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Saying Goodbye to the United Methodist Church
In 1976, I joined the United Methodist Church in
Harmans, Maryland. For nearly thirty years, I have been an active
participant in this denomination. As a lay member, I have served as a Sunday
School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Council on Ministries Chair,
Finance Committee Chair, and Administrative Board Chair. I became involved
in a number of outreach and lay enrichment ministries such as the Walk to
Emmaus and the Kairos Prison Ministry.
In 1996, my wife began the process of seminary studies and Candidacy to be
Ordained within this denomination. At that time, I became involved in
seminary and clergy spouse organizations. In 1999, I felt a call from God to
enter into ordained ministry as well. I enrolled in the same seminary as she
was attending (Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas).
In 2000, she began serving a two-point charge (two churches being served by
a shared pastor) in Nixon and Dewville, Texas and began a three-year
probationary period en-route ordination. The following year, I was appointed
to serve the United Methodist congregation in Smiley, Texas. During her
probationary period, she was seriously abused by the system, and in 2002,
she was discontinued, and was not able to be ordained. The process which
took place was decidedly inappropriate and unfair. (I will not drag out all
the specifics here).
In 2003, when she was going to be ordained, I was also being commissioned as
a probationary pastor. I entered into that probationary process with many
misgivings. I was not at all sure that I wished to be ordained by the
conference and denomination that had so mistreated my wife.
As I processed through this probationary period, now appointed at Shiner
First United Methodist Church in Shiner, Texas, I found similar systemic
failure and abuse to be taking place. Now, I am at the point where I am
required to make a final decision about my own ordination within this
denomination.
At the same time, I have been working and communicating with a number of
pastors from within the United Methodist Church and former UMC pastors about
many of the more “liberal” actions and statements being made by the higher
leadership of the denomination. I have been saddened and angered by a desire
on the part of many of the bishops within the UMC to speak out and work for
full inclusion (including ordination) of self-avowed, practicing
homosexuals. That situation really came to a head for me when the bishop who
has recently been elected as the president of the UM Council of Bishops,
Janice Riggle Huie, presided over one day’s session of our General
Conference in 2004. A non-Methodist organization, “SoulForce,” representing
the interests of Gay Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgendered persons in seeking
for full inclusion and ordination in all churches was welcomed into the
Conference Assembly by Bishop Huie so that they could “march in solidarity”
through and among the more than 1,000 delegates and visitors. Additionally,
Bishop Huie invited some of that group to partake of communion, at which
time on lifted a ceramic chalice off the altar and smashed it to the floor,
representing the brokenness of the church in opposing full inclusion.
All of these things weighed heavily on my heart over this probationary
period. Finally, after much prayerful consideration, I have decided to
officially withdraw from the candidacy process and accept ordination in a
new denomination, the American Methodist Church. This withdrawal will
officially take place on December 4th, 2005 at our churches annual Church
Conference. Arrangements are now being made for both my wife and I to be
ordained in the American Methodist Church during this same month of
December. (Specific date, time, and place not yet chosen.) I have spoken
with my District Superintendent, and will let him and the Bishop decide when
and how I will be removed form the pulpit of the congregation at Shiner
First United Methodist Church. I have truly been blessed by the opportunity
to pastor the three churches with whom I have served, and fully intend to
continue to serve the Lord as I perceive His call upon my life.
I ask your prayers and support as I move forward in this new phase of my
life.
Joe McManus
Shiner, Texas |
