Kansas Area Bishop Scott Jones introduces the Rev. Steve Spencer as the new pastor of GracePoint United Methodist Church. UMNS photos by Lisa Elliott Diehl.

By Lisa Elliott Diehl*
March 17, 2009 | WICHITA, Kan. (UMNS)

GracePoint United Methodist Church is rebuilding on a strong foundation of outreach and vibrant worship after church leaders left the congregation to form a non-denominational congregation of the same name.

Bryson Butts, founding pastor of GracePoint United Methodist Church, announced to the congregation on March 1 that he was resigning from The United Methodist Church effective immediately and would start another church in northwest Wichita.

“We were surprised,” said Kansas Area Bishop Scott Jones. “We would have liked to have some opportunity to discuss this in advance to see if the issue could have been resolved in a different way. While we knew there was some disagreement about the church’s desire to expand faster than we were able to support, we were unaware of Bryson Butts’ decision to leave The United Methodist Church.”

Butts surrendered his clergy credentials and is no longer a United Methodist minister.

“I am most concerned for the people of GracePoint,” Jones said. “The cabinet, conference staff and I have taken many steps this week to provide support for the strong continuation of GracePoint UMC. Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

In a March 6 letter to Kansas Area United Methodist clergy, Jones said Butts had been notified of a complaint that had been filed against him “charging him with disobedience to the order and discipline of the UMC and that he was withdrawing under complaint.” Jones also wrote that he “made a number of mistakes with regard to GracePoint over the last four years, chief among them my trust in Bryson Butts.”

In January, Butts and other church officers incorporated GracePoint Community Church as a new Kansas corporation. “The conference was not aware of this action at that time. For more than a month they were officers, directors and/or leaders of two competing congregations,” Jones said.

Started in 2003

GracePoint was started by the denomination’s Kansas West Conference in 2003. The first public worship service was in January 2004, and the congregation was chartered in January 2005. The remaining congregation will continue to worship at Maize South Middle School.

According to Jones, the annual conference had supported GracePoint’s developing a second campus but the church decided last summer to delay that plan and focus on building its first building.

“We do not see this as a ‘church split’ because our church is ONE behind the decision,” writes Butts in his weblog at BrysonButts.com. He said that the move was made to have multiple locations for ministry.

“A non-denominational structure will allow us the liberty to spread the message of Jesus - and our campuses - across the city,” he wrote. “Our vision is truly a movement of God and does not fit traditional church systems. We will align ourselves with other churches that are similar in style and vision so that we can work in unison to make a kingdom difference.”

Butts’ announcement sent Jones and the Kansas Area appointive cabinet searching for a new senior pastor. The Rev. Steve Spencer was appointed to succeed Butts, effective March 6.

“GracePoint has made a name for itself in the Wichita community as a relevant ministry with intentional outreach to the unchurched and those who are hurting.” Spencer said. “I plan to continue this mission.”

Before answering the call to ministry, Spencer, a native Californian, was a television reporter and served in the United States Air Force. Since 2006, he has served as associate pastor at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Wichita.

Spencer preached his first sermon on March 8 before 150 people, including a number of people from other United Methodist churches who had come to surround the GracePoint congregation with support.

“GracePoint as it was a week ago will never be the same,” he said. “But what next? We are looking at a future with possibilities. There are good things on the horizon because of the good things you’ve done over the past five years.”

* Diehl is director of communications for the Kansas Area of The United Methodist Church.

News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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Resources

Kansas West Annual Conference

GracePoint United Methodist Church

GracePoint Community Church