General Conference 2008

Decision 1032 Remains in Effect

On Wednesday, April 30 by a narrow margin, the General Conference rejected petition 80088 (See Plenary Voting On LGBT Issues) that stated, "The pastor(s) and the congregation are to faithfully receive all persons who are willing to affirm our vows of membership." After Decision 1032 was upheld, the reconciling movement gathered, debriefed and returned to the Fort Worth Convention Center for the first protest.

Photo Set

Concerning Church Membership and Authority of The Pastor

CONCERNING CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AND AUTHORITY OF THE PASTOR
By Rev. Dr. Gayle Carlton Felton

APPROACH

The current controversy about admission into membership in The United Methodist Church and the authority of pastors to determine eligibility must be considered from several perspectives. First, it is essential to examine understandings within the history of our denomination, both in the period of origin under John Wesley and in subsequent development in American Methodism. Second, United Methodism's conception of itself as a church should be noted, especially the tension in its self understanding as a result of origin as a society within an established church. Third—and perhaps most immediately applicable—the official constitutional, disciplinary position of the denomination today needs to be clarified. Finally—and of overriding significance—the church must be guided by its fundamental beliefs about how God works in human lives to bring salvation to individuals and to the world and the role of the Body of Christ in that process.

WESLEYAN ORIGIN AND SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENTS

It is neither necessary nor possible here to summarize the historical development of what is now United Methodism. It is essential, though, to correct misunderstandings and to counter the misuse of Wesley and other denominational history. David Lowes Watson states that “it is historiographically inept to try to apply Wesley's polity for early Methodist classes and societies to membership in the church today.” Dr. Watson, whose work fostered the Covenant Discipleship movement in late 20th century Methodism, points out that there was only one condition required of persons who wanted to join the Methodist societies: “a desire to flee from the wrath to come.” No spiritual attainment or religious status was necessary—only only the desire to seek God. Wesley accepted any who sought admission, but made clear that there were postconditions for society membership. The continuation of a person's inclusion in a society required that person to attend a weekly class meeting and to follow the General Rules of the societies by refraining from doing harm, doing good works, and practicing spiritual disciplines. Failure to fulfill these requirements could cause a person to be discontinued from society membership. Wesley often used his authority to this end, and encouraged his assistant preachers to do likewise. However, as Dr.Watson stresses, this exclusion was from the society, not from the church. The rules of what was essentially at that time a small religious order could not be applied to the church at large—in that case, usually the Church of England of which most early Methodists were members, if not active ones.

As the Methodist movement in the United States spread and experienced amazing growth, it gradually developed into a church, rather than a society. This development was; however, slow, even after the official organization of The Methodist Episcopal Church in 1784. Until 1836, there was no stipulated requirement of baptism for membership. Lack of certainty about the appropriate roles of pastors, class leaders, official boards and other lay leadership in matters relating to membership is evident in the Disciplines. In The Methodist Church, created by the reunion of 1939, pastors were clearly granted authority to determine readiness for membership, up to 1952. In that year the Discipline was revised to omit reference to the pastor in deciding a prospective member's eligibility for acceptance. In 1964 a statement of inclusiveness was added, which became the basis for Article IV of the first part of the Constitution.

A highly significant and unambiguous change in the Discipline was made in 1968 and continued in effect until 2004. In ¶110, those joining the church are said to "covenant together with God and the membership of the local church...." In ¶115.1, it is plainly prospective members themselves who make the decision about readiness for church membership.

CURRENT CHURCH LAW

The 1996 General Conference approved By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism as the church's official, interpretive document on baptism and church membership. Persons of any age become members of the universal church of Christ, The United Methodist Church, and the local church through baptism. Profession of faith is required for professing membership—at the time of baptism for those of age, at later confirmation for infants. There is absolutely no mention of any determinative authority for the pastor. Indeed, this writer can say from personal knowledge that there was no consideration or discussion of such a grant of authority in the process of creating By Water and the Spirit. In 2004, the understanding of membership articulated in this official document was incorporated into church law.

