Albert Einstein once stated that “reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one!”
Are we out of touch with reality? Are we ready to face reality? Does reality awaken us?
I pondered on the questions of “reality and awakening,” since I first heard that the United Methodist Church (UMC), America’s largest mainline Protestant denomination, planned to split over same-sex marriage and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) issues on the major news media.
In September 2019, I drove from my office to an apartment in Roanoke city in Virginia, also known as (a.k.a.) City of Star or Star city in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia; where I lived for a short time on the projects’ assignments. As I drove, I turned my car radio on and tuned to a news station for the weather and news report. Suddenly, the National Public Radio (NPR) mentioned the name “United States United Methodist Church.”
“Wow!” The UMC news on NPR! I shrugged and said. As a UMC member, I lent an ear to the report. The NPR, to my surprise, stated that “After Disagreements Over LGBTQ Clergy, U.S. Methodists Move Closer To Split.”
“Aww, it hit me right in the gut!”
The news deeply shocked me!
I wondered what happened to Methodism?
To know more, I attended the Roanoke Methodist District Conference and inquired with the District Superintendent (DS) about this issue. At that moment she (DS) could not provide me any details.
Most UMC members know that in February 2019 at the Conference in St. Louis leaders voted for a proposal to ban on LGBTQ-inclusive practice. Most U.S. delegates opposed that plan and favored LGBTQ-friendly options.
As per the majority leaders’ decision at this Conference, on January 1, 2020, the effective date set-to-go when tougher measures included a one-year suspension for the first offense and removal from the clergy against the person who officiates at same-sex marriages.
Soon after the Conference, many moderate and liberal clergy made it clear that they would not abide by the bans, and since then, various groups worked throughout 2019 on a proposal to let the UMC split.
The proposed split initiated after a special meeting in 2019 strengthened the ban on gay clergy and same-sex marriage in a close vote.
Second week of May 2020, the UMC General Conference in Minneapolis Convention Center scheduled a likely vote to break up over differences in same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ pastors.
Early spring 2020, not only most of the UMC’s General Conference delegates, but also major news outlets in America anticipated this special event. It appeared that the major news media showed more interest in these issues than the ordinary Americans.
For instance, on January 3, 2020, soon after the New Year’s celebration, the New York Times published an article titled “United Methodist Church Announces Plan to Split Over Same-Sex Marriage.”
Likewise, on January 3, 2020, the Washington Post stated, “United Methodist Church is expected to split over gay marriage, fracturing the nation’s third-largest denomination.”
On January 4, 2020, even the NPR stated that “United Methodist Church Announces Proposal to Split Over Gay Marriage.”
What happened? January 1, 2020, a ban, and spring 2020, split dates have come and gone!
In my opinion, 2020 is the worst year in the history of human civilization. On the contrary, 2020 is a year also for us to remember being alive because this is the only year we are likely to live through wherein the first 2 digits will match the second 2 digits. As you may know that the year 2121 would be a year that follows this pattern.
Can anyone guess if there had been no coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, what would be the result of UMC’s split? COVID-19 pandemic forced the UMC to postpone the General Conference, leaving its members in limbo for several months.
In October 2018, I published a blog post titled “Can A Divided House Stand?” This post ranked one of my top Pinterest viewed pins and posts in the media; therefore, a few weeks ago, I re-published it.
In this post, I briefly discussed the American Founding Fathers’ wisdom on the separation issue, who knew the severe consequences of disunity. Therefore, they preferred “Unity,” and as a result, 13 separated colonies united and formed a nation known as the “United States of America.”
Moreover, a few months ago, I published a blog post with 2 parts titled “The Acts of Men Versus (Vs.) The Acts of God.” These 2 parts post explains why COVID-19 is the “Acts of Men” rather than the “Acts of God.”
As one of John Wesley admirers, the fact that UMC’s split shakes me to the core of my being! Had it not been for the Methodist Church, either my parents, siblings, I, or our extended family members would be educated or become believers in our living God of the Bible and His Son Jesus Christ!
Without John Wesley’s ministry, I don’t think even we would be alive to this day, or I would have completed my graduate studies in America and obtained citizenship.
Likewise, throughout the world, his ministry has changed thousands of lives like ours for generations to come. When we think of his ministry and the church, sometimes it’s hard to believe how he changed the world!
Furthermore, over three decades, as an immigrant to the United States from India, I have seen and witnessed even clergies and ordinary people from other countries and denominations obtained employment with high level positions including bishop title in the Methodist denomination, which is referred to as the UMC in this post.
I think only God knows why in 21st century America, that too Methodist clergy is divided when they are called for the ministry to proclaim the “Good News,” not only for this country but also to other parts of the world. I never expected a division within the Methodist family!
As we know, even two major political parties in the United States of America, the Democratic and Republican, divided on these major issues. Each party published their platform upon which they contested for the 2020 General Election.
I wondered how many Methodist clergies and its members in America knew the differences? I don’t know about other major denominations since I reflected on this issue as a Methodist and decided to publish on my website known as “johnwesleyadmirer.com.”
Even I heard that a few American Senators and Representatives grew-up as Methodists and still members of this denomination. I asked myself how many elected public leaders know the “Bible” and take God’s word and His principles seriously.
No doubt, the “Sanctity of Human Life” is one of the major topics for both parties. But God only knows how many Methodist clergies, members, and their children in America favored or objected during the 2020 General Election and voted?
In addition, the LGBT and Redefining Marriage agenda are other major issues not only at the national level but also within our UMC. And we know based upon the 2019 UMC’s General Conference results as to where the clergies stand on this issue.
Moreover, the “Religious Liberty and God in Government” should be a major concern for every citizen, especially the clergies, members, and their children. I pondered as to how many clergies reflected on these issues and voted in the 2020 General Election?
Because one of the major parties mentioned God 15 times in their entire platform, and on the contrary, the other party mentioned God one time in their entire platform.
Likewise, there are many differences and issues in these party platforms; however, we thought and expected clergies, and members to stand on the “True word of God” and His principles, if they believed His Son Jesus Christ!
What happened to the United States of America (USA) in the 21st Century? The country known for its immigration and freedom of religion in the history, and as a result of it became a “Melting Pot” for the world.
Is the “Melting Pot” now broken within itself or damaged by the outside forces? Or, is it the time of awakening? Or, is it too late to be awakened?
It is left for us to answer these questions, which arises with the issues as a Methodist pastor, preacher, member, or beneficiary who immigrated like me to this country.
As we know that the great American Methodist missionaries sacrificed their lives in the world for His work. Let us not forget them, because of their services and the Good News that they provided to our great-grandfathers, grandfathers and fathers, and to us! Today, we are alive because of their work, and the faith in the “God of the Bible” that they showed and proved to us!
Please, prayerfully think about the services of these Godly people and their families, who provided to our generations the “Good News.” I know without their services none of my professional technical articles and religious’ posts would be written and published.
Shalom!
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