General Conference - An Update

Dear Friends,

General Conference, the worldwide legislative body for the United Methodist Church, is in the midst of its third day of plenary sessions.  Plenary sessions are those in which changes to the Book of Discipline (the UMC’s book of law) are considered and voted on.  After handling more mundane matters related to finances and the deployment of bishops, the General Conference today acted on the issues of same-sex marriage and eligibility for ordination.

Regarding marriage, the language prohibiting same-sex marriage was removed from the Book of Discipline.  Language was added to the Book of Discipline stating that clergy and local churches cannot be compelled to officiate and hold same-sex weddings.  Additionally, congregations and clergy cannot be penalized for refraining from holding or officiating same-sex weddings. 

Regarding ordination, the language prohibiting self-professed, practicing homosexuals from ordination has also been removed.  This means that it will be the job of each annual conference, already charged with screening candidates for ordination, to determine who can and cannot serve as clergy within their conference.

You are probably asking, “What does this mean for Central?”  The bishop will not appoint a clergyperson to serve any church when it would be detrimental to the church and the clergyperson.  This is especially true in the case of South Carolina’s flagship churches, of which Central is one.  Additionally, the clergy of Central would never take any action that would divide the church.

Another implication is that local churches and annual conferences will apply these changes differently in different places.  What we do in South Carolina will differ from what United Methodists do in California and Africa.  It may mean that other congregations in South Carolina will do things differently from how we do things at Central.  Regardless of the implications of these changes, the principle of home rule prevails.  In other words, South Carolinians will decide what is best for South Carolina and the people of Central will decide what is best for Central.

Some will greet this news with celebration, others with angst, and others with anxiety as we tread new ground.  Regardless of where you stand on the issues at hand, know that I and the entire ministry team of Central will continue to pursue Central’s best interests.  The words of Jesus from Matthew 6:23 come to mind, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.”  Jesus is speaking here to people who are worrying about what the future holds.  He reminds us that if we do our best to faithfully serve Him where He has placed us, we do not need to worry.  God will bring God’s purposes into being.

I know that you may have questions or concerns.  I will continue to share with you information from General Conference as it unfolds.  Please do not hesitate to come to me, Rev. Ann Kovan, or Rev. Meg Jiunnies.  We are blessed to serve God with you and are committed to following Jesus alongside you.

Yours in Christ,

Thomas

General Conference 2024 - Additional Information

Dear Friends, 

The General Conference of the United Methodist Church has begun.  During this first week, delegates from around the world are meeting in legislative committees before proposed changes to the Book of Discipline (the UMC’s book of church law) are considered by the entire body beginning on Monday, May 29th.  Among these delegates are the sixteen delegates (eight clergy and eight laypeople) elected by the South Carolina Conference to represent us at General Conference.   

In my last Tidings, I wrote about the proposed regionalization legislation that is before General Conference.  If you have not read this, please go back and read my last Tidings at www.centralmethodist.net/tft

In this Tidings, I will address the proposed legislation regarding the Book of Discipline’s language related to human sexuality.  To summarize, the current Book of Discipline states that “self-professed, practicing homosexuals” are not eligible to be ordained in the United Methodist Church.  It also states that clergy are not permitted to perform weddings for same-sex persons and that same-sex weddings cannot take place in United Methodist churches.  There are proposals to remove this language altogether, leaving it to individual annual conferences to determine who is eligible for ordination and to individual congregations to decide what is allowed in their worship spaces.  Annual conferences are already largely autonomous in determining who they will ordain.  If regionalization legislation passes, this autonomy will likely be strengthened.  There is already language in the Book of Discipline stating that the decision to officiate a wedding is at the discretion of the individual clergyperson. 

When considering ordination, it is helpful to understand the stringent process through which one goes to be approved for ordination in the UMC.  To be ordained, a person must have his or her call affirmed by his or her local church’s Staff Parish Relations Committee, the local church’s Charge Conference, and the District Committee on Ordained Ministry.  Incidentally, Rev. Ann Kovan is a member of the Florence District Committee on Ordained Ministry.  A candidate must also earn a Master of Divinity degree (at minimum a three-year degree) at an approved seminary.  After seminary, a candidate enters a strenuous two-year process under the supervision of the conference’s Board of Ordained Ministry before being eligible for ordination.  Incidentally, Rev. Meg Jiunnies and I are both members of the South Carolina Conference’s Board of Ordained Ministry.  Anyone approved for ordination by the Board of Ordained Ministry must also be approved by a vote of all the conference’s clergy members.  The process involves layers of approval and accountability in addition to such things as a psychological assessment, background checks, and extensive written work on theology and the practice of ministry.  In other words, ordination in the UMC is not treated lightly and is only conferred on those truly called and dedicated to the work of an ordained minister.   