The amended form of Article IV resoundingly affirms the denomination's position of inclusiveness of all persons. ¶214 on Church Membership unquestionably asserts that “All persons may...become members....” Use of the permissive form “may” emphasizes invitation and inclusiveness. It would be nonsensical to say that all persons shall become members!

United Methodism today does not give the pastor the authority to determine readiness for membership. Perhaps the most compelling evidence of this is the fact that the Judicial Council, in its strange Decision 1032, was unable to cite any disciplinary reference to support its claim that pastors have such authority.

UNITED METHODIST UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHURCH

United Methodism is a huge worldwide church whose membership comprises millions of people of diverse backgrounds, experiences, beliefs and practices. It is not a sect composed of persons who have self-selected to join together in a gathered community which views itself as a “holy club” existing over against the outside world. One becomes a member of a church by baptism. Those who advocate giving pastors the authority to determine membership ignore the significance of the sacrament. Those who want to exclude persons from the church on the basis of sexual orientation forget that many, many such persons are already baptized members. A church which practices the baptism of infants and which values baptism in accord with orthodox Christianity cannot deny membership to any class of people. By Water and the Spirit plainly states, “There are no conditions of human life that exclude persons from the sacrament of baptism.” ¶216 of the Discipline describes the process by which baptized members become professing members. ¶217 specifies that the requirements for professing membership are the taking of seven enumerated vows. No power is granted to the pastor to interrupt this process. If baptized persons are barred from professing membership, they remain members of the universal church of Jesus Christ, marked with the sign of the cross, and sealed with the Holy Spirit, yet not qualified to be United Methodists!

UNITED METHODIST UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHURCH

United Methodism is a huge worldwide church whose membership comprises millions of people of diverse backgrounds, experiences, beliefs and practices. It is not a sect composed of persons who have self-selected to join together in a gathered community which views itself as a “holy club” existing over against the outside world. One becomes a member of a church by baptism. Those who advocate giving pastors the authority to determine membership ignore the significance of the sacrament. Those who want to exclude persons from the church on the basis of sexual orientation forget that many, many such persons are already baptized members. A church which practices the baptism of infants and which values baptism in accord with orthodox Christianity cannot deny membership to any class of people. By Water and the Spirit plainly states, “There are no conditions of human life that exclude persons from the sacrament of baptism.” ¶216 of the Discipline describes the process by which baptized members become professing members. ¶217 specifies that the requirements for professing membership are the taking of seven enumerated vows. No power is granted to the pastor to interrupt this process. If baptized persons are barred from professing membership, they remain members of the universal church of Jesus Christ, marked with the sign of the cross, and sealed with the Holy Spirit, yet not qualified to be United Methodists!

WESLEYAN THEOLOGY

The outstanding characteristic of Wesleyan theology is its emphasis on graceabundant grace freely available to everyone. There are no limitations or exclusions in divine grace. The church which strives to be the body of the gracious Savior must embody that grace. The purpose of The United Methodist Church is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” People do not normally become Christian disciples and then enter the church. It is in the church that sinful people, drawn by grace, are made into Christians. Imposing exclusionary criteria on church membership violates the Wesleyan emphasis on growing in grace and holiness of life within Christian community. Any policy or practice that keeps persons out of the community where salvation is available is contrary to the nature and will of a loving God.

Gayle Carlton Felton is an elder in the North Carolina Annual Conference. Her M. Div. and Ph.D. are from Duke University and she has served on the faculties of Meredith College and Duke Divinity School. Gayle is the principal writer of United Methodism's official interpretive documents on baptism and Holy Communion.

Testimony of a Young United Methodist

A Testimony of a Young United Methodist is the personal testimony of Joey Heath, a United Methodist who was denied membership because of his sexuality. This is the third section of the DVD Reconciling Ministries Network mailed to all General Conference 2008 delegates in the first week of March, 2008. All Bishops in the United Methodist Church also received the DVD.

For additional information about the issue of membership that will face the 2008 General Conference and for the written testimony of Joey Heath, please visit the 2/6/2008 Flashnet.