FROM OUR PASTOR
From Our Pastor | FAQs | What to Expect | Access ACS
Dear St. Paul Member,
One time while driving home from Nashville, the rain and wind became worrisome. First, I put on my caution lights and was pleased that others did the same. I could vaguely see the cars around me thanks to their lights; however, eventually I had to pull off the road for a period to let things settle down. I couldn’t control the wind or the rain, but I could move out of it for preservation’s sake.
I think this is where we are today as a local church inside our denomination. There are so many wind currents blowing from all sides of the church, both the conservatives and progressives. Trust levels remain low. To end debate on sexuality, marriage, and ordination our General Conference passed legislation for more local autonomy:
- Each clergy can now determine what services to officiate.
- Each local congregation can now determine their own wedding guidelines.
- Each annual conference can determine who qualifies for ordination according to their own standards through the work of local Boards of Ministry.
- For more information about General Conference, see our FAQ below.
Even though the debate on these issues is over, I do not see trust levels increasing due to the baggage of years of indecision and complacency. In addition, the level of structural changes for our district, annual conference, and projected regionalization will be massive. The vast number of churches who have left our annual conference last year has decimated our annual conference to the point of survivability. With the additional expected departures, this problem will only worsen. What was a thriving district and annual conference are shells of what they once were. Finally, the expected passing of a new regional structure will only increase the level of flux and uncertainty for the next decade that will continue to be a distraction to our local church ministry.
Normally change in an organization would be manageable. However, because there is so much baggage associated with different groups within our denomination, I believe it is time to pull off the road. Unfortunately, I have watched our denomination become more like the culture in that we have become more tribal in thought and behavior resulting in greater polarization due to the existing low trust levels.
Over these last 12 years of service as your pastor, I know St. Paul is not a polarized community. We are an evangelical-faith community that seeks to love liberally. We are both sinners and at the same time saints. We are not a church of reds or blues but a church of purple. We are a diverse family of thought and belief, which is not only something I’m proud of, but something that delights me and my individual family. We are proud to call St. Paul home.
I realize that leaving our denomination will be seen as a vote “for” or a vote “against.” This doesn’t have to be the case. I see it as a vote to maintain our unique church culture that consists of all types of people, homosexual and heterosexual. We can only control the type of community we want to become, and I believe we will be more effective as an independent church that still is very connected in our community. As an independent church we have the freedom to live into our mandate to grow the faith of people in our city with less distractions. Last year, I asked our church leadership to delay any actions so that we could observe, and they trusted me. I am asking for that continued trust going forward. I can assure you that I feel the pain associated with a vote to depart. I am familiar with the weight of this decision. Many tears have been shed by my family and me. But we are strengthened by the thought of our connection with you.
I am committed to you and our congregation. This has been and hopefully will be my home for years to come. Trust levels remain high at St. Paul because of your willingness to love every single person who enters our community. We do that well here and because of your work I am proud to be your pastor.
On June 10, our Administrative Council passed a motion for a special called Charge Conference to consider departure from our denomination. This meeting will take place on July 15 at 6:30pm in our sanctuary. Enclosed is information regarding what to expect at that meeting.
Rev. Dr. Shane Green
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
From Our Pastor | FAQs | What to Expect | Access ACS
Did the UMC change their core doctrines like the divinity of Jesus, virgin birth, authority of the Bible? Apostles’ or Nicaean Creeds?
No. They remain the same. Changing core doctrines was never discussed at the General Conference. Paragraph 102 (Basic Christian Affirmations) and Paragraph 104 (Articles of Religions) remain the same.
Has the UMC redefined marriage?
Yes. In the Social Principles, they added to the previous definition of marriage as a sacred covenant between a man and a woman to “Within the church, we affirm marriage as a sacred lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith, an adult man and woman of consenting age, or two adult persons of consenting age into union with one another.”
Rationale: UMC did recognize the reality of marriage in different contexts in the Social Principles. In US, Europe, Africa, and Philippines, there are different legal definitions of marriage due to different cultural contexts.
Were restrictions on LGBTQ clergy removed?
Yes. The ban was removed. The following language was removed: “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian Teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in the United Methodist Church.” The ban was removed giving each annual conference’s Board of Ministry (the credential body of an annual conference) full autonomy to determine fitfulness for ordination.
Was language prohibiting same-sex marriage in a UMC sanctuary or property removed?
Yes. The Judicial Council ruled to clarify that Para 2533 made clear that nothing prevents the Board of Trustees from prohibiting a ceremony.
Were non-binary gender categories embraced?
No. All speakers were asked to state their name, annual conference, clergy/laity status, and age category for statistical purposes. There were some delegates who shared their preferred pronounces but it was of their own choosing.
Was specific language related to adultery removed from clergy chargeable offenses?
Not exactly. Para 2702.1a was amended and Para 2702.1b was removed. Para 2702.1a lists “immorality” as a chargeable offense. Previously the BOD said, “immorality including but not limited to, not being celibate in singleness or not faithful in a heterosexual marriage.” But when all the restricted language was removed the sentence that gave commentary to “immorality” was removed. Paragraph 304 which also addresses immorality was expanded requiring integrity in all personal relationship, “social responsibility and faithful sexual intimacy expressed through fidelity, monogamy, commitment, mutual affection and respect, careful and honest communication, mutual consent, and growth in grace and in the knowledge and love God.”
