Buyer Beware in Seeking Another Church

February 1, 2023

1:49 PM

Anastasiia Makarevich Getty Images/iStockphoto

Buyer Beware

iStock Photo by Anastasiia Makarevich

Special to United Methodist Insight

We are invited to "make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world'" in The United Methodist Church's mission statement. The UMC's ongoing division presents a huge roadblock to its mission by opportunities that distract from the call and put in place an "us vs. them" dichotomy.

Much lamenting occurs about quantity issues such as offering dollars and membership numbers but seemingly little concern is heard about the quality of church life. "They don't follow the rules" seems to be the main claim.

The response to this whine has been to stoop lower rather than find ways to lead by taking higher ground. This is graphically demonstrated by deliberate efforts to lie and break promises by with-holding apportionments. Unfortunately, the primary victims of this perceived "punishment" are "the least of these" – the innocent, voiceless children of God who are relying on caring brothers and sisters to show God's love.

I don't believe I would want to be any part of that mean-spiritedness which doesn't seem to show how a disciple of Jesus Christ would transform the world! Constantly being bombarded with the stridency of the criticism – "the UMC has been in place for 50 years and has never been good" – is a strong confirmation of the unpleasantry in place.

Is judgmentalism a way to "make disciples" or just repeating the feeling that "church people are mean," which can result in an immediate rejection of the recruiting efforts? A sales pitch based on anger and delight in catching someone in error may not lead new people to want to join the negativity.

As the lament continues about the loss of numbers some questions come to mind Is the responsibility for this decline reflected in the mirror? What have I done to show others Christ? What have I done to exemplify God's unconditional love for everyone? How can I be a positive instrument and bring others to a spiritual home? What can I do that is edifying and to help "make disciples of Jesus Christ," as the UMC's mission statement says?

To those who choose to destroy, sabotage and apparently delight in a scorched-earth policy to trash the United Methodist Church, the words of Butch Cassidy seem appropriate: "Whatever they're selling, I don't want it." Given the choice that seems to be based on a simplistic us vs. them, I choose to serve the Lord in as many positive, edifying, uplifting ways as long as I am able.

Wil Meiklejohn

Wil Meikeljohn is a certified lay minister in the Mountain Sky Annual Conference.

Comments (4)

Comment Feed

I'll Take The Risk

“I come to the garden alone…” One of my favorites from the Methodist Hymnal pretty much describes my relationship with my God. It does not center around a church, a building, an organization, but just me and He. It does not depend on windy preachers or lofty bishops and certainly not on extranious issues like global warming or immigration or human sexuality. He Blessed us with opportunies to address world issues in other venues.

So, with no hate or vengeance intended, my change from UMC to GMC is like changing jobs or changing houses or changing golf clubs – if one is not serving my needs, I’ll try a new one, and if that doesn’t take me where I want to go, I will change again. I am an American and a free man. Change is welcome and good - if it is forward progress. (Full disclosure, I’ve been married to the same woman for forty-five years, so I do know some stability.)

The denomination of my father and his father and those long before has turned against me and the lessons and mores of Methodist Church once known. To watch the turmoil of the last 50 years became too disturbing and I've been hoping someday to return.

GMC is the door I have been waiting for. I am excited about the hymnal, the covered dish dinners, sermons of salvation and hope and the absence of politcal and social distractions. It’s a risk I welcome!

Reese more than 1 year ago

Remarkable ...

Absolutely remarkable. No appeal to the preservation of episcopal and institutional interests, nor even a hint of hype seeking to advance a social/political agenda under the banner of right belief in Christ. Just a simple unabashed affirmation of the opportunity afforded by the GMC to Methodists to share in the Kingdom work of Christ. Remarkable. Absolutely remarkable.

bthomas more than 1 year ago

Really?

I fear you may be terribly disappointed with your decision, based on your closing comments. Political AND social "distractions" are exactly what created the perceived need for the GMC in the first place. You will not avoid them because they are the very foundation of your exit strategy.

Rev. Dale Hotelling more than 1 year ago

You Might Be Right, I Might Be Crazy

“Gimme that old time religion… It’s good enough for me.” A real toe-tapper of a country song which describes the core of my exit from UMC and my trial of GMC. You may not understand the frustrations of people like me who would leave their church of generations just to be free of liberal logic and endless progressive pontifications on what we ought to be now. And, must accept now. I ain’t changin’!

But, you might be right in that the battle has gone on for so long and the scars are so deep, that the GMC leadership might not be able to let it go. I will keep that in mind as I visit GMC churches over the next year. My wife and I sold our home last fall and we are traveling America in a six-wheel condo. I intend to visit GMC churches where I find them and report on what I find. I might end up returning to the Cowboy Church in which I have worshiped for the last five years. I love the music, the pure gospel messages, the no politics/social agenda, but I miss our Methodist covered dish suppers (dinners), our formality, music, and connection to my late mom and dad… I really, really want to come home!

Reese more than 1 year ago