The United Methodist Church: A Church at the Crossroads

The Issue

Ordination and marriage of LGBTQ people.

What Happened?

The United Methodist Church met from February 23-26, 2019 for a Special Session of their General Conference. There were two proposals before the Conference relating to marriage and ordination of LGBTQ people. The first was the One Church Plan with 54.28% of the 823 delegates voting to defeat it (449:374). This plan allowed discretion regarding marriage and ordination – congregations and local judicatories could decide for themselves what they would do. This plan did not force anyone to change what they believed. The Traditional Plan upholds heterosexual marriage and rejects ordination of LGBTQ people. This plan tightens restrictions on ordination and marriage, and was approved by 53.28% of the delegates (438:384).

What are the arguments for/against?

People on both sides of this argument do so using the Bible.

The argument on the side of the Traditional Plan argues for a literal interpretation of the words the Bible, which proponents say speaks clearly that homosexuality is not part of God’s plan. They argue that it should not be condoned by the institution of the church through authorizing its clergy to perform marriages of LGBTQ people, and it should not allow LGBTQ people to become ordained clergy. Proponents also argue for a “plain meaning of Scripture” – in other words, simply read the Bible and do what it says. Scriptures that support this perspective include: Genesis 1 & 2, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Mark 10:6-9, Romans 1:26-28, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Hebrews 13:4, Jude 1:5-8, and 1 Timothy 1:8-11 among others.

The argument on the side of the One Church Plan is two-fold: proponents argue for a literal interpretation of Jesus as opposed to just the words, saying that Jesus leads with love and mercy rather than judgment and condemnation. They would argue that, rather than the “plain meaning of Scripture,” Scripture should be interpreted in light of the whole Bible and with the lens of Jesus. They also argue the hypocrisy of proponents of the Traditional Plan who speak of the unbiblical nature of homosexuality, yet say nothing of divorce or remarriage, which also has biblical prohibitions, especially for church leaders. Scriptures that support this perspective include: John 3:16-17, John 8:7-11, John 13:35, Romans 1:18-2:1 (emphasizing 2:1), Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14, and James 4:12 among others.

What Does This Mean?

When people argue based on the Bible and from deeply held personal convictions and their own life experience, and those positions are in opposition to one-another, how is a church body to make a decision that will maintain unity?

As can be seen above, people from both perspectives argue scripture against scripture. It’s dangerous territory to say one is a biblical literalist yet ignore the pieces that are uncomfortable. It’s likewise dangerous to simply ignore and write off pieces of Scripture because they don’t fit our modern sensibilities.

It’s clear that modern Christians have adapted our interpretations of the Bible: we don’t support slavery, women not only speak in church but have leadership roles, people get divorced and remarried. We cannot write off the Old Testament simply because it happened before Jesus, yet appeal to it when it suits us.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) addressed marriage and ordination of LGBTQ people at their 2009 Churchwide Assembly. At that event, the decision was in favor of marriage and ordination of people in “publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.” This vote called for congregations and individuals to respect the bound conscience of others who understand these things in different ways.

Unfortunately, the United Methodist Church will likely experience a fracture much like there was in the Episcopal/Anglican church and the Lutheran church. Besides the hurt and division that will be experienced within these congregations themselves, I fear the on-going marginalization of Christ’s Church as a whole. As a Church (note the capital “C” meaning all Christians), we have been riddled with sexual misconduct, misappropriation of funds, and scandals of all sorts. Why should the non-Christian world take us seriously, see that there’s anything different about we who call on the name of Jesus, or even want to become a Christian? Precisely when we need to be focused outward on our communities, the scandals and our own congregational squabbles have us focused inward on ourselves and our own survival.

Conclusion

What I most hope and pray for the United Methodist Church (and all church bodies) is that people with differing understandings would simply stay in the room. Whether we like it or not, we need people who see things in ways that differ from our own. We need to find ways to love and value each other precisely because of our differences. We need to find ways of dialoging with one another that don’t send our blood pressure into orbit or result in anger and name-calling.

What I further hope for is that people would let vengeance and punishment stay in the realm of God. There is no Scripture that says that I am to punish or ostracize or condemn someone who I feel isn’t upholding God’s law. In fact, the Bible says quite the opposite (John 3:16-17, Luke 6:27-36, Luke 6:37-42, Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30).

The Church is called to be counter-cultural. Where our world is contentious and divisive, we are called to love and unity. Where our world condemns and judges, we are called to mercy. Where our world says that things can only be this way or that way, we are called to see the third way – the “love of that surpasses knowledge, so that [we] may be filled with the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19).

16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:16-21

It is difficult following votes like this one where people have declared allegiance to one side or another. When one side prevails, “victory” is declared. But it is difficult to declare victory for one part of the body of Christ against another. Has there really been a victory where there is dissension within the body of Christ? Victory for the church should be celebrating the victory of Jesus over sin, death, and the power of the devil. I pray that all who call on the name of Jesus would be united in this.

References

prjeffwilson

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