Charles Wesley's Words Against Separation

This article was shared with me by S T Kimbrough, Jr.

A key sentences reads "Regardless of current opinions in the church, remembering the posture of our founders is essential if we would bear the name Methodist."

Kimbrough  is a retired NAC member of the North Alabama Conference and serves as a Research Fellow in the Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition at Duke Divinity School

At the conclusion of John Wesley’s treatise Reasons Against Separation from the Church of England (1758) there is a rarely quoted paragraph written by his brother Charles Wesley. As one carefully considers issues related to dividing The United Methodist Church it behooves us to hear these words of one of the founders of the Methodist movement.

        “I think myself bound in duty, to add my testimony to my brother’s.

    His twelve reasons against our ever Separating from the Church of England,

    are mine also. I subscribe to them with all my heart. Only with regard to the

    first, I am quite clear, that it is neither expedient, nor lawful for me to

    separate: and I never had the least inclination or temptation so to do. My

    affection for the Church is as strong as ever; and I clearly see my calling;

    which is, to live and to die in her communion. This therefore, I am determined

    to do, the Lord being my helper.

        I have subjoined the Hymns for the Lay-Preachers; still farther to secure

    this end, to cut off all jealously and suspicion from our friends, or hope from

    our enemies, of our having any design of ever separating from the Church.

    I have no secret reserve, or distant thought of it. I never had. Would to God

    all the Methodist preachers were, in this respect, like minded with

                                                                                        CHARLES WESLEY.”

Following this statement Charles included a series of hymns and poems pertinent to this theme. I quote only one of them here. Regardless of current opinions in the church, remembering the posture of our founders is essential if we would bear the name Methodist. As “God is love,” the Wesleys remind us that this is the central force of individual and corporate life together. Charles reminds us that God transcends the opinions of our hearts: thou art greater than our heart. And humble love is to be our ongoing mark as followers of Jesus. In the current turmoil in United Methodism the deep sense of humble love in the spirit of Charles Wesley’s text below, alone is worthy of the people called Methodists who claim to be followers of Christ.

                    O Lord, our strength and righteousness,

                        Our base, and head, and corner-stone,

                    Our peace with God, our mutual peace,

                        Unite, and keep thy servants one,

                    That while we speak in Jesus’ name,

                    We all may speak, and think the same.

                    That spirit of love to each impart,

                        That fervent mind, which was in thee,

                    So shall we all our strength exert,

                        In heart, and word, and deed agree

                    T’ advance the kingdom of thy grace,

                    And spread thine everlasting praise.

                    O never may the Fiend steal in,

                        Or one unstable soul deceive:

                    Assailed by our besetting sin,

                        And tempted ’fore the work to leave,

                    Preserve us, Lord, from self and pride,

                    And let nor life, nor death divide.

                    Pride, only pride, can cause divorce,

                        Can separate ’twixt our souls and thee:

                    Pride, only pride, is discord’s source,

                        The bane of peace and charity;

                    But us it never more shall part,

                    For thou art greater than our heart.

                    Wherefore to thine almighty hand

                        The keeping of our hearts we give,

                    Firm in one mind and spirit stand,

                        To thee, and to each other cleave,

                    Fixed on the Rock which cannot move,

                    And meekly safe in humble love.

S T Kimbrough, Jr., retired NAC member

Interview with Paul Chilcote, Don Saliers, and Steve Harper

I was honored with a conversation on my new book with three people I look up to, Paul Chilcote, Don Saliers, and Steve Harper. This is segment #3 of UMsConnected, a new resource for those of us moving forward together as part of the United Methodist Church.

 

What if Someone Says Something I Don’t Like?

I get tired of having the same conversation over and over (haha). Somebody tagged me in a post about something an episcopal candidate in another Jurisdiction said, taken out of context to conclude that she didn’t believe in the divinity of Christ (which of course is not what she said).

First, I untagged myself from the post. Second, I wrote this. I share it with you, friends.

—

I don’t know her and she’s not a bishop, but here’s my comment. Every denomination has outliers and envelope pushers and extremists. If you leave the UMC, you are not leaving the outliers and extremists. You are leaving the main body of a wonderful denomination, for another denomination that will also have outliers and extremists. It’s human nature. If you shake a religious tree in America, a nut will fall out. In a 12.5 million person denomination, somebody somewhere is going to say something I don’t agree with. So?

It’s not new, and we work it out in the messiness of Christian community. It doesn’t bother me that somebody I don’t know somewhere believes something differently than me. Unless I’m willing to go have coffee with her, I let it go. Since this was given to me third hand and out if context, I do not fall prey to the hysteria. 

It bothers me that these little anecdotes and sound bites and half-truths get spread around the internet used as justification when the real reason people are leaving is over their fundamental intolerance of our differences. It’s nothing more that witch hunting. I choose love.

You asked, so I answered.

This is an excellent example of the method of rhetoric that involves taking an extreme example, spreading it as a anecdote out of context and perhaps even exaggerating it, wrapping it into a narrative of the infidelity of the whole, and using it to justify leaving. I’d rather just focus on making disciples.