In my next Tidings, I will reflect on the implications of potential legislation for local churches.  For now, suffice it to say your clergy team is committed to ensuring that whatever is best for Central is what happens at Central.  There is still a great deal that is uncertain, and I will be updating you as General Conference unfolds.  In the meantime, let us pray for the General Conference delegates and our denominational leaders.  Let us also focus on the mission and ministry God has placed before us and to which God has called us.  And as always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with your questions and concerns. 

Yours in Christ, 

Thomas

General Conference 2024 Update

Dear friends, 

In this second Tidings from Thomas about the upcoming General Conference of the United Methodist Church, I offer a brief discussion on an issue that will likely occupy a great deal of the General Conference’s time – regionalization.  While this is likely not the issue on which the media will focus, it could have profound implications for how the United Methodist Church (UMC) will function in the future.  

Before unpacking the proposed legislation, it is helpful to review the existing polity of the UMC.  Within the United States, the church is organized into five geographical jurisdictions.  We are in the Southeastern Jurisdiction.  Outside of the USA, the church is organized into central jurisdictions.  Each of the American jurisdictions is autonomous in that we elect our own bishops who oversee the church within jurisdictional bounds. Jurisdictions are further organized into Annual Conferences, such as the South Carolina Conference. 

The proposed legislation regarding regionalism would create one large region for the USA, which may or may not be further divided into jurisdictions.  There are varying versions of regionalization legislation being put forward, but one thing they have in common is an attempt to allow for more culturally contextualized church practice.  For example, African conferences and American conferences could have greater freedom to adapt ordination standards for their particular ministry context.  Like other pieces of legislation, this will all go through legislative committees and can be amended on the floor of the conference, but this is my understanding of the legislation in broad strokes.  How and if regionalization legislation is passed will likely affect what happens next on issues relating to human sexuality.  I will write more about this issue later. 

By way of reminder, General Conference is from April 23 to May 3.  If you want to take a deeper dive, this link will take you to the official General Conference website: https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/general-conference-2020

Let us continue to pray for God’s will to be accomplished through General Conference and through the United Methodist Church.  We serve a mighty God who has great things in store for us.  If we do our best to be faithful followers of Jesus, our ever-faithful God will see us through whatever comes. 

Yours in Christ, 

Holy Week at Central UMC

Dear Friends, 

It’s Holy Week, which means a LOT is going on at Central.   

Among other things, it means Easter is only days away.  Easter also provides an excellent opportunity to invite people to church.  If you have someone in your life you have been thinking about inviting, now is the perfect time to do so.  We also know that Easter brings many people through the doors who are not normally part of the Central’s worshiping life.  Easter offers us an opportunity to show Christian hospitality as we welcome visitors.  It is like opening your home to guests.  When we have guests in our home, we want to make the best impression possible and ensure guests feel welcomed and comfortable.  Likewise, we want our guests on Easter Sunday to have a meaningful worship experience and a positive impression of Central.    It is our job on Easter to proclaim the joy of the risen Christ and we want to do that as faithfully as possible. 

We also have special worship opportunities during Holy Week.   

• Our Maundy Thursday service with Tenebrae is at 7:00.  This impactful service recalls Jesus’ institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion and invites us to reflect on the events that led to His crucifixion.   

• On Good Friday we will have a somber service at noon, reflecting on Jesus’ death. 

• On Easter, we will move from the grief of Jesus’ death to the joy of His resurrection with our Easter Sunrise Service.  This service will begin on the Sanctuary porch at 7:30 and move into the Sanctuary after the greeting. 

• We will also have our customary Sunday morning Sanctuary and Well services at 10:30. 

I hope to see you at these special worship opportunities and may you have a blessed Holy Week! 

Yours in Christ, 

Thomas Smith