METHODIST SCHISM?

The Episcopal Church is not the only denomination wracked with differences over issues of the interface of religion and homosexuality. Now comes news that a big United Methodist church in Myrtle Beach (Christ UM Church, 2901 Fantasy Way) is about to quit that denomination over the issue of homosexuality. All I know about this is what is in the newspaper, so I will refer you to the article in The State here . Perhaps some of you readers who know more about this case could inform us with more details of what is going on here. After all, this is close to home in more ways than one.

The article indicates that the pastor and congregation realize that they will have to leave the buildings because they are held in trust for the national church. There does not seem to be any effort to leave the denomination and take the property with them. However, the pastor sent a letter to the national church authorities on 26 September asking for peaceful independence. Unfortunately, the letter itself is not given, so there is no way to know exactly what the congregation is asking of the denomination. The property issue is left vague.

We have constitutionally protected freedom of religion in this country, so I do not see why the congregation has to ask permission of the denomination to leave if there is no issue of property. Anyone can leave any church at any time. The problem comes when departing people try to defy the laws of the national church that they had vowed to obey. If the local Methodists are not going to try to leave holding the local property there is no problem. 

The problem in the Episcopal diocese was that some 50 local churches tried to leave the national church's diocese with the properties in hand. This was in violation of the church's law (Dennis Canon). It was demonstrated in court to the satisfaction of the majority of the state supreme justices that 29 of the local churches could not leave and take the properties with them because they had adhered to the Dennis Canon before the time of the schism. The Church diocese is now in court trying to regain physical possession of the 29 because the breakaway side has refused to recognize the law of the land as the law of the land.

One interesting point about the Myrtle Beach Methodist case is that the national United Methodist church has not yet changed its stand against homosexuality. It has scheduled a debate on issues of homosexuality next February. The congregation wants to leave now rather than even talking about the subject. Their minds are closed. What ever happened to the old United Methodist motto: Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors ? Apparently Myrtle Beach did not get the memo on that.