Dye Week 2
The cover of the Rev. Mary John Dye's information booklet for churches considering disaffiliation. (UM Insight Screengrab)
Editor's note: The Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye stresses that her pamphlets focus on situations in the Western North Carolina, but recognizes that similar episodes have been reported to her by United Methodists in other annual conferences. This article is taken from her most recent email providing a link to this week's booklet.
Here is the link to this week's handout: https://drive.google.com/.../1SzIfKdyWm3jWbsELKAr.../view...
This one focuses on the church's stand on human sexuality issues. It will have some specificity to my local congregation (Triplett UMC in Mooresville, NC) in that – in light of months of rampant misinformation in meetings, in print and in conversations – the district superintendet required that our Administrative Council send a letter to the congregation admitting there was misinformation AND that they identify the falsehoods (including misquoting him) and giving correct information. So you will see that on pages 2 and 3. Those things may – or may not – have circulated in your local setting. But I am pretty sure that a high percentage of them are things you/your people have heard.
Then I summarize – based on the sensationalized emotional rumors we were dealing with – their agency IF there is a change in 2024. The Western North Carolina Conference is offering an expanded profile for traditional churches to formalize a request not to receive a gay pastor. This renewable extension of the appointment process, as I understand it, is a way to reinforce the welcome of traditional/conservative churches in the ongoing UMC. The cabinet has taken the initiative to say this expanded profile would be honored. Although many of my people still believe there are hundreds of gay pastors just waiting to serve here, this (unprecedented in my lifetime) is a good faith gesture from the cabinet. IF YOUR CONFERENCE DOES NOT HAVE SUCH A PROVISION – or a similar provision – that part of the handout will not be true for your setting. It IS true in Western North Carolina. So please don't write me – as others have – lambasting me for incorrect information. It is correct for my setting and has been double and triple checked by conference officials.
The other part of this week which will not have direct application to every conference is the inclusion of 2 WNCC petitions passed in June, 2019. These petitions (without context) have been circulated by passionate disaffiliators as "proof" of where the UMC is heading. So I promised to include them to help us get the fullest, fairest picture – along with all the history of human sexuality legislation/changes.
I do take on trying to sort the truth from the sensationalist lies of the "outrage hot spots" that are continually repeated in the groups of self-appointed critics of the UMC – who themselves are unaccountable. I don't know if it is pandemic or the bitter divisions in the culture or insecurity or lack of knowledge about the basic "whys" behind Methodist practices, but people are frighteningly gullible. Especially for the sensationalistic. As best I can tell, there are only 4 main topics that are used in this gaslighting. As usual, people only know pieces of the story – and the pieces that get constant publicity are understandably horrifying to people.
Finally, this printout is designed to be a booklet – 2 11x17 pages front and back folded. In that format, it is very readable and not so overwhelming.
If this can help any of you in any way as we work through this wilderness, I offer it with my blessings.
Mary John Doe
The Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye
The Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye is serving as interim pastor of Triplett UMC in Mooresville, NC. She is preparing a series of booklets to debunk misinformation about the UMC as the congregation prepares to vote on disaffiiation Feb. 26. This material is republished with the author's permission and may be reproduced elsewhere.