“The so-called One Church Plan before the February 2019 General Conference is United Methodism’s neutron bomb. By localizing the debate about sexuality into almost every local congregation it will decimate churches while preserving the institution and its property, at least for a time. … By overturning United Methodism’s longtime biblical stance on marriage defined as male and female, every local church is opened to internal conflict. The One Church Plan stipulates that local churches may host same sex rites ‘by a majority vote of a Church Conference to adopt a policy to celebrate same-sex marriage on church property.’ Imagine such a vote at your own church, which very likely has never as a congregation even discussed United Methodism’s nearly 50-year debate over sexuality. Typical United Methodist congregations are not homogenous and include conservatives, moderates and liberals. … A typical local church will vote 60-40, or 55-45. Few will have a strong consensus. No matter how the vote goes, many will be angered and/or disappointed and quit the congregation or stew. The debate will not be confined to sexuality but will, as church fights always do, open up more personal resentments. Some local churches, especially if small, will be permanently crippled or perhaps even killed. Even larger churches will be hobbled by the debate fallout.”
