CREEDE HINSHAW: Vote on LGBTQ prohibitions creates UMC impasse

We United Methodists have long been a big-tent church, but even the Wesleyan canvas stretches only so far. After the actions at the St. Louis General Conference, the United Methodist Church might have reached the limits of its flexibility.

Methodist delegates at St. Louis again banned Methodist pastors from officiating at gay marriages, again banned Methodist churches from hosting gay marriages in their sanctuaries and again forbade Methodist bishops from ordaining gay persons, all the while professing deep love and what they call “radical hospitality” for LGBTQ people.

From the conservative standpoint, there seemed no other alternative but to defend and drive home their point from a legislative standpoint. They feel under attack from what they call secular and unbiblical values. They’ve held the legislative line successfully and decisively for nigh on 50 years, discovering, however, that winning the legislative battle isn’t the same as winning the battle of hearts and minds.

More than two-thirds of Methodist delegates from the United States and an increasing number of ordinary Methodist clergy and laypeople want to loosen the Methodist rule book. This is also the sentiment of a sizeable number of Methodist young adults and many Methodist colleges and seminaries. But these Methodists, who have never controlled the legislative process, are faced with a difficult choice: Get control of the rule book or ignore the rules out of conscience and Christian principles.

One side controls the rulebook while the other side exercises acts of Christian disobedience and conscience. Both sides claim the Bible.

That’s called an impasse.

This General Conference failed spectacularly in its effort to unify the church. The expectations that a four-day conference could resolve a 50-year argument were naïve. Instead, the conservatives (1) upheld the traditional rules (2) wrote even harsher bans and punishments to threaten those who disobey and (3) made it easier for a church to leave the denomination.

The message was clear: play by our rules and our interpretation of the Bible or form your own kind of heretical Methodism somewhere else. Need help finding the exit door? We’ve made it easier for you to go your own way. As they stated at the conference, conservatives would rather be divided by the truth than united in heresy/error.

I do not know what will happen next. Early indications are that liberal Methodists aren’t planning on leaving their church. But my guess is some liberals are exploring their options. Meanwhile, there’s no guarantee the conservatives, even in charge of the rule book, are sticking around. Some of them have strongly hinted they might be leaving, too.

I am convinced that one day the Methodist Church will be fully available to the LGBTQ community. I wish that day were now. Barring that, I am praying that we bickering Methodists can find a way to stretch the canvas. Conservatives and liberals both love the Lord and love their church. Neither side wants to leave.

P.S. Next week, I promise to move on to another subject. Finally, I have a new appreciation for everyday journalists. Reporting fairly and factually isn’t easy.

Email Creede Hinshaw at [email protected].