January 15, 2020
My
clergy brothers and sisters are in Lincoln at the Orders and Fellowship. Being
under the weather, I elected to stay home. I had planned to attend as it was in
Lincoln and I could have commuted. Also, the topic of ABCD community
development would have been interesting. I had been exposed to it in the 90’s
but more from a community health and social perspective. It would have been
interesting to see how this would apply to developing systems that could
revitalize not just communities but also churches.
This
was not what I wanted to write about. I read the “Protocol” that is being
purposed for the general conference in May. I would suggest that all leaders of
the church take time to read and study the document. This includes both clergy
and laity. What it reminded me was a paper that I had written 20 years ago for
seminary. I was writing on rural churches in a declining population. When I had
finished the paper and was proof reading, I had found that instead of United
Methodist Church, I had written the Untied Methodist Church. Luckily, I
was able to correct my typo as spell check was of no help. As I think back on
that Freudian slip, it may have been prophetic. Even 20 years ago, there were
signs of an impending schism regarding sexual orientation and discussion of
inclusion or exclusion.
Sexual
Orientation has too often been the central discussion of the denomination for
the past 50 years or maybe even longer. This has led to contentious arguments
focusing on scripture as literally interpreted and those who feel that the
focus should be on loving. In seminary, I was constantly reminded to not proof
text scripture which is to just quote verses without looking at the context
both historical and literary. Those who opposed full inclusion would often
quote Leviticus and Paul to support their contentions for exclusion. Some would
also look at Matthew 19 though Jesus was talking about divorce and not same sex
relationships. By the way as a side note, I do not see the same arguments being
used regarding divorce which Jesus did condemn. In fact, as I read the gospels,
I find that Jesus never really said anything pro or con regarding same sex
relationships.
Over
the last 50 years, efforts have seemed to involve trying to appease everyone to
keep the United rather than the Untied Methodist church. This has never
seemed to work to the satisfaction of either side of this debate. I heard at my
annual conference, people threatening to leave the church if there were any
changes made in the Book of Discipline that would allow more freedom. As a
pastor, I had been verbally attacked by those who were not members of the
church for things that had not been changed but they thought we should not even
be discussing this issue. As a District Superintendent, I had churches threaten
to leave the denomination if any changes would be done to be more inclusive.
This despite that nothing has changed. My conversations have been mostly with
the “traditionalists” more so then the reconciling. Those conversations have
involved some heated discussions and often misquoting of scripture. I retired
before the special called General Conference but did support the One Church
approach though could see some of the flaws that were present.
It is
with that background that the “Protocol” came about. And thus, my comments on
the Untied Methodist Church. I have stated to others including my pastor
that we are focusing on the wrong things. Jesus certainly got into trouble by
his doing things what were not scriptural and in fact were condemned by
scripture. Things such as healing on the Sabbath, touching lepers, reaching out
to Samaritans, having women disciples, and showing love even on the cross. If I
err, let it be for love not law. I am a follower of Jesus not Paul. This does
not mean that I don’t believe that scripture is important in my life. It does
provide me ways of understanding how to love God and to love neighbor. This is
both found in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. It does mean that I don’t
worship scripture. I worship God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I continue to
see the Triune God at work today. So, I am not worried about 2020 General
Conference. Maybe it is time to untie that past and focus instead on the
present and the future. To include all of God’s children into the fold of the
Methodist Church in whatever form that may take.
Eldon
