Faithfully ... Into the Future?

A few weeks ago I wrote about the issues coming before the General Conference of United Methodists in Tampa.  That Conference is now over.  Here are some of the actions taken (and not taken).

1. The "Call to Action" initiative to restructure the denomination's agencies for ministry was supplanted by several subsequent proposals. The Conference did vote to shrink some agency boards, but they went through arduous voting processes until a final comprehensive plan was proposed.  That restructuring plan passed by a 60% vote but was subsequently declared unconstitutional by the Judicial Council. Most of our structures will remain as they are for another 4 years, while some consensus for restructuring will take a higher priority.

2.   Guaranteed appointments for ordained elders were eliminated.  Bishops and Cabinets will have fuller discretion over appointments, though a number of procedural safeguards and processes will undoubtedly appear in each individual Conference.

3.  The proposal for a "set-aside bishop" was defeated. The Council of Bishops will most likely continue to select an active bishop to preside over the Council and serve as spokesperson for the church when necessary.

4.  A $603.1 million denominational budget for 2013-2016 was passed, 6% smaller than the current quadrennium.  Changes to clergy pensions were approved that will shift more of the risks in retirement preparation from annual conferences to individual clergy.  The United Methodist Church entered into full communion with a number of historically black pan-Methodist denominations, and the Conference approved making the United Methodist Women an autonomous organization rather than operating it under the church's missions agency;

5.  There was no change in the wording of our denominational stand on homosexuality, which currently reads:  “The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”  After over an hour of passionate debate, the Conference could not even agree that it disagrees over the issue of homosexuality.

The Revs. Adam Hamilton and Mike Slaughter, pastors respectively of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (Kansas) and Ginghamsburg UMC (Ohio), proposed a substitute statement acknowledging honest disagreement among faithful believers on this topic. The proposal urged unity over division and respect for co-existence of differing views.  Hamilton reminded delegates that John Wesley once said, “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may.”

After the proposal was defeated, the Daily Reporter spoke with Laura Rossbert, a visitor from the Tennessee Annual Conference, who was in tears.  “I stand here broken-hearted, knowing the church has done harm to my friends,” she said. “As a straight, married woman, I have privilege – but I am also expecting a child in September. I want my church to love my child no matter who they grow up to love.”

If I may offer a personal word:  It probably comes as no surprise that my own discernment has led me closer to the stance of Adam Hamilton, Mike Slaughter and Laura Rossbert than to the current wording of the Discipline.  I pray for our denomination to be one in unity and love – and I also pray for the full inclusion of everyone.  I would hate to see the church divided; I also hate to see the pain and anguish that this stance causes to so many. It remains hard for both of these prayers to be answered fully in our denomination right now.

But my hope remains strong that our own Burke UMC remains within the holy circle of God’s love.  In light of that love, I hope we will continue to practice John Wesley’s advice.  We may not think alike, but we can love alike. We do not have to be of one mind in order to be of one heart. 

“Faith, hope and love endure, but the greatest of these is love.”

Pastor Larry