Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,584 posts)
Fri Oct 14, 2022, 05:53 AM Oct 2022

United Methodists are breaking up in a slow-motion schism

United Methodists are breaking up in a slow-motion schism

By PETER SMITH
October 10, 2022

United Methodists have for generations been a mainstay of the American religious landscape — one of the most geographically widespread of the major Protestant denominations, their steeples visible on urban streets, in county seats and along country roads, their ethos marked by a firm yet quiet faith, simple worship and earnest social service.

But the United Methodist Church is also the latest of several mainline Protestant denominations in America to begin fracturing, just as Episcopal, Lutheran and Presbyterian denominations lost significant minorities of churches and members this century amid debates over sexuality and theology.

In annual regional gatherings across the U.S. earlier this year, United Methodists approved requests of about 300 congregations to quit the denomination, according to United Methodist News Service. Special meetings in the second half of the year are expected to vote on as many as 1,000 more, according to the conservative advocacy group Wesleyan Covenant Association.

Scores of churches in Georgia, and hundreds in Texas, are considering disaffiliation. Some aren’t waiting for permission to leave: More than 100 congregations in Florida and North Carolina have filed or threatened lawsuits to break out.

{snip}
8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
United Methodists are breaking up in a slow-motion schism (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Oct 2022 OP
Thanks for posting. badhair77 Oct 2022 #1
It's an issue of rights Alice Kramden Oct 2022 #2
You have it bacwards AwakeAtLast Oct 2022 #7
Thank you for this clarification n/t Alice Kramden Oct 2022 #8
So, not so 'united' as first we were told. House of Roberts Oct 2022 #3
Not surprising 303squadron Oct 2022 #4
So, not "United" any more. Jirel Oct 2022 #5
Thanks for posting this RainCaster Oct 2022 #6

Alice Kramden

(2,377 posts)
2. It's an issue of rights
Fri Oct 14, 2022, 06:30 AM
Oct 2022

The ones who are leaving are in favor of ordination for LGBTQ people, and the official stance of the church is "conservative," i.e. bigoted

AwakeAtLast

(14,241 posts)
7. You have it bacwards
Fri Oct 14, 2022, 07:12 PM
Oct 2022

Many churches are disaffiliating because the UMC is TOO inclusive. I lost my church over the summer for this reason. I grew up in that church.

House of Roberts

(5,664 posts)
3. So, not so 'united' as first we were told.
Fri Oct 14, 2022, 06:51 AM
Oct 2022

I give no fucks for them.

My grandmother on my mother's side was a Methodist. I got dragged to a couple of services a year when we visited her on Sundays. As is obvious, the sermons didn't take with me.

303squadron

(670 posts)
4. Not surprising
Fri Oct 14, 2022, 07:18 AM
Oct 2022

The entire history of the Protestant faith is one schism after another, because one man's interpretation is another man's hell.

Jirel

(2,259 posts)
5. So, not "United" any more.
Fri Oct 14, 2022, 08:24 AM
Oct 2022

Good. I hope they schism into nonexistence. Why anyone puts effort into expensive organizations that fight over the best way to be crappy to others who aren’t in line with their invisible friends’ opinions, is beyond me.

RainCaster

(11,485 posts)
6. Thanks for posting this
Fri Oct 14, 2022, 09:20 AM
Oct 2022

I was a local leader in a UMC church for a decade. I saw that same argument come up every year at state wide meetings, and every year useless proclamations were drafted and sent to the national meeting. Promptly ignored.

All the while local churches were folding, and the property was sold to other faiths. Those were always more accepting of LGBTxxx folks.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Religion»United Methodists are bre...