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Wow those who remain1/12/2023 ![]() ![]() The Annual Conference responsibilities must be restricted to the bare minimum of administrative tasks, and the funding, development, and implementation of missions returned to the local churches and voluntary collectives of local churches.Ĭhurches who worship a Christ of whom it is said, “there is salvation in no other name,” must direct ministries that are faithful to that understanding. If United Methodists are to be a people with contradictory definitions of God and with oppositional missions in service of God, then those missions cannot be developed, directed, and funded by a common source. The clergy are first in accountability for the things of God ( Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness). The clergy need to stop rubber stamping reports from the Board of Ordained Ministry. It is the laity and the local churches who in all times are called to honor the faith in hostile environs ( Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. The laity need to lead in holding the church accountable through stewardship. Let the Conference leadership know that if they insist that you remain then things are going to look different. ![]() Act in accordance with your faith and in compliance with the Discipline. Whether you are staying in the South Carolina Conference of the UMC because disaffiliation is costly, or because the Conference has promised that you will be welcomed, or because you feel trapped by a Machiavellian bishop who will not allow any Traditionalist church to leave for any reason at any price, then you have special obligations and opportunities to preserve your faith community with integrity. If you intend to do neither, then be quiet. If you are not going to fix the problem then walk away, if you are not going to walk away, then fix it. Yes, God will one day redeem a remnant, but you will be held accountable for the care of the church in your lifetime. You were supposed to pass along that which you received and not wait for some future generation to recover what you have lost. If you are trusting God to send someone who will some day rescue the church, then know that it is you he has sent to be responsible for the church in your lifetime. If you are waiting for an angel to appear with gold tablets inscribed with the deed to your property, it’s not going to happen. If you are waiting for someone else to do the work, it will not get done. The way for those of you who remain behind is not any easier. God does not normally take us from captivity to the promised land in a whirlwind. What follows are the best recommendations I can devise for those who choose to remain in captivity in Egypt. One does not need to borrow Bishop Olivetto’s tarot-like spirit cards to know that nothing good will come of it. Perhaps some part of it will inspire someone to produce better words.Īs I write this a task force is preparing to meet in a very few days to discuss amicable separation. If you find it to extreme for your liking, then set it aside. It is advice based on how I understand the faith, how I have struggled to express it with my life, and how I understand the processes that move the South Carolina Conference. Yet, I have compassion for those South Carolina United Methodists who feel trapped by an unfaithful power structure. ![]() I had my own exit strategy that did not require conference approval. ![]()
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