Life continues in a patchwork fashion across United Methodism…we have a lot of work to do.
That’s not Chinese Food
Bishop Ken Carter of the Florida Annual Conference tells the story of when his family moved to Florida, they saw a Chinese restaurant in their neighborhood. They went and the food was…awful. That’s not Chinese food. The Bishop knows what good or decent Chinese food is–his daughter is a Chinese interpreter–and that’s not it. And now they have a secret wish: they wish it would close. Everyone would be much better off if that restaurant closed, a better one opened up, and then the people would know what Chinese food really is. But in the meantime, there’s a whole block full of people who think there’s a Chinese restaurant in their neighborhood.
I thought about this story a lot in the past week, because there’s whole blocks full of people who think there’s a Methodist church in their neighborhood. They drive by and see that church with a cross and flame and think they represent all Methodists. They might move out of their neighborhoods and to other neighborhoods, and see a Methodist church there, and not give it a shot because they already know what Methodism is all about.
And this past week, there’s been people who have read the decisions coming out of the General Conference, and it makes my heart sad that they might think there’s a Methodist church like that in my neighborhood.
Mary Decisions
In John 20, as I’ve written before, we have two different experiences of the Resurrection. The first is by Mary Magdalene, who, after recognizing Jesus Resurrected, and goes to tell the Disciples the very first sermon: “I have seen the Lord” The first sermon about Jesus is by a woman who says “I want to tell you about the Resurrection I just saw.”
Like Mary, I want to tell you about the Resurrections I saw the two weeks of General Conference. Some decisions do reflect the abundant life initiated by Christ:
- We will have a new hymnal, the process has begun and it will be a living one that is both paper and digital, able to be updated so we might sing new songs alongside our current ones.
- We will soon state that the church is open to all people regardless of age or gender. It’s odd that our church doesn’t say this explicitly. But soon it will.
- We almost reached our four year goal to raise $75 million to fight malaria, a preventable and eradicable disease. We did it!
- We approved four areas of focus, first articulated in 2008, and adapted a bit, focusing on childhood health, poverty, leadership development, and new faith communities.
And even when the votes did not go the way we hoped, we got great messages and narratives out there that caused every delegate to think a bit deeper about their experience..
Thomas Decisions
But there’s another voice in my heart, and it’s the same voice as in the second part of John 20.
Thomas, one of the disciples, arrives after the Disciples had seen Jesus and confirmed Mary’s story. Thomas was told of the Resurrection, and he doubted, he disagreed, he was Debbie Downer. No amount of testimony or trust would override his belief that Jesus was dead–and he held onto that belief for seven days until Jesus appeared to him.
Some decisions reflect Thomas who wants to sit in the in-between space where he hears the world is different but refuses to believe it:
- We did not divest from fossil fuels despite vigorous debate on the floor and the reality of climate change.
- We defeated a resolution of support for Palestine despite the reality of human rights abuses there.
- We removed ourselves from the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, an organization for reproductive health that we helped begin in the 1970s.
- We turned down or did not consider many proposals brought by United Methodist Women that advocated for women and children–women and children!
Like Thomas, we settled for maintaining church “as is,” doubting the new life already revealed.
LGBTQ Inclusion…Deferred.
However, it is specifically around LGBTQ Inclusion that we see a decision that represents both Thomas (a gloomy long sitting period) and Mary (an unexpected Resurrection).
- Thomas: You may have heard in the news that The UMC did not change their position on whether pastors can officially preside over weddings, regardless of the gender of the participants, nor did it change that we cannot ordain out LGBT persons. Instead, they deferred action on all those topics to a special GC just on human sexuality in 2018…a long time to wait.
- Mary: This is a great disappointment but one that needs to be put in a larger frame. The previous week some awful legislation advanced that would have accelerated the expulsion of Progressives from The UMC. They were waiting in the wings to be voted on and made into law, and they might have passed. This action to defer means those poison pills did not make the 2016 Discipline–to the Church’s collective relief.