Birmingham Area Book Signings

Live in the Birmingham area? I'd love to see you. Join me on Nov. 9 at 10 am at Bluff Park UMC or on Nov. 13 anytime between 5:30-7:00 pm at Trinity UMC West Campus.

 

Balancing Resources

There is misinformation being spread by some to actively recruit churches to leave our denomination. Much of it consists of either strawman arguments or exaggerated, extreme examples that do not represent the whole.

I have nothing against those that are leaving. I just believe in telling the truth, and that laity deserve to have balanced and accurate information.

I offer these balancing resources.

North Alabama Conference Releases Excellent Set of FAQ’s in October of 2022

Adam Hamilton Responds to Maligning and Misleading Videos by Rob Renfroe

Bishops Push Back Against Recruitment Tactics

African Bishops Condemn the WCA and refuse to go into the GMC

What’s Next for the UMC? - An older but still relevant video by Lovett Weems

Council of Bishop’s Narrative for the Continuing UMC

Requirements for the Discernment Process - North Alabama Conference of the UMC

StayUMC – Grassroots coalition of North Alabama United Methodists

Celebrate the UMC Event in Montgomery - Featuring Tom Berlin … *BEST VIDEO TO SEE*

Sermon by John Robbins of Pulaski Heights UMC on Staying in the UMC

Messages from the NAC3 Team

    June 2 message

    July 6 message

    July 28 message

    August 25 message

    November 16 message

#BeUMC - United Methodist Communications

What We Believe – The United Methodist Church

Is the United Methodist Church Really …? - Myth busting by “Ask the UMC”

    Part 1

    Part 2

    Part 3

    Part 4

     

    Part 5

United Methodist Social Principles

“Why I’m Not Leaving the United Methodist Church”

Letter by Steve West that went viral after first Clear Branch event promoting leaving the UMC

Open Letter to Chris Ritter - Letter by Steve West that went viral in response to biased side-by-side comparison distributed by the WCA

More Accurate Side-by-side Comparison of the UMC and GMC - North Texas AC

Adam Hamilton on Why Stay in the UMC - Video of Church Council meeting

Adam Hamilton visits Asbury UMC Birmingham - Cosponsored by Stay UMC

Addressing Myths about the Future UMC - Steve Harper dispels myths about future beliefs

“That We May Be One” – Texas 

“Abide” - South Georgia 

United Methodist News Service

“United Methodist Insight”

Join me at Grace UMC in Madison on October 15 from 2-4 pm!

 

I will also be signing books at the "Glow Parade" in front of Trinity UMC West (Homewood, AL) on Sunday, Nov. 13, from 5:15-7:15 pm.

Book Featured in North Alabama Conference communications

I'm honored that my book was featured in communications of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church this week. You can find the original article original article here. 

It reads:

"Communion has a way of shedding light on both who we really are and who we are called to be. It is an honest meal. We come to the table being real with God through confession, and Christ comes to us in real ways through his presence, hospitality and grace. The Lord’s Supper binds us together in ways beyond words, for it is a sacred act of both receiving the grace of God and being the body of Christ with one another."

These words come from the Prelude of a new book by North Alabama Conference pastor Rev. Dr. Steve West.

The book titled Something Happens Here: Reclaiming the Distinctiveness of Wesley's Communion Spirituality in Times of Divisiveness has the stated purpose of taking a careful look at John Wesley’s core teaching on the Lord’s Supper. The About this Book introduction explains, “Readers will grapple with the idea that Communion is not just a personal experience with Jesus but a feast that has huge implications for our life together. They will be given language to define themselves against sacramental theology colored by other denominations in their communities. Along the way, they will discover tools to thoughtfully sort through difficult conversations about divisive matters rather than settling into the either-or and ‘us against them’ mentalities that pervade national conversations about culture wars.”

Rev. West, the senior pastor of Jacksonville First UMC (Cheaha District), is descended from multiple generations of Methodist pastors and circuit riders. He has not only a deep belief in the church’s sacramental theology but also a great love of the United Methodist Church. He notes that he wants this book to be a timely resource for United Methodists as the denomination journeys through a season of conflict and division. In that spirit, he says he offers the book as a gift for God’s church and has committed to using 100% of proceeds to go back into promoting the book because he believes “it is so very timely for those who are part of the present journey of the United Methodist Church.”

The book is a scholarly work receiving praise from a variety of United Methodist scholars and authors. Rev. West says, “I hope it will be helpful for the classroom, thought-provoking for church study groups, lifegiving for pastors and church leaders, and accessible for anyone interested in what it means to bind ourselves to Christ and move forward with joy into the future God has in store for us.”

In Something Happens Here West explores the historical background of each core characteristic of Wesley’s communion teachings, finds evidence in the writings of John and Charles Wesley and applies them to the struggles of present-day United Methodism. The unique features of Wesley's communion theology become lenses readers can use as they navigate troubled waters. Chapters include Communion as a Prism, The Mystery of Presence, Experiencing Anew, Become All Flame, Foretaste of Heaven, Grand Channel of Grace, Becoming the Body and Reconnecting. West concludes the book with signs of life emerging as people come back to the Lord's table to move forward into the future.

