The Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church at its annual conference in Lake Junaluska, N.C., from June 1-4 approved a resolution opposing Christian nationalism.
In an overwhelming vote, the several hundred clergy and lay members representing roughly the East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia regions said that while they support American patriotism and love of country, they feel the Christian nationalism movement is a contradiction to the gospel Jesus preached.
The full resolution is below.
Christian nationalism is a movement in conservative political circles by individuals who believe that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and that Christian values should be the basis for American laws and society.
In other Holston Annual Conference news, several new clergy appointments in the Chattanooga area were finalized. The Rev. Nathan Malone, who has been the senior pastor at Christ UMC in East Brainerd, will become the new superintendent of the newly merged Hiwassee/Scenic South District.
He will be replaced at Christ UMC by the Rev. Jeffrey Lambert. Other new Chattanooga area pastoral appointments include the Rev. Amanda J. Dean as the first woman senior pastor at Burks UMC and the Rev. Adam T. Love at Hixson UMC.
Also, the Rev. J. Eric Light from St. Marks UMC in North Chattanooga will also serve as pastor of Red Bank UMC in a combined appointment. the Rev. Evelyn Harris will serve St. John UMC off Highway 58, the Rev. Crystal Harper Fallesen will serve both Harrison UMC and Brooks Memorial UMC in Lupton City, and the Rev. Vannessa Trice-Wallace will serve Soddy UMC.
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Here is the full wording of the approved resolution:
A Resolution Calling the Church to Oppose Christian Nationalism
Whereas, we believe that every person is created in the image of God; and
Whereas, we believe no person or group of people is superior to another person or group;
and
Whereas, we believe the life-giving love of God is offered to all people through Jesus Christ;
and
Whereas, there is a difference between patriotism (the virtuous love of country) and
Christian Nationalism (the belief one’s country/culture is inherently superior to all others),
the way in which Christian Nationalism perverts Christian language to justify hatred, and
the way in which Christian Nationalism confuses the role of church and state.
Whereas, Christian Nationalism promotes violent rhetoric and authoritarian approaches to
civic life and public policy; and
Whereas, Christian Nationalism appropriates the name of Jesus Christ and the language of
scripture to promote this ideology, in direct contradiction to the gospel Jesus preached, a
liberating and loving gospel; and
Whereas, Christian Nationalism misrepresents our faith to our neighbors, thereby turning
people away from the life-giving love of God, by identifying Christianity with hate, social
hierarchy, fear of the “other” and violence; and
Whereas, in our baptismal covenant, we vow to resist evil, injustice and oppression in
whatever forms they present themselves,
Therefore, Be It Resolved that the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church
denounces Christian Nationalism as a distortion of the Christian faith, and commits to
opposing it wherever it appears.
Be It Further Resolved that the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church
commits to educating itself and its constituencies about the societal and spiritual dangers
of these forms of Christian Nationalism, how to talk about it theologically and counter it in
ecclesial and public life, for the sake of the gospel and the good of the human family.