Another WCA Myth Debunked: Nobody's Silencing Anybody

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A United Methodist Insight Editorial

As the disreputable, dissolute goldminer Ben Rumson remarks in the musical, "Paint Your Wagon," sometimes you just gotta wonder "what the hell God was thinking of" when the Divine created human beings. The dissolution follies now plaguing The United Methodist Church offer a prime example.

I refer to the Rev. Jay Therrell's March 28 post on the Wesleyan Covenant Association website. Analyzed critically, the post demonstrates holes in its logic big enough to drive a tandem 18-wheeler tractor-trailer through. The assertions put forth are once again based on the WCA's myth that it's the victim in the dissolution movement. As I've said before, don't you believe it, and here's why.

Rev. Therrell whines about the way poor little WCA'ers are being treated by big bad United Methodist bishops. While I agree with him that there's too much secrey going on regarding disaffiliation (see Jessica Brodie's excellent editorial), the WCA has no claim whatsoever to using United Methodist congregations as bully pulpits for its wily enticements to disaffiliation.

Also again, Rev. Therrell singles out his former bishop, Kenneth H. Carter Jr., for special derision. (Rev Therrell was a district superintendent in the Florida Conference under Bishop Carter's administration until Therrell left the UMC). The WCA president selectively quotes from the bishop's announcement of a fall session of Western North Carolina Conference focused on disaffiliation: "there shall no longer be meetings with WNCC churches where persons recruit members to depart from The United Methodist Church." Here's the full statement including the following paragraph from which the quote is taken:

"The Virtual Special Session that will be held on May 6 was called in response to the request from churches departing to become independent congregations or members of other present or future denominations to begin to live into their futures. In the same manner, it will enable clergy to follow their calling to new ministries apart from The United Methodist Church. And in alignment with these departures, there shall no longer be meetings with WNCC churches where persons recruit members to depart from The United Methodist Church."

One seriously wonders if Rev. Therrell's latest screed represents a reaction to his group losing its lawsuit against the Western North Carolina Conference last week. That development bodes ill for disaffiliation lawsuits pending elsewhere, especially in Florida.

Rev. Therrell complains that Bishop Carter and his episcopal colleagues are "silencing opposition." Few assertions could be less truthful. The Wesleyan Covenant Association has all kinds of mass media at its disposal to rant and rave about the oppressive UMC. It just doesn't have any right to rant and rave on United Methodist property. 

The WCA president's post also misinterprets the reality behind UMC leaders' assurances to concerned churches about such things as pastoral appointments. Once again:

  • No United Methodist congregation is required to take a vote on staying in or leaving the UMC.
  • Lamentable as it is, United Methodist congregations regularly say, "don't send us a woman pastor" or "don't give us a cross-racial appointment." Much as we want to advance the ordained ministry of all qualified persons, does anyone really think a bishop is going to force a congregation to accept someone they've refused outright? Most bishops aren't that insensitive, especially in these fraught times of turmoil. History shows hearts and minds aren't changed by force.
  • Furthermore, pastoral appointments and the trust clause regarding church property are two totally different issues. Conflating them into a weapon of oppression, as Rev. Therrell does, smacks of fearmongering at its worst – a cudgel the WCA wields with impunity.

The illogic Rev. Therrell uses in his post typifies the kind of twisted misinformation in which the WCA has trafficked from its beginnings. In no way, shape or form has the UMC obstructed the First Amendment rights of WCA members. Instead, as wise managers do, bishops and conference leaders have stepped up to protect the church's property from divisive elements. Would any company owner allow a competitor to come into their place of business and lie about them for the purpose of stealing away customers? I think not, and neither should The United Methodist Church.

The bottom line here is that once again, WCA leadership is trying to paint itself as the victim of UMC oppression, solely because UMC leaders are defending the denomination against incursions by a hostile force. Yes, I am using warfare language intentionally, because the WCA is waging war against The United Methodist Church. Its incursions into UMC churches employ the same kind of tactics as invading armies, and we need not shrink from saying so. Jesus didn't hesitate to call out the "brood of vipers" who preyed upon the religious fears of the people (Matthew 12:34). Surely, we have no better exemplar of right action than Jesus.

So, the WCA wants to continue recruiting United Methodists to disaffiliate? Fine, then let the association hire its own meeting hall and get on with it – without a captive audience.

Veteran journalist Cynthia B. Astle has reported on The United Methodist Church at all levels for 35 years. She serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011 to serve as a media channel for marginalized and under-served voices in the UMC.