This action to defer those means that life continues in a patchwork fashion across United Methodism. Life and ministry continues just as it was 20 days ago, in a mix of affirming and disregarding the gifts of LGBTQ people. Depending on where you are physically located in ministry, this is either good news or bad news.
Bishop Carter laments that a whole neighborhood believes they have a Chinese restaurant by him.
I lament that the whole world believes the Methodist church in my neighborhood looks like the one in the news last week.
We have a lot of work to do.
Seeking the Sunrise
I will have to put up with wherever the church may go for a long time.
I entered the ordination process, I was commissioned, ten years ago this next Sunday. But I also have thirty-six years of ordained ministry ahead of me if I go to the mandatory retirement age. This church is my home. It’s where my older daughter was baptized three years ago and my younger daughter will be baptized this summer.
I’m committed to sitting with this church through to the other side.
John 20 reminds us the Disciples treated Thomas like we are called to treat the Methodist Church. The Disciples sat with Thomas for seven days, waiting for the Resurrection to be made real to him. And if they had to wait forty-eight years, I believe they would have. Because to watch the Resurrection sunrise together? To see that moment of awakening in the other to the truth of God’s love for LGBTQ people?
That’s the resurrection moment to wait for, and that we are actively working for in the Church.
Bearing The Church With You
Until that moment, dear reader, we have a job to do.
If you don’t want the kind of Methodist in the news, or that makes up the majority vote, to be known as the Methodists to your community, then your call is to bear your Methodist identity with you in all you do.
Ensure when people meet you and see you in mission and ministry outside these church walls, that they’ve met a Methodist. Not the bad Chinese food kind of Methodist. Not the kind that may have been in the news this past week. Rather, the kind of Methodist you believe in and your local church believes in, so that all who meet you and travel somewhere else that has a cross and flame sign, they ask “Why aren’t these Methodists like you?”
Thoughts?
I love Chinese food, good Chinese food. Excellent Chinese food. I have Methodist blood. I have wandered halls of Methodist churches since birth. I’m really tired of this sad, angry, firing squad feeling about our church. I don’t know if I can promise to stay until…. but I hope this special commission is prepared to change the world — no more quiet conversation, no more “change will come eventually” talk. No more trying to force progressive voices and lives out. How long? Someone please tell me, ‘not long.’
The part of the Thomas story I love is that Jesus showed up to relieve Thomas of his doubts. He understood what Thomas needed. “Touch me.” He didn’t lecturer, shame or embarrass Thomas.
This is the Jesus who comforts, leads and gift us.
It’s funny; I love the opening metaphor. It’s perfect for the UMC. Except the authentic Chinese food is pretty clearly the evangelical, biblical churches you disdain. It’s the newer, progressive churches that were relatively recently imported into the consumeristic lukewarm setting of American Mainline Protestantism. If we want to use a metaphor about there being something original, and then there being a corruption or cheapening of it, then you’ve miscast the characters here. And you can be sure that folks on the other side of all this definitely see the progressive movement very much as faux Methodism, and wish that they didn’t represent the Wesleyan tradition to the world. I had a guy come into my office the other day, blaspheming left and right, who was genuinely shocked when I told him we are not a progressive church. “But you’re Methodist, right? UMC?” Yes, here is a Book of Discipline for you. This is who we are. Read our statements on how we engage the scriptures. Read our Articles of Religion. Just because we have some churches who don’t take it seriously does not mean we are now Pho Methodist. It just means we are in an era of confusion. The good news in this case is that we are now nearing the end of this confusion, and soon we will be resolved.
I think each “side” can claim to be genuine authentic food and argue the “other side” is the shallow substitute. We’d both agree, surely, that Prosperity Gospel is the Red Bull version of the Lord’s Supper.
I’ve also had the same encounters of people saying our church is anti-gay, anti-abortion and I am able to point to the exact same documents and show otherwise.
We are a big tent church–and the problem is not the tent, but that one side wants to remove the other from the tent by legislation, prosecution, and practice. And it’s not “my” side that is doing that.
