ADDENDUM: WORKBOOK
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS AND RESOLUTIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION
GREAT PLAINS CONFERENCE
KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
MAY 27-30, 2026
Core Doctrines and Beliefs
Financial implications: None
Rationale: Two years after the 2024 UMC General Conference a fundamental concern remains regarding adherence to historical Wesleyan theology and for the exclusive commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of our faith. Serious questions arise concerning the capacity of Great Plains Conference Bishop David Wilson to effectively supervise clergy in this regard.
WHEREAS Reverend Deb McKnight, pastor of Omaha’s Urban Abbey UMC, openly professes disdain for theological fundamentals held by the United Methodist Church.
WHEREAS on Easter Sunday 2026 McKnight repeated her annual rejection of “the theology of Easter”. In this sermon she contradicts several UMC Articles of Religion including:
ARTICLE II — OF THE WORD, OR SON OF GOD, WHO WAS MADE VERY MAN
ARTICLE III — OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
ARTICLE XVIII — OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
ARTICLE XX — OF THE ONE OBLATION OF CHRIST, FINISHED UPON THE CROSS
ARTICLE XXV — OF SANCTIFICATION
In place of these McKnight embraces another gospel wholly apart from the good news gospel of Jesus Christ. Indeed, on April 5, 2026 McKnight announced, “I’m all in here for the sweet infusion of the pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon Goddess Eostre … because there’s always room for a little more feminine divine”. Concluding her Easter sermon she declared that the resurrection can be seen in the emergency contraceptives which are provided at the Urban Abbey.
WHEREAS McKnight regularly preaches from the non-canonical “Gospel of Mary”. She leads her congregation to believe the book was authored by the historical Mary Magdalene. She neglects (or is unaware) of the firm scholarly consensus that the book is a forgery written by anonymous author(s) long after Mary Magdalene would have been deceased. McKnight treats the invented stories in the text as equal or superior to the New Testament gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
WHEREAS McKnight invites non-Christians to present the sermon portion of worship. On Jan. 18, 2026 McKnight invited Nebraska Legislative candidate Erin Feichtinger who spoke about lobbying, trans politics and her own door knocking campaign.
WHEREAS on Oct. 13, 2024 local artist Rowena Cage presented “Love Yourself First”. Her talk was full of unBiblical teachings including, “In the Witchcraft practice the power to change your life is in your hands. You are the magic you’ve been searching for.”
WHEREAS in 2025 the Abbey’s theme for Advent was “An Alcott Advent” honoring Nebraska author Louisa May Alcott. Presenting the first sermon of the series was High School English teacher Melanie Peltz who introduced herself as “an angry old lesbian and Aries” before giving a fully secular talk on the importance of reading.
WHEREAS during the summer of 2025 McKnight offered “Urban Abbey TV Guide Sermon Series” in lieu of sermons. For example on July 27: “Join us for tears, laughter, and daytime TV! Continuing our TV Guide sermon series is Gab with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Samantha with Loot!”
WHEREAS using the rationale that a Facebook comment referred to her as a “witch”, McKnight requested that her congregation and staff attend church the following week costumed as witches. (photo 10/27/24)
WHEREAS on October 20, 2024 McKnight gave a sermon praising Queen Jezebel, (wife of King Ahab) and spoke affirmatively regarding the Israelites worshipping the pagan goddess Asherah. Moreover, she told the congregation that keeping household idols “is part of our tradition”.
WHEREAS on at least two occasions McKnight served the Lord’s Supper while wearing apparel which read “Jezebelite” and “In the Spirit of Jezebel”. (photographs attached)
WHEREAS on July 7, 2024 Great Plains Conference Eastern District Supervisor, Stephanie Ahlschwede filled the pulpit at the Urban Abbey for the “Sacred Songs Sermon Series.” Rev. Ahlschwede told the congregation that her Spotify app revealed that her most listened to album that year was “Hail Satan” by the Foo Fighters. None of the music Ahlschwede spoke about was Christian in nature.
WHEREAS on 1/15/2023 McKnight proudly proclaimed, “I AM the future!” to the applause of her live audience in a Youtube commentary directed at a pastor of another local church.
WHEREAS Jesus of Nazareth strictly warns us “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
WHEREAS the apostle Paul wrote, “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain” (1 Timothy 6:3-5)
WHEREAS unknown are the numbers of persons who have entered the Urban Abbey sincerely seeking healing, restoration and God’s presence only to find confusion and heresies in the name of the United Methodist Church.
WHEREAS The Great Plains Conference has previously taken a firm stance against any teachings that dispute the claims in the “Articles of Religion” of The United Methodist Church and denounces any Great Plains Annual Conference ministry which teaches anything contrary to the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and is the only way to salvation.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that whatever one thinks about Rev. McKnight and programming at Urban Abbey, it is clearly not Christian worship in unity with the UMC’s Articles of Religion.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Urban Abbey under current leadership does not qualify as a United Methodist Church.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the United Methodist churches in the Great Plains Conference shall no longer be allied with the organization named the Urban Abbey until it has reformed under new leadership in good standing with the UMC, and capable of making disciples of all who enter its doors.
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Bishop Wilson take immediate action to prevent additional damage to the UMC brand.
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Rev. McKnight be disqualified as UMC clergy, and freed up to preach and teach another gospel in a forum or organization unaffiliated with the UMC.
To Implemented by: Conference Secretary of the Annual
Conference
Submitted May 24, 2026
by Glenn Simonsen for the UMC
gosimonsen883@gmail.com
NOTE all statements herein may be fully verified via video recordings posted on Facebook and Youtube.
This petition was rejected not because of content, but because it didn’t follow proper protocols
