General Conference 2008

Fear of Institutional Failure

From where I write right now, Spring is slow to arrive.  Patches of snow remain, and in the deep woods over brush and grasses, the snow is still quite deep, though turning slushy.  In other places, the mosses and grass are fully exposed, especially around the trees.  Nevertheless, various kinds of ducks have returned North already, expecting the ponds and lakes to be free for them to land in and not still covered by ice.  This morning I saw a pair circling the ice-covered ponds nearby, and, instead, surprisingly landing in a very large puddle of standing water from melted snow in the corner of the field next to the woods - not the expected pond and a place that will become dry for the summer as the ground gets warm enough to absorb the melting water.  Yet, land in it they did, and immediately floated in it in perfect stillness, completely content and silent.  They needed calm and nourishing waters to land in, and they found them and "thought" nothing of it.

I am absorbing the peacefulness of this place one more time before heading to Fort Worth, and working mostly via e mail on final preparations with the RMN legislative team and our allies.  Things are crystallizing.  We have talked together for hours about the theology of and urging inclusiveness, and we have worked on "arguments" that support our work for full inclusion and the end of infliction of spiritual violence on LGBT people.  This involves reason and logic on one level, but it goes much deeper than that.  We discuss the Bible, the Gospel, Jesus - what he meant, what God wants of us.  We discuss John Wesley and the foundations of our denomination.  We search the history of our faith and understand that so many of Wesley's sermons support diversity, full inclusion and not imposing one's "opinions" on others in ways that are divisive. 

But over the past week, some insight was shared with me that has caused me significant pause.  Of course this spiritual and theological searching and formulating is not new.  It seems that the movement has already put forward these insights.  We think if we are just that much more focused or bring that much more of Spirit or "something" to the discussion (or debate), we can finally break through.  But this is not, of course, the first time that we have formulated our words in this way as we urge the church to, frankly, do the right spiritual thing.  It is just that the reflective, thoughtful, and even "brilliant" theological arguments we and our brothers and sisters before us have made with great feeling and passion - and while in the hands of the Holy Spirit - have not been persuasive to the audience or carried the day at General Conference.  Instead, arguments from "the other side" based in fear - have swayed the church.  It is important to see this fact, based on a review of the past "debates" at General Conferences past, and call it what it is. 

First it was pure generated fear about homosexuals themselves - irrational and homophobic arguments, like if we were fully included and accepted, AIDS would spread at greater rates, and acceptance would lead to illegitimate children.  And most recently, the fear-based arguments grounded singly in homophobia (fear of LGBT people) kind of gave way (not totally, of course), because our movement became stronger, and more visible, and we as LGBT people could no longer be broadly dehumanized, and objectified in certain negative ways.   For this we know we have the pioneers of our movement, those who have courageously gone before us, to thank. For example, LGBT clergy who were stripped of their orders, but who stood still and strong and remained clear about their gifts and calling in the face of false rejection by the church.

Now, we are informed that the recent quadrennia have revealed the next level of fear-based approaches to continuing to deny full inclusion of all God's children: the fear that doing so will somehow destroy the institution: if we are inclusive, the church will be torn apart, the church in Africa will fail and be confused about what our missionaries taught them, the church itself will die out.  And these insulting and patronizing arguments were persuasive, got the votes and have increased discriminatory laws and rules in our church.

No one wants the church to fail or to die or to be torn apart.  Yet, isn't that what is apparently happening under the present set of principles, powers and rules (or powers and principalities, isn't that the phrase?)- that are not inclusive and thus divisive?  Perhaps the only way for true and lasting unity is to allow full inclusion with an international structure allowing regional autonomy.  This is why the Robbins/Okayama and Wulf legislation pending in the Conferences Committee is key to the future of our church.  That is my legislative digression for this blog.  (See your copy of the DCA - or see www.Generalconference2008.org)

