial

Another Texas Church Votes to Leave the UMC over LGBT Debate – Christianheadlines.com (blog)

United Methodists prepare for changes that get tougher on LGBTQ issues – Baltimore Sun

United Methodists prepare for plan tougher on LGBTQ issues – Atlanta Journal Constitution

Comments (5)

Comment Feed

This Article Sums It Up: “It’s Over, It’s All Over!”

It’s the Media Mentions at the end which leave no doubt; UMC is done and done. There are stories of major churches and groups completely ignoring the GC2019 rules, there are major churches and groups leaving in disgust over the internal strife. With both sides leaving, who will turn out the lights?
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Meanwhile, the traditional WCA has published their own Book of Discipline which is clearly a “We’re out of here” message.
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Plus, there’s seminaries and universities which want to “dis-affiliate”. Of course, they do, but you bet they’re expecting the same level of financial support! Educators are all about grants. These educators are liable to get a real lesson in economics…
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So, in two pages, Ms. Astle made this point to me; Methodists are leaving through every door. For anyone to hustle votes to “win” at the GC2020 is a fool’s errand. It’s over. It’s all over!

Reese more than 6 years ago

I don't think so

It is certainly a time of upheaval. The UMC had been 'collecting' groups over the past decades. It was overdue for a bit of schism, I think.

You can only herd cats in the direction they want to go; we now have a lot of cats who aren't interested in the same things. I think the explosion of non-denominational churches has unintentionally fueled some of the UMC discord (and we can discuss that if you like).

Here's an opportunity. Let's not fight, let's figure out a win-win here.

JR more than 6 years ago

Seems My Argument Got Some UMC Legs today...

Well now, looky here, today's news headlines from CNN (I ONLY quote because Fox News confirmed the report):

"United Methodist Church proposes historic split over gay marriage and LGBT clergy
By Ray Sanchez, CNN Updated 3:42 PM ET, Fri January 3, 2020" (

UMC News has the story. So, straight from the horse's mouth, looks like the bishops have seen the obvious. Gee, that only took four decades...
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Oh well, it sure beats the path chosen by the Episcopal church.
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Finally, I will debate your observation, "I think the explosion of non-denominational churches has unintentionally fueled some of the UMC discord (and we can discuss that if you like)." I humbly submit that much of the explosion of non-denominational churches has been as a RESULT of the cancer of liberalism having metastasized in the UMC, Lutheran, Episcopal churches (among others, perhaps).

Reese more than 6 years ago

Liberalism as a cancer?

It is difficult to have a productive conversation with someone who calls an entire world view a "cancer". Such a statement says more about the speaker than it does about the subject matter. That said, what we may be living through is the next "Great Emergence "(Phyllis Tickle), after which the entire concept of what we view as a denomination may be a thing of the past.

John Phillip Gudikunst more than 6 years ago

We Are Far Past "Productive Conversations"

UMC has been "conversationing" for 40+ years. Finally, REALITY is setting in: where there are mutually exclusive positions, a conversation in search of compromise is a waste of time and money. The Way Forward charade was a series of secret conversations to promote a "compromise" that completely ignored the core beliefs of a significant number of traditionals. On the other hand, the new rules of GC2019 was exactly the same in the opposite direction. What was "productive" about those conversations?
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Liberals condemn my traditional values at every opportunity. Those morals of thousands of years, not to mention of my culture and family for generations, are scoffed at, laughed at and belittled. We are accused of "hatred" and worse for our views on same-sex marriage or men in women's bathrooms. How would that prejudice against my values and traditional morals facilitate any "Productive Conversation"? Indeed, there is no possibility.
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So, describe me as you like and I shall continue to label something that slowly kills, a cancer. And, if there is any courage and action among those with the power to change our situation, we shall never have to engage in conversation again. Peace

Reese more than 6 years ago