The recent departure of longstanding Methodist minister Steve Clark from the church has highlighted the sharply contrasting positions on the definition of marriage held by Methodists.
Clark recently attended a gathering of ministers, where he says he was asked to affirm the new Methodist marriage practice, which essentially allows any two people (including those of the same sex) to get married in the church. He declined to do so, so conditions were imposed on his preaching. At the same time, Methodist lay ministers who refused to affirm the practice were told they must cease preaching altogether.
Clark therefore felt he could no longer be part of the Methodist Church, so he resigned. He has now found sanctuary in ‘a very welcoming Anglican Church’ near Doncaster in south Yorkshire.
David A. Hull, chair of Methodist Evangelicals Together (MET), said: ‘The heartbreak within the British Methodist Church continues following the denomination’s departure from what has been the teaching of the Christian church throughout our history and is still held by the vast majority of Christians around the world today. Some have felt they cannot remain; others speak of a call to remain whilst being unable in good conscience to affirm the denomination’s doctrine following the changes.
‘Steve Clark has highlighted the desperately sad cases of lay preachers who are no longer able to continue to exercise the ministry they have faithfully fulfilled over many years, and I hope a more gracious way forward will be found in the future..’
A spokesperson for the Methodist Church commented: ‘Each year, local preachers, presbyters and deacons are asked to affirm that they will preach the doctrine of the Methodist Church.
‘The Methodist Church recognises two definitions of marriage, as being between a man and woman and between any two people. The Methodist Conference 2021 recognised that, whilst this represents a change to the practices of the Methodist Church concerning marriage, the doctrinal standards of the Church have not been changed’.