Side note: I love Asian food but cannot stand Pho. Glad we agree on that one.
You point out that one side wants to remove the other from the tent by legislation, prosecution, and practice. And that’s not your side. Of course it’s not your side, because your side doesn’t have the legislation to back up the prosecution of those who won’t practice the legislation.
But do you honestly feel that if/when full inclusion of LGBTQ comes to the United Methodist church, that there won’t be attempts from your side to remove clergy through prosecution who will preach that homosexuality is a sin, who refuse to allow LGBTQ persons to join the a local congregation because of that sin, and who refuse to marry same-sex couples only because they are same-sex couples?
I am trying to raise a serious inquiry here and not make an accusation, but what will be the response from your side when the legislation and power are on your side to those who remain that are opposed to inclusion?
This illustrates well why I think we are heading for a separation of some sort. I think each side needs separate corners where they can heal and from which we can all get to know one another again – without the power and authority issues that come with legislation and prosecution getting in the way.
I hope that we will not have a schism. We are a UNITED Methodist Church. The last time we were this divided was over slavery. The Bible can be read as supporting slavery, and that’s what the Southern Methodists pointed to. I don’t think any of us seriously believe that slavery is Biblically sanctioned, and I think most of us are ashamed of that period of Methodist history. I firmly believe that we will come through this and that love will win. LOVE! God’s love for ALL of His creation, not just the part of His creation that conforms to current social norms. Jesus commands us to Love one another. He tells us not to judge others. He didn’t say “Love the ones who are straight.” He didn’t say “It’s OK to judge the homosexuals and the transgendered and the different.” Love should be the guiding principle of our church.
Brian,
I cannot speak for all those who seek for full inclusion of all people, but I can speak for my own experience and my own hopes and dreams for the church.
I have sisters and brothers in faith who feel that all non-heterosexuality is contrary to God’s will for the world. I disagree with them. I share the evidence of the Spirit of God that I have found in people of varying sexualities. And I love these sisters and brothers with whom I disagree.
I do not deny their experience of God’s life and work in the world. I do not seek to silence or expel them. I acknowledge that they are trying to be faithful to God’s calling just as I am.
I know that there are those who would be glad to eradicate every expression of faith other than their own, but for me, I believe that we are called to walk alongside one another, each affirming their own experience of the world and the divine.
So, no, I would not call for prosecution and expulsion of those who believe and/or practice that homosexuality is a sin, even though I strongly disagree with the premise and practice. However, I also recognize that I do not speak for all and cannot say that there are not those who would. As such, I acknowledge that your fear may have grounds, but I also challenge that we cannot let our fears rule us. As Christians, I believe we are called to live under the rule of love, and remember that perfect love casts out all fear. Let us not work towards prosecution, but towards an abundance of grace.
Peace and joy in Christ be with you.
That is the trust issue that will prevent any “third way” or revisionist legislation from passing. You have many evangelicals who have felt or feel pressured by more progressive bishops to go along with their flow. Stories are told about Bishop Talbert forcing evangelical clergy out.
No one who pays attention is going to trust certain bishops not to push “Side A” clergy on a “Side B” church when the supply inevitably greatly exceeds the demand.
The Western Jurisdiction is melting FAR, FAR faster than the denomination as a whole.
Brian, I don’t foresee a time when the Progressive Wing of the UMC will have, as you say, “the legislation and power” on our side, but if that ever happens, I hope and pray our response will be more loving and more grace-filled than that of those “opposed to inclusion” has been. However, the very fact that you couch the question in these terms demonstrates how foreign your way of thinking is to mine. Like most progressives I know, I don’t want to impose my views on others, but neither do I want others imposing their views on me.
I also don’t want the UMC to impose my view on others. If a Conference BOM wants to exclude sexual orientation as a factor when considering candidates for ordination and conference membership, they should be able to do so. But no CBOM should be forced to follow this path against its will. If a pastor or congregation doesn’t believe in same-sex marriage, I don’t want them to be forced to officiate at or host one. But neither should they stop others from including LGBTQ persons in the full life of the church in this manner if they wish to.