Adultery is still considered “immorality.” It also falls under “sexual misconduct” which still is a chargeable offense.
Was the UMC abortion stance changed?
No. the UMC position still remains relatively the same and added protections for reproductive rights such as fertility treatments, IVF, surrogacy, etc. These are not outside the scope of our current position, which continues to include the following statements:
“Our commitment to the sanctity of human life makes us reluctant to condone abortion.”
“We unconditionally reject abortion as a means of birth control or gender selection.”
“We support measures requiring parental notification.”
“We oppose late term abortion and partial birth abortion. We call for an end to this except when the life of the mother is in danger.”
“We recognize the tragic conflicts of life may lead to decision on abortion.” (Rape, incest, etc.)
“We support and encourage pastors, congregations, campus ministries to offer compassionate care and explore alternatives to abortion.” (Adoption, etc.)
What was DELETED was “we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and unborn child.”
Were protections previously developed for traditional United Methodist removed?
Yes. The handful of sections added in 2019 by delegates who have since left the UMC were removed. Traditional delegates who remained United Methodist believe those sections did harm by driving a wedge between people.
Can Church funds be used to promote homosexuality?
Maybe. The paragraph used to prohibit funds was removed but nothing was added stating funds will be used to promote any group or project promoting LGBTQ causes. There is a United Methodist Heritage program that collects and preserve the history of the UMC. Now, LGBTQ History is part of that program.
Is sexual orientation now a mandated diversity category on church boards?
Yes. There are certain mandates for some church boards but not all of them. Other mandated categories revolve around age, gender, race, etc.
Are annual conferences required to prepare local churches to accept gay clergy?
Sort of. The UMC has always had an “Open Itineracy” because the UMC is a connectional church with mandatory appointments (clergy in good standing must be appointed if they have status with the annual conference). Paragraph 425.1 is about training churches for open itineracy in general, not about any particular group of clergy. There is a long history of open itinerancy in the consultation process between Bishops/DSs and local SPRC Committees. The Council of Bishops have said they would not do harm by appointing clergy to churches that were not ready to receive them.
Did the UMC vote to divest from Israel?
No with the Book of Discipline/Yes with the Book of Resolutions. A petition to amend Paragraph 717 on “Sustainable and Socially Responsible Investments” was defeated in the legislative committee and did not appear before the main body for consideration. The General Conference delegates did approve a resolution calling on United Methodist institutions not to invest in the government bonds of countries that have been cited by the U.N. Security Council of the International Criminal Court for prolonged military occupations (This includes Israel, Turkey, and Morocco). The Petition to amend an existing Resolution 6111 (The Opposition to Israeli Settlement in Palestinian Land [past the Green Line established in 1949] called for Wespath (Investment arm of the UMC) to divest from any income from areas of land that are occupied as spoils of war. In the Six Days War (1967), Israel kept small pieces of land that was originally Palestinian land. There are now Israeli developments in those captured lands that are supported by Israeli bonds. The amendment called for Wespath to divest those Israeli bonds. Currently, those bonds represent 0.12% of their holdings. No action was taken by Wespath other than they will take it under advisement. There were other countries listed in addition to Israel: Turkey and Morocco. They have similar lands that were acquired during wars in their respective countries. The Petition does say, “the UMC does not support a boycott of products made in Israel.”
The BOD is Church Law whereas the Book of Resolutions is aspirational.
Was there a new subparagraph added to Para 1302 which tasks the General Board of Global Ministries with furthering intersectional ideology?
Yes. The General Board was asked to provide training resist intersecting structures.
Was there a new environmental mandate passed down to local churches?
Sort of. It was not mandated. The local “BOARD OF TRUSTEES” is tasked with certain reviews and audits of the physical property as part of the annual charge conference. Now, a subparagraph was added that states the “Board of Trustees is urged to conduct or cause to be conducted an annual carbon footprint and/or greenhouse gas emissions audit of their buildings, grounds, and facilities.”
WHAT TO EXPECT ON JULY 15
From Our Pastor | FAQs | What to Expect | Access ACS
Our District Superintendent, Rev. Doreen Smalls, has scheduled a Church Conference on Monday, July 15th at 6:30 p.m. to vote on whether to depart from the United Methodist Church. Confirmed church members are invited to vote in the Sanctuary, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The Chapel will be open from 4:30 p.m. for prayer and reflection.
Arrival
- Enter through the front doors
- Check in at the Narthex area
- Present IF and verify your name on the membership roster
- Receive a ballot provided by the District Office
Voting
- No further deliberation or debate will occur
- Voting is anonymous
- Members must be present to vote. No early, absentee, or proxy voting.
Ballot Counting
- Volunteers will count the votes.
- Rev. Smalls, Rev. Dr. Green, and Dr. Todd Jarrell will observe.
- After the votes are certified, the District Superintendent will announce the results that evening.
Voting Outcome
- YES Vote: A ⅔ super majority of members present means St. Paul will depart from the United Methodist Church under paragraph 2549 of the Book of Discipline.
- NO Vote: More than ⅓ members present voting NO means St. Paul remains in the United Methodist Church.
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From Our Pastor | FAQs | What to Expect | Access ACS