Part I: “churchy” people in Charlotte

From April 23 – May 3, a lot of church people will be meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina.

These are United Methodist from around the world who are attending their General Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Perhaps, you know this conference is being held to attempt to sort out human sexuality as it pertains to gay clergy, same sex weddings, and how the church is positioned to work with LGBTQ communities.

I am a lifelong Methodist, and since 1972 our Book of Discipline has not allowed the ordination of gay ministers, nor for Methodist ministers to perform same sex marriages.

At the conference, I suspect the following will be in play: emotions will run high, Robert’s Rules of Order will be put to the test, and the Methodist motto: “open hearts, open minds, and open doors” might continue to be closed for people who are different.

For the last twelve years, I’ve had the privilege of working at the church where my family and I are members. In this work, and in my previous career in public education, I’ve come to realize that churches like schools are interesting places as they both center on working with people.

Maybe, you are aware that across America mainline denominations and their churches have seen a decline in attendance for several years. Clearly, the pandemic really punched churches, but in truth, churches were in trouble prior to the pandemic.

A January 2024 study by the Pew Research Center captured a portion of this decline. Their findings noted that the “religious ‘Nones’ are now the largest religiously unaffiliated cohort in America at 28%. The ‘Nones’ are larger than Catholics 23% and evangelical Protestants 24%.” I wonder how many of the ‘Nones’ are from the LGBTQ community, or individuals who didn’t grow up in the church, or who had an unpleasant church experience.

Before this issue of human sexuality smacked the United Methodist Church, Methodist churches across America were closing every year related to declining attendance shrinking budgets, and deteriorating buildings. Moving forward, I don’t think closings tied to these undeniable challenges are finished.

It is the potential closing of more church buildings that makes me pose this question—might churches benefit from participating in an accreditation process?

Schools, fire and police departments, other public agencies, non-profits, and some professions go through an accreditation process. I ask myself how many of the current challenges that church leaders and their congregations face could have been avoided or corrected with an accreditation process?

For example, a review related to programming, personnel, finances, facilities, outreach, and communication might form a basic core for assessing how a church and its congregation are performing. Church leaders and their congregations might be surprised at what they learn about their fiscal, physical, and spiritual, health in this process.

Personally, I believe fear and resistance to change have a significant impact on the thinking of church leaders and congregations.

If a church can’t let go of ineffective programs, fear can paralyze a congregation reducing any chance of making a needed change. Sadly, the inability to courageously make a change only ensures more church closings.

My college roommate, H. D. Sherrill, Jr. is a graduate of Duke Divinity School. During his career, Reverend Sherrill served with distinction at assignments in churches and local nonprofits. He is a very gifted storyteller.

Back in January, Reverend Sherrill shared a conversation he had with one of his grandsons. He wondered, if this grandson might be interested in learning how to become an acolyte.

When Reverend Sherrill asked his grandson if he had any interest, the grandson responded: “Pops, I’m not a churchy person.”

Reverend Sherrill accepted the honest answer.

A few weeks later, Reverend Sherrill noted that the not churchy grandson had completed an orientation for becoming an acolyte.

Curious, he asked his grandson why had participated in the acolyte orientation.

Reverend Sherrill received the best answer: “Pops, a person can change.”

When I consider the task at the General Conference related to human sexuality and the survival of churches who are hanging on by their fingernails, I think any chance of salvaging the future of the church depends upon our capacity to embrace change.

In her book, Factory Man, author, Beth Macy, wrote about John Bassett III and the challenges he faced in America’s furniture industry. I love this advice from Mr. Bassett related to change— “be willing to change and improve repeatedly.”

If the United Methodist Church has any hope in slowing their downward spiral, the church must be willing to change.

Failure to change guarantees two things: the ‘Nones’/not churchy people will grow, and more Methodist churches close.

In Charlotte, I’m hoping the hearts, minds, and doors will be open to change.

Author’s note: This piece was written before the conference took their historic vote to change.