Methodist ‘silent majority’ beginning to be heard
Religion Today, May 19, 2000
Methodists adopted more conservative positions on some social, political and theological issues. The governing body of the United Methodist Church, meeting in Cleveland last week, was in the news primarily for affirming traditional sexual morality.
But the UMC also voted decisively to oppose partial-birth abortion and to support voluntary prayer in public schools and “at other public occasions.” Methodist social agencies have opposed restrictions on abortions.
The denomination also changed its position on justifiable war, saying that “most Christians” believe war should be waged to stop “unchecked aggression, tyranny and genocide.” The church’s Social Principles had condemned war, and its agencies have opposed almost all U.S. military actions.
The General Conference also became more conservative theologically. It approved an addition to the church’s Book of Discipline, declaring that Jesus Christ is the “Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the Lord of all.”
The meeting marked a “potentially major shift in direction” for the UMC, said Mark Tooley of the conservative Washington, D.C., group Institute for Religion and Democracy. “The silent majority of the church, which is moderate to conservative, is beginning to be heard.” He said the IRD “will be watching to see whether denominational agencies follow the new directions set by the General Conference.” Thirty percent of the delegates voted to eliminate altogether the Board of Church and Society, the denomination’s “very controversial and very liberal” policy lobby office, he said.