MSNBC reports today that Chad Holtz, student at Duke Divinity School and former Pastor in Henderson, NC, was let go after a series of blog posts on issues related to the recent Rob Bell book "Love Wins" and previous blog posts on the issue of same-sex behavior and Scripture.
In the book, Bell challenges traditional (albeit somewhat caricatured) conservative notions of Hell and raises the question as to whether or not those who reject God's offer of salvation and eternal life in this life might not get a second chance in the next. (I plan on reviewing "Love Wins" in the coming weeks after I've had a chance to read it, but for now, the most fair, yet critical review of it has come from Christianity Today editor Mark Galli.)
The dismissal of a UM Pastor for holding or advocating views at odds with UM Doctrine is, to be frank, quite rare. UM Pastors and Bishops have taught, written and advocated positions FAR more unorthodox than the views put forth by Holtz, yet they are often allowed to keep their position due to the nature of the UMC's system of tenure for fully ordained elders (Holtz, being a seminary student, and thus not yet fully ordained as an elder in the UMC, does not enjoy such tenure).
This raises the question of why the UMC is so quick to enforce doctrinal adherence in Holtz' case, but not in cases where those in fully ordained positions of church leadership teach completely unorthodox and unbiblical concepts on a regular basis. Hopefully such situations will be addressed at the next General Conference and a clear standard can emerge by which to handle cases like this.
On a personal note...
Chad is a friend of mine and a brother in Christ whom I care about. He was kind enough to participate in an online discussion with me on the issue of same-sex sexual relationships and Scripture in a series of posts last year. (HERE is part 1 of our discussion. HERE is part 2) and I greatly appreciated his candidness and his ability to discuss and debate controversial issues in a charitable and rational manner. I am somewhat conflicted regarding this situation because I do believe that UM Pastors should not teach or advocate theological positions which are in direct conflict with Apostolic, creedal Christian faith (which I believe Chad's current views on Biblical sexuality and the reality of permanent exclusion from God's presence at the final Judgment do, in fact, undermine). However, I also believe that rigorous discussion and theolgocal reflection on such topics should not be off-limits or grounds for dismissal altogether. In Chad's situation I honestly don't know all the details, nor do I know how it should have been handled. But I know Chad's heart for Jesus and his love for people is genuine; and as such, I believe he is a gifted Disciple who has much to offer the community of faith. I pray for God's blessing in Chad's life and the life of his family, regardless of what road God leads him down in ministry.
Comments