Dry erase sign
Members of St Paul’s UMC in Kansas designed a reusable dry-erase sign to support the Resist Harm movement. (Photo Courtesy of Resist Harm)
What a weekend it has been in Methodist Land – nowhere near as quiet as Lake Woebegone and approaching the roar of a jet plane taking off.
Since word of “A Protocol for Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation” dropped on Friday, Jan. 3, the blogosphere, social media, and mainstream media blazed almost as hot as Australia’s wildfire crisis (and thankfully they got a little rain Down Under over the weekend). There has been praise, analysis, criticism, suspicion, pique, and anger over the proposal that was negotiated in secret over the past five months.
United Methodist News plans a live-streamed interview with some of the “Protocol” negotiators at 9:30 a.m. ET on Jan. 13 on www.UMNews.org. More details will be announced, such as whether the livestream will be recorded for viewing at more convenient times for those not on the U.S. east coast.
Meanwhile, in light of confusing reports, several important things should be noted about the “Protocol”:
It’s a compromise proposal that still needs General Conference approval. Unlike what many secular media reports claim, it’s not a done deal.
It flips the script on past efforts. Instead of forcing out progressives and sympathetic centrists, traditionalists are the ones slated to leave the UMC and start their own denomination. Those who remain will retain the United Methodist name, logo, and assets. The “Protocol” presumes that the remaining United Methodist denomination will repeal the Traditional Plan whose restrictions went into effect Jan. 1.
It was negotiated by a small group outside United Methodism’s established legislative procedure. Nonetheless, the “Protocol” still will have to run the gauntlet of the UMC’s legislative process. Longtime observers know how tricky that process can be.
It allows conferences and congregations to decide whether they want to leave or stay. Those who leave must decide what voting margin (simple majority or two-thirds) will govern their choice. Those who want to stay don’t have to do anything, because those who remain will be the United Methodist Church.
It requires waiting until after traditionalists leave to make other proposed changes. These changes include the Connectional Table’s proposal to restructure the worldwide UMC into regional conferences, providing $39 million to strengthen racial/ethnic churches, and the removal of the anti-homosexuality rules in the Book of Discipline. This detail has engendered much suspicion from both clergy and laity of color and longtime LGBTQ+ advocates who fear these developments won’t happen after the split. Some traditionalists are claiming that their new denomination will succeed while the "liberal" remainder will fail.
Its negotiators are under public pressure to support and promote only the “Protocol” and not any other plans put forth by partisan interests. How strongly will that hold the negotiators to their unanimous agreement? Nobody knows, but the risk for backsliders has been set high. Among them, if traditionalists back out of the agreement, their proposed $25-million-over-four-years grubstake goes out the window.
So what happens now? A lot of education awaits General Conference delegates as to the benefits (and potential risks, one also surmises) of the “Protocol.” To its credit, the negotiating team, with the help of the Council of Bishops’ new website, has begun to answer a lot of these “why,” “how,” and “what if” questions via its FAQ page. The FAQ page provides a lot more context for the “Protocol” than does the formal press release, so it should be primary reading.
At the same time, there’s rumpus aplenty over the way the “Protocol” was created and who had a hand in creating it. Already the Queer Clergy Caucus and the Methodist Federation for Social Action have complained they weren’t officially represented in the negotiations. Rank-and-file United Methodists criticize both the “Protocol” and its makers as once more committing the institutional sins of secrecy and power-brokerage by an elite few. To paraphrase the blockbuster musical, “Hamilton,” everybody wanted to be in the room where it happened.
It’s easy to opine that “extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures,” but in this case, that old chestnut of politics may actually be an apt description of the UMC’s situation. Nearly half a century of parliamentary chicanery has gotten us into the impasse we now face. The real question hovering over the “Protocol’s” fate is whether the negotiated settlement can get past the procedural roadblocks that have scuttled other plans in the past.
According to both the official release and reports from several negotiators, each participant has agreed to persuade their respective constituencies to back the “Protocol” as the best option available. So far, Insight has received encouraging and/or celebratory messages from four interest groups with representatives in the negotiations: Reconciling Ministries Network, Mainstream UMC, Uniting Methodists, and the Wesleyan Covenant Association.
As this week’s Media Mentions will show, there’s a lot of information, misinformation and probably disinformation swirling around the connection now. The best course of action is to read the “Protocol” and its FAQ thoroughly, discuss it with your conference’s GC delegates, and pray for a good outcome for all of us.
Bloggers and Clergy Weigh in on ‘Protocol’
The United Methodist blogosphere is abloom with commentary on “A Protocol for Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation.” We commend to your reading:
The Fuzzy Side of the Methodist Lollipop – Dr. Maria Dixon Hall
An Imperfect Table, A Chance to Perfect – by Jan Lawrence, executive director,Reconciling Ministries Network
Some Thoughts for Local Church Pastors Need to Explain Why The United Methodist Church Didn’t Just Split Up by Patrick Scriven via Pacific Northwest Conference.
It’s Time to Move On by Rob Renfroe via Good News.
GC2020 – Initial Thoughts on “A Protocol for Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation” – Plane Grace by Frank Holbrook.
