Below is the final version of the Basic Provisions of the Indianapolis Plan. Over the past weeks we have received feedback and sought input to craft the best possible plan for an amicable separation. Today, we filed a petition (see “Indianapolis Plan GC Petition” page) based on these provisions to create a new paragraph in The Book of Discipline. There is only one petition for the Indianapolis Plan, and it has been filed under Kent Millard’s name.
In the coming weeks, I and the other participants in the group will be sharing our reflections and explanations of the rationale, limitations, and aspirations of the Plan. Let us pray for the delegates as they consider this and many other proposals.
BASIC PROVISIONS OF AN INDIANAPOLIS PLAN
FOR AMICABLE SEPARATION
September 18, 2019
INTRODUCTION:
The 2019 special General Conference of the United Methodist
Church highlighted the depth of the irreconcilable differences present in The
United Methodist Church.
Rather than continuing the quarrel over homosexuality at the
2020 General Conference, a group of Progressives, Centrists, and
Traditionalists present these proposals as a possible pathway to amicable
separation in The United Methodist Church.
The names of the participants are at the end of the document.
We envision a new future for the people of The United
Methodist Church to avoid further harm to one another, to United Methodists
around the world, to the church universal, and to those with whom we strive to
share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We
seek to move away from the caustic atmosphere which has often marked
conversation in the United Methodist Church into a new season where we bless
one another as we send each other into our respective mission fields to multiply
our witness for Christ.
We envision an amicable separation in The United Methodist
Church which would provide a pathway to new denominations of the Methodist
movement so we can all make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the
transformation of the world. These new denominations, though separate, will
continue the rich heritage of the Methodist movement while being free to share
their respective witnesses for Christ unhindered by those with whom they have
been in conflict. We will release one
another to joyful obedience to Christ’s call on our lives.
BASIC
PROVISIONS:
1. The 2020 General Conference of The United Methodist
Church would support an amicable separation plan by providing a pathway for the
development of a Traditionalist United Methodist Church and a Centrist United
Methodist Church. A Progressive
expression may emerge as a Progressive United Methodist Church or may be
included in the Centrist United Methodist Church. Other denominations may
emerge as well. (Names are placeholders and descriptive; each new denomination
would choose their own name and may use “United Methodist Church” with an
appropriate modifier if they so choose).
2. The United Methodist Church would not be dissolved but
would have its legal continuation through the Centrist United Methodist Church.
3. The Traditionalist United Methodist Church would be a
global denomination that would maintain the current stance of the United
Methodist Discipline regarding the
practice of homosexuality. It would emphasize unity around doctrine, mission,
and standards, leaner denominational structure, greater local flexibility, and
accountable discipleship.
4. The Centrist United Methodist Church would be a global
denomination that would remove from the Discipline
the “incompatibility” language and prohibitions against same-sex weddings,
ordinations, and appointments. Centrist
annual conferences and local congregations would make their own decisions
regarding the ordination and appointment of homosexual persons and performing
same-sex weddings in their conferences and congregations. It would practice
faith with a generous spirit, emphasizing greater local flexibility within a
deep commitment to connectionalism, social justice, and missional
engagement that transforms the world for Jesus Christ.
5. A Progressive expression may emerge as a Progressive
United Methodist Church that would be a global denomination that includes
church-wide protection against discrimination based on race, color, gender,
national origin, ability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender
identity, or economic condition, and that practices full itinerancy of LGBTQIA+
pastors and same-sex weddings in all their churches. Another progressive
expression may be the inclusion of progressives in the Centrist United
Methodist Church.
6. Other denominations may be formed by a group of 50 or
more local churches or by one or more annual conferences.
7. All denominations would have their own General
Conferences or governing boards, books of Discipline,
structure, polity, and finances. Any
local congregation which chooses to join one of these denominations would be
relieved of the trust clause in order to take their assets and liabilities into
the new denomination.
8. Annual conferences in the United States would decide by a
simple majority vote of those annual conference members present and voting with
which denomination to align. Annual
conferences not making a decision would become part of the Centrist United Methodist
Church by default.
9. Central conferences would decide by a simple majority
vote of those members present and voting with which denomination to align. Central conferences that do not make a
decision would become part of the Traditionalist United Methodist Church by
default. Annual conferences outside the United States could decide by a simple
majority to align with a different denomination than their central
conference.
10. Local churches disagreeing with their annual conference’s
decision could decide by a simple majority vote of a charge or church
conference to align with a different denomination. All local church property, assets, and
liabilities would continue to belong to that local church.
