How Asbury Seminary modeled truth and love in UMC departure

The name “Asbury” may sound familiar. If you enjoy church history, perhaps the infamous minister and circuit rider Francis Asbury comes to mind. He was instrumental in helping the Wesley brothers found the Methodist Church. 

Yet you likely remember the Asbury Revival that occurred at Asbury University (a separate institution from Asbury Theological Seminary) in 2023. February 8, 2023, was a typical day at the university that turned into a 16-day revival in which an estimated 50,000 people attended. This number included Asbury students, visitors from numerous states, and students and faculty from other institutions of higher education, such as Samford, Cedarville, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, to name a few. 

What started as some students staying in the auditorium after a morning chapel service turned into what some were calling an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This event was widely covered on social media and even made its way into mainstream news outlets.

The name “Asbury” made its way through the news cycle again last week, this time due to the United Methodist Church (UMC) removing Asbury Theological Seminary from its list of approved institutions. Asbury Theological Seminary had been approved by the UMC since 1981, a span of nearly 45 years. But with the shift in United Methodist theology over the last few years, this should not come as a surprise. 

What changed?

Asbury Theological Seminary has existed since 1923 and is one of the most prominent evangelical seminaries in the country. They hold fast to the orthodox Christian values of John Wesley and the holiness movement, despite being an independent, multi-denominational institution. Their faculty consists of some of the finest and most influential evangelical scholars, such as Ben Witherington III, Craig Keener, Bill Arnold, John Oswalt, Kenneth Collins, David Bauer, Joseph Dongell, and Thomas McCall. 

Asbury Theological Seminary has stood firm on historic and biblical sexuality, and they have not wavered on this topic despite cultural pressures to do so. This is not the direction of the United Methodist Church, though, which as a denomination has adopted theological and disciplinary changes that affirm same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQIA+ persons. 

Because of this, the UMC voted to remove Asbury. It should also be noted that another reason is that Asbury does not have a full-time credentialed UMC faculty member to teach the denomination’s desired courses. Both reasons resulted in Asbury’s removal.

What does this situation teach us?

Contemporary Christians can glean a lot from how Asbury Theological Seminary handled this situation. There are probably more people and institutions than we would care to admit that may have mishandled something like this to a great degree. In moments like these, Christians are tempted to respond with anger rather than grace. What if Asbury decided to lambast the UMC and started insulting them? 

The fact is that we can stand firm on biblical truth without being abrasive, combative, and childish. I would guess that some of you at home can probably bring some famous pastors to mind who do/have done this, further ostracizing the people they claim to love like Christ. Denison Forum has consistently affirmed the historic Christian understanding of biblical sexuality, and that is no secret, but there are ways to disagree with grace and love. And we see this in Asbury’s new president, David F. Watson’s statement:

We understand the Senate’s governing role within the United Methodist Church and acknowledge its decision. However, this outcome reflects a determination made by the UMC rather than a shared resolution. We engaged fully and faithfully in the process and honored every request from the Senate in a timely manner. We were forthcoming with the requested documents and information. Throughout the process, we were honest and clear about our doctrinal and ethical standards, even when those differed from the recently amended Social Principles of the UMC. Their final decision to delist us was unilateral. While we had hoped for a different outcome, our focus remains steadfast on our unchanging calling.

The Senate’s requirements, particularly those related to the UMC’s 2024 Social Principles concerning ‘Human Sexuality’ and ‘Marriage,’ are not aligned with Asbury Theological Seminary’s institutional ethos and the historic witness of the Christian faith. We affirm marriage as sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union for life, as delineated in Scripture, and provides the sole context for sexual intimacy, helping to ensure the blessings of that relationship as God intended.

Our theological commitments, including our commitment to Scripture, remain unchanged. As an independent, multi-denominational seminary in the Wesleyan tradition, we have remained steadfast for more than a century in teaching the unchanging truth of orthodox Christianity. Our mission and values are the same today as they have been for more than a century. We value our long history of serving United Methodist students and churches, and we are grateful for decades of partnership. Today, more than 4,000 living Asbury Theological Seminary alumni affiliated with The United Methodist Church are serving, or have served, faithfully around the globe. We love and respect our United Methodist students, alumni and faculty, whose presence has enriched our community for generations. We pray for God’s continued blessing on them as they minister faithfully across denominational lines.

This is such a good response from Dr. Watson because it states the biblical truth about sexuality, affirms the order of marriage as designed by God, and appeals to Scripture as the ultimate authority on all things. 

Notice what this statement does not say. It does not say, “The UMC is a lost denomination full of heretics”, nor does it say, “We have read the Bible, unlike the UMC.” Whether or not one believes such descriptions are accurate, statements framed in that manner rarely invite careful reflection. 

What matters in this context is how statements will be received. The truth of the message will have little impact if it’s delivered in a way that the audience will not take it to heart. Paul says, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1, NIV). 

No, this does not mean watering down the gospel and Scripture to make it more digestible or “relevant,” rather, it means taking scriptural truth and delivering it with love. You can preach the most truthful sermon in the world, but outside of love, it will probably not land the way you intend it. 

Watson’s statement clearly rebukes the practices of the UMC, but in a way that adherents of the UMC’s theology will read and consider rather than scroll past and disregard.

Final thoughts

Preaching the truth of God’s Word is essential; not watering down the gospel is essential; being bold is essential; but displaying the love of Christ in doing so is also essential. So, the next time you encounter a situation where God’s truth is at odds with what someone may prefer to believe, consider how you can display Christ’s love without compromising his word.. 

In my view, Asbury did this exquisitely well. Consider Jesus’s response in John 7:53–8:11. Jesus does not come out swinging against the adulterous woman, not in the slightest. Rather, he calmly discerns and disarms the situation. 

The woman was about to be stoned to death for her actions because, according to the Torah, that is how those caught in adultery were dealt with (Lev. 20:10). But Jesus prevents that from occurring and shows love to the woman, yet still says, “go and sin no more.” 

Brothers and sisters, let us preach the Word as Christ did, boldened with truth yet seasoned with love.