CREEDE HINSHAW: Methodists face monumental decision

A week from now, the United Methodist Church may resolve a torturous 50-year argument over the place and role of LGBTQ persons in the church in relationship to scripture when delegates from across the globe meet in St. Louis Feb. 22-27, to pray over, consider, amend and possibly adopt an agreement of some sort.

Some readers of The Herald will wonder with exasperation why this is even a topic for discussion. Their viewpoint is represented, particularly in the South, by a strong belief that, “It’s in the Bible, and that ends the conversation.” Those who approach the Bible and social issues from this perspective would conclude that spending five days on an issue that can be resolved in five minutes is the height of absurdity.

We United Methodists, however, rarely make it that simple. Over the centuries, we’ve debated the meaning of scripture as it relates to slavery, women’s ordination, equal partnership in a marriage, the permissibility of remarriage for divorced persons and much more. We’ve always taken the Bible seriously but not always taken it literally. The current rancorous argument is between these two Methodist viewpoints, both of which have long lived beneath the same sanctuary roof, sometimes as friends, other times tolerating each other and sometimes as bitter enemies. The closer we come to St. Louis, the greater grows the anxiety.

Can Methodists remain together? I don’t know. Notice the tentative language in my first paragraph: “may resolve” … “possibly adopt” … I have chosen these words carefully because nobody knows the outcome of this gathering. At least some Methodists no longer want to remain a single church, having wearied of the decadeslong argument. The uncertainty of the future of Mr. Wesley’s church weighs heavily on most United Methodists these days.

One thing on which most United Methodists (almost 8 million of us in the United States) seem to agree is that the worst possible outcome at St. Louis would be if the five-day meeting produces a stalemate, thereby confirming what most Methodists already suspect: at a denominational level, we are somewhat dysfunctional.

I don’t know if the Vegas oddsmakers have set a line on the potential outcomes at St. Louis. Admittedly, it would be more than bizarre for United Methodists to place money on who might be the “winners” or “losers.” But the outcome of no outcome is at least somewhat likely. Three years ago, these same 860 contentious, cantankerous delegates came within a very few votes of rejecting even the holding of this St. Louis conference. In other words, almost half the delegates at St. Louise may prefer continuing dysfunction over a plan they can’t live with.

I will attend (as an observer, not a delegate) this historic Methodist meeting to pray, listen and try to understand what happens. Will Methodists break out in a traditional love fest there? I hope so, because I love the United Methodist Church and pray we can witness to the world what it means to follow Jesus. I’ll write more in the weeks to come.

Email Creede Hinshaw at [email protected].