United or Untied?

Many years ago, on one of my seminary papers, I had inadvertently written the Untied Methodist Church. As you can imagine, the spell checker missed it, but the professor did not. Circled in red ink along with the comments: “probably more true then we wish.” In the United Methodist church, our system of governance has equal number of lay and clergy reps from around the world meet to discuss and decide policy and finances issues. No one, not a Bishop, not a local pastor, not a DS, not an agency ever speaks on behalf of the United Methodist Church, only the vote of the General Conference.

The Conference held every four years, just concluded their meeting in Tampa Florida. I wish I could report that the conference brought greater unity in purpose and focus on making Disciples for Jesus Christ, but I can not. From my perspective, it appears as if the United Methodist is now more untied then ever before. We have great divide over such issues as the ordination of practicing homosexual pastors; how and where we spend our connectional funds; how the church needs to streamline our bureaucracy headed into the future; and even how we are to evolve if we are truly to become a global church. But why should we expect our church to be any different from our nation?

It appears as we head into a national election, that our nation has become more untied than united. Red State; blue state; more taxes; less taxes; more spending; less spending; pro this; con this; on and on we go, until it seems as if the only thing certain, is divisiveness and strife, when our nation needs and deserves different. It seems as if discussion and compromise were possible when we knew everyone wanted the best for the nation, but now, our core values seem so different, that there appears to be little middle ground.

It seems as if financially, we are asking fewer people, fewer congregations to continue to raise support for bigger budgets. We can have all the discussions about fairness and how to those much is given, much is expected, but in my simple mind, it is a question of sustainability. How long can fewer continue to support more? This applies to our denomination as well as our nation. But what is a solution? Not 'the' solution, but a solution.

Apparently the answer is bigger then anyone of us can provide, so we best start praying, earnestly praying for God's wisdom and God's solution for our church and for our nation. Secondly, we must learn to be civil and considerate of others. I watch TV, and I see constant bickering, and name calling, and trying to over talk someone else. A discussion used to be two parties talking and two parties listening. Thirdly, we can't afford to sit back and do nothing. That is probably one of leading causes of our current issues, instead of waiting for someone else to do something, become involved. Pick up something besides the TV guide and read, immerse yourself into the topics, and then after praying, after discussion, make up your own mind and do something, something about our nation and about our church. I apologize for using this column as a place to vent, but hey, if I can't do that with some of my closest friends, then with who?

One sidebar to this column, in spite of what happens in our nation and in spite of what happens in our denomination, God can and will continue to use His people here at Covenant to make a Christian difference in the world. For that I am so happy to be your pastor, and look forward to many years together.

See you in your place of worship real soon and real often!