In FR archives you can find the tale of my expulsion from our local United Marxodist Church because I wanted, among other things, Biblical teachings rather than stalinist tripe.
I was asked in no uncertain terms to leave the ministry of the Baltimore Methodist Conference in 1985. At the time I had the largest ministry in the conference with more than 30 staff and an annual budget of more than 500K. I was deemed too independent of Church authority.
I was accused of being so authoritarian that my people, in the words of my Superintendent, “Are sheep who will follow you anywhere.” She could not acknowledge that I was faithful to Jesus’ charge to His disciples, “Feed my sheep.” I was also accused of neglecting the “middle class” of my parish by serving deeply troubled, broken and disabled people to the exclusion of those who were uncomfortable sitting next to the lowest of the low.
In fairness to my accusers I had little respect for the leadership of the Conference. When they threatened me with formal expulsion I cowed and resigned.
I resigned in the knowledge that my spiritual home was no longer the United Methodist Church that my family had faithfully served in ministry for more than 80 years.
Sadly, this fine old institution that brought England and the US to their knees in penitence 200 years before has lost its spiritual way.
Yes there are a few congregations and a few Conferences that struggle to remain Biblical. The time will likely come for them to affirm their faith by leaving this much too worldly organization.