West writes, “The table is a radical table, because it brings us back to what connects us, which is not agreement or like-minded thinking but community and love-minded thinking. We are bound by our belief, yes, but I’m reminded that in early English, the word 'belief' was pronounced ‘by life.’ How we love those we don’t agree with is the very definition of Christian fellowship.”

The book is available from Amazon or Wipf and Stock Publishers. The book is also available for sale by the author. For a signed copy, see the author or send a check for $22 plus $3 shipping (total $25) to Steve West, 313 2nd Street NE, Jacksonville, AL 36265.

Review by Rev. Steve Harper

I’m honored by this recommendation and book review by Rev. Steve Harper, author and retired elder from the Florida Conference, former seminary professor at Asbury, blogger at Oboedire, and important voice in the UMC.

Honestly, I’m in tears this morning.

You can find his original Facebook post here. It is reprinted below.

"Something Happens Here--Be Part of It."

Steve Harper

For some time, I have believed that the increase of divisiveness in The United Methodist Church (and the larger Christian community) is, in part, due to a decrease in our theology and practice of Holy Comnunion. When we stop coming to the Table together, we open the door to separatism that can too easily turn toxic.

And worse, when some divide so severely that they are willing to speak and write about excluding people from the Table, they have reversed the intention of Jesus for the holy meal to bring us together, counterfitting Communion, making it exclusionary, and using it to legitimize and widen the divide. 

Conversely, I also believe that the renewal of the United Methodist Church (and the larger Christian community) must include a recovered theology of the Lord's Supper and a revived partaking of it. I believe the new awakening is eucharistic. 

What I have only discovered recently is that Steve West not only believes this, he has written a book about it--a book which weaves together multiple threads of sacramental theology to offer us a eucharistic coat of many colors, complete with a winsome invitation to put it on. I have not seen a book that combines the various elements of sacramental theology the way his does.

Rooted in the Bible and in the Wesleys' words and hymns, West offers insights as ancient as Macarius the Egyptian and modern as John Pavlovitz. Along the way, his own pastoral experience with the sacrament puts flesh on the conceptual bones, sometimes in surprising and moving ways--the first story in the book serving that purpose in spades.

West's title, 'Something Happens Here' sums it up. And after you read his book, you will find yourself saying, "It is something that needs to happen again, here and now." And more, you will find yourself drawn into a mission to make it so.

--

The book may be found on Amazon or Wipf & Stock.

Featured in the Sewanee Theolog Gazette

I'm honored that the new book was featured in the Sewanee Theolog Gazette this month. You can find the August 2022 issue here with reference to the book under the section entitled "Notable."

Here is an excerpt from the book that shares an experience I had on campus.

EXCERPT - "Something Happens Here" by Stephen P. West

For four years, I spent three weeks of summer intensives at the beautiful campus of Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee, which I affectionately call “Hogwarts on the mountain.” By the third year, I was close to completing the twenty-mile Perimeter Trail around the crest of the mountain. The language of finding a “way forward” had become common in Methodist leadership circles, since we were approaching a called General Conference that was supposed to find some level of resolve over the deepening divide regarding matters of human sexuality. This annual trek was becoming a prayer walk, as I became intentional to pray about the “way forward” as I walked this path. One afternoon after class, I found myself taking a break from my routine hike to check out a natural bridge I had heard about on another part of the campus.

As I walked down the hill to look over this bridge that had developed purely out of divine initiative, I was whisked away into a mystical experience. I climbed to the top of the bridge and crossed over, pondering the concept of finding a “way forward.” Jesus called himself the “way.” He did not say he would show us the way, or tell us about the path, or send us on our journey, but that he is the way. I don’t believe he said this to be exclusive, as it is often interpreted. I believe he said this to remind us that following him is a journey, and the wisdom of God is a path that will take us to new places and new spaces. Christianity is not a list of rules to follow or a set of doctrines to swallow but a relationship with the divine one who is fully embodied in the person of Christ Jesus. We did not need to build a bridge to provide a way forward. It is a gift given to us in Christ. After all, before Christians were called Christians, the movement was simply called “the Way.”

Just as he began his disciples’ journey with the call to “follow me” (Matt 4:19, italics added), he intentionally prepared them for the completion of his earthly life with a meal invitation to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19, italics added). As I have said, it is not a call to simply remember a meal, a liturgy, or a lesson on the meaning of the cross but to reexperience me . . . all of me. The invitation at the table completes what could be seen as a two-part calling of the disciples. Life at the table takes us much deeper into the heart of what it means to truly follow. On that natural bridge, I determined that no matter what, wherever this path took me, I would choose the way of Christ. How Christ behaved toward others is the best lens through which we interpret Scripture, even his own words. Christian spirituality is embodied spirituality, and in Christ, the “fullness of deity dwells bodily.”  Jesus offered the invitation at the table when he knew the time was coming soon when he was no longer going to walk on earth. We were to become the hands and feet of Christ.

