Pajaronian Column for February 2024 by Rev. John Song
The United Methodist Church, America’s second-largest Protestant denomination, is at a crossroads over homosexuality. The issue for Methodists is the question of ordaining and marrying L.G.B.T.Q.+ people which Methodists have been debating for years. This is an issue that has splintered many other mainline Protestant denominations such as Episcopalians, Lutherans, and Presbyterians. Recently, Pope Francis blessed priests to allow giving “blessings” to same sex couples at the consternation of conservative Bishops, although it is not considered a “Sacrament of Marriage” from their 7 sacraments.
So far, we have seen the departure through “disaffiliation” of a quarter of the nation’s roughly 30,000 United Methodist churches of eight million Methodists in the U.S. Disaffiliating churches either have become “Global Methodist Church” or independent churches. The remaining UM churches, like Watsonville First UMC, will allow ordaining and marrying L.G.B.T.Q.+ people. “It’s the biggest denominational schism ever,” said Ryan Burge, a political scientist at Eastern Illinois University.
The General Conference that meets every four years bringing together United Methodists from four continents is now set to take place this spring in Charlotte, North Carolina to finalize the split and to make decisions that will shape the global denomination for years to come.
I am proud to be part of UM congregation that is a “Reconciling Congregation” that welcomes, affirms, and celebrate LGBTQ+ people as we continue to faithfully witness the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have learned how much it means for the queer people to have a faith community where they can show up being who they are feeling safe, affirmed, and supported. We have a welcoming slogan…
Whoever you are…
whatever you’ve done,
whoever you love,
and wherever you are in your journey of faith…
whatever you believe
or whatever you don’t believe,
You are welcome here!
Have you heard about the “Word of the Year” in 2023? “AUTHENTIC.” It’s what algorithms determine as the most important word amongst humankind over the last 12 months. E.E. Cummings, the 20th century American poet, wrote, “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” And I will argue that the only way to be in a world is to be free and authentic. Only way to be in a relationship is to be free and authentic. Only way to be in a community that is worth belonging to is to be free and authentic. “When you are not true to yourself you are harming us and the world” wrote Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet.
Everything begins with self-love. Without it, it leads to self-doubt, shame, self-hatred, depression, and even suicide. To be treated as a mistake and unworthy to belong are the cruelest punishment a community can inflict upon a human being. And in the name of religion that’s what we have been doing for far too long to the vulnerable population. For the love of God, this needs to stop, now. As late Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Why is the church always a taillight rather than a headlight?”
“I am who I am in the eyes of God—
nothing more and nothing less.”
~ St. Therese of Lesieux, the 19th century France
“Our YES will never give up
because it is the DNA of our souls.”
~ John Song
