Four stories analyzing a "grassroots survey" run by Mainstream UMC.
Survey Results 1 of 4: Awakening & Urgency
July 30, 2019
Advisory Board, Mainstream UMC
This is the first of four posts analyzing the results of the Mainstream UMC Grassroots Survey that ran from June 25 to July 11, 2019. There were 28 questions total. This post covers questions 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17. These questions focused on the demographics of the respondents and were designed to gauge grassroots opinions and expectations for change. There are links below to read the other posts as they are available.
Synopsis:
People in the pews are engaged as never before with a strong sense of urgency for change at General Conference 2020. We had 13,176 people take the survey. Respondents self-identified Traditional, Centrist, and Progressive in direct proportion to how 2019 annual conferences elected delegates. Not surprisingly, the survey results demonstrated the stark polarization between Traditionalists and Centrists/Progressives. The large numbers of respondents in each group will guide us as we prayerfully discern next steps for the church.
Analysis:
We are witnessing a generational awakening among Centrists and Progressives in the United Methodist Church. There has been an outpouring of energy following the narrow passage of the mean-spirited Traditional Plan at General Conference 2019. Read the complete analysis.
Survey Results 2 of 4: Can We Live Together in the US Church?
August 1, 2019
Advisory Board Editorial Team, Mainstream UMC
This is the second of four posts analyzing the results of the Mainstream UMC Grassroots Survey that ran from June 25 to July 11, 2019. There were 28 questions total. This post covers questions 13, 14, 15, 16. These questions were designed to discern the depth of our division in the US church. There are links below to read the other posts as they are available.
Synopsis:
The questions about the US church reveal a clear polarization. Consistently, Centrists and Progressives want to hold the church together; those who identify as Traditional want to pull the church apart. The question for General Conference 2020 is: will we allow a vocal minority group in the US to dissolve the 2nd largest Protestant denomination in the United States?
Analysis:
Can we live together in the US Church? The answer depends on how you identify yourself theologically and socially. Traditionalists say “no.” Everyone else says “yes.” Continue reading at MainstreamUMC.com.
Survey Results 3 of 4: Changes to the Global Structure.
August 6, 2019
Advisory Board Editorial Team, Mainstream UMC
This is the third of four posts analyzing the results of the Mainstream UMC Grassroots Survey that ran from June 25 to July 11, 2019. There were 28 questions total. This post covers questions 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. These questions explored the global church structure and voting autonomy for the US church. There are links below to read the other posts as they are available.
Synopsis:
Traditionalists like the current structure of the global church, primarily because the global church tends to support their views at General Conference on denying LGBTQ marriage and ordination. Centrists and Progressives desperately want change in the governance structure but are overwhelmingly open to continuing the funding under that new structure. Centrists and Progressives make up 75% of the US votes at General Conference and come from conferences that represent 78% of the total funding for the global church. The survey shows that it is time for the US church to have the same governance autonomy as the rest of the world.
Analysis:
Several of the questions in the survey explored how respondents feel about some of the unusual realities found in the relationship between the US and global Church. Some say these structures are a hang-over from a colonial structure (and others say it is colonial to even ask these questions!) [Continue reading the analysis.]
Survey Results 4 of 4: Concerns About a Split.
August 8, 2019
Advisory Board Editorial Team, Mainstream UMC
This is the fourth of four posts analyzing the results of the Mainstream UMC Grassroots Survey that ran from June 25 to July 11, 2019. There were 28 questions total. This post covers question 24 which identified the greatest concerns about the UMC should there be a split. There are links below to read the other posts.
Synopsis:
There was some striking agreement among Traditionalists, Centrists, and Progressives about the value of the local church, our global witness, and pensions. There was also agreement that neither the Cross & Flame logo nor the name “United Methodist Church” are at the forefront of most respondents’ thinking. Finally, there was striking disagreement between Traditionalists and Centrists/Progressives about the value of the general agencies. Centrists/Progressives valued them at almost twice the rate as those who self-identified as Traditional.
Analysis:
One of the last questions, Question 24 asked, “What are your greatest concerns about a church split in terms of the institution itself?” Respondents were able to check as many as they wanted, so the percentages do not add up neatly to 100%. This question revealed some remarkable similarities among Traditional, Centrist, and Progressive respondents. It also showed some remarkable differences. Here are a few of the notable categories. [Continue reading the analysis.]