A Quick Reflection

Yesterday was a tough day. I wrote an extensive blog post about it and then it got lost. I'll try and write a little later and reflect on the day. For now, I need to reflect on the day that lies in front of us. Worship is happening in the main hall, but I can't really be there right now...I just need a moment.

Today we await a visit from the protestors. Yesterday there was much pain and we will be reminded of that today. As I think about this, my stomach gets tied up in knots and I get a lump in my throat. I dread today because it shows so clearly the brokenness of God's Church.

I experienced my first General Conference when I was 18. That year the Conference was held in Cleveland, and has been remembered as one of the most difficult Conferences because of the particularly divisive protest. The protest scene is Cleveland is seared into my mind with amazing clarity. I don't remember my high school graduation as well as I remember the 2nd Thursday of General Conference in Cleveland. While I appreciate the opportunity that I had to go to General Conference that year, I was too young to experience that kind of pain that comes through protest. What is difficult is that this year reminds me of Cleveland.

That experience changed the way I look at church and as I reflect, has shaped part of my call in the Church. Cleveland showed me clearly the broken and divided parts of the church and called me to somehow speak to that. Ever since that day I have struggled to know how to hold orthodoxy as I know it with abundant grace. I have struggled to hold beliefs and build bridges. I do the best I can, but I know that I don't have it all figured out. Protests bring up anger inside of me, but also extreme hurt. It reminds me that when "one part of the body hurts so does the rest." Today, our United Methodist body is hurt, and I struggle to know how to hold that hurt in tension with the idea that we made the correct choice.

Today reminds me of part of my call...to preach, to teach, to lead and to build up the body of Christ. Today the body of Christ is hurt, and I pray that while a witness is shown to the hurt of the body, that the witness will not be too dividing. As a witness happens today, I will probably pray and weep for the Church and I will ask that God continue to grow gifts in me that will allow me to know how to speak and work within pain. Please pray for me as well.

Town and Country Ministries

Today we are celebrating the ministries of millions of people and thousands of churches that are located in small and rural areas. We have heard a call to continued support of small churches ministries, as they bring hope and healing to places that often are deeply affected by poverty. As I think about small churches I can't help but think about the small churches that have mentored and grown me. I think about places like Red Bird Mission that has a vibrant minstry among some of the nation's poorest people. I think about my parents who have grown vibrant ministries in small places. They have remained in small places and have left behind the kind of prestige that many seek in order to stay faithful to God's call. This morning we celebrate ministry that happens all over the in places like Hyndman, Palo Alto, Buffalo Mills and Townville. Thanks be to God.

And it begins...

And it begins...
I arrived in Ft. Worth yesterday night and after working out some hotel kinks, I settled in. This morning we had a Delegation Heads meeting, and now I'm set for the rest of the day.

The hustle and bustle of the Convention Center is pretty astounding, considering that things don't really kick off for another 8 hours. Caucus Groups are already handing out their propaganda and conversations are already happening concerning Legislative Committee chairs. This time around, I feel more aware of people who present themselves in one way without really demonstrating their full ideas until later. I keep reminding myself that God moves in messy places, and although the Conference hasn't even kicked off yet, I think that it could be a messy place, full of politics.

I'm off to take a nap...Last night was a short night, and it promises to be one of the longer nights of the week.

Keep praying, friends.
MGJ

Brokenness...

Yesterday, I received a mysterious letter postmarked from Erie with no return address. This couldn't be a second letter from the same group, I thought. It was...A second letter from "Concerned Laity in W. PA" and it was even worse than the first one. As someone who considers himself 'conservative' and 'evangelical' I apologize for the hurt and confusion that those letters cause. I'm upset that the authors attack those that they don't know, use Scripture as a weapon rather than a transforming hope, and react rather than renew. As I thought about the letters, though, I thought about two interesting things that I want to share...

1. The letters main concern revolved around fear. Fear of closed churches, fear of "unbiblical" pastors, fear of dwindling membership, etc. etc. As the writers chose to write, they wrote out of a fear for what they know, rather than a hope for what they don't. They believe that the UMC is close to death, and the only thing that brings about life is a certain understanding of sexuality. I tend to believe that which brings life is the Gospel of Christ, not a certain understanding of sexuality. I have a hope for the future of the church, and I believe in a God whose mighty acts of redemption have shaped history, and continue to give life to the church. Is orthodoxy important? Yes. Will orthodoxy renew the church? No. What will? Probably orthopraxy, but even more, the Gospel will renew the church for mission and ministry as it renews the world.

2. There is much struggle and hurt around the issues of sexuality, and much the church doesn't understand. I had to laugh as I read the two positions regarding the Sexual Wholeness seminar at Bakerstown...While our concerned laity thought it was ruined by Tracy Merrick's presentation, First Pittsburgh thought it was ruined by our concerned laity! There is much more to sexuality than homosexuality, and the church doesn't really understand ANY of it! How do we minister to the sexually broken? How would the church respond to the woman at the well or Gomer, wife of Hosea? How do we speak healing to the abused? How do we understand sexuality as a good gift of God? What's even more interesting is that our discussion of power, politics and even the Gospel have become centered around our issue of unknowing when it comes to sexuality. When's the main thing going to be the main thing? When can we preach a redeeming, healing, transforming, discerning Gospel that speaks grace and truth to all? That's what we need...Not unsigned letters.