We've heard again and again that conflict over questions of sexuality was not the only reason for the ongoing schism of the United Methodist Church (UMC) - that there were other differences that made the conflict more complex. But what were those differences? And how did they contribute to the mass exodus of people from the UMC? And how do we shepherd the Global Methodist Church (GMC) in relation to them? How do we move forward?
Those questions (especially the last question!) are the focus of the conversation offered in the new book published by Francis Asbury Press: Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church (Paperback, Kindle). To be clear, the main agenda of the book was not to analyze the schism but to offer initial reflections on theological questions facing the newly-formed GMC. Nevertheless, the split didn't happen in a vacuum; it came with its own historical context, with a presenting issue, and with a variety of other less publicized issues. To understand the launch of the GMC and to ensure that it launches in healthy fashion, we need to identify the theological topics which didn't get the attention they deserved in our previous denominational life. So, while the book is forward looking with regard to theological trajectories for the GMC, it still addresses matters of theological tension (and, at times, perhaps even conflict) that need sorting out in light of our ecclesial history in order to cultivate a healthy ecclesial future.
That said, the debate over sexuality was the most prominent feature of the Methodist conflict and got the most press. But there were other differences that complicated the conflict. Many of those other matters are generally in focus in Reconstructing Methodism as we look to the future health of the GMC. Here are a few highlights that offer a glimpse of the conversation.
There was significant debate in the UMC over our theological task, the method and starting point of our theology, and whether Methodists should have a single theology at all. Those questions are addressed - sometimes explicitly, sometimes implicitly - by Jason Vickers in chapter 1 of Reconstructing Methodism.
There was disagreement in the UMC on the function and role of bishops; with chapter 2 of Reconstructing Methodism, Bishop Scott Jones offers an historically rooted vision of the episcopacy, which was recently adopted by the Convening Conference of the Global Methodist Church. This chapter will offer some historical context for why we've built episcopacy we have.
Ordination in United Methodism has frequently been cause for confusion; Andrew Thompson looks at those questions in chapter 3 and offers a forward looking theological account of ordination for the GMC. This very much a live issue in the GMC as we consider the distinction between orders of ministry going forward.
How do we understand the person and work of the Holy Spirit? That's a question that came with strikingly different answers in the UMC. Cultivating a Spirit-led movement is in focus in chapter 4 by Madeline Carrasco Henners.
The UMC was marked by vastly different understandings of theological education; Bill Arnold helps us think through the theology and function of education in chapter 5. Theological education is not just job training; it's spiritual formation.
In the UMC, we had very different understandings of our global mission. We seldom heard about reaching those presently unreached by the gospel. Paul Lawler works on that in chapter 6 to help us understand the Global Methodist Church as being oriented toward reaching the unreached people of the world.
Angela Pleasants guides us in thinking about building a multi-ethnic movement (chapter 7).
In chapter 8, I sketch diverging approaches to the practice of preaching and then offer a theological vision of the preacher and the sermon. I argue that the pastorate is a theological vocation, and preaching is a theological discipline.
There can be no question that the UMC conflict in recent decades involved very, very different views of the Bible; that's the topic Chris Bounds takes up in chapter 9.
Chris Lohrstorfer helps us recover a classical Wesleyan view of holiness in light of conflicting views of holiness in past iterations of Methodism (chapter 10).
Dan McKee draws our attention to healthy vision of discipleship that is rooted theologically and historically in the Wesleyan-Methodist tradition (chapter 11).
And with the afterword, Douglas Sweeney explains why the larger church needs the GMC to get all of this theological work right.
Reconstructing Methodism serves the church primarily in the way it offers theological shepherding on a variety of issues going forward in the early years of the new denomination. But one reason the issues are issues is precisely because they were not matters of agreement when we were still in the UMC. So, one contribution of Reconstructing Methodism is the way it sheds light on the multi-faceted nature of the Methodist split, and invites us to consider the theological importance of the many contested issues as we move forward into this new day. The presenting issue was not the only issue. I want to reiterate that rehashing the UMC debate is not the main purpose or the agenda of this book. Nevetheless, if you want a more thorough picture of the issues that contributed to the schism and how we might address those issues theologically as we move forward, this book will help you with that.
Dr. Matt O’Reilly (Ph.D., Gloucestershire) is Lead Pastor of Christ Church in Birmingham, Alabama, Director of Research at Wesley Biblical Seminary, and a fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians. A two-time recipient of the John Stott Award for Pastoral Engagement, he is the author of multiple books including Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification, Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice, The Letters to the Thessalonians, and Bless the Nations: A Devotional for Short-Term Missions. Follow @mporeilly on X and @mattoreillyauthor on Instagram.
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The FOUNDATIONAL ISSUE that tore apart Methodism is the question of Biblical Authority and the nature of Divine Revelation and Divine Inspiration. All the other issues, while contributing factors, are of lesser importance (comparatively speaking). Historically, it all began when Methodist theologians began to adopt Higher Criticism and German Liberalism.
Yet it is on this very issue so many contemporary so called "conservative Methodists" get wrong! The Catechism of the Global Methodist Church is WRONG on Biblical Authority, just as the 2022 Wesleyan Witness document is WRONG on Biblical Authority! Then in the Firebrand Magazine series of articles debating Biblical Authority the conservatives made all of the concessions, whereas the more liberal authors conceded nothing!!!
Methodism is still under German…