SCJ vs. SMU and a View from a Higher Hilltop

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The United Methodist General Conference’s ill-fated decision in 2019 in St. Louis to put in place the Traditional Plan, and proposals of dissolving the denomination are leading the church into further conflict and chaos. The dissolution plans that are proposing to create new denominations and “divvy up the assets” are the: Jones-Bard Plan, Indy Plan or N.E.W. Plan. Not that this is anyone’s intent, but the probable results of these plans will continue the destruction of our denomination’s beloved “connection.” I have said and written before, we are setting ourselves up for 10,000 complicated details with abounding lawsuits. The South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church vs. Southern Methodist University is a one of the first lawsuits to arise.

The South Central Jurisdiction

So what is the South Central Jurisdiction? The United Methodist Church in the United States is divided into five large regional areas of Annual Conferences (smaller regional areas) called “jurisdictions.” The United Methodist Churches and our Methodist institutions in Dallas are in the North Texas Conference of the South Central Jurisdiction (SCJ). North Texas is one of five Conferences in Texas and with six other United Methodist Conferences one each in New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Great Plains (Kansas and Nebraska) comprise the SCJ.

The SCJ elects bishops, deals with missional matters, and entertains agenda from the jurisdictions two schools—Southern Methodist University (SMU) and Lydia Patterson Institute (LPI). Whereas few know about LPI, most people in the US know SMU to be a fine, private university, with a beautiful campus in a thriving neighborhood setting in Highland Park. SMU is not only a superior academic institution, but it is well endowed financially. Counting its endowment and property value, SMU is worth billions of dollars and the Board of Trustees is given the fiduciary responsibility for the school.

Southern Methodist University

Most people, even United Methodists, do not know SMU’s history as a school that was started in 1910 by United Methodists in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, had split from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1844, primarily over the issue of slavery. The Methodist Church seems to always mirror the conflicts and divisive social and cultural realities facing our nation. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, reunited with the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Protestant Church in 1939, thus forming the Methodist Church. In 1968, on the campus of SMU, the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church united to form the “United Methodist Church (UMC)” and adopt our present governance structure.

Issues regarding human sexuality and interpretation of the Bible are matters poised to formally divide the 12.5 million member global UMC. The General Conference in 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri, adopted a plan called the Traditional Plan. The Traditional Plan passed by a narrow margin, though most all of the Bishops, and the vast majority of the United States delegates did not support it. The Traditional Plan strengthened exclusive language and measures for LGBTQ persons, and built in punitive measures for pastors and churches disobeying the new laws. The result has been pastors, churches, and our institutions i.e. Duke, Emory, Drew, Boston University that have UMC seminaries on their campuses, having to distance themselves from the actions of the UMC. Leaders of the church and our institutions have had to make public disclaimers like what Dr. Gerald Turner wrote after the infamous vote in St. Louis,

“Dear SMU community,

"The United Methodist Church concluded a special session of the General Conference yesterday, ultimately voting to endorse the “Traditional Plan,” which excludes the ordination of LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage within the Church…

"Even as we value our historical relationship with the Church, SMU is distinct from the Church. Nothing changes in SMU’s day-to-day operations as a result of this action. In founding SMU, members of the Methodist Church and the citizens of Dallas created a University as a separate corporate entity governed by the SMU Board of Trustees. SMU will continue to operate under the University’s separate bylaws and policies, including our non-discrimination statement, as approved by the Board of Trustees.

"Likewise, the values of SMU remain the same, including inclusivity and respect for others. We reaffirm SMU’s deep commitment to providing a welcoming community for all students, faculty and staff members and visitors. This commitment has not and will not change for LGTBQ individuals as well as for all others. As our students have stated, `Every Mustang will be valued.’ ”

Quandaries and Conundrums

Not knowing if the UMC will continue to be a Traditional Plan driven denomination, or dissolve into new denominations, what are “we” to do in this quandary? The Tradition Plan in the United States is simply unacceptable by many, and it is largely unenforceable. Dissolving the denomination and becoming two or three, or thirty or forty new denominations is even more objectionable. It is simply not worth the wait for some pastors, churches, and institutions, such as SMU, especially if the result may even be more damaging.

