This is regarding the article about local churches that have disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church that was published in the Times Observer (June 17). I had hoped to have made this reply much sooner, but I have been spearheading the disaffiliation and reincorporation for Covenant Methodist Church and have not had much free time. Our church also has disaffiliated.

It is true that the United Methodist Church wants to push this as being solely an issue of human sexuality. The problem is that many progressive bishops and pastors within the United Methodist Church have completely ignored the Book of Disciplines and have not been held accountable by the Judicial Council for their actions. The real issue is between progressives in the church and conservatives who believe in traditional John Wesley (founder of the Methodist Church) teachings and beliefs.

The Book of Disciplines specifically prohibits practicing homosexuals from being pastors or bishops and prohibits homosexual marriages in the church. In the past few General Conferences, the progressives have tried to get these articles removed but could not get enough votes to do it.

Since they could not get these prohibitions removed from the Book of Disciplines, they chose to ignore the laws of the church and do it anyway.

There are documented cases of practicing homosexual bishops who have appointed practicing homosexual pastors, and marriages of homosexuals being performed in United Methodist Churches. There are also reported cases of pastors who profess that Jesus is not the Son of God and belief in Jesus is not the only way to salvation.

The issue of human sexuality is not the reason why our church voted to disaffiliate. In fact, we have had known homosexual individuals attend our church and they have been accepted and loved just like any other person who attends our church.

The real issue for us is that the progressives have been doing things that are against the Book of Discipline and have been allowed to do it with impunity. If progressives are allowed to get away with what they have already done, what more do they have planned for the future?

Rather than taking a “wait and see” approach, our church has opted to stick with traditional Wesley beliefs and values. We have now affiliated with the Global Methodist Church which was mostly organized by the Wesley Covenant Association.

Joe McCollough is a Warren resident.