United Methodists, from well-known clergy to everyday laypeople, are proclaiming their reasons for staying United Methodist and looking toward a future with hope.

Congregations and people across the denomination are living out their faith, celebrating what draws them to The United Methodist Church. This public witness is being shared and tagged #BeUMC , #BeDakotasUMC, and #ProudtoBeUMC . 

These grassroots campaigns have gained momentum after misinformation allegedly distributed by Wesleyan Covenant Association supporters soliciting local congregations to join the Methodist Church. The WCA founded the Global Methodist Church in May after organizers postponed the General Conference, the denomination's top legislative body, for a third time, pushing back the possibility of concluding a formal separation agreement to 2024.

#BeUMC honors the core values connecting the United Methodist Church's people. No matter the challenges faced, God is with us, and we continue to have opportunities to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world! The campaign calls on us to embrace our Wesleyan heritage and envision a promising future. Every day offers a chance to live into our mission and strive to #BeUMC — to be the church our communities desperately need.

#BeDakotasUMC is a grassroots movement for United Methodists in North and South Dakota to share their beliefs, vision, values, and our connection. Congregations and people across the Dakotas share how they live out their faith, celebrating what draws them to The United Methodist Church.

#ProudtoBeUMC encourages members of the UMC to share the reasons they love being United Methodist. The campaign is part of Share Faith and the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. Rev. Adam Hamilton, the senior pastor at the Church of the Resurrection, announced the launch of the ProudtoBeUMC website with resources for congregations and individuals committed to staying in The United Methodist Church. 

Asbury United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, invited some familiar Dakotas clergy to share their witness about why they are United Methodist. At three Wednesday evening worship services, Rev. Eric Grinager, Rev. Dr. Bruce Forbes, and Rev. Bill Gran described why they chose to be and remain United Methodist. 

 

Rev. Eric Grinager

Why Rev. Eric Grinager is United Methodist: Pastor Eric expresses that he believes he can live and discern the will of God by being United Methodist. "My roots in the United Methodist Church are very deep," he said. "My father, like his father, became a Methodist pastor, and I, like my father, am a Methodist pastor."

Grinager cited Acts 15:1-12, the Council at Jerusalem, as an example of disagreement, debate, and differences in the Bible. "Even in the early church, there was disagreement about whether or not Jewish customs, like being circumcised, needed to be followed," said Grinager. "Paul and Barnabus worked with the Gentiles and saw a different perspective. They had a personal experience with the Gentiles."

Grace, tolerance, diversity, and practical theology led Pastor Eric to be United Methodist. "It is not doctrines. It is about sanctification. Living Bishop Rueben Job's three simple rules—do good, do no harm, and stay in love with God." 

Watch and listen to Grinager's entire message. 

 

Rev. Bill Gran

Why Rev. Bill Gran is United Methodist: Rev. Bill Gran has a unique recipe for making lefse. It is a recipe to make what some people have said is the best lefse. For Pastor Bill, it just works well. He shares five ingredients or reasons why the United Methodist Church fits or is the recipe for him—the balance between piety and the social gospel; the UMC quadrilateral; pluralistic nature, or diversity; hymns—the UMC is a singing church; and the UMC is a connectional church.

Gran appreciates the balance between personal piety and the social gospel in the United Methodist Church. "The practices of Bible study, daily devotions, are balanced out with issues like the care and well-being of the earth in The United Methodist Church," he said. "Both are essential."

"Unity in spirit, not uniformity," Gran said. "I love the words found on the UMC website—open hearts, open minds, open doors." The United Methodist Church is diverse. 

View and listen to the five reasons Gran remains United Methodist. 

 

Rev. Dr. Bruce Forbes

Why Rev. Dr. Bruce Forbes is United Methodist: Diversity is what drives Rev. Bruce Forbes to be and remain United Methodist. "The United Methodist Church is a big tent. There is room for a variety of thoughts and people," said Forbes.

Diversity in the United Methodist Church includes a variety of theological views, social issues, and piety. "The big question is— how can we be one church with differences," said Forbes. "Wesley's sermon on the catholic spirit. He says, 'Even if we do not think alike, can't we all love alike?' This is why we are United Methodist."

Forbes describes humility and humanness as challenges to understanding God's truth. "If I choose to be in a church with people that are just like me, I am missing the opportunity to find God's truth," said Forbes. "The only way we can grow as Christians is to be with people that don't think like us."

Watch and listen to Forbes' entire message.

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