11. Clergy and ministerial candidates would decide with
which denomination to align. By default,
they would remain part of the denomination chosen by their annual conference,
unless they choose to affiliate with a different denomination.
12. Bishops (active and retired) would decide with which
denomination to align. By default, they
would remain part of the Centrist United Methodist Church unless they choose to
align with a different denomination.
13. Continuation of clergy and episcopal pensions would be
provided for by assigning liability for the unfunded pension liabilities to the
new denominations and by receiving payments from withdrawing congregations that
choose not to align with created denominations.
14. Annual conferences and local congregations could begin functioning in the new alignment beginning August 1, 2020, on an interim basis. Annual conferences, local churches, and clergy choosing to align with a denomination other than the Traditionalist United Methodist Church would be exempt during the interim period, following the adjournment of General Conference 2020 to the start of the new denominations, from the provisions in the Discipline prohibiting same-sex weddings and the ordination, appointment, or consecration of self-avowed, practicing homosexuals. Inaugural General Conference sessions would be held in the fall of 2021, with the new denominations becoming fully functional as of January 1, 2022. The Progressive United Methodist Church might launch at a later date, if desired. The opportunity to choose an alignment would remain open until at least December 31, 2028.
15. Wespath, the United Methodist Committee on Relief,
United Methodist Women, the General Commission on United Methodist Men, and The
United Methodist Publishing House would continue as independent 501(c)(3)
organizations with their own self-perpetuating boards of directors and would be
able to serve any denomination that desires to receive services from them.
16. All other United Methodist boards and agencies would
become part of the Centrist United Methodist Church with mutually agreed upon
initial funding and subject to possible reforms and restructuring by the
Centrist United Methodist Church. Such
boards and agencies could also contract to serve other denominations formed in
this process.
17. The 2020 General Conference would provide continuing
funding for Central Conference ministries during the 2021-2024 Quadrennium
supported by all denominations. All
United Methodist conferences and congregations would be encouraged to continue
support for Central Conference ministries regardless of denominational
affiliation.
18. A process and principles for allocating general church assets
to fund transition to new denominations and to be devoted to the missional
purposes of each denomination thereafter would be adopted by the 2020 General
Conference.
19. Mandatory retirement provisions for all bishops would be
waived until 2022 after the new denominations have become operational. Jurisdictional conferences might not elect
bishops in 2020, reconvening in 2021 or 2022 as part of the Centrist United
Methodist Church. Central conferences would elect the number of bishops
determined by the 2020 General Conference, as planned. This would allow a
proper match of the number of bishops needed under these new conditions. Bishops in other denominations formed in this
process would be elected and assigned according to the provisions of those
denominations.
Here are the United Methodist Progressive, Centrist and Traditionalists Clergy and Laity who developed and signed this proposal for an amicable separation. Organizational names are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply that these churches or organizations have endorsed these proposals:
Rev. Keith Boyette, President, Wesleyan Covenant
Association, Fredericksburg, Virginia (Traditionalist)
Rev. Darren Cushman Wood, Senior Pastor, North United
Methodist Church, Indianapolis, Indiana (Progressive)
Rev. Dr. Douglas Damron, Senior Pastor, Epworth United
Methodist Church, Toledo, Ohio (Centrist)
Lynette Fields, Layperson, Florida Annual Conference, Orlando,
Florida (Progressive)
Rev. Dr. Cathy Johns, Senior Pastor, Hyde Park Community
United Methodist Church, Cincinnati, Ohio (Centrist)
Krystl D. Johnson, Layperson, Lay Delegate, Eastern
Pennsylvania Conference, Chester, Pennsylvania (Traditionalist)
Rev. Thomas Lambrecht, Vice President and General Manager,
Good News, Spring, Texas (Traditionalist)
Rev. Dr. Kent Millard, President, United Theological
Seminary, Dayton, Ohio (Centrist)
Cara Nicklas, Layperson, Lay Delegate, Oklahoma Annual
Conference, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Traditionalist)
Rev. Dr. Chris Ritter, Directing Pastor, First United
Methodist Church, Geneseo, Illinois (Traditionalist)
Rev. Dr. John E. Stephens, Senior Pastor, Chapelwood
United Methodist Church, Houston, Texas (Centrist)
Rev. Judy Zabel, Senior Pastor, Hennepin Avenue United
Methodist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Centrist)
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