A call for unity

My dad sent me an article by two United Methodist pastors in North Carolina. They make a plea for unity because they don't want to see the denomination split over homosexuality. As part of that they call for everyone to follow the Book of Discipline the rule book of the church.

To our opponents they say that the issue will be at the forefront of General Conference for a while, so when it changes the Book for more equitable treatment of sexual minorities, you must follow that, in the same way you demand we follow what is there now.

To us they say in the same way we must follow what the Book says now (including bans on same-sex weddings) and work for it to be changed in an orderly way.

While I like the idea of telling our opponents who demand our compliance now that they must comply later, I don't buy the second point.

As I saw when I attended a General Conference two years ago in Tampa, the denomination has a very large African delegation and they're not going to allow change soon – not in 2016 and probably not in 2020. The American part of the denomination can't wait that long. Those growing up in the denomination now don't want a church that discriminates against their friends. Delaying a welcoming church will drive them away.

So how do we lessen Africa's influence? There are proposals being prepared for the 2016 General Conference to do just that. But without our open rebellion and defiance there won't be the urgency to pass such proposals. We will prove to American conservatives they have two choices – split from the Africans or split the denomination.