Growth of Reconciling Communities Indicates Survival for The UMC

We know a growing majority of Christians accept LGBTQ individuals and same-sex marriage, and recent numbers show more and more United Methodist churches and religious communities are choosing to become Reconciling, which means making a public pledge and commitment to officially recognize their LGBTQ friends and neighbors.

This is the challenge for all mainline Christian Churches, but it is a lingering area of hurt and shame for The United Methodist Church (The UMC), which is the last mainline Protestant denomination to discriminate against its LGBTQ ministers, lay employees and same-sex couples who want to marry in the church.

But as the institutional church struggles to move forward, the number of Reconciling United Methodists (RUMs) — those that welcome individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities — has grown 34 percent in the last four years (see chart below). While growing social and political affirmation across the country plays a part, we also know that people, especially young people, are drawn to Reconciling Churches because they are welcoming and accepting of everyone. That’s why we believe that Reconciling Communities offer the greatest hope for growth for The UMC, and why it’s essential that General Conference delegates vote in favor of equality when they gather in Portland, Ore. next month.

It’s important to note that growth of Reconciling communities isn’t limited to the more progressive areas of the country. The number of RUMs in the Southeastern jurisdiction — generally viewed as the most conservative area of the country — has jumped 35 percent in the last two years. The states showing the most growth are, in order: California, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. Since just the start of 2016, 30 churches have decided to become Reconciling, in areas across Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Carolina, among others.

And this growth is not isolated to new Reconciling churches or communities. Clifton UMC in Cincinnati, which has been Reconciling since 1998, has doubled its congregation since last November, and is approaching historic attendance since its first openly gay pastor arrived.

Last year, RMN set the goal for 2,016 new RUMs by General Conference. We exceeded our goal months ago and we just keep growing. The Holy Spirit is renewing the church from within — through communities and churches of inclusion and justice for all.

The message is clear: more and more church members believe It’s Time for The UMC to accept and celebrate everyone. More than 750 Reconciling Communities and 34,000 individuals can’t be wrong — this is the direction of The UMC. It’s simply time for the institutional church to catch up with the people in the pews.