Saw these books side-by-side on my table this afternoon. It’s striking how much longer the current Book of Discipline of our UMC is compared to Wesley’s three rules or even our much simpler 1908 Book of Discipline. The United Methodist Church can be bureaucratic and rule-bound. But our heritage is rooted in administrative simplicity and relational wisdom. Recapturing a Wesleyan polity and a simpler organization, is a vital piece of the future of the UMC.