If the church decision makers are resisting an inclusive Gospel primarily because they fear what will happen to "the institution," what does this say?  We moderates and progressives have been working the spiritual angles and communing with how Jesus loves us - and trying to get the church to remember that, but are we to now realize that the institution itself is really the primary concern?  So our passionate and brilliant theological and spiritual arguments are misdirected?  We would do better to appeal to the same fears?  This causes me great pause.  I thought I was working for awakening and enlightenment and to help the church so many love and are a part of to be more "the church" - not to stave off fears about losing "the institution" at the cost of the core of spiritual truth.  For me, at least, the Gospel comes before the institution.  This is true even though our church had and has so much promise to live the Gospel - but it refuses.  Yet, people should  not worry: the institution of The United Methodist Church is not going anywhere.  I guess that can be read two ways and both might be true - we'll see.  What I mean is, it will be around in one form or another for a long time.  What form do we want it to take?  Will it be like a still frozen pond in Spring, over which the ducks circle, but find unsuitable and inhospitable for a soft and peaceful landing? 

Star-Telegram: Fort Worth to host world's Methodist leaders

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports:

When United Methodists from around the world gather in Fort Worth next week, they will focus on developing Christian leaders, starting new churches, ministering to the poor and eliminating some killer diseases more likely to be found among the poverty-stricken.

During the 10-day General Conference, which begins Wednesday, the policy-making group of nearly 1,000 delegates also will examine how to make the denomination's of more than 11 million members more relevant to young people, said Iowa Bishop Gregory Palmer, incoming president of the Council of Bishops.

"We're hoping this time together will transcend any routine legislation," he said. "We hope we really put heart and mind and spirit together to reaffirm our central mission and chart the way forward on how to pursue it."

The delegates - half of them clergy, half laity - meet once every four years. This year, they will consider more than 1,600 petitions, which run the gamut from encouraging healthier lifestyles of clergy to divestment in Israel to reconsidering bans on same-sex unions.

"I hope our conference will be respectful and loving despite passionate debate about things like human sexuality," Palmer said...

Organizations representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people will hold vigils and other activities outside and near the Fort Worth Convention Center during the conference. Among them will be Soulforce, Affirmation, Reconciling Ministries Network and Methodist Federation for Social Action. The four groups want conference delegates to reconsider the ban on same-sex unions and ordination of gay clergy and to make a policy allowing transgender clergy, said the Rev. Troy G. Plummer, executive director for Reconciling Ministries Network.

Full story:
Fort Worth to host world's Methodist leaders
Click here

Photo Galleries: GC 2000 & 2004

Here are two photo galleries from the 2000 and 2004 General Conference. These are compilations of photographs taken by the United Methodist News Service:

2000 General Conference

2004 General Conference

Peripheral Vision

As a basketball coach, I taught my players that Vision is more that focusing on what is in front of you. Young players do well at seeing the ball. But there is alot more going on. To become a good player, one must "see" the whole offense, the whole defense, and anticipate the action. One may be looking at their opponent, but out of the corner of their eyes they see other players, the clock, the lines on the floor, and even their next move. When I was a young player, I learned to use my "peripheral vision" - to see others even when I was concentrating on the ball.

Weeks ago I was invited to speak at a Pride event at Eastern Illinois University (EIU). It was to be in April. I let them know that I had no time to give in April ~ unless it was Wednesday evening or Thursday as I was literally on my way to General Conference. I knew that one week before General Conference it would be tough to carve out the time. 

However, this is the grass roots ministry that I love. The date was set, April 16. For LGBT people, one would say that EIU students live in a tough neighborhood. A few brave students built a panel to speak about the bible. All four on the panel were inclusive folks - a Lutheran pastor, a Presbyterian pastor, myself, and an openly gay student who had come through fundamentalist readings of scripture and ex-gay attempts. He was the bravest.

I was in awe of the students. The organizers were visibly nervous, very nervous. The front row of students seemed obviously there to show support, that either they were LGBT or good friends were. There were some supportive adults around, that the students seemed to know. And there were people holding bibles.

