OKUMC SPIRIT IN ACTION | 9
Church Grief First Responders
Using your church resources to care for those whose churches disaffiliated Church-related distress has been written about extensively over the past few years. Never has this subject been more applicable to Oklahoma United Methodists than since this recent season of disaffiliations and lawsuits. Compounding these troubles is the lingering effect of the Covid-19 pandemic that often pitted members against one another in debates on masking, vaccinations, and even when to return to in-person worship as the Covid pandemic dragged on. Many congregations are still stinging from divisions, whether disaffiliations actually happened or were only considered, as churches voted whether to remain with the denomination. The United Methodist connectional system relies on affiliations among clergy, congregations, and conference personnel. When schisms happen within conferences, no one comes out unscathed.
to Roger Parker, lead pastor of Conference Connections and pastor of The Gathering UMC, an online worship community for individuals and groups whose churches left the denomination but who wish to remain United Methodist. “The past faith experiences with that church are times when God worked in their lives,” counseled Parker. “They [the disaffiliating congregation] are a part of God’s mighty acts of salvation in their lives.” He continued, “It’s important not to discard those things God has done in your life; they are your strength.”
Even churches who didn’t vote on disaffiliation have watched in despair as members of their family of faith took votes, made moves, and, in 127 cases, decided to leave that family.
In this time of grief and division, it can be difficult to remember how to be welcoming and sympathetic when visitors enter the safe spaces created by intact congregations. This, however, is exactly the time when members should be most vigilant and intentional about how they interact with those visitors.
While the pain is real, it is not the end, according
Parker’s top three pieces of advice for clergy
