Grace and Peace to you!
We pray that you are doing well in every way and that you are healthy, just as your soul is healthy. Joyce and I are writing this pastoral letter to give you an update on the recent General Conference as it made historic changes to The United Methodist Church's policies. The key points are as follows:
- Delegates to The United Methodist Church eliminated the 52-year-old stance that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.”
- Now The UMC redefines marriage as “a sacred, lifelong covenant between two people of faith – adult man and adult woman of consenting age or two adult persons of consenting age.”
- General Conference repealed its ban on LGBTQ clergy as well as prohibitions on its ministers from officiating at same-sex weddings.
- It also approved legislation to protect the rights of clergy and churches not to officiate at or host same-sex weddings.
It is true that about 25% of UMC congregations in the United States (mostly conservatives/traditionalists) have already left the denomination over this issue. It would be easier to just hit the eject button on the denomination and leave. But Joyce and I believe the biblical vision is to reform the church, not to abandon it. We believe we should pursue love, but not at the expense of truth. We believe the church is called to love our LGBTQ neighbors, defending them when under attack, supporting them, inviting them into our home, but not compromising a biblical vision for sex and marriage.
John Wesely, founder of the Methodist movement, is a shining example. His original vision was to bring spiritual renewal to the Church of England. Both he and his brother, Charles, were ordained in the Church of England despite the growing tension between Wesley and the institutional church. Though his movement was not well received, throughout his life Wesley remained as clergy in the Church of England, insisting that the Methodist movement lay well within its tradition. In his sermon Catholic Spirit, Wesley famously said, “If your heart is as my heart, if you love God and all human beings, I ask no more: "give me your hand."”
Today Joyce and I make a vow anew to love God and love our neighbors. We commit ourselves to do all the good we can, by all the means we can, in all the ways we can, in all the places we can, at all the times we can, to all the people we can, as long as ever we can, as Wesley commended. Would you join us and give us a hand?
It is our intention to stay put and build Christ’s beloved community. Sisters and Brothers in Christ, now is the time to put our differences behind us and focus on the missions of the church. Let us be all in for making disciples of Christ as the body of Christ. By this, the world will know we are Christ-ians.
Thank you for being among us. We love you deeply.
In Christ’s love,
Pastor Joyce Kang
Pastor Victor Han
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