Separation in the UMC

The United Methodist Church – the second largest denomination in the United States – has had a long history of separation and union. Six break-off denominations were formed during its 200-year history in the U.S., and four Methodist groups joined soon after to form the influential mainline denomination of this day. On Thursday, May 6, 2004, the Methodists at the quadrennial General Conference in Pittsburgh put forth a call for amicable separation, this time, over the issue of homosexuality in the church.

The proposal was called to the floor by the Rev. Bill Hinson, president of the Confessing Movement and former senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Houston. The Confessing Movement is among the many renewal groups in the UMC that call for a biblical purity in ordinations among other factors.

“‘United Methodist’ is an oxymoron,” said Hinson, “We haven’t been united for a long time. Others ridicule us as the ‘untied’ Methodist Church.”

“We have no expectation that we can ever reach an agreement,” said the Rev. James V. Heidinger II, president of the Good News organization, “and the dialogue and debate have gone on for 30 years. This is a deep theological divide.”

Heidinger said the possible resolution “may or may not” be offered at this General Conference. Copies of the document were distributed to the media.

Hinson and Heidinger both expressed that they had not wanted nor expected to come to this point.

In an interview with the Christian Post prior to the General Conference, both Heidinger and Patty Miller – director of the Confessing Movement – expressed their desire to stay united despite differences in opinions. Even after the controversial aquittal of an openly practicing lesbian pastor, Heidinger and Miller encouraged conservative Methodists to “remain in the church.”

However, after several rounds of informal gatherings with liberal groups, Hinson and Heidinger said they found no middle ground for continuing a relationship.

“It’s a sad day for me,” Hinson said. “But the gulf is indeed too deep.”


Pauline J. Chang
Ecumenical Press