I believe the time will come when full inclusion in the life of the UMC of all persons who wish to follow Christ, regardless of status or category, will be the norm. But I do not believe that change will be accomplished through “legislation and power.”
Not that this has anything to do with this great post… but a white person saying, “that’s not Chinese food” and that he can say he knows Chinese food because his daughter is a Chinese interpreter…
I hear that and it is problematic. But hopefully the analogy outshines that obvious disconnect.
…and therein lies the the problem with all such debate…who/what is authentic? Is this New Recipe a written prescription or a spiritual code, that can’t be captured with your eyes or brain? Some will hold up written text, other hold up hearts filled with love. To me the path to discernment revolves around a central question. Did God send LOVE into the world or an update/edit to scripture? The crazy thing is, some will quote scripture to answer this riddle. I think the dividing issue is do you stand on a rules for authority or are you led by a overriding higher LOVE that demands much more than a scripted answer?
just to clarify — I wasn’t talking about what Jeremy wrote, but a white man talking about a culture that is not his own and labeling it what is authentic and what is not.
We do not need old white folks to tell us what about OUR culture is authentic or not.
I’m just saying that perhaps Bishop Carter could’ve found a better analogy than him being a expert on Chinese culture (because food is a HUGE component of culture) because his anglo daughter is an expert interpreter.
It’s similar to, I can say anything about black people because my best friend is black…
It is the horror that we remember instead of our pledge to serve the Christ. Faith in the Christ is our continuing challenge. It was not the Christ who throws the first stone because it is our superstitions enforced by those who seek power to stone those not challenged by the Christ to repent, for they have not sinned in his eyes. We were given simple lessons because we are simple; love, seek peace, and live life. Blessings.
Jeremy,
Two things – first, I posted a link to this piece on my own blog so that others may find it.
Second, while others may not understand the analogy with Chinese food, I did. Many years ago, I wrote in my own blog about a restaurant that advertised itself as a Christian restaurant. Unfortunately, the food wasn’t that great and the restaurant went out of business. There were those who said it went out of busines because people weren’t willing to support Christian businesses. It went out of business because it served lousy food. Actually, it was a nice place to eat but you have to have good food. Simply putting a label on something doesn’t make it so.
In peace
This reminds me of the Luther quote:
“The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”
Jeremy, what an excellent statement! Thank you for helping me taste and see. I have been so full of what tastes foul that I have lost sight of the good. You have helped me strengthen my resolve to be the kind of Methodist who reflects a genuine resurrection faith that is truly inclusive of all and seeks a just, participatory and sustainable future for humankind!
Just a possible fact check. Did we actually hit the INM goal of $75 million? What I saw said that we were close. I’d be excited to communicate that we have but I haven’t seen that verified anywhere.
Hmm. I thought I had. Lemme search but you may be right that I’m being preemptive.
Whoops, looks like we are at $68 million. Thanks for the correction.
actually does that $68 million include pledges, etc. and not only money received?
In all fairness to Thomas, when we consider the track record of those who brought him this news, doubt is not an unreasonable response.
Thank you Jeremy, you state the situation well. What I think people are forgetting, especially those who want to exclude homosexuals, is that by so doing we are actually harming people. Young people are thrown out of their homes, the suicide rate for gay teens is higher than for non-gay teens, people are driven out of the churches in which they were baptized, etc. No matter what else he said, John Wesley was really clear that we are to do no harm. That’s not the situation now.
I agree Michele. A fellow stats nerd crunched the numbers a few years ago and it was averages to about one LGBTQ teen/young person suicide a week. So by delaying this 2 years, that’s 104 dead youth that we are contributing towards. Do no harm indeed. 🙁
Thank you for your thoughtful post. I watched the live stream of #umcgc and found it to be fascinating, kind of like a train wreck. I wonder if the Bishop’s proposal will be like the geographical division that brought on the slavery division. If that’s the case I could see three central conferences being developed in the US. Western Methodists, Central Methodists, and Northeastern Methodists. Although, I’m not sure how churches, who find themselves theologically challenged by their geography, would adapt. I think a division would be a gift to all because I see the UMC in the US (Liberal view point): Biblical literalist/Progressive theology ; or (Conservative view point): Biblical authority/anything goes. I don’t like these labels because they are all divisive, hence the conflict we find ourselves in.