Of the nine questions, seven were clobber passages. Ouch. The panel was great, we supplemented one another and offered resources. Then came the Q& A time. There were friendly questions and challenging questions.

One man stood and started with a long introduction about Christianity and I knew we were going to get hammered after his nice-ness. So I "amened" a couple of things that I agree on, but when he began to slam homosexuals I just shook my head. He kept rambled and I had to stop him - "Sir, you are doing violence to people in this room."

I was looking at him the next seconds as we disagreed mightily. He said, I said, he said, I said. I made sure to say plainly that "Homosexuality is not a sin" , we received a bad teaching years ago, that we know differently now.

I was looking directly at him, but I was seeing the group in the front row "out of the corner of my eye". Some shifted in their seats, two young women began to hold hands, there were tears.

While it may have appeared to others that I was talking to the man I had eye contact with, I knew I would never change his mind. He was not my audience. He gave me the chance to speak about Jesus to a gathered crowd that is often afraid to come and listen.

The nodding heads and tears I saw in my peripheral vision made me believe that these folks had heard the Jesus stories, maybe when they were small, and could still rely on them.  I was not teaching as much as helping them to remember and trust their own experience and allow homophobia to fade in its power.

I spoke to the man, I spoke to the front row, I spoke to my hosts, and I spoke to the other panelists. I also keep within my vision the people who have not revealed themselves at all.

One last questioner was point blank with the Lutheran and Presbyterian pastors. "Do you believe homosexuality is a sin?" Following their solid answers of context and Christ, they each said, "No".

It was a good, grassroots day for Reconciling.

Devotion for April 19, 2008

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
                                                                           John 1:5

The mysterious, poetic beauty of the first chapter of the Gospel of John has always moved me. Years ago a friend gave me a book of meditations—Seasons of a Lifetime by Gerhard E. Frost.  One of the meditations has stuck with me—giving even deeper meaning to John 1:5.

If I am asked
what are the grounds for hope,
this is my answer:
Light is lord over darkness,
truth is lord over falsehood,
life is ever lord over death.
Of all the facts I daily live with,
there’s none more comforting
than this:  If I have two rooms,
one dark, the other light,
and I open the door between them,
the dark room becomes lighter
without the light one
becoming darker.  I know
this is no headline,
but it’s a marvelous footnote;
and God comforts me in that.

Helen Andrew
PRN Steering Committee

The Dallas Morning News: UMC must cease 'spiritual violence' against gay people

The Dallas Morning News Religion Blog reprinted Steven Webster's article originally posted at UMC.org. According to the article:

That's the view of one pastor as the United Methodist Church approaches its big General Conference gathering in Fort Worth.

Dallas Morning News | UMC.org

I Was Cast Out Because I Support Our Gay Son

UM NeXus published an article about Rev. Bill Taylor, the featured speaker at next week's Parents Reconciling Luncheon in Fort Worth, TX (details below):

In 2001, as I was finishing my tenure on the bishop’s cabinet, where I had served as the Texarkana District Superintendent, I was thrilled to be appointed to First United Methodist Church in Conroe, Texas. My wife Roxanne was hired to teach Government and Economics at Conroe High School.

We were well received into the Conroe community and into the church. For the first five years at Conroe First I had a magnificent ministry. The church grew from about 2400 to about 3100, while the budget doubled from just over $1 million to just over $2 million.

And then the wheels came off. My eldest child, Dawson, is gay. When I went to Conroe I didn’t know that. On a tearful night in the den of the parsonage Dawson told us that he was different. Even though I had suspected this, when he shared his sexual orientation with his mother and me, my world caved in. For a year I prayed fervently that God would change Dawson and make him “normal” — a heterosexual like his parents — or I asked God to change me to be fully accepting of him, his sexuality, and his life. My prayers were answered. Slowly, not even realizing that I was changing, I began to be accepting not only of Dawson, but of all who are a part of the LGBT community.

Full story:
I Was Cast Out Because I Support Our Gay Son
Click here

Parents Reconciling Luncheon

The Parents Reconciling Network invites you to the Opening Celebration of the reconciling witness for the 2008 General Conference. Join us Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at the First Christian Church, 612 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, Texas, (4 blocks NW of the Convention Center).

