Dear Friends,
The 2023 meeting of the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church adjourned yesterday. This year’s conference dealt with many matters. The headline-grabbing issues relate to congregations disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church over issues related to human sexuality. I offer these words to lend some perspective to what you may have seen in the news or heard from friends.
By way of review, The United Methodist Book of Discipline does not allow for same-sex marriage, nor does it allow homosexual persons to be ordained as ministers. Only the General Conference, the world-wide legislative gathering of United Methodists, can change these prohibitions. The disaffiliating congregations are doing so out of concern that General Conference may alter this language when it meets in 2024.
Following a discernment process, 113 congregations requested to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, representing about 12% of the United Methodist congregations in South Carolina. The Annual Conference approved a resolution of disaffiliation related to these congregations, meaning that at the end of June they will no longer be part of the United Methodist Church and will not be part of the South Carolina Conference. Many of their clergy are expected to surrender their United Methodist credentials and remain in ministry with these congregations. Some of these congregations plan to unite with other denominations and some plan to remain independent.
It was a solemn moment when the names of disaffiliating congregations were read and the members of the Annual Conference prepared to vote. Bishop Holston led the body in prayer both before and after the vote was taken. In his prayer before the vote, Bishop Holston offered these words, “Regardless of what we do in this time, help us to bless each other. Help us to see your grace and your mercy for what it truly can be. And as we make the decision in this place and space, help us not to do it with a heart of anger. Help us to truly seek to be helpful to one another.”
Regardless of what votes are taken and what decisions are made, we are still called to follow Jesus by loving God and loving our neighbors. God is at work and God calls us to join in that work. God is on a mission and our mission is join ourselves and our congregation in that mission. May we, God’s church called Central, be faithful to that call. Let us resolve to join God in mission and work to advance the Kingdom of God.
I leave you with these words from John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. I have shared this quote with you before, but its sentiment is as fitting now as ever. “For opinions, or terms, let us not ‘destroy the work of God.’ Dost thou love and serve God? It is enough. I give thee the right hand of fellowship.” Wesley’s antiquated language reminds us that we do not have to agree on everything. People can disagree on important issues and still love one another. Let us commit ourselves to love and serve God together and to love one another. God calls us to be one in Jesus Christ, even when we disagree.
May God bless you and please do not hesitate to be in touch if you would like to have further conversation.
Yours in Christ,
Thomas Smith