Methodist(n.) – a proponent of John Wesley’s grace-based faith movement grounded in the three principles of relational evangelism, global missions, and social justice. Ethicist (n.) – a person devoted to the values and moral precepts that guide or govern individuals, a group, or a culture. Methicist (n. extinct) – a person devoted to the values and moral precepts that guide or govern individuals or groups in a culture based on John Wesley’s grace-based faith movement grounded in the three principles of relational evangelism, global missions, and social justice.

Don’t look for this mashup anywhere else, I just made it up. It is a term/concept that keeps tickling my brain every time someone asks me to explain why the United Methodist Church imploded and split. I thought it would be easier and beneficial (for myself) to put my answer(s) in print. Up front I admit my bias and position: those who chose to leave Methodism abandoned the basic precepts of our scripture, our theology, our values, and our communion, i.e., they lost their way and led many astray.

I don’t know how many posts this will take, so I am going to chunk it out to make each read a little more manageable. Once you get me started on this, it is very hard to shut me up. Trust me.

So, today I will list out the key issues of division, misunderstanding, ignorance, or outright rejection. Yes, I understand there is an arrogance in sharing an opinion about any of these things, and I am fine with those who disagree. However, I think I can provide some pretty convincing arguments and examples to back up what I say.

The issues:

• Respect for the goodness of God’s creation
• Understanding of the “children of God”
• Respect for the value of scripture
• Understanding of grace
• The conditions of unconditional love
• Communal identity vs. individual entitlements
• The unique tenets of Methodist commitment
• Kenosis
• Church

Every few days I am going to reflect on one of these topics and explain how I feel each became a dividing wedge in a faith communion that lost its mind, damaged its soul, and broke the hearts of millions of people, providing a “Christian” witness of selfishness, hatred, prejudice, and small-mindedness to our culture and world. We made God look really sad and pathetic to critics of the faith as well as lifelong believers. I wonder if God is amused?