Reaffiliation? Not So Fast

Last updated on: October 4, 2023 at 2:46 pm by C. Don Jones

Reaffiliation? Not So Fast 2023-10-04T14:46:25-06:00 C. Don Jones

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

First, let me say I am not slamming the door on future reaffiliation. The people who left The United Methodist Church closed it. I do not think we should be too quick to reopen it. A fair amount of coverage is being given to the resolution adopted by the Alabama-West Florida Conference. While many see it as a hopeful expression of grace, I think it is too soon. Deep wounds need time to heal. Should we try reconciliation before there has been adequate time? No.

Grace Heals

A friend asks, “Where’s the room for grace?” She believes room should always be made for grace. I argue that grace often makes its own room. It does so in ways that make us count the cost. If we try to extend grace without it, we cheapen grace. It is not grace. Grace is not tolerating bad behavior. It is also very harmful.

Jesus quoting Hosea says in most English translations, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” But the word Hosea used is better translated as “steadfast love.” In that thought there is a loyalty to the purpose of “the knowledge of God rather than whole burnt offerings.” Jesus does not change Hosea’s meaning.

Who Are We Offering Reaffiliation to?

It sounds simple enough. Those congregations who realize their error should have a path to reaffiliation. What are the odds of that actually happening? For too many years, I have listened to congregations play the victim seeing themselves already as separate from “the conference.” The Wesley Covenant Association, Good News, and the Institute of Religion and Democracy affiliates did not misinform congregations. They lied to congregations who were willing to believe the lies. People who did not call the District Superintendents or former pastors to ask about the lies they were told did not want the answers.

Congregations wanting to leave complained about having to pay to keep their buildings. Nope. That is not what happened at all. They had to pay to keep our property. Just like in a divorce where the property is divided, an agreement or settlement needed to be made. The agreement was made in February 2019. And, get this, all the churches who left or are leaving claim an objection to a policy on human sexuality that they favored. If it is unfair treatment now, what was it then?

People Not Factions

Several disaffiliating congregations left a lot of their people without a home church. Those who remained loyal to The United Methodist Church started looking for somewhere else to go. I know many who thankfully found a place. I know others who are still looking. And I know many more who will not go to another United Methodist congregation because they are afraid of going through the same thing again. We need to remember in any discussion of reaffiliation that Jesus called people not factions to fellowship. I see no reason annual conferences should welcome people who constantly had one foot out the door to return to cause more trouble.

Wait On Reaffiliation

I believe grace will one day make room for reconciliation of some kind. Allow the rest of us heal first and get over being stabbed in the back, lied to and about, and harmed by brothers and sisters.

Progressive Christianity

The United Methodist Church

Wesleyan

Previous Post

October 2, 2023

The Child With Integrity

Next Post

October 9, 2023 Columbus Day And Israel

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Addiction Advent Afghanistan Anxiety Ascension Sunday Baptism Barack Obama Biblical Interpretation Bigotry Book Banning BSA Buddhism Choice Christmas Church Discipline Community Conscience Conspiracy theories COVID-19 Culture Wars death cults deconstruction Devotional Divine Judgment Donald Trump Earth Day Election Day empathy Environmentalism Evangelism Exploitation of the Poor Faith False Claims fascism Fear Forgiveness Genocide government Grace Gun Violence Halloween Hate Health Hillbilly Elegy Hindu Holy Communion Holy Week Homelessness Hope Identity Integrity Islam Joe Biden John Hagee Kamala Harris Labor Lent Liberation Theology Lies Love Love as action Neurological disorders Non-Christian Religions Online Worship Original Goodness Pandemic Peace Pentecost Philosophy Preaching Progressive Christianity Racism Redemptive Violence Myth Resentment Saint's Days Satire Sobriety social media Spiritual Self Care Spirituality Technology The Kingdom of God The United Methodist Church Theology Transfigurations Sunday Transgender persons Truth Uncategorized Violence Wesleyan Working Class

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 March 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 September 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 October 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 July 2018 February 2018 January 2018 August 2017 May 2017 November 2016 July 2016 June 2016 November 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 January 2015 November 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 June 2013 March 2013 February 2013 December 2012 August 2012 July 2012 May 2012 February 2012 December 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Psalm prophesies the coming of the Messiah being rejected?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Psalm 51 Psalm 137 Psalm 1 Psalm 118