United Methodists could learn something from Southern Baptists' conservative takeover [View all]

For years, mainline Protestant denominations in America have creeped toward theological and political liberalism on hot-button issues such as race, gender and sexuality. But the largest of the mainline denominations, the United Methodist Church, now appears to be experiencing something of a conservative renaissance.

The UMC has been divided over homosexuality for more than a decade, with many American churches tilting to the left but most African and South American congregations holding to traditional views. But at a special gathering in St. Louis, Missouri, this week, conservative delegates gave progressives the ecclesial stiff-arm by rejecting the One Church Plan, a compromise that would make space for churches of varying perspectives by letting individual regions whether they would ordain or marry LGBTQ congregants.

Instead, they strengthened the church's position that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching," upholding bans on same-sex marriages and ordination.

The United Methodist Church is not the only denomination to experience a conservative revival amid a time of cultural division. The 15-million-member Southern Baptist Convention made a similar pivot away from progressive theology decades ago during a period some call the "conservative resurgence." This triggered a mass exodus of moderate voices, which resulted in a convention lacking diversity of thought, and subsequently, the tools needed to respond to cultural controversies arising in a more progressive society.

Methodists should heed Southern Baptists' story as a cautionary tale.


https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2019/03/united-methodists-could-learn-something-from-southern-baptists-conservative-takeover-opinion.html