Author Interview by United Methodist Insight

 

I was so honored with an author interview by Cynthia Astle of United Methodist Insight.

It's entitled "'Musical Preacher' Pens Book on Communion as Way to UMC Unity" and it can be found here.

This United Methodist Insight exclusive begins with these words:

"In these days of church turmoil, it may be hard to find someone more in love with the blessings of Methodist heritage than the Rev. Dr. Stephen P. West. That's a good thing, because out of his service as a pastor, his affinity to Charles Wesley's hymns and his doctoral project he has written a book about the heart of Methodism - the sacrament of Holy Communion."

Again, you can find the book on Amazon or Wipf & Stock.

"Something Happens Here" Now Available for Purchase

My book, Something Happens Here, is now available for purchase! You can find it by clicking the link to Amazon or Wipf & Stock.

The back cover reads:

“The United Methodist Church is at a crossroads, and nothing is more important than  reclaiming our sacramental distinctiveness in these times of divisiveness. This book takes a fresh look at Wesley’s core teachings on the Lord’s Supper, letting each unique feature become a lens to navigate troubled waters. The author explores the historical background of each characteristic, finds evidence in writings of John and Charles Wesley, and applies them to the struggles of present-day United Methodism. He concludes with signs of life emerging in divisive and uncertain times, as people come back to the table to move forward into the future.”

The foreword was written by Don E. Saliers.

It is endorsed by authors Bishop Will Willimon, Glandion Carney, Wes Allen, Bruce Morrill, Roger Owens, Richard Eslinger, and S T Kimbrough, Jr.

It was written for such a time as this. I truly believe coming back to the table will move us forward into the future.

Again, you can find it by clicking the link to Amazon or Wipf & Stock.

#BeUMC

#stayumc

"Celebrate the UMC" event in Montgomery

I've been telling everyone, whether in person or at discernment group meetings, that if your church is discerning whether to stay in the UMC, this is the absolute BEST video I have seen from a centrist point of view. The testimonies celebrate who we are, and Tom Berlin does an excellent job of summarizing what it would mean to stay in our denomination and move forward in history.

I understand those that might wish to become part of another denomination at this juncture, and I only offer blessings if that's where your convictions lead you. However, let us all choose peace and refrain from the kind of straw-man arguments and half-truths that Berlin addresses about 40 minutes into the video.

You can find the video HERE!

My Request to Friends of the GMC

I attempted to post on the Facebook page “Friends of the Global Methodist Church.” Not surprisingly, it was declined by the administrators. This is what I attempted to post:

Most of these comments are angry. I get that. I believe in following the Discipline and always have.

But I challenge some of those leaving the UMC that they haven’t always followed the Discipline either. For example, the Discipline says all people may participate in the programs, ministries, and sacraments of the church, and I’ve seen too many instances when LGBTQ people have been removed from their volunteer positions or ostracized. One pastor I know even threatened to stand at the door and not let them in. Another said “I can love people without accepting them.” Another refused to participate in the baptism of an infant because it “legitimized their marriage.” This isn’t the way of Christ, and it violates the Discipline, too.

I’m not excusing the far left. I’m just saying to reduce the matter to leaving the UMC because “they” aren’t following the Discipline is to swallow the narrative of only one point of view. The other is that the punitive “traditional” plan of GC 2019 went way too far, was a rejection of true discernment by the bishops and commission, and was never intended to bring unity. It was a last ditch effort to get “those people” to leave, when the stated “end game” of the WCA was to leave anyway.

I won’t respond to comments. I just felt I should offer an alternative way of thinking, as a traditional, orthodox, and Wesleyan pastor who plans to stay in the UMC. I choose the messiness of being in community together and working something out to contextualize and move forward into the future, over a new denomination founded on a single wedge issue (though there is a lot of “straw-man” argument that it’s over other things). I will stay with the main body of the UMC and will not be joining the separatists.

I have nothing against those who do. Let’s just all be truthful that there are multiple and complex sides to these issues. Be who you are, but let’s stop blaming “those people” for our decisions. It would be better to depart in peace.

#stayumc

This post was deleted. I was able to repost this as a comment to another post, however. One person dismissed what I was saying about examples of not following the Discipline as “gripes.” Another said “all people” meant all races and nationalities, not “unrepentant sinners.”

I made an additional comment, later in the thread, that was deleted, and I'm not sure why, really. It was just a statement of fact.

A person asked me "how can you stay if you are a traditional church when it appears that the UMC will not stand on the authority of Scripture, the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, etc. For me to stay would hurt my witness. The basis of my Christin faith is on all of these -- without them, there is no Christianity."

I responded "that is a great example of the straw-man arguments I'm talking about. That narrative is simply not true. Wesley's Articles of Religion will not change. In fact, they can't be changed. Of course, if you look you can find a nut somewhere but they don't represent the whole."

