United Methodists to unUnite. . .

Pastoral Meanderings ^ | 10-18-2019 | Pastor Peters (LCMS)

[xzins]

The United Methodist church will probably go one of two routes:

1. It will choose the 3 way split known as the Indianapolis Plan (A traditionalist denomination, a centrist denomination, a progresssive denomination.)

2. It will strengthen the Traditional Plan, supported by conservatives at the last General Conference.

The conservative bloc consists of the African conservatives + the US conservatives. They form a majority. The African bishops have indicated a strong desire to keep the UMC name in Africa, a branding they have sweat blood to establish, so there is a likelihood they won’t support the 3 way split in #1. If so, US conservatives’ only option will be to strengthen the traditional plan and continue the war in the denomination.

The Africans could simultaneously support an easier route for individual churches to depart the denomination. Given the traditional turn of the UMC that would result, that could also result in many centrist/progressive churches leaving the denomination.

My sense at this point is that the Africans have no good reason to split when they think they are winning the war...from their perspective.

For us conservatives here in the states it will be another 8-16 years of war. Many of our churches might choose to depart just out of weariness with the war. Time will tell.

[kosciusko51]

If the West would not have split from the East in 1054 AD, you would be in a better position to cast stones. But until then, please don’t talk about unity as if the RCC has the sole answer to the problem. It makes you look foolish.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I think you should re-read my post in context. I was neither casting stones nor targeting the Orthodox.

MomMD had snarked a bit at NRx for supposedly being a Roman not displaying unity with the pope, and I pointed out that NRx is not Catholic so perhaps she should retarget her remark.

I did NOT say or imply, nor have I ever believed, that the RCC "has the sole answer to the problem." That would certainly look foolish -- now, more than ever --- but it is not what I said.

So I agree with you for disparaging a position I never took.

[QualityMan]

Sodom and Gomorrah, redux

Lord Jesus, come quickly...

[kosciusko51]

I did NOT say or imply, nor have I ever believed, that the RCC "has the sole answer to the problem." That would certainly look foolish -- now, more than ever --- but it is not what I said.

So I agree with you for disparaging a position I never took.

My apologies. I read more into your statement than was there.

[kosciusko51]

I did NOT say or imply, nor have I ever believed, that the RCC "has the sole answer to the problem." That would certainly look foolish -- now, more than ever --- but it is not what I said.

Re-reading this again, I will say the following: Thank you.

It is refreshing to hear a Catholic say this.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you for these gracious words.

[Midwesterner53]

I have no idea what the new name would be. I suggest The Methodist Church.