Some evangelical United Methodist friends have suggested our denomination possibly enact a formal division between conservatives and liberals. They understandably want a relatively amicable conclusion to the over 40 year denominational battle over sexuality. This battle has recently accelerated with a campaign of open defiance by liberal activists against our church’s teaching on marriage.
I’m against urging a formal schism for several reasons. First, it’s politically implausible. Changes to United Methodism’s constitution require a two thirds vote at General Conference followed by ratification by two thirds of voters at local annual conferences globally. A formal schism inevitably would require implementation by a subsequent and possibly specially called General Conference. So formal schism must have a level of consensus very distant from today’s reality. Short of cataclysmic upheaval between now and then, the 2016 General Conference almost certainly would overwhelmingly reject schism.
Read Full Article »