Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation
We are seeking to welcome all people into the full life and ministry of the church, and, more deeply, into the grace of God. We are seeking to live together with our siblings across the world, even those who are in very different contexts. They have much to teach us.
The mediation team
On Friday, January 3, the United Methodist Church made national headlines when a group of 16 church leaders (from diverse theological, ethnic, and cultural viewpoints) proposed an agreement of separation. This mediation team has created this agreement in service to the delegates who will go to the General Conference in May. They represented very different and significant values in our twelve million member global church. The proposal is called "The Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation," or “The Protocol” for short. This page is dedicated to offer an unbiased explanation of The Protocol to educate members of St. Matthew’s UMC and the broader community.
The authors of The Protocol did what many within The United Methodist Church have done and are doing. That is, they are making a proposal for a way forward in a divided United Methodist Church. This team represents diverse points of view within our denomination. While we give thanks to God for our diversity, it also presents us with some challenges and this group has proposed a way for us to work through some of the issues generated by this diversity.
As United Methodists situated in the Valley Forge area, we are seeking to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, faithful to the scriptures, and faithful to our tradition as Methodists. We are seeking to welcome all people into the full life and ministry of the church, and, more deeply, into the grace of God. We are seeking to live together with our siblings across the world, even those who are in very different contexts. They have much to teach us.
The news media has picked up The Protocol as a lead story and many may perceive that its a “done deal.” It isn’t. The Protocol has to be considered along with the dozens of other petitions brought to the General Conference this year. It does have a reasonable chance of passing, since there seems to be a coalescing of support for it. However, implementing any plan will take years to work out with much prayer, discernment, and cooperation from differing points of view.
The material below gives some facts, explanation, and some reflections by prominent church leaders. It contains the following (click on the link to view the original source):
1. Press Release by authors of The Protocol
2. The Protocol itself (8 pages)
3. FAQ’s by the protocol authors
4. A list of reliable, unbiased news sources for UMC Information outside of mainstream media.
a. The United Methodist Church Official Site www.umc.org
b. The United Methodist News Service. www.umnews.org
c. The Council of Bishops www.unitedmethodistbishops.org
d. The Eastern PA Conference of The UMC www.epaumc.org
5. A response from Bishop Peggy Johnson, bishop of the Eastern PA Conference of The United Methodist Church.
I encourage you to read the mediation protocol. And I encourage us to give as much to each other and to those who differ from us as we possibly can. In this way, they will know we are Christians—by our love.
If you have any questions about The Protocol or the polity of The United Methodist Church, you may email me at pastorjohn@stmatthewsvf.org or call me at 610-688-7055 to talk or setup an appointment.
As pastor of St. Matthew’s UMC, I pray that the headlines will not distract us from accomplishing the ministry that God has set before us at St. Matthew’s. The best way for us to face any changes to the United Methodist denomination is for our congregation to be as strong as we can be.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor John
St. Matthew’s Welcomes Everyone
Open Hearts. Open Doors. Open Minds.
Pastoral Response to the Special Session of General Conference
As you have likely heard, the special session of our denomination’s General Conference met this week to address several options to address our differences as United Methodists with regards to the full inclusion of LGBTQ members - specifically in the areas of marriage and ordination.
We are a global church and we are not of the same mind when it comes to this so many expected this special session of General Conference to be a difficult one. And it was. After a narrow vote, the option known as the Traditional Plan passed even though some of its components had been ruled unconstitutional by our judicial council. Other parts of this plan are still under review and what is ruled constitutional will go into effect in January of 2020. The Traditional Plan maintains our current restrictions on same sex marriage and ordination and adds enforcement measures for pastors, district superintendents and bishops who do not honor these restrictions.
For our LGBTQ members and our members who have family and friends who identify as LGBTQ this vote was incredibly hurtful. For United Methodists who believe our Book of Discipline when it says that the church should fully welcome and embrace all persons because all people are made in the image of God and have sacred worth - this vote was disheartening. They find it hard to understand why some are denied access to marriage or ordination of everyone is made in the image of God and has sacred worth. And even some who voted for the Traditional Plan are dismayed at the pain this vote caused so many. This has been a difficult and challenging week for United Methodists.
To help us understand in detail what occurred at General Conference and to address any questions you might have, we offered a forum on Sunday during our Sunday school hour. Our bishop and district superintendent will also be here on March 27 at 6:30 pm to provide more information and address questions.
At this point, I want to pause and affirm a fundamental truth about this congregation - we have always welcomed everyone and we will continue to do so. That is who we are here at St Matthew’s. As a pastor, I have always welcomed everyone and I will continue to do so. As United Methodists we affirm that all persons (regardless of their ethnicity, religious background or sexual orientation) are made in the image or God and have sacred worth. We will continue to be a church for all people and welcome everyone who comes through the doors. We will continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
There won't be any major changes right away. We will keep everyone posted and plan for the future together. In the meantime, don't let anything get in the way of loving your neighbor. Pray for our church and our denomination. Pray for all those who are in pain or feeling anger or grief at the moment. Be kind and loving toward those with whom you may disagree.
I suggest that we follow the General Rules that the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, set down for us:
Do no harm: Avoid speaking ill of anyone and treat everyone with compassion and empathy.
Do good: See who is hurting or troubled in your midst and offer them comfort. Actively look for opportunities to help others.
Stay in love with God: No matter our differences, the one thing that holds us together as a church is Christ. When we come together to worship and serve God we are brought closer together. Come to worship, take Communion, pray and study the Bible together. Let God be at work among us!
In Christ,
John