Another person then asked me to put what I was saying in context. I said this (a comment which was, curiously, deleted by administrators):

Look in section III in the Discipline. Wesley wrote the Articles of Religion in his own hand. Here's a copy.

There's also lots of other info on core doctrines if you have a Discipline handy.

To change these would require a 2/3 vote at General Conference, followed by a 3/4 aggregate vote of all delegates at all Annual Conferences world-wide. So, they are not going to change.

Before it was deleted, someone had responded in the same thread "thank you for continuing to illustrate why we wish to separate." I’m sorry, do you mean because I know that the core beliefs of the UMC are not changing? And I’m pointing out that this is a classic “straw-man” argument? I don’t know a single person staying in the UMC who wants our core doctrinal and credal beliefs to change.

In another thread, I was simply asking that we ramp down the inflammatory language. I have nothing against those who wish to leave. I encouraged them to share what they liked about the new church they were forming, the positive things that drew them to it, when instead what I was reading was just language such as “apostates” and the UMC having “sold its soul to the devil.”

Someone else said "I agree with you 100%. There is only angry hateful speech coming from this page. They also only want those who agree with them to respond. If I am correct nothing can be done until the vote in 2024. Some of the other stuff being said about the UMC is untrue. If I did decide to leave the UMC I would steer clear of the Global Church. I will block this rubbish from now on."

Another deleted comment was very interesting. Someone elsewhere had said the problem with the UMC is we didn't recognize that we were all sinners going to hell and we need Jesus. I simply asked:

"Do you believe in the Calvinist doctrine of total depravity?" I was engaging what the person posited, to see where they were coming from and where they got such an assumption. My question was deleted by administrators.

I will no longer participate. I just wanted to share openly that I was just trying to help them to see they can be who they are and start their new denomination based on good things they want to offer the world. There is no reason to use inflammatory, denigrating language about “those people” and “straw-man arguments” based on strung together exaggerated examples from extremists that don’t represent the whole.

Brief Message for Stay UMC by Tom Berlin

I had the opportunity to interview Rev. Tom Berlin of Virginia for a few moments on what he had to say for the people in North Alabama who are involved in the "Stay UMC" movement.

You can view the video here.

I'm Traditional, Orthodox, and Wesleyan

I’m with Steve Harper. See his most recent article called New UMC: We Believe!

I am thoroughly traditional, orthodox, and Wesleyan, and I firmly plan to stay in the UMC. The church is our spiritual mother, and it has made the world a better place through a uniquely Wesleyan balance of head, heart, and hands. I love my mother very much, even when she’s not perfect. I believe in working together to making things better. I believe we have a strong future though these are difficult and divisive times in a world prone to division and institutional brokenness. I believe we must stand boldly at the table of grace and refuse to submit to a spirit of fear.

I do not accept the exaggerated, negative narratives of those who are leaving the UMC, though I have nothing against them if they feel led to do something else. I believe in our vision of open hearts, open minds, and open doors and finding our way forward in divisive times through embracing diversity of thought on non-essential or secondary matters and an openness to contextualized ministry. I believe in our commitment to the historic creeds, the unchanging doctrines and articles of religion, our passion for the marginalized and hurting, and the vision of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

I believe in holiness of heart and life, which leads us to a personal journey on the road toward perfection in love, and I believe we can’t institute that for everyone else based on culture war wedge issues. I believe in majoring in the major things and minoring in the minor things. I believe in interpreting scripture through the person of Christ not the voices of culture. I believe it is the outpouring of God’s grace that truly changes the world, not a quest for singularity of perspective.

I believe God created us and Jesus calls us to build bridges, to heal hurts, and to spread scriptural holiness throughout the land. I believe all of us are sinners in need of grace, and it’s only conformity to Christ that restores us. I believe my spirituality has more to do with removing the log in my own eye than pointing out the speck in someone else’s. I believe in inviting people into a deep, passionate relationship with Jesus and trusting God to help them work out their Christian ethics through the work of the Holy Spirit.

#BeUMC

#stayumc

Highlights from "Celebrate the UMC" in Montgomery, Alabama

It was a joy to attend "Celebrate the UMC," a gathering featuring Rev. Tom Berlin of the Virginia Annual Conference as the keynote speaker. It was held in Montgomery, Alabama on June 13, 2022.

I love the United Methodist Church and am committed to #BeUMC! I look forward to our future together. Here are some highlights from the evening.

Cameron West, president, said "Huntingdon College is a college of the United Methodist Church ... we are unwavering in our support of the United Methodist Church." He quoted a Wesley hymn, "Blest be the dear uniting love that will not let us part; our bodies may far off remove, we still are one in heart."

Frederick Outlaw, retired clergy, said "Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason - that's the full gospel for us ... it's out of that theology of grace that we continue to be present ... we have seen this movie before and we know how it's going to end."

Michael Precht, pastor of Dauphin Way UMC, said "The future of United Methodism is fully committed to disciple making ... everything else we do comes from this simple impulse."

