Thread by @BrianFelkJones

I am simply an outsider (although an ordained elder in the #UMC) watching the @arkansasumc Special Session. However, an outsider perspective may be helpful on these disturbing and troubling events in #UMC #ARUMC. /1 #GMC #GMChurch

Watch it here:

@arkansasumc As a person who has attended Annual Conferences (plus JCs and GCz) my whole life- what happened at this Special Session Annual Conference is unprecedented and not healthy. /2 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

@arkansasumc The Special Session in AR was called to deal with disaffiliation from the #UMC by congregations who had meet the requirements (unfunded liabilities, appointments, etc) and had a 2/3rds vote in favor of disaffiliation. /3 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

@arkansasumc For a more local look at the vote and its context, I recommend following Rev. @TaylorLoy! Again, I am a #UMC, but an outsider to this Annual Conference- which is acting in ways I've never seen before.



/4#UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

In short, 35 congregations in AR had the 2/3rds congregational vote to disaffiliate. The Annual Conference decided, in an strange move, to vote on them in two groups: Group 1- congregations having 90% vote to leave. /5 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

Group 2- congregations with less than 90% vote to leave, but at least the 2/3rds requirement. It's a bad move. Just for a point of reference, in my #INUMC Special Session today, we put all 105 congregation who had 2/3rds in one group to vote upon. /6 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

The arguments against letting these congregation (who had done everything the General Conference, Annual Conference, AC leadership, and the Bishop had asked of them) seemed to center on two major themes: 1) we won't have a #UMC presence in this area. /7 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

This is problematic in that this isn't the question posed to the AC. The #ARUMC is perfectly capable of planting new congregations in said areas. The Annual Conference shouldn't stop a church from leaving simply because of its location. /8 #GMC #GMChurch

2nd major theme for not letting congregation with 2/3rds vote disaffiliate: unsubstantiated claims about the unfairness of the pastors. /9 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

No process is above unfairness. Yet, the Bishop simply let delegates read claims by anonymous folks (who had lost the vote) voice unsubstantiated claims against their clergy. Clergy didn't have time to refute. This happened over & over. It was awful./10 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

A key thing to know about these claims of clergy acting unfairly is this: in AR the disaffiliation process is overlooked by the District Superintendent and Board of Trustees. In all 35 cases no irregularities were reported. Yet, such claims were /11 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

allowed to be made in open session without without any repercussions. Folks, I have never seen these kind of actions and charges without investigation by an Annual Conference body . . . it was disturbing from the Bishop down to the body. /12 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

Then @arkansasumc voted 99% to allow the 25 members of Group 1 to disaffiliate. But then came Group 2: 10 congregations with less than 90% in favor of disaffiliation, but above the 2/3rd required by Discipline. This is when it went from bad to worse./13 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

Each of the 10 congregations in Group 2 were voted on individually. 7 congregations were allowed by the @arkansasumc to disaffiliate, 3 congregations were not. What did the 3 have in common? This is where it becomes really disturbing. /14 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

@arkansasumc It wasn't because of location. All those three congregation have active United Methodist congregations around them for people to join. /15 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

One reason levied . . . pastors. This was the pastors' fault and an unfair process. Again, no investigation was made and nothing found against the pastors or congregation leaderships by the DS or @arkansasumc Trustees. /16 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

The common thread to each of these 3 congregations are they are large congregations in the @arkansasumc! As anyone who has pastored in larger #UMC congregations know, there is always a variety of opinions. /17 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

@arkansasumc I know this from personal experience. Getting 2/3rds of the congregational body to agree to anything is a feat. Let alone something as divisive as disaffiliation. Somehow, this large majority, but not unanimity, was used against these large churches./18 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

@arkansasumc Again, I think it important to point out, these 3 congregations had met all the requirements by the #UMC and the @arkansasumc. The main complaint simply seemed to be the Annual Conference body didn't like the vote by these larger congregations. /19 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

It was even seemingly openly admitted this was the reason! Larger congregations produce more clergy. Thus, clergy after clergy who grew up in these congregations got up- their main objection was they didn't want their home congregation to leave. Not /20 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

that the vote was inaccurate . . . simply they didn't like the outcome of the vote. And friends, this argument won the day. These three congregation were not allowed to leave- simply because @arkansasumc didn't like the outcome of the process. /21 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

Mind you, a process the @arkansasumc allowed & supervised. Don't get me wrong, there were strange allegations (Jonesboro UMC convincing those in drug recovery to join if they voted for disaffiliation). But at the end of the day, folks didn't like it./22 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

@arkansasumc Watch for yourself, it is a wild ride as one who has gone to a lot of these things. I seriously don't see how the delegates of @arkansasumc think that the actions toward these 3 congregations will sustain these places as viable UMC churches! /23 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

@arkansasumc At best, these congregations are paused in their ministry and their leaders have become hamstrung. They will quickly become toxic places toward the @arkansasumc and the #UMC. At worst, they will close in the not too distant future. /24 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

@arkansasumc It seems to me, as an outsider, the @arkansasumc chose "to cut off their nose to spite their face" when it comes to these 3 large congregations. Even large congregations should be allowed to leave. Forcing them to stay will not make them /25 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

sustainable and healthy ministries for their local communities or bring in spiritual strength or apportionment revenue for the @arkansasumc. It will only cause long-term heart-ache and division. /26 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

@arkansasumc My @arkansasumc friends, let these congregations go with a blessing. In the end, as hard as it is, it will be good for you and them. /27 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

@arkansasumc Again, as an outsider, but a #UMC pastor, this is one of the worst actions by an Annual Conference I've ever seen. Many in that room, from the top to the bottom, should be ashamed of these actions. We can act so much better, even if it grieves us. /28 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

It may feel satisfactory in the moment, but forcing people and congregations to stay will not work or build up Christ's Kingdom. Let them go, with a heavy heart. Stop this, please, as a fellow baptized #UMC friend. /29 #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch

I write this as a real time record, for such things are often over-looked by the victors in internecine struggles. This was an ugly day in the history of #Methodism and we must look at it in the face. Hopefully, others will learn from it. 30/30 end #UMC #ARUMC #GMC #GMChurch