According to reports, the 2020 General Conference of the United Methodist Church meeting in Minneapolis will consider how to structure what is hoped to be an amicable and orderly breakup of the second largest Protestant church in America. But of course, the breakup is not news since the Methodists have been anything but united when it comes to how to deal with the LBGTQ+ issues. of what church leaders hope can be an amicable, and orderly, breakup of a worldwide church that is the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States. When the conference earlier this year failed to remove language barring LBGTQ+ from ordination or marriage, it was a pivotal vote that signaled the beginning of the end. When in February the General Conference gave approval to the so-called Traditional Plan, the progressives refused to live with the decision (which is exactly the position the conservatives would have taken). That left little in the future but schism. The only question would be who would act first and whether or not the division would be friendly or rancorous. In any case, the result of the February conference left a chaotic situation in which people who could not change the vote at the meeting would vote with the money.
It is an interesting end to a history of unity, merger, and reconciliation among Protestants. The history of Methodism has contributed much toward the liberal goal of reducing the number of denominations by finding ways to forge a unity that would cover the diversity hidden under the surface. What is most interesting, however, is that the doctrinal cracks were held together rather successfully (though Methodism itself was bleeding off members for decades) -- at least until the sexuality issues forced a choice. That only goes to show how deep and profound the sexuality issues were dividing American churches. In the end, those who have embraced the LBGTQ+ agenda have won control of the denomination but a denomination a hollow shell of its former self. An example is, of course, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America which has bled off two church bodies and more members than the second largest Lutheran body in America ever had. In the end, the ELCA was left to insist that it was a significant church, whatever that meant, as a consolation prize for its empty pews and church buildings. It goes without saying that Methodism will find the same temptation to ignore the declining numbers and insist that it is significant simply because it says so.
Yet you have to wonder what the Lord of the Church thinks as He watches churches relativize their own confession and the Biblical witness in order to fit their truth to the trendy moment. And it also goes without saying that this is not surely the end of the apostasy and heresy. Just how far will churches go in their pursuit of perceived relevance? I fear we have not seen the end of it -- not for Methodists or for Lutherans, for that matter. And the future does not look promising for a Christianity that has exchanged the Gospel of Christ crucified for a gender of the day and a truth that feels good for the moment.
It surprises me that we see the issue of homosexuality causing uproar and consternation in religious denominations.
Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised, given how society has gotten more liberal towards “LGBT” types in recent years. I guess I always thought that no matter how far the popular culture sank, that churches would be a bulwark against all of that. Clearly I was mistaken.
So as schisms happen, we will see denominations split into those who are more liberal, and those who hold more to traditional values and doctrines. Perhaps we are just seeing history repeat, as their have been schisms in the past over various issues throughout history.
The UMC has failed to preach good old fashioned biblical content. It failed to engage proactively on holding the line for the culture. Maybe it was because SJWs gained control of most of the seminaries. And we should remember that "social justice" is a big buzzword in the UMC. I am ashamed to admit that one of my former Sunday school students is now one of the pro-LGBTQ+ clergy.
I am a moderate on this stuff--because Christ commanded us to love everyone. But I am well-pleased that the Traditional Plan won at the special General Conference--because I don't believe that Christ repealed the Book of Leviticus. Furthermore, with all of the crap that the Catholic Church and the (former) Boy Scouts are going through because of pedophile leaders, the prudent person should be VERY concerned.
I think that going gay will bring in some social justice warrior types--the Allies--not the gay people themselves (it's kind of like how woke White Liberals are more radical about race relations than Black folks). But others will leave. And if my local congregation goes full libtard, I am heading for the exit.
Meanwhile, the UMC can't bring itself to condemn Democrats backing infanticide.