With the forecast cloudy, at best, and perhaps a severe storm looming, SMU and its Board of Trustees have seen fit to challenge the “trust clause” of the South Central Jurisdiction. The SCJ is pushing back and has sued the Board of Trustees of SMU. It should not be surprising that SMU, who has been fraying the ties with the church more and more wants to cut the ties with the UMC. The offer by Dr. Turner on behalf of the Board to retain a “covenant style” relationship with the church, by still having members and bishops who are representatives of the church on the Board of Trustees, is an olive branch of sorts. This would be a relationship that is similar to what hospitals, retirement centers, and other institutions that carry the “Methodist” name have done.

The South Central Jurisdiction, with its Mission Committee, was in a quandary as well, either do nothing, or take action in keeping with its own fiduciary responsibility. Neither SMU, nor the SCJ took the action that was really needed that being sitting down and talking about solutions before the matter reached a public boiling point. Now the church is in the never winnable conundrum, working far outside of our mission place, and choosing to “lawyer up.”

Lydia Patterson Institute

What is closer to the heart of the mission matter of the church is a little college-preparatory school with less than 400 students in El Paso Texas named Lydia Patterson

Institute. LPI has done remarkable work that has been unashamedly called “ministry” since 1913. LPI was founded, as was SMU, by forward looking and generous Methodists, who wanted to advance education as part of its wider mission, and both came to be around the same time in our history. With both institutions holding education as a mutual goal, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, being held in trust by the South Central Jurisdiction of the UMC, and Methodism a large part of their history, LPI couldn’t be more different than SMU.

LPI continues its more than a century old mission by offering programs for Spanish-speaking children (who become proficient in English), primarily from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua and the Segundo Barrio of El Paso, and most of its students come out of poverty. 65% of LPI’s students walk back and forth across the border everyday seeking an education for which they, and their families sacrifice greatly. Nearly every graduating senior is offered a full scholarship at one of the United Methodist colleges and universities across the country, including SMU. Some graduates go to the University of Texas in El Paso on a special scholarship program.

Unlike SMU, LPI struggles to exist and is totally dependent upon the United Methodist Church and generous United Methodists. In the midst of our United Methodist squabbles, some institutions like SMU distance themselves from the church, but LPI has nowhere to turn for financial survival but the church and the South Central Jurisdiction. LPI initiated a much needed $8 million capital campaign to improve its campus, and their Board of Trustees have a wonderful plan to do so. Funding capital projects is challenging when student scholarships and making sure the excellent faculty and staff (many of whom are graduates of LPI) are paid, is always the first priority.

A Higher Hilltop

In quest of a better solution—a “higher hilltop”—and a more powerful statement of our true values that formed our church and schools alike, what if we looked to doing something for others in need regarding education and our mutual missions. What if action could be taken that would be a NEW proactive movement of partnership, healthily living out of a NEW covenant relationship and making a NEW powerful statement to a world bent toward division, litigation and conflict. What if the South Central Jurisdiction granted SMU the autonomy they desire with the covenant relationship the new normal. What if SMU’s Board of Trustees raised a significant monetary gift (millions) to give to the SCJ for the sole purpose of support of LPI to be used for its much needed capital improvements and endowment.

Instead of blaming Dr. Turner and the SMU Board of Trustees, or the Mission Council of the South Central Jurisdiction, all whom were trying to be true to its fiduciary responsibility, why don’t they all go together to a “higher hilltop?” What if they sat down and talked. It is true that the United Methodist Church birthed SMU and has supported it through the years. It is true that though the larger UMC does not contribute much to SMU annually, faithful members of United Methodist Churches have generously given hundreds of millions of dollars to SMU, which is part of the beauty of our connection. I think it is past time, but not too late, to sit down “Cast our eyes to the hills from whence our help comes. Our help comes from the Lord…” (Ps. 121) pray for a solution and listen to that still, quiet voice that will always say, “Be thankful for your past and the Saints who have made great things possible. Do something reflecting the best of our values, ethics, mission and other’s orientation. You have the opportunity to take us all to a higher hilltop. Just do it.”