OMF Table Talk
Many of the aspirations expressed at the May 2019 gathering "Our Movement Forward" are expected to form the basis of discussions at UM Forward's "Lenten Gathering" in March 2020. (UM Forward Photo)
UPDATED 2-19-2020
One of the major criticisms of the “Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation” centers on resistance to a “traditionalist” Methodist denomination getting $25 million over four years as start-up money simply because traditionalist forces seem better organized than others. This argument typically is read to mean “traditionalist” as the Wesleyan Covenant Association, which has released its draft “Book of Doctrines and Discipline.”
Those who believe it’s time to build an entirely new Methodist denomination are about to take up the organizational challenge.
UM Forward, sponsor of the “New Expressions Worldwide (NEW)” separation plan, will hold a Lenten Gathering March 6-8 with the theme “Trailblazing the Liberation Methodist Church.” The group sent out its agenda to registrants this week spelling out its purpose and goals for the event to be held at Preston Hollow UMC in Dallas, TX.
The agenda specifies its purpose as: “forming a church where: the marginalized are centered, power is equitably distributed, and we are free to act in solidarity with movements for justice.”
The event’s goals are to “define, build and organize” by three means:
- "Make the emergent Liberation Methodist Church visible and viable and develop its practical characteristics (including Leadership, Connectionalism, and Resources as identified at theadventgathering.com)
- "Continue the work of building a new expression independent from the UMC
- "Advance strategies of justice and liberation related to the 2020 General Conference and the UMC, including the N.E.W (New Expressions Worldwide) Plan."
In addition to UM Forward, sponsoring organizations include Preston Hollow UMC, Love Prevails, MIND, North Church (Indianapolis), enfleshed, New Milford UMC (Connecticut), Aboundant, and Union UMC (Boston). Details and registration can be found on UM Forward’s website.
Newer voices offer Protocol critiques
This week the “Protocol” has come in for some of its most detailed critiques so far, along with some of its strongest political support. Most interesting about the conversation across the church in recent months are newer voices, both laity and clergy, that have gained note. Many of their essays have been published on United Methodist Insight.
Memphis Conference delegate Frank Holbrook, a layman and retired attorney, offers a good example. A first-time GC2020 delegate, he has authored a proposal for UMC separation called “Plain Grace” that is probably the most detailed of all legislation scheduled to come before the General Conference. In essence, Frank proposes to extend the timeline for separation to eight years, insisting that new Methodist denominations should be formed before annual conferences and churches are invited to join them. Check out links to some of his most recent posts at the end of this article.
Then there’s the Rev. Dr. Christopher Ritter, the lead pastor of multi-site First UMC of Geneseo, Ill., who has become a recognized force among traditionalists. Chris was one of the key speakers at a gathering of some 1,000 traditionalist folks in North Alabama. In addition to his own posts, such as the recent “The Protocol, Smart Regionalization and a Better Deal for Africa,” Chris wins the United Methodist blogosphere with his UM Fallout: A Compendium, a list of posts and articles about the future of The United Methodist Church.
Another newer voice on the church-wide scene comes from the Rev. Dr. Mark R. Holland, executive director of Mainstream UMC. Mark recently went to the Philippines with two colleagues to speak about the Protocol at the Cavite Annual Conference session that voted to forward its legislation to General Conference.
Upon his return from the Philippines, Mark will have a busy speaking schedule on behalf of Mainstream UMC and the Protocol. He’s due to appear on three successive Sundays:
- Sunday, Feb. 23, 2 - 3 PM at College Hill UMC, 2930 E 1st St N, Wichita, KS
- Sunday, March 1, 2 - 3 PM at First United Methodist Church, 619 Main Street, Iowa Falls, IA.
- Sunday, March 8, 4 - 5 PM at Old Mission UMC, 5519 State Park Rd., Fairway, KS
In between the last two sessions, Dr. Holland will be a guest lecturer at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. His topic, “With All Its Failures, What Role Does the Church Have in Social Change?”, will be presented at 11:10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, at the college, 600 1st St SW, Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314.
These three United Methodists – Frank Holbrook, Chris Ritter, and Mark Holland – remind us all that nothing coming before General Conference 2020 is a done deal – no, not even the buzzed-about Protocol. They and others not usually consulted in the halls of power have much to say that is worth GC2020 delegates’ time to consider. Meanwhile, let United Methodist Insight know who’s getting your attention as General Conference approaches.
Media Mentions as of Feb. 19, 2020
How Oxford Methodists plan to handle potential split – Daily Mississippian
Iowa bill would allow parents to excuse their kids from lessons involving LGBTQ issues – CBS46 News Atlanta
Boise congregation struggles with imminent split of United Methodist Church over same-sex marriage – KTVB 7
Pastor: 'Why I'm not leaving the United Methodist Church' – al.com
It's time for the Divinity School to come out as gay – Duke Chronicle