Amy Persons, pastor of Point Washington UMC, said "The United Methodist Church that I grew up in, the United Methodist Church that will move forward into the future making disciples, is a 'big tent' church ... it is the table of Jesus Christ spread wide for all of us that makes us who we are, a 'big tent' church."

Julie Hare, Congregational Care Minister at Auburn First UMC, said "We are deeply, deeply connectional and we care not just about our own but for the whole world."

Bria Rochelle-Stephens, professor of religion at Huntington College, said "Experiencing God in the United Methodist Church tastes like salty tears ... smells like the breaking of warm bread at the first communion table where I felt warmly invited."

Finally, here are some highlights from the keynote address by Tom Berlin:

"We need a righteousness that does not depend on our actions, on our merit, or on any opinion we hold on a hundred different topics which may vary from the United Methodist next to us" ... "Our righteousness comes in Christ."

"Joy is what makes your church grow. Anybody who thinks anger is the way to get your church to grow, showing up every week and being ticked off at everybody - It doesn't work, ever."

"I am grateful for the United Methodist Church. It's been my spiritual home since my birth and I believe it will remain so until my death. It is my spiritual mother ... There are some in more recent years who think poorly of it, and I believe their words create confusion about the United Methodist Church, what it will be, what it is. And, quite frankly, I wonder how they can predict the future of the church when they only talk to people who are leaving it, but they are not talking to people who are staying in it."

"I've attended a lot of meetings of those who are committed to the future of the United Methodist Church, and their clarity around our unchanging doctrinal standards in Section 3 of the Book of Discipline is resolute ... What is the theology that is unchanging? The Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer - the lordship of Christ, salvation through Christ, the virgin birth, the bodily resurrection, that scripture contains all things necessary for salvation and more ... This is not changing ... You can't change those things. The constitution of our church doesn't allow you to change those things ... There is no procedural way the General Conference can change it ... That core theology doesn't change ... This is rock solid."

"I am sure that somewhere in our global ten million person denomination, somebody is saying something idiotic at any given moment ... Every family has a crazy Uncle Frank or crazy Aunt Fran, and we can't control that ... I would not want my entire family judged based by the soliloquy of Frank and Fran on any given Saturday ... I don't see why the United Methodist Church has to be judged by one person somewhere out there in a ten million person denomination. It doesn't feel fair."

"For those who desire, there is currently a way to depart thanks to a motion brought to the 2019 General Conference made by Rev. Beth Ann Cook, who is a member of the Wesleyan Covenant Association. Rev. Cook offered paragraph 2553 to General Conference as a pathway for disaffiliation. The General Conference affirmed it, which meant that people that now are talking about leaving the church had to agree with it because nothing passed the 2019 General Conference that that cohort of people didn't agree with it." ... "Rev. Cook stood up and said ... 'the intended process is literally how I would want to be treated if I was the one hurting because of the United Methodist Church'." ... "There are some who are saying they shouldn't have to pay anything but should be able to take their property without any complaint. And friends, the problem is in the United Methodist Church we have a significant unfunded pension liability. You've got retired pastors .. It's not fair, it's not right, and it's not Christian."

"If other people want to degrade the United Methodist Church, it's fine. But I've seen signs and wonders, and I've seen the good of it, and I've seen the health of it, and I've seen the vitality of it. And when you degrade its health and its goodness and the things that I'm pointing to that are real, be careful that you are not blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. Because it's not me, and it's not you, it's not even us. It is God among us. And I believe that the United Methodist Church has a future with hope." "And if it's not for you, God bless you as you go. I don't mean that negatively, I mean it honestly. It's an adult thing to self-differentiate and find your way. God bless you. You don't need to blow up the house as you leave."

"Jeff Greenway of the WCA was one of the first to say that the 'Protocol' is dead at several GMC meetings" ... "Mediated agreements need to be enacted in the moment in which they were created."

Letter in Support of God's Children

Some of the clergy in the state of Alabama recently signed a letter, expressing love and care for transgender children and their families.

I signed it, too.

I respect differences of opinion on the issues of our day, and I tend to be a centrist on most of them. I lean left on some and right on others. I affirm diversity of thought in politics and am so happy to serve a diverse local church. I stick to preaching the truths of the gospel on Sundays.

However, these laws appear to target marginalized families, and I am passionate about that because it's not the way of Jesus. I signed it not because of politics but because of my passion for pastoral care. It goes too far when the vulnerable are targeted unnecessarily.

You can read about our letter here. A portion of it reads "Seeing love thrive in spite of all the world’s challenges should be a primary goal of God’s followers, as this is what He sent His son to exemplify for us.

"The Holy Spirit moves in profound ways at separate times in each of us and our brothers and sisters in Christ may see some of God’s children through a different spiritual lens. God calls us not to judge our fellow man for difference because of these differing lenses but calls us to help with discernment and to share our knowledge of the love of Jesus Christ. Love one another, be patient for the Holy Spirit to work, and continue to pray for those who harbor fear in their hearts about that which is not easy or comfortable to understand.  Being inclusive of all of God’s children requires bearing a cross for those with lesser voices while attempting to understand their human experiences.

