Foundation #1 - Committed to a Super Inclusive Church

The StayUMC@Bethany group is about being genuine and fair to all.   We believe that our diverse viewpoints are a blessing for our community (not the messy congregation in search of a compromise).  Thus, to be United Methodist we need to know our own self and honor our neighbor's views.  

So the first step is to use words that describes our rich viewpoints:

THESE GROUPS ARE NOT ABSOLUTEs … They are words to reflect the bonds of each group. 

Traditionalist Partners:

• Leans traditional, especially in leadership

• Have a VERY strong sense of accountability of key/important choices

• Has need to personally hold UMC leadership accountable

• Fear of direction that UMC is going (too non traditional)

• Vote for anything that gets local church away from UMC

UMC Partners:

• Embraces & yearns for diverse views  (big tent) : progressives, moderates, traditionalist

• Have a VERY strong sense of grace and context for all choices

• Understands leaders will held accountable by the connectional network (ie. the Spirit)

• Does not fear direction.  Strong faith the Spirit is working

• Votes only for local church to be in UMC

United Methodist Partners:

• Chooses flexibility above judgment. (includes traditionalist, progressives, moderates, affirms all)

• Keeps issues of accountability and judgment to self; (shares privately and with grace)

• Understand we are all under some authority, celebrates other view points, willing to give benefit of the doubt

• Keeps energy focused on the main things, its about health of the connectional network

• Will vote for that which brings greatest harmony and unity at all levels of the church/network

All of these viewpoints and principles are welcomed at Bethany.   The diversity of our community reflects the light of our God.   StayUMC @ Bethany embraces ALL within our United Methodist community.

The lead team got it right when it recommended "We must make some changes as we move forward" (ie. changes to be a super inclusive church).   Instead of providing details for these changes, the recommendations punted and focused on WIN-LOSE narrative - instead of changing hearts inside our church to achieve a WIN-WIN for the changes needed. 

The #StayUMC @ Bethany group believes that staying together is NOT so complicated if we focus on building bonds that drive the changes of a super inclusive church.    

In celebrating each other views we model the super inclusive church.   We are not messy - our diverse views are a blessing that help us reach others in our community.    The Spirit will work thru the different partnering viewpoints as we all interconnect on a common goal : a super inclusive church.