I appreciated your sharing this. It has been helpful. As a traditionalist local licensed pastor in the "new UMC" I sometimes feel like a second class citizen within this new movement, but have by the grace of God been able to hold out thus far. I will always stand upon the authority of scripture and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ as found in scripture. I must confess though, I have been thinking of aligning myself with a denomination with a thological perspective similar to my own. I am prayerfully considering joining the Global Methodist movement. But even if I choose to leave, I will now at least be able to understand why many might choose to stay. You helped me to veiw this from a different perspective - I am thankful.
God bless you for your faithfulness and the lives God has touched through your ministry.
No, I still don’t understand. My grandfather was a Methodist minister (1918-1969) I was also raised in a small UMC, chartered 1960. My point, neither began as UMC and trust me my grandfather would NEVER have stayed after the discipline changes, and that church is now Global. You site your “saints” and churches but none of them were UMC before 1968. Our heritage is biblical. UMC has soiled it. Why support it?
Debi, your comment suggests not that you don't understand but that you don't agree. I'm not sure my reasons are all that compelling to anyone, but, all things considered, they express why I have decided to stay.
Thank you. God be with you in your ministry. I pray you bring many into a relationship with Jesus Christ, and change their lives and their families lives forever. 🙏🏻
Many thanks for sharing this testimony. I certainly respect your reasons for staying! Leaving was difficult for me. It wasn't something I did with excitement, but rather with sorrow and lament.
Thank you for this reflection. I pray for your ministry. I don’t see much hope for traditionalists in the UMC anymore, unless you’re willing to keep your convictions quiet. Admittedly, I may be a little jaded. Like you, the UMC was my home. However, unlike you, I no longer recognize it at all. I pray blessings upon your ministry and witness and am truly thankful for people who stayed in the UMC despite not sharing all of the prevailing modern views. I pray that you will speak truth with love to those around you. https://open.substack.com/pub/jasonebsmith/p/the-united-methodist-church-is-destroying?r=3bq58h&utm_medium=ios
Thanks for this. I have also stayed citing some of the same reasons you cite, but a few different as well. One of the things I have thought about is that when it comes to sexuality, I predict that in another decade or so, the GMC will once again be debating sexuality. I think forming a new denomination just kicked the can down the road. Since it is not an issue that Protestants can avoid, for various reasons, it didn't seem to me to be a good reason to leave.
Hi Steve,
I appreciated your sharing this. It has been helpful. As a traditionalist local licensed pastor in the "new UMC" I sometimes feel like a second class citizen within this new movement, but have by the grace of God been able to hold out thus far. I will always stand upon the authority of scripture and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ as found in scripture. I must confess though, I have been thinking of aligning myself with a denomination with a thological perspective similar to my own. I am prayerfully considering joining the Global Methodist movement. But even if I choose to leave, I will now at least be able to understand why many might choose to stay. You helped me to veiw this from a different perspective - I am thankful.
God bless you for your faithfulness and the lives God has touched through your ministry.
Grace and Peace
Mike
Thank you, Mike. If you’re not too far along in your thinking about moving to another denomination, maybe we could visit and talk about it together?
No, I still don’t understand. My grandfather was a Methodist minister (1918-1969) I was also raised in a small UMC, chartered 1960. My point, neither began as UMC and trust me my grandfather would NEVER have stayed after the discipline changes, and that church is now Global. You site your “saints” and churches but none of them were UMC before 1968. Our heritage is biblical. UMC has soiled it. Why support it?
Debi, your comment suggests not that you don't understand but that you don't agree. I'm not sure my reasons are all that compelling to anyone, but, all things considered, they express why I have decided to stay.
Thank you. God be with you in your ministry. I pray you bring many into a relationship with Jesus Christ, and change their lives and their families lives forever. 🙏🏻
Thank you for this reflection Steve. Grateful for your leadership and witness.
Many thanks for sharing this testimony. I certainly respect your reasons for staying! Leaving was difficult for me. It wasn't something I did with excitement, but rather with sorrow and lament.
Thank you for this reflection. I pray for your ministry. I don’t see much hope for traditionalists in the UMC anymore, unless you’re willing to keep your convictions quiet. Admittedly, I may be a little jaded. Like you, the UMC was my home. However, unlike you, I no longer recognize it at all. I pray blessings upon your ministry and witness and am truly thankful for people who stayed in the UMC despite not sharing all of the prevailing modern views. I pray that you will speak truth with love to those around you. https://open.substack.com/pub/jasonebsmith/p/the-united-methodist-church-is-destroying?r=3bq58h&utm_medium=ios
Steve,
Thanks for this. I have also stayed citing some of the same reasons you cite, but a few different as well. One of the things I have thought about is that when it comes to sexuality, I predict that in another decade or so, the GMC will once again be debating sexuality. I think forming a new denomination just kicked the can down the road. Since it is not an issue that Protestants can avoid, for various reasons, it didn't seem to me to be a good reason to leave.
Sexuality is not why we left.
I never assumed any reasons for others. I was just offering my rationale for staying.