I’ve been highly critical of the United Methodist Church. Earlier this year, the international denomination voted to maintain traditional marriage (the position that this denomination has always held). But my criticism comes for American Methodist churches who have sought to undermine and oppose what their own denomination voted on.
This morning, I saw a story in the Christian Post talking about the California-Nevada Methodist region and their financial giving to overseas Methodist churches. The significance is that the California-Nevada region is progressive in its LGBT views, while international Methodist churches are overwhelmingly more traditional on these issues.
At an annual conference, there was a proposal to cut funds that the region had used to support international churches, but the proposal was rejected.
LGBT issues are a significant area of disagreement. Within America, we are highly polarized over differing political values. Friendships and relationships end and families divide over these issues. It would have been easy to justify withdrawing funds. I think it’s honorable that these Methodists have put the good of their brothers and sisters abroad over political disagreements.
It can be tempting to hold a grudge. It happens with bosses, with neighbors it can happen with family members. I think it’s good of these Methodists to have not followed suit.
Josh Benner 