Rev. Tom Bowsher shares information with participants at a recent gathering. Photos courtesy of Rev. Thom Bowsher.

Seventy clergy and lay leaders gathered at Sunnycrest United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to hear information and participate in discussion about the future of the United Methodist Church.  The gathering was organized and led by several individuals including Rev. Thom Bowsher, who serves at Central UMC in Milbank, South Dakota and as the Dakotas Conference organizer for the Wesley Covenant Association.

The focus of the gathering, which was also viewed via live stream, by 60 clergy and lay leaders in Bismarck, was legislation that will be considered at the 2020 General Conference in Minneapolis, May 5-15, specifically the Protocol of Grace & Reconciliation Through Separation.

The Protocol would preserve The United Methodist Church while allowing traditionalist-minded congregations to form a new denomination. The legislation seeks to end a long-standing debate about paragraphs in The Book of Discipline relating to LGBTQ+ persons being ordained as clergy and clergy performing same-sex marriages.

The contentious 2019 special called General Conference in St. Louis adopted the Traditionalist Plan. Since February, divisions have intensified, calling for the need for an amicable separation. 

Attendees began with a time of worship. Rev. Kyle Reinhiller, who serves the United Methodist Church in Harrisburg, South Dakota preached the message during worship, based on 1 Samuel: 30. In the scripture text, David’s own men were ready to kill him after the Amalekites had carried off their women, children, and possessions.

“In times of trouble and uncertainty, don’t fix your gaze on your troubles and just glance at God. You need to fix your gaze on Jesus Christ and glance at your troubles,” said Reinhiller. Reinhiller stressed the importance of connection and treating everyone with love and respect, especially those in the Dakotas UMC that we may disagree with.

Participants then heard from Bowsher, who presented information on the Protocol and fielded questions from those present. The Protocol looks toward a restructuring of the remaining global United Methodist Church into regions, with flexibility to adapt church policies, including those on LGBTQ inclusion. Meanwhile, traditionalists forming a new denomination could continue what they see as Bible-supported restrictions on same-sex marriage and ordination of self-avowed, practicing homosexuals as clergy.

“There seems to be a growing consensus leaning toward some form of the Protocol passing at the 2020 General Conference. Until General Conference 2020, we really do not know what will pass, however I believe we are moving toward some form of separation,” Bowsher told participants.

Participants engage in discussion at Sunnycrest UMC in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Those in attendance were reminded by Bowsher that other petitions have been submitted, related to the future structure of the church.

The traditionalist Wesleyan Covenant Association already has taken steps toward forming a new denomination. Bowsher shared information on how the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) is in the process assembling a draft Book of Discipline in preparation for a new denomination being formed.

“The document has not been completed yet and continues to be a work in progress,” says Bowsher. “The WCA is strongly encouraging input from others. I ask everyone to consider sharing their ideas, comments, and suggestions, which can be through email.”

Comments can be emailed to: doctrines-and-discipline@wesleyancovenant.org. He also pointed out that once a new denomination is in place, the WCA will dissolve.
Rev. Roger Spahr, who serves as district superintendent of the Southeast District for the Dakotas Conference, was invited to share thoughts on how the Dakotas Conference of the UMC might be affected by the Protocol. 

“If the denomination really wanted to figure out how to work together despite their differences, they should look to the Dakotas,” says Spahr. “I hope that, throughout this season, no harm is done to the body of Christ.”
Spahr shared his hope that, if there are two streams of United Methodism, they would still find connection and common ground to work together.

Despite the seriousness of the discussions, the warmth and comradery were prevalent at the gathering. Pastor Derek Baum, who serves First United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, South Dakota, encouraged Christians in attendance that it isn’t right to sling arrows or cast stones.

“Even if you are feeling attacked, you'd better check your heart before you respond. Before you post on social media or go to the mic at Annual Conference,” says Baum. “You'd better check your heart to see if you are motivated by love or not.” 

Baum and Bowsher along with Rev. Ross Reinhiller and Rev. Val Reinhiller, who serve Faith UMC in Williston, North Dakota and Rev. Brandon Vetter, who serves as the lead pastor at Legacy UMC in Bismarck, were all particpants in planning and in some way leading this event.

*Major contributors to the content were Rev. Thom Bowsher, who serves Central UMC in Milbank, South Dakota and Jeff Pospisil, who serves as executive director of Finance and Administration for the Dakotas Conference.