"The life of a Christian requires each of us to think bigger than oneself and to consider the many facets of human existence and the Creator’s unique design of humanity.  The Holy Spirit comforts and strengthens us and reveals our unique talents that equip us to serve the masses and to bring all into the fullest relationship with God possible."

I agree with my friend and former parishioner Judge Liles Burke's ruling. He blocked part of the law he believes is likely unconstitutional, the part which criminalizes offering medical care. You can read about that here. Burke wrote, "Enjoining the Act upholds and reaffirms the 'enduring American tradition' that parents—not the states or federal courts—play the primary role in nurturing and caring for their children." Bingo. That's why I signed the letter.

Burke wrote “Parent Plaintiffs are substantially likely to show that they have a fundamental right to treat their children with transitioning medications subject to medically accepted standards and that the Act infringes on that right" . . . "The Act prevents Parent Plaintiffs from choosing that course of treatment for their children by criminalizing the use of transitioning medications to treat gender dysphoria in minors, even at the independent recommendation of a licensed pediatrician."

I stand by my decision to sign the letter. But if you'd like to grab a cup of coffee and talk about it, I'm all ears. I'd love to hear your perspective.

What Would Wesley Say About Leaving the UMC?

“There are those who seem to think they will make the church purer and holier by limiting it to a specific set of legislated opinions.”

ST Kimbrough Jr., renowned Wesley scholar from North Alabama (retired Associate General Secretary for Mission Evangelism for the General Board of Global Ministry), asks what Wesley would say about the splintering minority from the UMC going into the GMC (organizing on May 1) or other offshoot denominations.

What a timely release. Read it at www.stayumc.org.

#stayumc

#BeUMC

Paul Chilcote on Staying in the UMC

This is from Paul Chilcote, who I’ve had the privilege of serving with on an Academy for Spiritual Formation. He is a retired professor of historical theology and Wesleyan studies.

I am with Paul. I have been saying openly since February of 2020 that I will not be leaving the UMC. He summarizes my feelings well.

5 Reasons to Stay in The United Methodist Church

My roots are deep in The United Methodist Church. Like most “preachers’ kids,” I went through a period in which I questioned my inherited faith tradition, but I came through that process with a deeper appreciation and love for the UMC and all it represents. “Ten Reasons Why I’ll Join the Global Methodist Church," by Jay Therrell, President of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, Florida Chapter, has recently made a new appearance on Facebook. If you read through that document closely, the portrait of the GMC he paints is congregational in polity (not connectional), creedal in orientation (not oriented around “faith working by love”), and essentially exclusive (not inclusive in vision, despite its “global” title). 

I co-chaired the World Methodist Council/Baptist World Alliance Dialogue, and the ten reasons document “feels” like something my Baptist colleagues may have drafted. I do not mean that pejoratively in any way. I love my Baptist brothers and sisters, but the UMC offers a different vision of Christian faith and practice. What concerns me most about this blog is the way in which it diverges sharply, in my humble opinion, from a genuinely Wesleyan vision. 

As May 1 looms large for many of us who are United Methodists, here are my five reasons to stay in the UMC.

1. The UMC has a wide, gracious, and loving embrace. The church I think most people yearn for is a community of faith that puts love at the very center of its life and vision. This openness to all people as unique brothers and sisters deeply loved by God characterizes the UMC I know. All God’s children are invited to put their gifts to use in the service of God’s reign of reconciliation.

2. The UMC aspires to be Christ-like in practice. Countless surveys over the past decades demonstrate that the majority of people in the United States view the church as judgmental. Jesus gives us a different model of relating to the world and others. The UMC seeks to cultivate disciples of Jesus who are like him – merciful, compassionate, forgiving.

3. The UMC is shaped by a dynamic view of scripture. The UMC is strongly biblical in its orientation. The Bible is the bedrock upon which the faith of United Methodists is built. But its view of the Bible is not simplistic; rather, like Wesley, it embraces a dynamic conception of scripture as the “living Word.” Antithetical to literalistic views of scripture, the United Methodist view offers a rich, robust, but yes scriptural foundation for life in the triune God.

4. The UMC is deeply concerned about growth in grace. Not so much invested in believing the right things, its primary passion is translating God’s love into action in life. It elevates the importance of practices of piety, like prayer, but also advocates acts of mercy – compassion and justice for all. The UMC offers a holistic spirituality that refuses to separate the spiritual from the concrete realities of life. 

5. The UMC is missional in character. The UMC does not live for itself, but for others. It is missional in its design to partner with God in God’s great work of love in the world. Its fundamental orientation is outward, spun out in the life of the world to wage peace, work for justice, and to emulate the “beloved community” God desires for all.

Amazing Quote From the Late Rachel Held Evans

“They said that if I questioned a 6,000-year-old earth, I would question whether other parts of Scripture should be read scientifically and historically. 

They were right.  I did. 

