GC2020 – The Protocol Epiphany

Frank Holbrook 1 GC 2020

Last Friday news broke that the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation (“the Protocol”) had been agreed to by sixteen prominent leaders of the United Methodist Church.  Like others, my initial thoughts turned to what this meant for “the big church”, i.e. the denomination.  On Saturday I posted a blog with my initial thoughts.

Yesterday my thoughts turned to what the Protocol, and its announcement, means to the local church.  It’s not that I woke up and decided that would be my reflective topic of the day.  Instead, “real life” crashed headlong into the media buzz created by the Protocol.

Our Sunday School class was set to have a discussion about a new parsonage for our church during the 45 minutes allotted for Sunday School.  Friday I sent an e-mail to the class and said we also could discuss the Protocol if members wanted to do so.  They did.  Our allotted 45 minutes voluntarily became an hour and 45 minutes and could easily have lasted longer.  Like all of our discussions, the points of view expressed were thoughtful, respectful and animated by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  I suspect that similar discussions took place across the denomination.

One comment really struck me.  One person observed that upon reading the Protocol they were convicted that this was really going to force them to examine their beliefs.  If the Protocol does nothing else but to cause members of local churches to deeply examine their beliefs then it is performing a task that is at the core of Wesley’s work.

The Protocol may well have offered new meaning to Epiphany Sunday.