I Want to #StayUMC - What Can I Do?
First, Know This: You are Not Alone
Many lay people have expressed concern and frustration due to feeling as if their church is being actively led to leave The UMC - perhaps by members within the church, perhaps by the pastor – with no measured discussion as to why.
There needs to be a clear and compounding reason for leaving the church we've nurtured for more than 50 years. Staying together without a clear vision and fear of the future is not what discipleship teaches about faith in the Holy Spirit.
Make no mistake, disaffiliation is leaving the United Methodist network that has supported Bethany from the beginning.
Many who wish to stay UMC are made to feel as if they are on an island. Please know that there are a great many lay people who are committed to remaining United Methodists, who believe that the things that bind us are far more important than the things that divide. These committed lay people exist in every congregation. This includes many traditionalist, read Why Traditionalist are staying with UMC.
Working Together, Laity Have Power and Influence
It takes a vote of 2/3rds of the church members present at a disaffiliation church conference to approve disaffiliating from The UMC. Already, church conferences on disaffiliation have convened throughout the denomination where it was assumed that the church would vote to disaffiliate, but the number of votes in favor of disaffiliation did not meet the 2/3rds requirement and thus the church remains in connection with the UMC.
While a pastor and/or a small group of leaders do not have the authority to compel church members to vote on disaffiliating or vote a particular way.
The same applies to leaders of the #StayUMC groups. We want to honor each person's conscience and just provide the best information.
Build a Coalition In Support of Remaining UMC
Just as those committed to disaffiliation are actively working to marshal the votes to leave, those who wish for their church to remain UMC also need to connect with one another, share ideas, speak up during the discernment process and encourage one another to show up and vote if a disaffiliation church conference is scheduled. There are countless ways to build such a coalition. The following is just a sampling of the things you can do to advocate for your church to remain UMC:
- Obtain a printout of your church directory, including all active and inactive church members and their contact information. (There is no provision in the UMC Discipline to bar an “inactive member on the church rolls from voting.) Contact church office/secretary for the directory.
- Partner with others to form a strategy team for reaching people. Remember, you are not alone.
- Prioritize in-person, face-to-face contact with the laity of your church. Make door-to-door visits to the homes of those on the directory list asking for the opportunity to discuss the issue – especially the significant talking points being used to argue for disaffiliation.
If you are part of a large church, you will need the help of others to accomplish this. Consider inviting small groups of people (usually less than 20) to gather, perhaps in your home, to discuss the issue before your church conference. In smaller congregations, try having coffee, meeting for lunch, or just dropping by. Think of it like an election where you are working for what you believe is the good of your community. - Utilize old-fashioned phone tree - call someone to call others, etc. It can be just as effective today, albeit more so by calling cell phone numbers rather than land lines. (see #1)
- Signup to Bethany Public Allies Facebook page, or create your own group. Circle around the issue and actively invite people to it.
The Bethany Public Allies Facebook no longer just about LGBTQ, it is spans a broader group seeking a super inclusive church.
The site Guardians of the United Methodist provides useful information for connecting with others.
Ask others to invite those they know in the congregation also. The more opportunities you create to be in relationship with others, the more it will become apparent your church is filled with people who agree and disagree, but who have lived and served together despite differences. - Don’t forget other social media platforms. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram make up the big three and give you the most potential social media access to the other church members. Do you need help setting up accounts? A younger person in your congregation or family can be very helpful, and submit a Rio Texas Communications Project and ask for help.
Email Bill/Melissa if you have questions:
Bill Robbins at bill@nj2communications.com
Melissa Dowdy at melissaj316@gmail.com - Identify and enlist the help of the influencers in your church. Perhaps this is the president of United Women of Faith (formerly United Methodist Women), or the Trustee chair, or the faithful servant who has taught children’s Sunday school in your church for 40 years. Is there an influencer in your church who supports disaffiliation?
Meet with that person and seek to understand why. By sharing viewpoints and clarifying any misinformation, perhaps you can find a way forward together? - Mobilize people, attend the church conference, classes, and discussions. Use phone calls, email, “snail” mail, etc. to keep the need to show up and vote at the forefront of people’s minds.
Remember, it takes 2/3rds of the voting church members present at the meeting to disaffiliate from The UMC. Attendance ,matters! Your work prior to a potential vote will help people realize that there are many who wish to remain UMC and be a part of a super inclusive church.
Encourage those people to attend the meeting and vote. Every member’s presence matters (active or inactive - see No.1). Together, you have influence and power! - Identify members who can speak effectively at the church conference in favor of remaining in The UMC.
There will be an opportunity for speeches in favor of and against disaffiliation prior to the vote. Organizing speakers and collaborating on who will speak to which talking point is an effective way to maximize impact.
Contact your District Superintendent if you need assistance in structuring your remarks or honing your talking points. They can direct you to available resources/people. - Pray and remember that the Holy Spirit is at work. Discipleship includes being faithful to Christ’s call on our lives. Don’t be too quick to dismiss the power of God’s Spirit working in and through you. As the saying goes,
YOU have been called to such a time as this!
#StayUMC : More Info/Resources
- Check in with Bill Robbins/Melissa Dowry
- Facebook Live Information Session with Bishop Saenz and Conference Lay Leader Darlene Alfred: www.facebook.com/ctcumc
- The United Methodist News Service: www.umnews.org
- The ResourceUMC website: www.resourceumc.org
- The Beliefs & Practices of The UMC: www.umc.org/en/who-we-are/ask-the-umc-faqs/beliefs-practices
- Ask the UMC webpages:
www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-1
www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-2 - For information regarding the denominational structure and more of the Global Methodist Church or the Free Wesleyan denomination, please see their official websites.
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