They said that if I entertained the hope that those without access to the gospel might still be loved and saved by God, I would fall prey to the dangerous idea that God loves everyone,  that there is nothing God won’t do to reconcile all things to Himself. 

They were right. I have.  

They said that if I looked for Jesus beyond the party line, I could end up voting for liberals. 

They were right. I do (sometimes).  

They said that if I listened to my gay and lesbian neighbors, if I made room for them in my church and in my life, I could let grace get out of hand. 

They were right.  It has. 

They told me that this slippery slope would lead me away from God, that it would bring a swift end to my faith journey, that I’d be lost forever.

But with that one, they were wrong. 

Yes, the slippery slope brought doubts. Yes, the slippery slope brought change. Yes, the slippery slope brought danger and risk and unknowns. I am indeed more exposed to the elements out here, and at times it is hard to find my footing.  

But when I decided I wanted to follow Jesus as myself, with both my head and heart intact, the slippery slope was the only place I could find him, the only place I could engage my faith honestly. 

So down I went. 

It was easier before, when the path was wide and straight. 

But, truth be told, I was faking it.  I was pretending that things that didn’t make sense made sense, that things that didn’t feel right felt right.  To others, I appeared confident and in control, but faith felt as far away as friend who has grown distant and cold.

Now, every day is a risk. 

Now, I have no choice but to cling to faith and hope and love for dear life. 

Now, I have to keep a very close eye on Jesus, as he leads me through deep valleys and precarious peaks.  

But the view is better, and, for the first time in a long time, I am fully engaged in my faith. 

I am alive. 

I am dependent.

I am following Jesus as me—heart and head intact.  

And they were right.  All it took was a question or two to bring me here.”

- Rachel Held Evans 

(June 8, 1981 - May 4, 2019)

Prayer at the Alabama State Legislature

Because of the kind invitation of a member of our church family who serves as an Alabama State Representative, I did something this week I’ve never done. I went to the state capital in Montgomery to lead prayer for the legislative session.

It was a whole new pastoral experience for me. The most humbling part of it is that I forgot my sports coat. Leave it to me! I had on my tie and my carefully printed prayer folded in my freshly ironed pocket, but when I decided to change out of my sweater (think “Mr. Rogers”), it was nowhere to be found in my car.

Thankfully, this has happened before and capital security knew what to do. A blue blazer appeared, and it was just my size. In a sense, by the time I got to the microphone, I was already humbled. But nothing is more humbling than knowing I had precisely two minutes to do something I would probably never have the opportunity to do again. What do I say?

It was an honor and I did not take it lightly. I love my home state and sincerely pray for our leaders, who face volatile and difficult times. I had no idea how long it would take me to write that two minute prayer.

So I thought I’d share it with you here. Please join me in praying for our leaders in Montgomery.

Steve

—

Let us pray, God of all creation, since the very founding of our nation, countless legislatures have begun public sessions with prayer. We continue that tradition today, not just for history’s sake but because of incredibly high stakes. The matters that come before us are of vital importance, and the women and men of this esteemed house do not take our duties lightly.

So we pause, and we pray, and we acknowledge the Sovereign One who is above all things and imbued in all things.

We confess, oh Lord, our propensity in politics to work against each other instead of with one other, to speak our minds without engaging our hearts. Forgive us, we pray. May we set aside needless ideology for the common good, knowing that only in the sharing of differing voices can we tease out the truth. This is the very principle our government is founded on, that no one corners the market on what’s right. What we do is represent the people of every corner of this great state. May we represent them faithfully and diligently today.

We ask that you “grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the living of these days.” The state of Alabama has come a long way, but like any state, we still have a long way to go. Not far from this legislative gathering is both the pulpit of Martin Luther King’s preaching and the step of Jefferson Davis’s inauguration. Their proximity is a visceral reminder of the confluence of wheat and tare in our history. May we nurture the fine wheat and trust you for the tare.

May we serve Alabama the beautiful, and with our whole hearts sing, “we will aye be true to thee.”

And now, with deep respect for diverse faiths that might be represented here, I offer this prayer in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Podcast on “Come to me … ALL”

It was a joy to prepare and record the “Read Together” podcast this week. The introduction written by Lyn Cosby at the Conference Center says:

Rev. Steve West finds a recurring theme of inclusiveness in this week's reading list—prompting us to remind ourselves, all means all.

You can listen to it here.

Bishops Speak Out for Staying UMC

Recently, the United Methodist bishops released a thoughtful narrative on what it will look like in the United Methodist Church after the Global Methodist Church splits away and we move forward in history. We have an exciting and hopeful future. We will continue to be a diverse church of traditional, centrist, and progressive Christians, bound together by the love of Christ. We will value healthy diversity about the issues of our day and give people space to practice their faith in different contexts.

It is simply a false narrative that the UMC will be “progressive” and the GMC will be “traditional.” This binary way of thinking is being promoted by those who want to entice others to leave our denomination with them.

You may read the bishop’s narrative of our future yourself here. It speaks to the heart of why I wish to stay in the UMC.

Today is January 6