So What Is a Centrist?

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The term “Centrist” was alien to me, especially as a way of referring to myself, until labels seemed to become necessary in our United Methodist Church struggles. I have for years referred to myself as a “Wesleyan Evangelical” (distancing from the secular/political connotations of “evangelical”), meaning I am:

a) Traditional theologically and quite committed to the UMC mission, “Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Members of our local church clearly know our mission, “Loving All people into relationship with Jesus Christ.”

b) Wesleyan socially and politically, in the model of our founder John Wesley, who was quite passionate, regarding matters of inclusion, circumstances demanding justice, acts of mercy and basic human rights. Need we mention the case Jesus makes for all of these matters?

For twenty-two years, I have pastored Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, a church full of members across the board theologically, politically, socially, and culturally. This description sounds like most United Methodist Churches in the United States, doesn’t it? I have very few members, if any, even among my most Traditional and Progressive members, who desire a United Methodist Church made up of people just like them on theologically-and-socially-charged matters. I have no one that I know of in our congregation who would support the dissolving of The United Methodist Church and/or who would like to see us be part of a newly formed Wesleyan denomination. If I am, and my local church is, “Centrist” United Methodists, then I will try to define what I think that means:

Centrist Churches are not homogenous and are made up of members who different theologically, politically and socially, as well as some may be culturally diverse. Furthermore, there is a respect among members in the congregation for those who hold different beliefs. Centrist Churches know it is greatly beneficial to be driven by a strong, clarifying mission, vision, values and a shared dream.

A Centrist Pastor preaches and teaches the centering of our life on faith in Jesus Christ as Divine, meaning that He is God who has done the work of redemption that we cannot do for ourselves, as well as, Jesus is the supreme human example of love of God and love of neighbor. Centrists are inspired by, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Eph. 4:4-6

Centrists trust the Holy Spirit to guide and direct persons “toward a life that becomes the Gospel,” which is the “good news” of loving the God who offers grace and forgiveness freely to all, and loves others unconditionally, as Jesus said, “Love, even as I have loved you.”

Centrists’ love, engage, and respect the Bible with heart (experience), mind (reason), soul, and strength (tradition). The Bible is read daily as our grounding of belief and practice. Centrists have no need to use descriptive words coming out of Christian fundamentalism i.e. “inerrant” or “infallible.” Nor do Centrists believe in “cherry picking” certain passages of Scripture to support moral positions, while ignoring other passages that are not practiced as moral mandate, and view this practice at least as “Bible abuse.”

Centrists are “compatibilist,” accepting those as cohorts who are “left” of center and “right” of center, or as I have become accustomed to labeling, “Traditionalists Plus” and “Progressives Plus” (the “Plus” refers to the openness to be “with others,” who are different). Centrist United Methodists hold in common that we are a stronger, more prophetic, solidly missional, more global, and Wesleyan evangelical Church, when we are committed to mission together. Wesley subscribed to the longstanding quote sometimes credited to Augustine, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty (freedom) and in all things charity (love).”

Centrists are saddened that the denomination is going to experience separation. Centrists anticipate a separation in the church regarding the more theological and socio-political extremes (Traditionalist Only and Progressives Only), largely over issues related to treatment of LGBTQ persons. Centrists hope against hope that the church will not splinter, and the Global church will not be further objectified, as the Bishops cited, “being treated as `votes.’”

Centrists are not “institutionalists,” for the institution’s sake. Centrists see a need for institutional changes in our beloved United Methodist Church that will reduce our bureaucracy and hone it to more effectively implement the mission we commit to with our hands, feet and funds. Centrists desire to “fix” the United Methodist Church and equip it for the 21st Century—constitutionally, structurally, and missionally.

Centrists support the African Bishops’ statement in their letter, in large part saying, “no dissolution.” Centrists realize that with some United Methodists in Central Conferences we have unique cultural differences and divides, but do not believe we should dissolve the church over matters of disagreement.

Centrists support the Filipino Bishops’ statement in their letter, endorsing the work of the Connectional Table and its call for Regional Conferences. Of special note, the WCA that has had a longstanding aversion to the Regional Conference alignments, because it would reduce their power in the U.S., now embraces a Regional Conference structure in their new denomination, and Centrists would make the Regional Conference role even broader and more effective.

WCA's Book of Doctrines and Discipline — “General Conference may establish regional conferences for the purposes of coordinating and conducting the mission of the Church around the world. The regional conferences shall be composed of clergy and lay delegates in equal number from the annual conferences within each regional conference, on a basis proportional to their membership. The regional conferences shall meet at least once every six years preceding the General Conference…” (see WCA Book of Doctrines and Discipline)

I, as Centrist labeled, am hopeful for a yet-to-be-seen “uniting plan” to be brought forward, coming from members of Conferences within the Central Conferences, whose voices have largely been ignored. This “uniting plan” will have broad support if it: 1) does not dissolve the Church, 2) creates a gracious exit for those desiring to leave, 3) creates a Regional Conference structure going forward, and 4) recognizes the need for a restructure of the United Methodist Church equipping it for effective global ministry in the 21st Century. Such a plan could be voted on by an Annual Conference (no later than 45 days prior to the convening of the General Conference) and brought to the General Conference as valid legislation.

I believe Centrists will support such a plan and believe it can pass with a decisive consensus. Centrists hope that those leaving the United Methodist Church would allow without disruption, those remaining as United Methodists to make decisions regarding the future of the United Methodist Church. Centrists pray for all of us who are currently United Methodists to find our way, reclaim the mission as the “main thing,” and be about living it out in the world. We can do so together, and we can do so separately, and turn our fervor toward praying for each other’s peace, success, and excitement concerning new beginnings.

The Rev. Stan Copeland serves as senior pastor of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. This post is republished with permission from his Facebook page.