Protocol

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