In a recent article from the Confessing Movement’s
e-newsletter, Riley Case continues the conversation as we United Methodists try
to find the way forward. In the article he notes the just released book, Finding Our Way: Love and Law in The United
Methodist Church, edited by Reuben Job and Neil Alexander. Dr. Case says
that “our doctrines are being challenged; our covenants are being violated; and
our unity is being shattered.” This sounds ominous and a bit scary. But this is
not the first time. Our denomination has split and reunified numerous times.
Are we a church divided, as the article states? Yes, and we have always been. Perhaps
we should, instead, count it as one of our strengths. The UMC has always been
multi-vocal on any host of social issues. Race is one but also Prohibition,
pacifism, women’s rights, and abortion to name a few. We live under a big tent that can accommodate many views.
This fascinating document lists 34 separate
Methodist churches and their total membership as parts of the Methodist family.
Some will be familiar, for example, the United Brethren Church, Methodist
Episcopal Church, Wesleyan Methodist Church, and the Methodist Episcopal Church
South. However also listed are the Evangelist Missionary Church, Primitive
Methodists, French Wesleyan Methodists, and the Wesleyan Reform Union Church.
Obviously we Methodists have organized, split, divided, and then reunified many
times. So yes, contrary to what the article says, there has been talk about
separation before, many times. In fact, it seems that reorganization is one of
the things our church does best, so it’s nothing to fear. But it is also not a
reason to boast.
Grace, Kathy
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