Thread by @BrianFelkJones

After the last few days, I've decided to add a third context thread🧵for understanding Rev. Dr. @revjody of @mtbethelumc & General Superintendent @SueHaupJohn of @ConnectNGUMC before delving into the story itself: "Leadership and Power in the @UMChurch" /1 #UMC

A general trend to understand about Church-life, at least in the US, is that large congregations are making up a larger percentage of the overall membership of ecclesial traditions/denominations. /2 #UMC

In this respect, the @UMChurch in the United States is no different. Thus, larger congregations and their pastors have a greater influence in regional bodies (Annual Conference) and the whole denomination than one, two, or three generations ago. /3 #UMC

With this larger influence, larger congregations and their more well known pastors come to expect more say in Annual Conferences, but especially in congregational staff decisions. Some may disagree as to whether this worrisome or correctional, but it is a trend. /4 #UMC

When there is a lead pastoral vacancy, larger congregations want the District and General Superintendent (or as they want to be called "@UMCBishops") to be involved, but also a national search firm to help the congregation and Annual Conference leadership search. /5 #UMC

This is how the last pastor at @MtBethelUMC, Rev. Dr. @revjody was found. But it is not unique to them. Again, on the other side of the theological spectrum, the same happened with @StLukesIndy and so many across the nation. /6 #UMC

Many claim this puts larger congregations "outside the appointive system." Others disagree. Yet, as larger congregations have larger influence in denominations, the trend brings up particular challenges to traditions of appointive powers of the General Superintendents in #UMC /7

Some General Superintendents (@UMCBishops) have seen this as a practical and evolving change to pastoral appointment making in a changing landscape, others have bristled at it as a direct challenge to their constitutional authority /8 #UMC

At the same time the General Superintendents (@UMCBishops) have also been undergoing changes. For example, almost all their deliberations as a Council are now in secret/private session, against the guidance and preference of the "Discipline of the #UMC" /9

Why are the General Superintendents (@UMCBishops) more secretive than ever? Their collective trust is at an all-time low. They are, as a group, found wanting by groups & constituents across the theological spectrum. This has made them to be less transparent as a council. /10 #UMC

Many have commented (again, across the theological spectrum) that this is the least talented and adept group of General Superintendents (@UMCBishops) in generations. Not only that, but they preside in one of the most contentious times in the #UMC. /11

Personally, I do not know if I subscribe to this assessment fully. I think events have spiraled out of their power to contain it . . . and people are less likely to cede power in confronting problems to the suggestions of the General Superintendents (@UMCBishops). /12 #UMC

No matter my personal assessments, I think it clear
the General Superintendents (@UMCBishops) have low approval rating and are seen as ineffective across the @UMChurch. When you have less power to shape events, what do you do? /13 #UMC

(and here it is my personal analysis) You can become more of a listening leader as General Superintendent (@UMCBishops), hearing from many, even those who vehemently disagree w/ you OR become more authoritarian, using the letter & right of the "Discipline of the #UMC" to lead /14

I grew up in a @UMChurch pastor's home, I've been a delegate to Annual Conference since 6th grade, a General Conference delegate, and now an ordained elder. And in the last 25 years, General Superintendents have consistently sought for more constitutional authority #UMC /15

and autonomy than ever before. It seems the General Superintendents (@UMCBishops) solution to disagreements and division in the @UMChurch has been more authority. I, and so many others, find this to be a massive spiritual and political miscalculation on their part. /16 #UMC

What it has produced, are a group of General Superintendents (@UMChurch) who are not only more secretive, but more authoritative and used to getting their way. And when they don't get their way, especially with a delayed meeting of General Conference due to COVID-19 /17 #UMC

, the General Superintendents (@UMCBishops) use their authority more, even in places where their authority is at best constitutionally murky or fudging traditional etiquette/lines, without the checks on their power by General Conference. /18 #UMC

Thus, in the story of Rev. Dr. @revjody of @mtbethelumc
& General Superintendent @SueHaupJohn of @ConnectNGUMC, you have the context of an exercise of leadership and power in the @UMChurch. /19 #UMC

You have a Senior Pastor & congregation as well as a General Superintendent who both wield much influence, but are both used to being listened and deferred to in the @UMChurch and Annual Conference. Hopefully, this is a helpful context to one issue in this story. /20 end🧵 #UMC