UMNews picked up an article published by the Holston Annual Conference, which was essentially an interview with conservative clergy, the Rev. Dr. Randy Frye, who is a self-proclaimed conservative (though he hates labels) who will be staying in The United Methodist Church. In the article, he talks about how the legislation at the most recent General Conference only brings the issue of gay marriage "back to neutral," and how the denomination is still making room for conservatives like us.
I had a hard time understanding how a conservative could say these things. It turns out his thoughts are a little more nuanced than the article was able to represent. I still find myself in a pretty different place than him, but I appreciate his efforts to remain faithful where he is. My hope is publishing this is that it helps conservatives within the UMC to think through how it is that they want to participate in that covenant body, if at all. Rev. Frye presents an example of how one might navigate these issues faithfully from within, if one so chooses.
Links:
'Conservative Pastor Says He Will Live Into New Reality' by Annette Spence - https://www.holston.org/article/randy-frye-post-gc-18362101
Website for First Broad Street UMC - https://www.fbsumc.org/
Conservatives Living into "New Reality" of the UMC - A Conversation with Randy Frye