Strangely Warmed

There were two demonstrations on July 27 commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, one in Washington and one in Pyongyang. Both served North Korea’s interests. A handful of protestors marched in Washington, ostensibly demanding a peace treaty to bring the war to a formal end. Naturally, the protests laid the impasse at the feet of the United States, its military forces, and its joint defensive military exercises with South Korea. Among the groups promoting the march and its causes was the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society . Of course, no similar demonstration took place in Pyongyang where protest is unthinkable. There is no freedom of association, assembly, travel, communications, religion, or speech in North Korea. Even a casual comment can lead to your arrest. The peace groups protesting in Washington are unwilling to address the Kim regime’s gross violation of human rights. If you want lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, work for basic hum...

The Methodist Church came into existence in 1939 when the rest of the world was going to war. The Methodist Commission on Chaplains came into existence at the beginning of 1941 when the denomination was less than two years old. Initially under the leadership of Bishop Adna Leonard, the commission was responsible for recruiting, assessing, endorsing, equipping, guiding, and supporting chaplains on a denominational level. Initially thought to be a temporary emergency measure, the commission became a permanent agency of the church in 1948. Every quadrennium, General Conference elected one bishop from one bishop from every jurisdiction to serve on the commission, along with several clergy and lay representatives. D. Stewart Patterson, a layman, served as the commission’s executive secretary throughout the war and into the 1950’s. In 1956, the Reverend John McLaughlin was elected as General Secretary, a post that he held until his retirement at the end of 1969. The commi...

There is a difference between responsibility and authority. The United Methodist Book of Discipline assigns bishops responsibilities in many areas. It provides them with direct authority in very few. Paragraphs 401-416 of the Book of Discipline pertain to the episcopacy per se . Paragraphs 404-413 contain 5289 words of administrative minutiae. Paragraphs 401-403 and 414-416 are the most relevant for this review of episcopal authorities and responsibilities. Among the major authorities granted to bishops in ¶ 414-416 are: To preside in the General, jurisdictional, central, and annual conferences.  To consecrate bishops, ordain elders and deacons, commission deaconesses, home missioners, and missionaries properly approved for such actions.  To  form districts. To divide or unite circuits. To make appointments.  To direct the conference staff, insuring compliance with church policies and state laws, and insuring financial accounability.   ...

The United Methodist Church has what I would call a constitutional episcopacy. I am not sure what you would call the episcopacy in the Catholic and Anglican traditions - "monarchial" may be too strong a word - but the Methodist episcopacy is different. Different relationship to the clergy and the church. Different source and extent of authority.  In the Catholic ordination rite, the bishop asks, “Do you promise respect and obedience to me and my successors?” This view of episcopal authority carried over into the Church of England. The 1662 Book of Common Prayer posed this question to the ordinands.  Will you reverently obey your Ordinary, and other chief Ministers, unto whom is committed the charge and government over you; following with a glad mind and will, their godly admonitions, and submitting your selves to their Godly judgements? The Episcopal Church in the United States softens that to, “Will you respect and be guided by the pastoral direction and leadership...

My annual conference approved my retirement from the United Methodist Church under the provisions of paragraph 357.2.c of the Book of DIsciplne on June 1, 2023. After 42 years of appointed ministry, I officially entered the retired relation as an elder in full connection on July 1. Retirement and Charge Conference Membership Paragraph 357 of the Book of Discipline governs retirement. Subparagraph 357.5 requires all retired clergy to have membership in a charge conference.  All retired clergy members who are not appointed as pastors of a charge, after consultation with the pastor and the district superintendent, shall have a seat in the charge conference and all the privileges of membership in the church where they elect to hold such membership except as set forth in the Discipline. They shall report to the charge conference and to the pastor all marriages performed, baptisms administered, and other pastoral functions. If they reside outside the bounds of the annual confer...