Now that the United Methodist Church has voted to strengthen the church’s bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy, Methodist churches across the Valley have a decision to make — stay with a denomination that continues to be exclusive or consider leaving for greener pastures where the idea of inclusion is not viewed as a bad thing.
Many are predicting the United Methodist Church will splinter after delegates at a Feb. 26 conference in St. Louis rejected a proposal that would have allowed gay-friendly policies to be decided by local and regional church bodies under a proposal called the “One Church Plan.” Instead, the delegates passed a “Traditional Plan” reaffirming the faith’s divisive bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy.
The Feb. 26 vote at the congregation’s recent general conference was close — 438 to 384. Even though conservatives from the United States are in the minority in this country, delegates from outside the U.S., particularly from Africa, overwhelmingly back the LGBTQ bans.
Many leaders of Methodist churches throughout the country labeled the decision a disappointment, using words like “hateful” and “devastating.” They predict tremendous upheaval in the United States, with an Associated Press report quoting Methodist theological school leaders warning that the church will lose an entire generation of leaders in America.
Formed in a merger in 1968, the United Methodist Church claims about 12.6 million members worldwide, including nearly 7 million in the United States.
Close to home, Methodist churches lean toward the liberal viewpoint, as one would expect in this corner of the world. A rainbow-colored sign outside Wesley United Methodist Church in Hadley sums up the position of its congregation in four words: “At Wesley, you belong.”
Several years ago, the congregation voted to become a “reconciling congregation” that welcomes people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
The United Methodist Church of Holyoke, South Hadley and Granby became a reconciling congregation 23 years ago and it too has a rainbow-colored sign displayed in front of its church that reads “celebrate diversity.”
Unfortunately, a majority of the Methodist flock worldwide disagrees, putting local churches in a tough position trying to decide how to respond to a policy that is anything but loving and compassionate.
As Catherine Bennett, Wesley United’s musical director said this week, a congregation is not truly welcoming to everyone if it bars some of those people from marrying or becoming clergy.
Local congregations will gather Saturday for what is sure to be an intense discussion. At an event titled, “Courageous Conversations,” Methodists from throughout western Massachusetts will gather to talk about the vote and share information. This dialogue is a good thing.
Those leaders should also begin to address what happens next. Do they stay and fight by performing same-sex marriages regardless of the church punishment that might bring? After all, they’ve been carrying on in this way for years. Do they wait until the next general conference in 2020 in the hope that the more progressive One Church Plan wins the day?
Or do they leave the United Methodist Church outright and look at forming their own denomination? That’s already happening on the conservative side, where a group of 1,500 churches that favor the current, more traditional stance are working on becoming a new Methodist denomination.
A fissure that began 20 years ago is only getting wider. Whatever path local Methodists choose, we are glad to know that they believe in and have forged a path of love, compassion and inclusion.