A TERRIBLE proposal. I'm grieved.
It should be called “How #UMC traditionalists from around the world demonstrated majority support for their Biblical view, and then had their mandate squandered by US progressives seizing both the narrative and the remains of the Church” 1/
It should be called “How #UMC traditionalists from around the world demonstrated majority support for their Biblical view, and then had their mandate squandered by US progressives seizing both the narrative and the remains of the Church” 1/
Basic outline: pay the traditionalists to go away nicely, but set a plan in motion where most traditionalist congregations will be trapped in the system and unable to leave.
Prediction: most traditional-minded #UMC congregants will leave UMC entirely over this capitulation
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Prediction: most traditional-minded #UMC congregants will leave UMC entirely over this capitulation
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Conferences would vote to disaffiliate by July ‘21, but local congregations would be required* to wait until that happened & then have up to three and a half years for the local church to do something other than what their conference did.
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Let's realize that the vast majority of conferences in US #UMC are progressive leaning. The lowered 57% threshold to depart won't likely survive to final legislation IMO, but it is an illusory attempt to make it slightly easier to depart. Won't make a significant difference.
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Likewise, leadership of most US UMC congregations is more progressive leaning than the congregation as a whole & despite my exhortation to prayer from nearly 3yrs ago, those local boards & councils are getting less willing to fight for traditional views 5/
And why should they fight? The people and orgs that traditionalists have supported are now retreating from the battle, hoping to "regroup" under a new flag. But we prayerfully supported you and helped pass the Traditional Plan, hoping to deliver the denomination from this!! 6/
Now you expect those traditional members & churches to fight with their neighbors & co-congregants to leave when you would not keep fighting? While often faced with liberal pastors and liberal episcopacy allied against the traditional view? You're leaving us in the foxhole! 7/
As I told @markdtooley back in October, it is wishful thinking that “reluctant” traditionalist congregations trapped by progressive annual conferences will eventually leave & join traditional UMC.
Traditionalist members will leave UMC – permanently. 8/
Traditionalist members will leave UMC – permanently. 8/
*I said above that local congregations will be required to wait until annual conferences decide; likely true in most cases, but I expect some larger "super churches" to toy w/ "disaffiliation" under Discipline ¶2553 and go it alone entirely. Compelling for many congregations 9/
My view on the negative impact to traditionalists in local congregations should be clear: the remnant that has been faithful to the process and prayerfully supported the idea the #UMC should return to its foundation is thrown under the bus with this plan. It's tragic. 10/
Other flaws in the proposal: under the auspices of “racial justice” it leaves $39M “in the pot” for the progressive denomination to distribute for “programs” & thereby likely influence the desire for some conferences and churches to stay with the progressive denomination. 11/
*the ability of Churches aligned under the traditional denomination to “participate” in these programs is a canard fashioned as an olive branch - those programs, administered by progressives over 8 years will become increasingly untenable to traditionalist congregations 12/
As an expression of “grace”, pastors blatantly violating the #UMC Discipline’s text would be deemed to be in good standing & have any complaints against them held in abeyance for what will likely be years in some cases.
I shudder at the increased “expressions” we will see. 13/
I shudder at the increased “expressions” we will see. 13/
Conservative "leaders" are distracted by the idea of a shiny new church, free from this strife.
It's as if the winds came as they were walking to Jesus & when they began to sink they jumped to the closest life raft instead of saying "Lord save me!" & continuing the walk. 14/14
It's as if the winds came as they were walking to Jesus & when they began to sink they jumped to the closest life raft instead of saying "Lord save me!" & continuing the walk. 14/14
