Coverage of Methodist split leaves questions unanswered

The current split in the Unted Methodist is a painful one for all involved. Sincere members on all sides of the question regret this loss and wish the best for everyone, as all congregations seek the best way forward.

The recent article in The Gazette describes the disaffiliating churches as striking “out in a new … direction.” This is, in fact, the opposite of the actual situation. It is the disaffiliating churches that have chosen to maintain the old rules. It is the continuing congregations that support new rules welcoming everyone into all aspects of church life.

More than 90 percent of the article reports voices of disaffiliating churches. Less than 10 percent reports voices of continuing congregations. No one else affected is reported on at all. Readers need to know more than just one side of any report. How continuing churches are dealing with the split? Is the LGBTQ community experiencing this change? What do traditional members have to say and what progressive members have to say? What is the influence of worldwide members of the UMC on this question? In the sixty plus column inches of this article, we could have learned so much more.

Myrna Loehrlein

Cedar Rapids