Answering and Explaining 10 Early Questions and Comments about the Plain Grace Plan

Answering and Explaining 10 Early Questions and Comments about the Plain Grace Plan

Frank Holbrook 3 GC 2020

 

This post addresses some of the early comments and questions about the Plain Grace Plan (“PGP”).

 

1. The Plain Grace Plan is merely a repackaged version of the One Church Plan (“OCP”).

Nothing could be further from the truth. The Report of the Commission on the Way Forward offered the following one sentence summary of the One Church Plan: “The One Church Plan provides a generous unity that gives conferences, churches, and pastors the flexibility to uniquely reach their missional context without disbanding the connectional nature of The United Methodist Church”. Commission on the way Forward Report at p. 11. Using the commission’s phraseology, the PGP allows the United Methodist Church’s competing factions to “disband”. After the Organizing Conference required under ¶431D, each new expression is an entirely separate entity, what one would historically term a new “Denomination”. As a thought experiment that aids clarity from an historical standpoint, you might consider substituting the word “denomination” for “expression” as you read through the PGP and the narratives about it.

 

2. What does “Full Communion” mean in the Plan Grace Plan? Isn’t it just another way of saying the new expression is under the United Methodist Church “umbrella”?

 

The Full Communion Agreement required under the PGP gives the United Methodist Church no rights to make decisions for a new expression concerning doctrine or polity either before or after it is formed. It does, however, grant valuable rights to the new expression. It insures that the United Methodist Church will not be able to reverse course in 2024 or 2028 as the composition of General Conference changes in those quadrennial years. Full Communion is as much a “contractual” guarantee that new expressions remain independent as it is to create rights for the United Methodist Church. People seeking separation need to remember that once they leave the United Methodist Church they will no longer have any representation at General Conference and no say in the polity and doctrine of the United Methodist Church. A Full Communion Agreement is intended to provide the guarantee that the process will finish, on the 2020 agreed upon terms, after the new expression leaves the United Methodist Church. A question you may want to think about for other plans: “How does this plan insure that GC 2024 doesn’t completely reverse any actions taken in 2020?” If the answer is “It doesn’t” then the plan needs to be completely finished by 2024. The Full Communion Agreement sunsets in 2028 but the asset division and dispute resolution agreements stay in place and insure the process is completed.

 

3. Why doesn’t the PGP mention human sexuality issues?

 

It’s anticipated that many plans will propose to divide the church by having the United Methodist Church impose different human sexuality definitions then using those definition to roughly divide the church. Some plans will maintain or change the human sexuality stance and wait for people to depart. The Plain Grace Plan allows each new expression full control to decide human sexuality issues at its organizing conference [¶431D]. The United Methodist Church does not define human sexuality, decide human sexuality doctrinal statements or policy for the new expression. Nor does the PGP assume clergy or Bishops who believe in a particular definition of human sexuality should be forced into a new expression having a position with which they disagree. In fact, the new expression is free to choose those clergy persons and Bishops who they will allow to join the new expression.

 

4. Why doesn’t the PGP assign rights to the United Methodist Church name and the Cross and Flame logo?

 

Because each new expression is essentially a new denomination, it will not be using the cross and flame logo or the name United Methodist Church. The new expressions will not be under a United Methodist Church “umbrella”. The United Methodist Church is not disappearing or dissolving so it will retain the full rights to the name and logo.

 

5. What is “Gracious Affiliation”?

 

The short answer is that Gracious Affiliation is the process of allowing annual conferences and churches to leave the UMC with no serious hurdles placed in their way in exchange for the annual conference or local church agreeing to provide limited financial support for the United Methodist Church during the transition phase through 2028. This is done by the Missional Resource Allocation Formula defined at ¶431F. The formula insures support for a limited period of time but it is also the foundation for asset division and the release of the trust clause. By meeting the Net Missional Resource Allocation, a new expression will insure that all of its local churches are released from the operation of the trust clause. By making this release occur at the denominational level, rather than the local church level, it should simplify the process for churches that join a new expression. The Net Missional Resource Formula is included to insure that the new expression is at least as generous as the United Methodist Church but it does not require a new expression to be more generous than the United Methodist Church.

 

6. Is there a method to quickly exit for those churches that are fed up with the fighting and just want to leave?

 

One comment made about the PGP was: “Ambitious while not fully grasping how long-suffering Methodists from around the world may not be as patient with their personal time lines”.   The Rev. Shane Bishop recently wrote a post elaborating on the sentiment: “We Want Out!” (the loudest voice the #UMC isn’t hearing) found here.  The PGP actually allows “long-suffering Methodist” local churches an almost immediate exit from the denomination if they so choose. The PGP incorporates the “Gracious Exit” formula adopted by GC 2019. The Gracious Exit process is currently in limbo due to questions about a few delegates credentials discussed here [“General Conference organizers have determined enough improper voting likely took place at the 2019 special session to nullify a key vote on how congregations can leave The United Methodist Church”]. The PGP reincorporates the 2019 Gracious Exit provision but it removes the human sexuality limitation on Gracious Exit. ¶2553 It allows a shorter window for any local church to leave on the terms provided under the 2019 Gracious Exit but it speeds up the process of the local church vote. The Gracious Exit retains the two thirds majority required at the local church level. The PGP did not try to do a substantial rewrite of the Gracious Exit provision since it already has been approved by the Judicial Council in decision 1379. It is possible that amendments could be offered to reduce the vote to a simple majority at both the local church and annual conference level to further simplify the process.

