Farewell to 'Good News' Caucus

by

Special to United Methodist Insight | Sept. 18, 2024

The foundational cornerstone of Wesleyan theology is grace. And the United Methodist Church – the direct inheritor of the legacy of John Wesley – has been clinging to grace with determination and faithfulness. Especially the last few years in the most difficult of circumstances. Grace is the core of our denominational DNA. It has been the core of our decision-making and practice.  Grace—not just for some. Grace for all.

The September/October edition of “Good News” Magazine contained an honest reflection of gratitude to the UMC from Rob Renfroe and Tom Lambrecht, leaders of “Good News.” After reading the magazine across the 50+ years of its publication, their (pages 2 and 3) was a surprising—but genuine gratitude to the UMC. Their thanks, eloquently expressed strikes me as heartfelt and powerful. (It also begs the question of how — for years – they could print and speak such vitriol to a denomination which welcomed them, led to their introduction to Jesus, and blessed them with examples of great faith and gave them the opportunity to serve as UM pastors.) “We are grateful,” they write, “for a church that made a place for us to be in ministry, to do the work of God and to fulfill his calling on our lives.”

After reading reams of vicious attacks on the UMC written (and spoken) by the two of them, I suspect I am correct that they did not really intend to give tribute to the steadfast, faithful witness of the UMC. Although “A Parting Thank You” is a postscript to years of attacks — their testimony bears witness that, indeed, the United Methodist Church stayed true to its signature theological foundation of grace. Great grace was extended to both Rob and Tom from the beginning of their faith journey, through their calling to ministry and throughout their ministry at “Good News.” Even when their ministry focused on open, active and often unfair sabotage of the denomination that credentialed them, the UMC extended grace to them.

Because their positions at “Good News” would be categorized as extension ministry (outside of the general local church appointments), they were not in our regular system of accountability.  At the same time, no UMC clergy are exempt from having charges filed against them when they violate basic standards of Christian practice (outlined in paragraph 2702). Several of the provisions for the filing of charges would have applied to the slander and gaslighting which has been common from “Good News.”

Beyond the more formal and drastic filing of charges, is the sacred commitment ministers make at their ordination. To be ordained as elders in the UMC, Rob and Tom made public, sacred vows of assent to the historic questions of the denomination. These 19 questions were written by John Wesley and no one is ordained without the sacred pledge that includes these questions:

6. “Do you know the General Rules of our Church?” (the first General Rule is “Do no harm…”)

7. “Will you keep them?”;

8. “Have you studied the doctrines of the United Methodist Church? Will you preach and maintain them?”

 11. “Do you approve of our Church government and polity? 12)   Will you support and maintain them?” (2016 Discipline paragraph 336)

These are only part of the vows of our covenant. No UM elder who is publicly, openly and unrepentantly sabotaging the UMC on behalf of another church is staying faithful to their sacred vows of ordination.

For years, even while being barraged with criticism, the United Methodist Church extended grace to Rob and Tom. 

The sad irony is that while Rob and Tom were constant recipients of grace, the full force of their words and actions against the UMC came when the UMC extended grace to others. For one example, they blistered the UMC for extending grace to Bishop Karen Oliveto, personally attacking her and the denomination relentlessly. When it came to grace, they themselves were  recipients. When grace was extended to others, the grace-receivers were the leading voices of denunciation.

“What fills our hearts at this time is gratitude. We are immensely thankful to the … opportunities provided us by the United Methodist Church. We could not be more grateful to the United Methodist Church that provided us the opportunity to be in ministry…”  write the “Good News” president and vice-president. Their genuine tribute is testimony that, against their blistering, hurtful, false accusations, the United Methodist Church held true to its anchor of grace.

Since I have seen firsthand the wreckage and damage from the years-long criticism that Rob and Tom were responsible for, I do not affirm that rumors, distortions, exaggerations, gaslighting and outright lies are rightly characterized as “God’s work.” Those characteristics are the opposite of what Scripture and Methodism teaches.  However, the faithfulness of the UMC in the midst of unfairness and damage will be my north star in processing all this. Faithfulness to grace. Grace for all.

In the spirit of that witness, I extend the grace of Christ to Rob and Tom. And pray with the closing chapter of “Good News” that we all seek, receive, give and grow in God’s grace.

The Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye is a retired clergy member of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.