Most ironically, the bishops cited the precedent of their In Defense of Creation pastoral letter of 15 years ago, which endorsed the nuclear freeze fad of that era. The bishops seemed unaware that, had their advice been followed then, the Soviet Union and the Cold War might still survive today. Of course, there is little chance that any policy makers are listening to these latest statements now any more than they were listening 15 years ago. As a United Methodist, I wish that were so. But even if secular publications, and most religious ones, are indifferent, official denominational sources will publicize this pabulum throughout the denomination.
Church members greet such statements with a combination of indifference and embarrassment.
Of the 40,000 to 50,000 members who can be expected to leave United Methodism this year, I will guess that at least a few thousand will have been influenced by silly political pronouncements from bishops and other church officials. His father, when president, was upset with Episcopal Church opposition to the Persian Gulf War. But there is no reason to think that George W. is as attentive to his denomination s political pronouncements, although he seems to take his Methodism seriously in terms of his personal faith. But there is a chance that George W s membership in the United Methodist Church will focus a little media attention on such pronouncements, if they persist, as surely they will. And if that happens, the popular dissatisfaction with the left-wing slant of the church leadership will either increase the membership hemorrhage, or help create a backlash against it.