You may have noticed we’ve been featured in a few of the major news outlets recently. As the pastor of Downs UMC I have read several of the articles and found them to be a bit incomplete. I wanted to make sure you have access to all of the information from a United Methodist Perspective. Most of the recent articles have been about a new proposal put forward by a group of United Methodist leaders. You can read about it from our own church’s news service (and read an FAQ) here. The proposal suggests “a restructuring of the remaining global United Methodist Church into regions, with flexibility to adapt church policies, including on LGBTQ inclusion” as well as the formation of a traditionalist denomination which “could continue what they see as Bible-supported restrictions on same-sex marriage and ordination of gay persons as clergy.” This new denomination would be informed/assisted by a group of United Methodists called the Wesleyan Covenant Association or the WCA. You can find their website here.
A note from your Pastor: I know that we have people on both sides of the aisle in our congregation and one of the great things about our church is that we have remained together throughout this denominational argument with good-hearted and passionate people on both sides, yet still holding Christ in common. Please remember that this is just a proposal and that nothing can be finally voted on or decided until May of this year when our governing body (called General Conference) meets again. That said, as far as proposals go, this one is very interesting to me for the following reasons: 1) It looks like they succeeded in getting everyone to the table. I see all the major groups in the conversation represented in the signatories. 2) it was a mediated discussion run by a talented and well known mediator. That means something to me, I’m a fan of mediation when two sides have reached an impasse.
I encourage you to read it on your own, and I am absolutely available to answer any questions you might have. We can chat in person or you can email me at pastor@downsumc.org. Our current Bishop is an avid fisherman and has given some words of wisdom in fishing terms for us and I would like to echo those words. This always has been and always will be God’s church. Your personal relationship with Jesus Christ should be first and foremost. As we prayerfully consider the questions before us let us make sure that we always keep God first, and always offer our neighbors the love of Jesus Christ. Let’s be in prayer for our leaders, and show the world and our village our very best in how we choose to have these necessary conversations in this upcoming year.