Many people ask me how and why I switched from the United Methodist Church to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Usually I just tell them it's a long story and, in short, I found it easier to switch denominations than to switch Annual Conferences within the United Methodist Church. And while that's true, it's not the whole truth.
So I decided for myself, and for others, to record the long story.
]]> In the summer of 2000 my erstwhile wife, Charlotte, decided to move to Duluth, Minnesota. This wasn't a surprise as we had been talking about it for some time, but I had had responsibilities in Indiana in my churches and I was trying to be a faithful member of the North Indiana Conference. She and my two kids departed in August of 2000 and I told the Conference I wanted to go join them as soon as possible.I continued working at the church I was appointed to until December of 2000. In the intervening months I had worked hard at trying to find a position up in Minnesota within a 100 mile radius of Duluth. I was in close contact with the District Superintendent there and things looked promising, but no promises were made. In the meantime I said my goodbyes to Indiana and tidied things up there. Everything I heard led me to understand that I was leaving with their best wishes and as soon as I found work in Minnesota I should let them know and they could change my status.
Work was not easily found in the Duluth area. I started subbing for pastors in the pulpit and I got to know a lot of the area clergy. A couple of churches decided to hire me as a youth director in July 2001 and, shortly after that, I got an offer to join the staff of an eight church parish of Presbyterian churches. The pay wasn't great on either, but I could cobble together a living and keep going until I found something better.
So I informed my home Conference in Indiana of what had happened and asked for a change of status and to be taken off leave. In the meantime I was still looking for full time work in the United Methodist Church in Minnesota.
Much to my surprise they wouldn't change my status and, further, said I had taken the jobs improperly. I tried to clarify my status and explained I had been in touch with my District Superintendents, both in Duluth and Indiana, this entire time and they'd been aware of my work.
This back and forth went on for a year until I was sent an ultimatum from the bishop in Indiana. I could do one of the following:
a) Quit my church jobs and find secular work;
b) Return to Indiana and come off leave and be placed in a church there;
c) Be accepted immediately into the Minnesota Annual Conference; or
d) Refuse to comply and be brought up on charges and have my credentials revoked.
Faced with those choices I opted for option e) I could become a Presbyterian.
After all the Presbyterian Church had provided a place of ministry for me and were very supportive of my work and my family. It also meant I could continue both of my jobs, for Pioneer Parish and my youth work with the two United Methodist congregations. It would also once and for all resolve my status. So I informed the bishop of my decision in the fall of 2002 and started taking Presbyterian Polity and History classes in the spring semester of 2003.
I passed my qualifying tests for transfer later that spring and, in May of 2003, I was interviewed in front of a stated meeting of the Presbytery of Northern Waters and was accepted without reservation. At that point I was officially a Presbyterian.
Shortly after that I was installed as the pastor of the United Church of Two Harbors which relates fully to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Methodist Church. As such I have been participating in both denominations.
I hold no ill will towards the United Methodist Church and still maintain good relations with my UMC colleagues. I do, however, still feel bitter about the way I was treated by the North Indiana Conference and the bishop there at the time. I can not see the reason in how they treated me or my family when I was working so hard to comply.
But what was meant for evil God used for good and I landed in exactly the right place. Providential, don't you think?
My second script for Chicken Hat weekend. My prompts last night were Oscar Wilde, A Clown's Nose, and Olympus (the actual mountain, not the home of the gods) and I was writing for 2 men, plus a walk on by Kaylee Matuszak.
It's time for another round of Chicken Hat plays, and so here is my original script for the day. The twist this time is that instead of writing one 10 minute show we are writing two 5 minute scenes, presumably 12 hours apart. I got one actor and a walk on and an optional off stage voice. I took that option.
As a rule, I enjoy taxonomies, typologies, personality inventories, and the ilk. I've been Meyers Briggsed, Strong Campbelled, Corinne Wared, Gallup Strengths Findered, Enneagrammed, and the list goes on.
