A Picture is worth a Thousand Words.....

Yesterday afternoon, the United Methodist General Conference voted to retain our stance on homosexuality being incompatible with Christian teaching. It was a very scary time for me. I was not certain how thing would turn out. I was praying all afternoon that we would not change our position. I stayed glued to my computer for over four hours watching and praying. Now, some might argue that this was not a good use of my time, but at a United Methodist minister, it not only have affected me but my congregation as well.

However, what I surprised by the pictures used int he United Methodist News Service (UMNS) article on the decision. Look at the bottom picture. This how they started the news article. What were they trying to suggest? And now look at the top picture. This is Eddie Fox the person giving the minority report (which was adopted) What message is UMNS trying to suggest? I think we dodged a huge bullet yesterday as a denomination, but I know we are not out of the woods yet. It will be interesting to see is the General Superintendency (Bishops and District Superintendents), and Judicial Council uphold our Discipline. I know one thing, I cannot stand passively by anymore.

A Call to Prayer and Discernment

I start this new blog on the day that the 2008 General Conference begins in Ft. Worth, TX. In the next 10-days, many United Methodist (particularly UM pastors) will have their eye on the issues surrounding this meeting. (I hope I won't get into too much trouble with this blog unlike my last one. We shall see.)

There are some who have a positive outlook on the future of our denomination. They believe that homosexuality issues will not be at the forefront of this General Conference. I wish I had there naivete. The question of whether homosexuals should be members of local congregations and ministers has been an issue raised every four year since 1972 in the UMC, and to think that it won't be an issue this year is keeping your head buried in the sand. Regardless of whether you think this is right or wrong, my prayer is that this year a definitive decision will be made.

We cannot keep putting this issue on hold, left wondering what will change in the next four years. Will I stay, will I go? This is not healthy for the laity nor the clergy to live in the land of limbo. Each quadrennium the wording in the Discipline seems to get stronger (slanted for those of us who are more conservative), while the practice of the leadership seems to ignore the wording. I just wish we would accomplish something one way or the other. Instead , I fear we will continue this awkward dance that we keep fumbling through year after year, while our congregations continue to dwindle and we are left with the form of religion without any power!

However, there is Good News today! I am reminded that God did not come to earth as an institution or organization, but as a human being--a Jewish man form Nazareth, Jesus Christ. Christ did not die on the cross for religion, but for a relationship with you and me. It is in Jesus Christ that I find my identity, my hope, and my salvation. I do NOT live for a denomination, nor for an institution, but I live, move, and breath for Christ alone in my life.