Ten Provocative Questions: Q2: Global United Methodism

Question 2:  Can the growing global regions of United Methodism remember the first law of life-guarding--don't let the drowning person drown you?

With the vast differences among the world regions of United Methodism in growth, vitality, and hopefulness named in the report, what should connectionalism and mutuality among them look like?

One way to think about it is to ask what American Methodists most needed from other Methodists during the years of dramatic growth.  The last things needed were another culture's structure, rules, liturgies, and politics.  Of more benefit would be prayer, relationships, resources, and genuine partnership in reaching others for Christ and healing and transforming the world.  The money required for a global governance system on the traditional U.S. model could, if rechanneled, mean the difference in life and death to untold numbers of people, missions, congregations, schools, and clergy around the world.

How then do we accomplish a global church with maximum support and minimum interference?

Weems makes a very valid point that our sisters and brothers in other parts of the world, places where United Methodism is growing, don't need US Methodist baggage.  I've always wondered what General Conference delegates from other parts of the world must think when the GC takes up resolutions which apply to the USA only.  Does the US delegates' focus on US issues make them feel like second class Methodists? 

One of my greatest desires is that we US United Methodists would humble ourselves enough to learn from our sisters and brothers from other countries.  But it seems we're too hung up on our own issues to listen to them.  Our Americanized polity which focuses so much on control, drains away valuable resources from true ministry.  The General Boards of the UMC hold assets of approximately a HALF A BILLION DOLLARS.   Since our American system is set up for control not ministry, those who could most benefit for people's generosity go unaided.

We are drowning under the weight of our bureaucracy, however since that's not likely to change any time soon, we must find a way to keep those in other parts of the world who haven't been caught up in the power struggles of the US UM's to continue to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.    And maybe, just maybe we US UM's will eventually figure things out by watching their example that we will once again seek to spread holiness across the land.

Comments

[Joe Pritchett]

This argument often gets lost in the bureaucratic structures of the church and the ugly infighting that takes place when we get issue focused. I am glad you point it out. The scriptural admonition to remove an offending part of our body (if your eye causes you to sin...) might be applied here. Not that we necessarily "cut out" those who we deem wrong on issues, but that Christ-followers consider others above themselves and put aside some of the less essential issues when they come together. I'm not Methodist, but I'm not sure the problems you describe are unique to Methodism.