 

7. What are the details the United Methodist Church will be working out at GC 2024 and 2028?

 

Another commenter offered the following opinion based on the PGP narrative I posted: “I’ve only had the opportunity for a brief glance at the Plain Grace Plan so perhaps I should refrain comment…but it lost me some when it spoke of GC 24 and GC28 working out details. That made me say “Yikes!” The details that the United Methodist Church will be working out in 2024 and 2028 are the details concerning the United Methodist Church, NOT the details of the PGP. The PGP is put in place in 2020 and the Full Communion Agreement insures that it will remain in place through 2028. Just as a new expression will not have the United Methodist Church “meddling” in its internal affairs after the new expression is created, the new expression must recognize that the United Methodist Church will have to react to the changes created in the denomination by the departure of the new expressions; these are the details the United Methodist Church will be working out in 2024 and 2028. If the United Methodist Church was still working out the details of the PGP in 2024 I would say “yikes!” too.

 

8. Why doesn’t the PGP force local churches to make a decision?

 

Another commenter opined as follows : “My biggest criticism of the Plane Grace Plan is that it seems to assume that local churches will move on their own to something. My contention is that the vast majority of local churches have no idea what going on, what’s causing it, and why it matters. The plan relies on people who are clueless to do things. My suspicion is that unless you actually force the division, it will never happen. Sure, the very politically engaged churches will move, but most rank and file churches don’t really understand what’s going on, much less where we’re headed.” The goal of the PGP was never to force churches to choose, the goal was to give people a meaningful option. It’s up to the new expressions to give people a reason to choose. Wesley’s simple admonition “Offer them Christ!” seems to sum it up. Each new expression should succeed if it offers “them” Christ. I hope readers recognize the tension between the viewpoint of those who say “people are fed up and just want to leave” and the viewpoint of those who say “most people can’t or won’t make a decision”. It’s similar to the paradox that occurs when a pastor says “my church doesn’t care about human sexuality issues” and also states “if I took a position on human sexuality issues half of my church would leave”. As to the latter two statements, both can’t be true.

 

9. Why is the PGP so detailed?

 

A comment that appeared on Twitter read: “I don’t have the brain space to work through this yet today, but I am thankful you have done the hard work to put together the actual petitions so we can wrestle with the nuts and bolts.” I replied: “I appreciate that sentiment. A problem as complex as providing space within the context of UMC polity can’t be worked out through bullet points. The details are intended to make sure that everyone gets equitable treatment.” Many people have criticized the church for its current lack of accountability. The PGP includes a significant amount of detail to limit the discretionary decisions that might frustrate implementation of the plan. A detailed plan with limited room for nullification by interpretation seemed preferable to a limited plan with ample room for nullification by interpretation.

 

10. Why is there a second period of affiliation and reaffiliation?

 

Paragraph 680 of the PGP allows a second time frame for annual conferences and local churches to consider whether to join a new expression or reaffiliate with the United Methodist Church. There are several reasons for offering this second period of Gracious Affiliation. First, it’s human nature for people to think, after reflection and experience, “I wish I had (or hadn’t) done that”. We commonly call it “buyer’s [or seller’s] remorse”. Allowing a second chance to join or reaffiliate gives people more time to make their decision. Second, the reality is that once new expressions start forming, the doctrine and polity of the United Methodist Church may or may not change [see comment above re working out the details]. As that happens some churches that were comfortable with the “old” United Methodist Church will be uncomfortably with the “new” church. On the other hand, the opposite is true, some of the churches that were uncomfortable with the old church will be comfortable with the new United Methodist Church. People should have a fair opportunity to get their affiliation “right” and their first decision might not reflect their ultimate preference. This is part of Gracious Affiliation.

 

I hope this effort at answering the initial wave of comments and questions about the Plain Grace Plan has been helpful. Please feel free to leave comments. Additional posts will be coming soon.

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3 comments found

GC 2020 – Addressing Objections to the Plain Grace Plan’s Use of Full Communion Agreements – PlaneGrace October 15th, 2019

[…] wrote an earlier post, found here, identifying and responding to initial questions and comments to the Plain Grace Plan (“PGP”). […]

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accrocheportes September 22nd, 2019

People should have a fair opportunity to get their affiliation “right” and their first decision might not reflect their ultimate preference. This is part of Gracious Affiliation.

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hookedonchrist September 17th, 2019

Helpful responses offer clarity and understanding to early questions and misconceptions about the Plain Grace Plan.
We are thankful for your questions and comments.
May the peace of Christ be with you.