I’ve been reading all of the blogs and news articles about schism in the UMC over the issue of ordaining practicing homosexuals.  Both conservatives and liberals have claimed that we are not truly “united” on the issue, so we either pray for God to make us all believe the same way, or we split.  We have split before over slavery during the Civil War, and decades later reunited.  Thus, I don’t believe we should fear schism, as if it were the end of Wesleyan theology on planet earth.

However, I don’t believe we should split, and I honestly don’t think we will, unless General Conference truly has become entirely removed from the everyday lives of local congregations.  Our churches are chock full of people with starkly opposing views, and somehow many Methodists have figured out how to be united in worship of One God.  John Wesley’s sermon, A Catholic Spirit, challenges Christians to have hard conversations, to recognize our differences of opinions, while valuing that each person is trying their best to follow God wholeheartedly.  It’s not a lazy indifference of all beliefs.  Nor is it ignoring the problem of disunity and simply leaving each other alone.

A truly Catholic Spirit means we engage those with whom we disagree, beginning and ending with the question, “Is your heart right with God, as I believe my heart is right with God?”  For Wesley, the non-negotiables of the Christian faith include: Belief in God’s existence and goodness; Belief that God works all things together for good; Belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; Belief that faith in Christ is what saves us, not our works; Placing God as the center of your life; Caring more about displeasing God than about displeasing others.

So maybe I don’t believe that General Conference will make any big or meaningful changes until I’m dead.  Maybe that’s why I’m called to local church ministry.  I have spent this Fall tackling tough topics of racism, homosexuality, world religions, and gender equality, with the goal of showing liberal and conservative readings of the same scripture to foster dialogue.  I think the local church must talk about the things we disagree over, respecting that both sides are trying to honor God.  I’m pretty sure this is what “united” looks like in Wesleyan theology.