An Open Letter to Methodists

An open letter to all who practice their Christian Faith as Methodists

Thursday, April 29, 2021 Dear friends,

I am writing to you because we find ourselves at a great divide that runs very deep, more profound than we realize.

I am of an age to remember vividly the arguments surrounding our current divide. We have been arguing over inclusion and ordination that is not in alignment with Biblical teaching for over fifty years.

How long do you expect those who align our faith with a grace that convicts to continue the argument? Frankly, two years ago was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The vote was not recognized by those who insist on a non-traditional biblical lifestyle. In fact, your voice drowned out our voice for reconciliation. Over two years, we have negotiated with good faith for a mutually agreeable way forward. Voted on by the joint members of both corners. Yet here we are still not reconciled in our parting. We have no way forward or backward. Simply speaking, we who call ourselves Methodist are the laughingstock of the secular world audience.

Where do I see us now? We both have lost our first Love! You are puzzled by my statement, expertly understood, but none the less we are not in LOVE with our first Love.

We are Biblical people regardless of the translation; our first Love is to God. Either /or how you react to this letter is your decision, but we must decide, including the Bishops.

Simply, the argument has moved our full attention from God to Denomination. We are to be celebrating the Love from the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.

Jesus says it best. 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17, NIV)

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:” (Phil 2:5) So let us begin by lifting our eyes toward heaven and choose the let our hearts follow.

With a love that hurts, Sincerely

Cleve Rev. 2:4