Dear Friends,

I would like to answer some questions I’m receiving about the May 1 launch of a new denomination, the “Global Methodist Church” (“GMC”), and what it means for St. Luke’s. The GMC is a new denomination with a narrower spectrum of opinions around LGBT inclusion. I have waited to update you until I had relevant information from the governing powers that be. On May 10th, the Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church issued a decision that determined that an annual conference cannot leave the United Methodist Church until General Conference legislates a process for disaffiliation. The General Conference will not convene until 2024.

Although the May 10th ruling makes clear that an annual conference cannot leave the UMC, several individual churches in the Texas Annual Conference may choose to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church and join the GMC. That process has been in place since 2019. In order to do so, each congregation is required to have a churchwide vote, with a 2/3 majority required for disaffiliation. Additionally, the church must fully fund its share of unfunded pension liability for United Methodist pastors. Any decision to begin a discernment process for a church to consider disaffiliation is not made by the pastor, but by the Church Council or other similar governance body. St. Luke’s Church Council continues to discuss the developments in our denomination, but we have not had discussion regarding a local church vote to depart the United Methodist Church.

St. Luke’s has a marvelous heritage as a part of the Methodist Church, and for the last 54 years as part of the United Methodist Church. We embody the diversity of perspectives that makes the United Methodist Church so beautiful (as well as sometimes messy). People who differ on various social issues sit side by side in worship, have Christian fellowship and friendships with one another, and work shoulder to shoulder for the kingdom of God. Our goal is to gather the family of God around Jesus himself, sharing his love in word and deed with all people regardless of their “category,” including them fully in the life of the church. We seek to bring folks from various perspectives together to make a real difference for Christ in our community. That is why I am so proud to be the pastor of St. Luke’s, and why I will remain a pastor in the United Methodist Church. I hope we will stay focused on our mission – equipping families and individuals to live and love like Jesus, in order that someday, our vision will be realized: a city transformed by the love of Jesus.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly with any thoughts or questions. I covet your prayers for the United Methodist Church, for all the churches of the Texas Annual Conference, for St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, and most of all for the witness of all the people who call themselves by the name of Jesus.

A PERSONAL PRAYER

Jesus,
I gotta confess that sometimes, I am pretty focused on my own stuff and my own peeps. Every single day I pray for my family members, for my friends, for my work family, for the people you gave me. Every single day I pray that I might be who you want me to be. All this is good, I think, but it is pretty narrow. There is a lot of world out there, and you love every part of it, and everybody in it.

So today, I pray not just for my people, but for that broader circle. Please expand my field of view that I might see all those who need to know your love. Expand the confines of my heart that it would encompass all of your children. I pray that they will all come to know how much you love them. Make me a witness to that love.

Like every loving parent, I know it breaks your heart when your children are in in conflict. Send your Holy Spirit so that that estrangement gives way to reconciliation, brokenness gives way to healing, and the world sees a witness to what the love of Jesus can do.

Amen