Hope in the UMC // M-Note 11.4.2022

This week, I’ve been in Houston as a delegate at the Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church. This is a regional gathering that’s main purpose is to elect bishops. It is no secret that the UMC is navigating a tumultuous time. Traditionalist pastors and churches are beginning to leave the denomination, many forming a new one (the Global Methodist Church) that will uphold prohibitions on LGBTQ+ people marrying or serving as pastors. All of this means that the UMC is changing, and this week’s gathering was evidence of that.
 
While here, we elected 3 new bishops on the first vote, including the first African-American woman and the first Native American bishops. Additionally, we voted overwhelmingly to support the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ in the life of the church (these changes are not complete and can only happen at the General Conference). We made these decisions with little debate and elected new leaders so quickly, because the acrimony and conflict which had become typical of the conference was noticeably absent.
 
As I reflect on the week, I am encouraged that the United Methodist Church is changing and ready to tackle the challenges ahead. The greater church has a lot of challenges – declining attendance, systemic injustice, dated institutions, and ineffective strategies. But, I am hopeful that our denomination is more willing and better positioned to tackle these challenges because of the changes that are happening. It is going to need churches that lead the way in this effort, and The Gathering is one of those places.
 
I just want to say thank you to all of you that work so hard to make The Gathering what it is. When you come to worship, invite a friend, serve others, grow in a CoreGroup, or give, you are creating a church that changes the lives of people here in St. Louis but also giving hope to a lot of other churches around the country. It is making a difference far beyond what you can see.
 
Peace, 
Matt
 
P.S. This weekend, I am starting a new series OPEN where I will be celebrating what has happened this past year in ministry and looking ahead to the coming year. It is a great time to invite someone new as they will have a chance to see what our church is all about. Many of you made a 2-year financial commitment to support this OPEN vision. Now is a good time to check in on how you are doing with that commitment (by next week, you should receive a 2022 giving statement with your pledge summary in the mail). If you need help or have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. If you are new since last year, you can find out more about OPEN here, and you will have a chance to make a commitment to support the last year of this vision in a couple of weeks.