The celebration starts at 11:30 with a luncheon. Following lunch the Reverend William Taylor, of Houston, TX, a pastor who recently was forced to leave his church after refusing to condemn his gay son, will address the gathering.

The HILTON AWARD will then be presented to one of our recent nominees. Selection of the recipient is based on “giving significant support to other parents and increased hope for a more inclusive denomination."

An RMN commissioning service for volunteers serving at General Conference will follow.

Methodist church votes to welcome gays

The Oregon Register-Guard reports:

By a vote of 168-10, Lane County’s largest Methodist church has joined the ranks of “reconciling” congregations that have declared themselves open to all people regardless of sexual orientation.

First United Methodist Church in downtown Eugene is the ninth Methodist congregation in Oregon — and the third in Lane County — to join the movement.

Not coincidentally, the church’s vote on Sunday comes a week before United Methodists from across the country will gather for the denomination’s once-every-four-years General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

Full story:
Methodist church votes to welcome gays
Click here

This was also picked up by The Advocate.

Dallas Voice: Local church ready to confront UMC over discrimination

Northaven UMC, a reconciling congregation, were featured in the Dallas Voice in connection with the upcoming General Conference. According to the Dallas Voice:

FORT WORTH — The only thing Mary Lowrance ever wanted to do was be a minister in the United Methodist Church.

Mary Lowrance says she believes she cannot be part of the efforts to change the United Methodist Church’s anti-gay policies unless she remains engaged in the church.

In 1994, after graduating from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, Lowrance said she answered God’s calling and was ordained a UMC elder.

Lowrance married a man who was also a Methodist minister, and she served various congregations in the Fort Worth area over the next decade.

“My awareness that I was a lesbian, I buried that as deep as I could, because I knew what the church’s position was on that,” Lowrance said. “For a while, I thought I’d live in the closet until the day I died.”

But after Lowrance and her husband were divorced in 2002, she said she gradually began to come to terms with her sexual orientation.

As a result, she was overcome by a deep sense of guilt, as well as the fear of a church trial, and especially the impact it would have on her now-10-year-old son.

Ultimately, Lowrance opted to surrender her ministerial orders.

“If I hadn’t given them my orders, they would have come after them,” Lowrance said. “I felt like the church I fell in love with didn’t love me anymore.”

Lowrance left the denomination briefly to become a minister at Dallas’ Cathedral of Hope, a predominantly LGBT church. But eventually she took a position as a lay staff member at Northhaven United Methodist Church, an LGBT-“reconciling” congregation in North Dallas.

Now, Lowrance and others from Northhaven — where nearly half of the 600 members are gay or lesbian — find themselves on the frontlines of what she called a fight for the survival of the denomination, the second-largest in the Protestant faith after the Southern Baptist Convention.

Next week, almost 1,000 delegates from throughout the world will gather in Fort Worth for UMC’s two-week General Conference, the legislative session held every four years during which the denomination considers changes to its governing document, the Book of Discipline.

And once again this year, LGBT issues will take center stage.

Full story:
Local church ready to confront UMC over discrimination
Click here

Additional coverage:
Northaven UMC
Click here

Devotion for April 18, 2008

Soon after the new year began, I ran across a saying from the Desert Fathers*–“Do not give your heart to that which does not satisfy your heart.” It felt to me a good way to prioritize my life as I continue to be asked for my time and commitment. So many times, I find myself saying “yes” to things I get asked to do and then feeling unhappy with myself that I’ve made yet another commitment. Isn’t it better to put more energy in the things that do satisfy our hearts? The work of RMN satisfies the hearts of many of us. Let’s use our time, energy, prayers, and commitment to the valuable work of RMN for extraordinary results!

Liz Okayama

*Abba Poemen

The Sayings of the Desert Fathers,

ed. By Benedicta Ward, SLG

(Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Pubns., 1975), P.150