I can’t see the current Bishops taking a stand that would completely divide the church because of our historical authority in the General Conference. The Bishop’s tone at GC 2016, conveyed the message that unity was more important than a divorce where both sides of the issue feel they have been unjustifiably harmed by the other. I believe this phenomena is killing the message of the church in the US.
From the blogs I’ve read on both sides of the issue, people indicated they were leaving the UMC because of this debate. I think in the best interest of the whole church, separation needs to occur, but I don’t think our current Bishops will take the prophetic leadership to separate the church. Hence the continued decline in the US UMC.
But I think it would be helpful for the sake of the mission of the church on both sides, if the church divided. 50 years from now, we may unite again, under what understanding of human sexuality, I have no idea.
But for the love of the church and the message of God’s love for humanity, we must divide. It’s what we do, we are protestants.
Question: If I were a practicing alcoholic, a practicing adulterer, a practicing pedophile, would you want me as your pastor? Would you want to say, it’s ok for you to do these things? No you wouldn’t! Neither would I. Now, if you came into the church as a practicing alcoholic, adulterer, pedophile, etc. (sinner like me), I would think that we all would welcome whomever to worship in an effort that we would be touched by the grace of God in a way that our lives would be changed. We all are born with the inclination to sin, it is not until we act on that sin that it actually becomes sin. Why are we so emphatic about accepting sin as a lifestyle? As someone put so eloquently at General Conference, “Come as you are, don’t leave that way!”
The problem with this line of reasoning is that alcoholics, adulterers, and pedophiles are not born this way. Therein lies the difference. It is completely settled at this point that a person does not choose their sexuality, therefore discriminating against someone based on sexuality is the true sin just as surely as discriminating based on skin color, gender, or ability is a sin because these are things that are innate within us, things we are born with, not things we choose. Blaming it on Jesus and the Bible doesn’t make it any less sinful. Actually, in my mind it makes it more sinful because you’re making Jesus look bad by blaming your personal prejudices on him.
Wow. Picking up for UM Insight.
Thank you for a compelling view of the 2016 GC. On the issue of LGBT inclusion, I certainly hope and pray that the Bishop’s Commission will give us a more acceptable result than past such efforts (see 1982 reports). A good place to start, I believe, would be the American Medical Association’s view of homosexuality. I believe that they contend that it is “natural.” And the AMA rejects “conversion therapy,” something our church once encouraged. If this is the starting point, then the theological principal of “image deo” must be invoked. From there, it seems nothing but apostasy to declare that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian principles.
First, I am a traditionalist (literalist). I keep hearing the term “love” as one sided justification. Do you people know how many Greek words there are for love? Most comments lean toward “Eros” sexual love, some encompass “Philips” or brotherly love. Jesus most often used “agape”. Take the time to learn the difference.
He also said, not to think He came to bring peace, but a sword. That family members would e against each other. He also said that He didn’t come to change the law but do fulfill it. If Scripture is open to individual interpretation, then it has no validity and I would have to be a fool to be a Christian. Fortunately I have a personal relationship with the Lord and rely on the Comforter to guide me.
First, I am a traditionalist (literalist). I keep hearing the term “love” as one sided justification. Do you people know how many Greek words there are for love? Most comments lean toward “Eros” sexual love, some encompass “Phileos” or brotherly love. Jesus most often used “agape”. Take the time to learn the difference.
He also said, not to think He came to bring peace, but a sword. That family members would e against each other. He also said that He didn’t come to change the law but do fulfill it. If Scripture is open to individual interpretation, then it has no validity and I would have to be a fool to be a Christian. Fortunately I have a personal relationship with the Lord and rely on the Comforter to guide me.