wfn.org | Commentary: The Methodist Middle

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May 13, 1998	Contact: Thomas S. McAnally*(615)742-5470*Nashville,
Tenn.    10-21-71B{300}
 

 
By Bishop Michael J. Coyner*

I want to affirm the Methodist Middle, the great middle ground of
middle-of-the-road United Methodist laity and clergy who are not part of
either the vocal "right" or "left" groups that seem to be making all of
the news these days.

Those who are in the Methodist Middle support our United Methodist
doctrine and discipline, value Scripture because it "contains the Word
of God" (in the words of our historic creeds and our membership vows),
believe that all persons are children of God and deserving of a place in
God's church, and struggle to apply these values, Scriptures, doctrines
and disciplines to the complex issues of today's world.

Those in the Methodist Middle value doctrine, but they do not use it
like a club to beat their opponents (such as the far right do), nor do
they simply choose to ignore doctrine when it interferes with their
personal preferences (like those on the far left do).

Those in the Methodist Middle value Scripture, but they are not biblical
literalists, nor do they simply ignore Scripture when it fails to
support their personal preferences.

Those in the Methodist Middle value our conferencing as United
Methodists and respect the opinions of others within the Body of Christ.
Unlike the far right and the far left, they do not believe that they
have the only answers to every issue that confronts us today. The
Methodist Middle would never consider breaking any of our covenants of
understanding with one another; rather, they are willing to discuss,
debate, consider, pray and look for answers together.

Those in the Methodist Middle consider the idea of schism in our
denomination to be unthinkable because they believe in dialogue,
discernment and keeping their vows of faithful membership.

Those in the Methodist Middle know that the really tough issues of our
day, like homosexuality, are not resolved by name-calling, petitions or
judicial processes. They know that medical science is divided on the
question of whether people are homosexual by birth or by development (or
by both). They know people who are homosexuals and who struggle to be
faithful Christians, and they understand that the issue of homosexuality
is not a simple one.  

They also know that the Scriptures are not silent on this issue and they
take that seriously, while seeking to learn from the best biblical
scholarship to discover the context, meaning, and interpretation of
those texts. They are aware that the traditions of the church have
spoken against homosexual practice, and they respect those traditions.
They also believe that God's Spirit continues to give the Church
discernment on this issue, and they are willing to remain in the United
Methodist Church to struggle with this difficult issue.

The Methodist Middle is not ready to concede that either extreme (right
or left) has the final answer. Perhaps most importantly, those in the
Methodist Middle do not want the United Methodist Church to lose sight
of its purpose and witness by focusing too much on this one issue at the
expense of missions, education, outreach, worship and service.

Those in the Methodist Middle realize that the Jimmy Creech trial has
not changed our United Methodist stance on the issue of homosexuality,
and they are not in a panic to make any quick changes in our Book of
Discipline. They realize that our Book of Discipline asks us to live
with the paradox of welcoming homosexual persons into our churches
because they are persons of sacred worth, while at the same time stating
that we believe homosexual behavior is outside of the guidelines of
Scripture and Christian teaching. Those in the Methodist Middle are
willing to live with that paradox, and they are unwilling either to
exclude homosexual persons or to condone homosexual practice.

Those in the Methodist Middle are not in the middle-of-the-road just to
avoid issues. They try to center their life and faith on Jesus Christ,
and they believe in the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit to guide
and direct their lives and their church. Their faith is not relegated to
past traditions, nor does it ignore those traditions. Their faith is
firmly grounded in Scripture tradition, reason and experience. They are
not opposed to theological exploration and new ideas, but they want
these explorations and ideas tested by the whole community of faith and
by the whole experience of Christian tradition.

Are you part of the Methodist Middle?  I am, and I believe that 70 to 90
percent of all United Methodists are. I also believe that those in the
Methodist Middle resent the attempts by the far left and the far right
to damage our denomination.

Perhaps it is time for the Methodist Middle to be heard.  And perhaps it
is time for the far left and the far right to be quiet and listen for
the will of God in the church.

# # #

*Coyner is bishop of the Dakotas Area of the United Methodist Church.