wfn.org | Washington Area pastor, congregation leave denomination

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Dec. 2, 1999 News media contact: Thomas S. McAnally (615) 742-5470 (10-71B)
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By United Methodist News Service

A Maryland pastor has left the United Methodist Church and taken most of his
3,400-member congregation with him.

The Rev. C. Anthony Muse resigned as pastor of Resurrection Prayer Worship
Center of the United Methodist Church in Brandywine, Md., and as a clergyman
of the denomination, effective Nov. 22, according to the office of
Washington Area Bishop Felton E. May.  He leaves behind an unfinished
building with an indebtedness of $6 million.  

At the time of Muse's resignation, the church was "seriously in arrears" on
its bond payments, according to the Rev. Jim Knowles-Tuell, treasurer of the
Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference.  Muse reported in October that the
church's debt service was $55,000 a month.  

Muse, 41, a state representative in Maryland from 1995 to 1998 had been
pastor of the Brandywine congregation for 15 years.  

Accepting Muse's resignation "with regret," May appointed the Rev. Hal T.
Henderson and the Rev. Donald Llewellyn as interim pastors.  Henderson has
been associate pastor of the congregation and Llewellyn is executive
director of United Methodist Community Services.

Henderson led a prayer service at the church Nov. 28, the Sunday after
Muse's resignation.  The Rev. Mary Jane Coleman, superintendent of the
Washington East District, preached to approximately 90 people, some of whom
had belonged to Gibbons United Methodist Church before Muse became pastor in
1984 and renamed it.

"Remember Noah," Coleman said.  "This may feel like a flood but God will see
you through it."  While Coleman was preaching, Muse was conducting his first
service at the church he has named "Ark of Safety Christian Church."

On the church's Internet Web site, Muse is listed as pastor and his wife,
Pat Lawson Muse, is identified as elder and first lady.  

Muse told United Methodist News Service his primary reason for leaving the
United Methodist Church was the lack of support provided by the conference
when loans were needed to complete construction of  the new building.  

"They sabotaged our building program," he said.  "The superintendent told us
that the conference does not secure or guarantee loans for local churches.
At the same time the conference journal lists churches which have received
support from the conference in order to secure loans, even mortgage
payments." 

May said he found Muse's criticism difficult to understand.  "We used
extraordinary means to help this church resolve its financial problems.  The
annual conference and denomination came up with more than $1 million in
loans and security deposits from various sources," he said.  "I wish Tony
had stayed and seen this problem through, but our concern now is to get on
with ministry in this community with holy boldness."

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United Methodist News Service
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