Politics in the UMC, Part 2

I didn't mean for this post to be on a Sunday. Although how appropriate to receive some resolution, the good news, today. I'm not going to call it THE resolution, because we are so not close to being done. No friends, we are at the beginning of the work now.

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:50-51a).

With the conclusion of the 2019 General Conference, the veil of the temple has been torn in two. The United Methodist Church as we knew it is no longer whole. We are left wondering how to pick up the pieces, to make all parties satisfied with what comes next - separation. It appears certain that we are no longer one entity, and hopes for reconciliation with each other as a denomination becomes impossible.

The inner workings of the UMC church have been exposed. Just days ago, a day or so after I intended to write this message, even more news surfaced regarding falsifying votes for the general conference. So I guess there's more evidence that God is working among us to help tell the story, and a reason that my blog post was delayed.

What has been happening since General Conference to bring forth direction and a plan for the emerging "progressives" of the UMC? In no complete list, here are a few things that have been happening:

• Churches are more publicly announcing their efforts of being a welcoming, reconciling church welcoming to all.
• Clergy are coming together in solidarity to address their bishops to show the level of support.
• Annual conferences are doing their part to announce that they have no intention of following through with putting gay clergy to trial, nor even consider sexual preference as a question or qualification of entering ministry.
• Individuals, churches, annual conferences, and entire countries are on fire with the love of Christ and the desire to make the love of God radiate among all people, especially those in the most desperate need of love at this moment.

But what needs to happen next? These are certainly some good first steps, but in no way are they putting forward any kind of structure on which the new church can be built. If we truly are to become something new, we need to organize and build a plan and strategy around how to move forward. We need to prepare for a long and arduous battle for our LGBTQIA clergy serving today, and our LGBTQIA community trying to exist in this church space. We need to foster environments where individuals are allowed to be questioning - their sexuality, their faith and beliefs, and the very pillars on which our church is being built. More than anything, we need to move forward. We can't move back or stay still and expect change to happen in our favor.

For now, I will:

• Love all people as best I can, for all are worthy
• Live in the messy grey area of our future, knowing that we are the ones who will be forming it
• Serve in ways that bring equality and justice to our community
• Teach inclusiveness to my daughter, in hopes that by the time she comes of age, that the path we have laid before her will be a better one

Positivity for the Day

Yes, there is still much work to be done. But there are many hands coming together to do it. We have an amazing opportunity to help form the church into something new - something better. We know a loving God who is bigger than all of this. We are God's beloved children, and there is a place for all of us - not only in heaven, but here in this time and in this place.

Be blessed today knowing that no matter where we are, or where we are going, God goes with us and carries us through in God's love.

Peace,
Positively Pastoral Jessica