New Era Begins with Resistance, Warnings

The Rev. Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of the multi-site, mega-membership United Methodis Church of the Resurrection based in Leawood, Kansas, endorsed the #ResistHarm movement in a year-end email sent to participants of the 2019 Leadership Institute.

In addition to recommending #ResistHarm as a resource for congregations in the run-up to the 2020 General Conference in May, Rev. Hamilton responded to frequent requests for updates on The United Methodist Church’s struggle over LGBTQ+ acceptance and potential schism. He cited the following:

• “The WCA has published a draft of a new Book of Doctrines and Discipline as part of their plans to start a new Methodist expression or denomination following GC2020.
• “Conversations initially convened by bishops of the Central Conferences with conservatives, centrists and progressives seeking an agreement between the various parties prior to GC2020 continue to take place. Expect news from these conversations to be released in the coming weeks.
• “It appears that a vast majority of United Methodist laity and clergy do not wish to leave or dissolve the UMC. They do support allowing those who wish to leave to do so on positive terms.
• “A majority of US leaders in the UMC support removing the restrictive language around homosexuality giving clergy permission to officiate same-gender marriages while not requiring them to do so.  
• “Conversations continue to take place among some regarding the US becoming its own Regional Conference and allowing parts of the Book of Discipline to be adapted to each Regional Conferences context.
• “Some of our United Methodist colleges, universities, hospitals and other institutions are considering ways to distance their institutions from the UMC as a result of the Traditional Plan.”

Mainstream UMC Warns of IRD Fundraising

Mainstream UMC’s request for end-of-year donations focused on the efforts of the Institute for Religion and Democracy to build its war chest for the 2020 General Conference.