On the day Jesus conquered death, it was still dark when the women walked. On the day Jesus conquered death, the disciples locked the door. On the day that Jesus conquered death, Emmaus travelers packed their bags. Nothing was settled, nothing was clear. There wasn’t a ton of movement in those early hours, but undoubtedly their minds were racing:
“What will come of us? Where do we go from here? How do we move forward and when will my world feel right again?”
They wouldn’t be the last to languish in that liminal space—in the tension of transition. All of us know the burden of being in between, don’t we? We canvassed this very notion a few Sundays ago. It’s in these spaces, however, that we must remember the Lord not only breaks barriers to meet us there but also blesses us in between. Indeed, Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, but our God is also the Lord of the in-between…and thank heavens because that’s where we are!
As such, since we’re en route now we’re often uncertain about next. What’s true of the individual applies to the communal. Communally, as a connected body (a United Methodist body that spans the globe with some 12 million members), we’re coming to a crossroads as it pertains to how we navigate and address notions of human sexuality—namely same-sex marriage and the ordination of openly gay clergy. It’s a tense issue within our denomination and it has been for some 50 years. There are theological persuasions across the spectrum and it seems with each passing year, the conversation comes with increasing vitriol.
Maybe you’re one who hasn’t had a mind about it. It’s not on your radar. Some of us may be completely unaware. Conversely, others may be deeply entrenched and interested in what will come of the looming General Conference, our top legislative gathering comprised of elected delegates, both lay and clergy from every annual conference, every jurisdiction and region across the globe. On April 23-May 3rd, some 832 delegates will gather in Charlotte, North Carolina to discuss a host of issues leftover from the 2016 session (General Conference takes place every four years with 2020 being postponed due to travel difficulties associated with the pandemic). One hot-button topic will revolve around proposed resolutions/legislation pertaining to human sexuality.
Perhaps you’ve read columns in secular news articles. Your heart rate may quicken when words like, “split,” “schism,” “fracture” or “struggle” surface as prominent headlines flashing across our screens or the pages of certain publications. To be sure, as United Methodists, we’re not strangers to historic struggle and the thorny theological tug-of-war that accompanies it. Subsequently, certain age-old questions could resurface. Heck, they may be plaguing your heart and mind now:
“What will come of us? Where do we go from here? How do we move forward and when will our world feel right again?” Those musings sound familiar, don’t they? We’re not the only ones who’ve spent time swimming in that specific sea of questions. I’ll say it again: historic struggle isn’t foreign to us. However, in a world of verbal histrionics and one-upping, the experience of civil, Christ-like conversation unfortunately is becoming more and more alien. That’s why we’re going to talk about it. We not only need to talk about it, we also need to learn what it means to model the mind of Christ amidst controversial issues of our day. Check this out: I‘ve heard groups from both progressive and traditional sides of the spectrum say in so many words, “Look. I’ve read the scriptures and given what I read, I don’t know why this is even an issue.” The fact that two people on opposite ends of the issue can say such a thing is a direct indication that we have something to learn.
That said, as General Conference approaches, we’re going to create spaces—both before and after—to unpack, inform and converse without being unfairly coercive or combative. On Sunday, April 28th from 5-7:00 pm in the Family Room, I am going to lead a preliminary gathering that will outline the “what” and the “how” before we jump into the theological “whys” behind the issues. Here’s the reason: Many of us have some outside understanding of how other faith traditions or denominations have handled similar matters and thus mistakenly assume that United Methodists are simply carbon copies of the other. Oftentimes, what occurs to me is that folks can worship in church circles for 50 years and astonishingly have no idea what that church believes, how they operate and why.
Possessing this understanding is and will be crucial as we attempt to address the issues that will invariably come out of General Conference. For some seasoned saints, this is old hat. However, you may be wondering, “What the heck is General Conference? How did we get here and why does it matter? Aren’t there leaders from on high who will simply decide our denominational stance and then send it down to the masses? Other protestant faith communities have split over this. Why have we wrestled with this for as long as we have? Hasn’t the UMC already split? What is Christ Church going to do?”
Those are all great questions and worthy of our attention. If you’ve asked similar questions, then this initial session on the 28th is for you. Of the multiplicity of churches in the world, there are very good reasons why I am United Methodist. I am going to share some of those reasons with the hope that you embrace the same passions. Following the initial informational gathering, (particularly as we eyeball any entailments from the closing session of General Conference on May 3rd ) look for subsequent details on small group opportunities that’ll allow us to think critically and dialogue respectively about human sexuality as tough and uncomfortable as it may be for many of us. Indeed, the questions still beg: What will come? Where do we go? How will we move? When will it be over?
Amidst all of those musings, don’t forget to ask about one more: “Who?” Who is with us? Who is in control? Who is still seated on the throne? Who is the One full of grace and truth? Who binds us together and who bids us to be one bread and one body. That question, friends, is mission-critical. There is only one answer to that most important question: Christ. Christ alone. What good is it if Christ be plastered on our marquee if Christ isn’t primary on our minds?
Take it from Wesley himself: Have a pure intention of heart, a steadfast regard to His glory in all your actions. For then, and not till then, is that mind in us which was also in Christ Jesus, when in every motion of our heart, in every word of our tongue, in every work of our hands, we pursue nothing but in relation to Him, and in subordination to His pleasure; when we, too, neither think, nor speak, nor act, to fulfill our own will, but the will of Him that, sent us; when “whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we do it all to the glory of God” ‘ (from The Doctrine of Christian Perfection).
May it be so, friends. May it be so.
