No, the UMC Isn't Over; Quite the Opposite

May 8, 2024

3:45 PM

WCA Post

Screenshot by Mary John Dye

The May 6 article by the Rev. Scott Field, president of the “Wesleyan Covenant” Association is heartbreaking in its desperation. And I believe that, for anyone who defined United Methodism by adamant opposition to gay persons being ordained or in a sacred covenant, the bold assertion “The United Methodist Church is no more” is their reality. Here is the truth: the foundation of the United Methodist church is not opposition to gay pastors or relationships.

I should know.

In my 74 years, growing up as a Methodist PK and in 50 years serving as a United Methodist minister, I have been to thousands of United Methodist preaching and teaching settings: at camps, youth groups, confirmation, worship, chapel services in college at Asbury, revivals and camp meetings. Never—ever—was I taught that the heart of UM faith was opposition to gay clergy or relationships.

And, if the truth matters, there are still many loved and valued United Methodists who do not agree with gay ordination and marriage. Their convictions are respected and the denomination has gone out of its way to affirm and guarantee that their convictions will be respected and honored. We want everyone (no matter what their position on gay inclusion) to live by the Golden Rule. But we would all want to live the Golden Rule anyhow, right?

Of the primary distinguishing characteristics of United Methodists a deep, rich, unshakable love for everyone is at the top. Since that love included the whole world, without question, it has to include everyone in our families and neighborhoods. That passion to love others and share the good news of Christ to others is the strongest I have ever seen it in the UMC. And it is this characteristic of United Methodism that was the guiding force in the General Conference. Love for others—as Jesus taught—is the foundation of our faith.

Whether you agree or disagree with gay inclusion, United Methodism is fundamentally a denomination that puts a priority on grace. Always has been. We lead with grace, not condemnation. That is at the heart of our faith.

And moving on to perfection—continual growth and change—self-examination, ever deepening study of Scripture, repentance, prayer, holy conversation—that is the heart of the faith of the United Methodist Church.

It is beyond my ability to comprehend how decisions about gay inclusion could, for anyone, supercede our primary faith foundation—or how obsession with this one issue has become a litmus test of “orthodoxy”, belief in Scripture and moral character. Such elevation of this one issue is way out of balance to the fullness of our faith.

So brothers and sisters in the WCA, you have printed a falsehood. The United Methodist Church is continuing, ongoing and, I believe, strengthened. It is based on the unfailing love for others that has always been our foundation. The UMC is grounded in grace as it always has been. It is saturated with a passion to keep growing in Christian maturity—making whatever changes that would most closely align us with God’s heart.

If United Methodism — for you —was primarily a battleground to hold the line against gay people, then, for you, I guess (of your own making) the UMC is no more. But for most of us—including many people who agree with you on this issue—we know that the UMC is much, much bigger. We know it is a faith of reaching out in love to all. We know our tradition is about grace. We know that we always have imperfections and sin and we offer ourselves to be continually shaped by God. This is our foundation. And it holds us through the challenges we face.

Our love for each other is much bigger than any one issue. We truly pray for you to find peace. Peace will not be yours as long as you are obsessed with attacking, smearing and discrediting others. We pray for people you may reach for Christ that we can’t. Spending your energy obsessed with critiquing and undermining the UMC is a tragic distraction from the positive good you could do. And it would bring some integrity to the GMC base you are building.

And PS, I would like to make a suggestion: either live up to the name Wesleyan or change your name. These attacks and misleading, sensational declarations are the opposite of what John Wesley taught and lived. They misrepresent Wesley and you mislead others to claim to be Wesleyan. Find a charitable, respectful way to interact with people (which is the way of Wesley) or pick another name. We welcome you to live into the Wesleyan heritage. But you shouldn’t claim the name and put out such constant vitriol.

Small Mary John

Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye

The Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye is a retired clergy member of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. This post is republished with permission from her Facebook page. Please contact the author via Facebook to reproduce this content elsewhere.

Comments (3)

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Born a Methodist

I, too, was born a Methodist, sprinkled in the very church where my great-grandparent's funerals were held on the lot upon which my great great great great-grandfather paid the entire cash cost of a new building in the 1840s. Today, the beautiful Georgian church has been converted into a ramshackle private residence, its spire torn off. My parents left United Methodism almost a half-century ago, fed up with dysfunctional, ineffective pastors caused by the system of guaranteed appointment. I, like Mrs. Dye, have plenty of anecdotes to share. But, the best factual predictor of future performance is past performance. There is categorically no evidence that what happened in Charlotte will be of any numeric benefit to continuing United Methodism. It's plain, willful ignorance of the facts on the ground. Check back here in 2034 and see how the UMC has fared. It likely won't have 2 million members left.

Midwesterner 344 days ago

Reborn Christian -- and United Methodist

If a long Methodist ancestry (back to the early 1800s), or being a Midwesterner, or being an Asburian like Rev. Dr. Dye, gives one a platform, I qualify on all these counts and more. Membership or abandoned facilities may indeed be "factual predictors." But of what? Is more than fifty years of opposition and the exclusion of LGBTQ persons created these "facts?" Or, might cultural and demographic changes let to our current situation? What I don't understand is the need to continue the grievance, the name calling, the unwillingness to extend grace to others who differ. I too will be interested in a 2034 check in on the UMC -- and the GMC -- and the megachurces so popular today. Might it be that God is doing something new beyond our nostalgia and ideological assumptions. It seems to be that God just might be big enough to work in and through many expressions of the Christian faith and doesn't need for me to filter out those with whom I disagree.

philip amerson 344 days ago

In the years 2034...

The UMC will see continued success in the ensmallment campaign which it has pursued since 1968. The GMC will show continued growth rooted in a high view of Scripture, an unapologetic commitment to evangelism which it has embraced since its founding in 2022.

Bea Thomas 342 days ago