GC 2020 – First in a series of questions about the Protocol – Plane Grace by Frank Holbrook.
GC2020 – The Protocol Epiphany – Plane Grace by Frank Holbrook.
Wendy Joy Woodworth
On her way to meet with the Western Jurisdiction's "Fresh Expressions" team, the Rev. Wendy Joy Woodworth posted on Faceboo: "Guess what, it is Jan. 1, 2020, I am flying to Denver to meet with the WJ Gang of Ten (still working on a name) to carry forward the work from the WJ Fresh Summit, I will be preaching this Sunday, celebrating Communion, and yes, I am part of the LGBTQI+ community and a UMC Clergy! #allbelong, #resistharm" (Courtesy photo; used by permission)
Other Movements Still Going On
Don’t think that news of a negotiated proposal has derailed either alternative visions for the UMC or resistance to the tighter restrictions on LGBTQ+ clergy and same-sex marriages that went into effect Jan. 1. On the contrary, kickoff events for Resist Harm occurred before and after the “Protocol” news on Jan. 3. Resist Harm communicator Pat Luna already has said that the “Protocol’s” emergence has pumped even more resolve into the campaign’s leaders to stick to their four-month agenda of social media and real-life demonstrations. For details, check out the Resist Harm website.
Meanwhile, the team charged with refining the proposals from the Western Jurisdiction's "Fresh Methodism" summit is still working. See the above photo and caption about them from the Rev. Wendy Joy Woodworth.
Media Mentions as of Jan. 5, 2020
With so much media going on about the “Protocol,” Insight is indebted to the UM Fallout Compendium collected by the Rev. Chris Ritter on his blog, “People Need Jesus” for additional references in this report.
Methodist Church Proposes Split – DTN The Progressive Farmer (blog)
United Methodist Church's future looks bleak – Christian Post
United Methodist Church Announces Plan to Split Over Same-Sex Marriage – Herald Planet
Methodists Gut-Punch LGBTQ People – Medium.com
Tampa Bay clergy react to United Methodist break-up over LGBTQ inclusion – Tampa Bay Times
United Methodist Church proposes historic split over gay marriage and LGBT clergy – CNN
The Likely Outcome of the Methodist Schism – Reason
UMC may split over same-sex marriage, inclusion – Windy City Times
Gay Marriage, LGBT Clergy Behind United Methodist Church's Proposed Split – On Top Magazine
Irreconcilable differences: Methodist church goes for breakup over gay marriage row – Infosurhoy
Wisconsin religious leaders react to proposed split of United Methodist Church – WDJT
United Methodist Church Announces Proposal to Split Over Gay Marriage – NPR
Methodists propose split in gay marriage, clergy impasse – Bellefontaine Examiner
United Methodist Church proposes split over LGBTQ impasse – CBS News
Methodists propose split in gay marriage, clergy impasse – Niagara Gazette
United Methodist Church is expected to split over gay marriage – Palm Beach Daily News
United Methodist Church Announces Historical “Split” Over LGBTQ+ Rights – Grit Daily
“Congregations May Decide That Their Conscience And Their Theology Is Better Served And ... – ZimEye - Zimbabwe News
United Methodists' plan gets tougher on LGBTQ issues – Florida Courier
United Methodist Church could break up over same-sex marriage – FOX 5 NY
Methodist Church Announces Plan to Split over LGBTQ Beliefs – Georgia Voice
The United Methodist schism is all about RACIST white pro-LGBTQ progressives muscling out ... – Infosurhoy
United Methodist Church leaders propose split to resolve debate over LGBTQ marriage, clergy – fox6now.com
United Methodist Church proposes historic split over gay marriage and LGBT clergy – myfox8.com
United Methodist Church Agrees to Split Over Gay Marriage – Daily Beast
Local, state United Methodist leaders react to new proposal to split the denomination over differing ... – Tulsa World
United Methodist Church announces plan to split over same-sex marriage – The Times Telegram
After Decades of Fighting, United Methodists Avoid a Visit from the Ghost of Episcopal Future” – GetReligion.
“In 2020, the United Methodist Church will Formally Divorce Over Gay Marriage” – American Thinker.
“The Separation Protocol and Traditionalist Angst” by Chris Ritter.
“Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone” by Art Collins.
“New UMC Separation Plan: ‘Winning’ the Church?” by Cliff Wall.
“Most Right for Now” by David Livingtone.
“Reflections on the Proposed Protocol for Separation” by Timothy Tennent.
Initial Thoughts About and Analysis of the Amicable Separation Protocol” by John Fleischauer.
“NY Bishop Thomas Bickerton and Other Denomination Leaders Craft Proposal to Preserve the United Methodist Church” via New York Conference.
“The Sad, Necessary Division of the United Methodist Church: It’s About Much More than Gay Marriage” by David French.
“Yes, Sadlly, the UMC Split is Pretty Racist” by Steve Burman
“It’s the End of the UMC as We Know It” by Stephen Fife
“Great News! Negotiations Reach Compromise!” by Mark Holland via Mainstream UMC.