Although I know that I will be processing General Conference (both the feel of it and the outcome of it) for some time, I did promise to post some reflections after arriving home. The return from Fort Worth was without incident. There were a number of us sitting in the airport waiting for the same flight to/through Minneapolis: Bishop Dyck, one of the bishops from the Philippines and his wife, Mary jo Dahlberg, David Bard, Otis Anderson, Becky Sechrist, Dwain & Carol Peterson, Lynn Scott from Wisconsin, Sandra Brands headed to Albany, NY via MSP, and myself. Here’s what I got out of our conversations and my further reflection after the conversations.
The tone of General Conference was much better. People worked very hard to remain civil and polite, however, this should not be mistaken for Holy Conferencing. Tom Albin (Dean of the Upper Room Chapel) and I had occasion to talk about this on Friday. There was not enough time for silence and prayer and possibly conversation without legislation. The conversations that took place during the last 72 hours of General Conference between the bishops and representatives of the GBLTQ community will continue. It is important that the bishops participating in that conversation represent the theological spectrum, not just a part of it. There is a thought already circulating that General Conference 2012 might well use the model that we did in 2007 of holy conferencing without immediate legislation. There is the distinct possibility that the conversation would be followed the next day by voting on these petitions without individual debate on each one. They could be grouped so that apples and oranges aren’t put into the same vote. I think this is very promising.
There is an increased recognition that the global nature of our denomination requires us to be structured somewhat differently although there is no commonality as to what that structure should look like. The next General Conference will have almost 1/3 of the delegates from the Central Conferences – this year it was approximately ¼. Because of the increased cost of General Conference, serious attention needs to be paid at how we do it. I believe the gathering needs to be smaller and shorter. This will take a lot of work and convincing of many people, but it is important. Several times we were reminded about how many malaria bed nets could be purchased with the price tag for a variety of other items.
As we were winding down on Friday night with about an hour of work left, we took a fifteen minute break. I commented to an old friend who had just told me he didn’t think he’d be back to another general conference, that I was becoming more and more convinced that if we just didn’t meet the next time, the world would not notice. There is a growing understanding on the part of many who are delegates at General Conference that the real work of the church takes place where the people are – in local settings across the world – not in large gatherings of leaders. That is not to say that important things don’t happen in those gatherings, but they cannot be the focus of our ministry.
The cynic in me says probably more persons lose their faith while attending general conference than are brought to Christ! Yet, I can point to a number of times during General Conference when my faith was deepened and strengthened. Sometimes it happened as we heard some great preachers. Sometimes it happened while we watched wonderful videos of the presence of the Church around the world, including Hubbard UMC and Recovery Church here in Minnesota. Sometimes it happened in brief but important conversations around the edges. OK, maybe I’m a General Conference junkie! I will probably be retired by the time United Methodists gather in 2012 in Tampa, FL, but I’m already thinking about what I might do as a volunteer to help it work better. I guess it’s that way when it’s the Church you love and have given most of your life to. As a friend of mine has said more than once when we have gotten a little critical of the Church, “Remember the Church is like your mother, kick her very gently!”
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Headed for the barn
Although there have been times in the last ten days when it was so cold in the Ft. Worth Convention Center that it may have felt like a barn (an empty one) in March in Northern Minnesota, this is not my sense. Instead, because we are on the last day of General Conference things are picking up speed. Rules have been changed to allow for fewer and shorter speeches prior to voting on an item. I think all of us are ready to come home although the wonderful warm weather would be nice tucked into our suitcases in place of the clothes that are being put there. Work began today with great music and preaching once again. Music came from The Festival Choir of Christ UMC in Sugar Land, TX, St Luke Community UMC Choir in Dallas, the Mark Miller Worship Band of greater New York/New Jersey and Dr. Eugene Lowry and his jazz piano. In addition, Tongan UMs from across the country gathered and formed a choir who sang the invocation, a Tongan tradition. The preacher of the day was Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of Mississippi who preached on the theme of The Release of Hope! If there was no other witness for the global church in which we participate, it would be through the rich worship experiences we have had here.
The morning session, presided over by Bishop Tom Bickerton of the Pittsburgh Area, focues on financial legislation. Although there were several items that were brought forward that asked for funding outside of the budget preparation process, the items that General Conference decided needed to go forward were able to be incorporated into the budget as proposed so that there will not be the need of annual conferences to adjust their budgets from the amounts that were tentatively given out by GCFA earlier this spring. In essence, the budget was approved as it was presented.
The afternoon session, presided over by Bishop Charlene Kammerer of the Richmond Area, spent the first half of the afternoon deliberating over whether or not to affirm our membership as a denomination in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. By a margin of 52% to 48% the delegates voted to continue as a full and sponsoring member of the organization. The body also expressed support for Taiwan, no change was made regarding a clergy responsibility around issues of homosexuality, amended the definition of family, passed a resolution regarding evolution and intelligent design, rejected removal of some of the chargeable offenses, rejected marriage and covenants between same-sex couples. A couple of these resolutions may have been adopted during the evening session. (I failed to draw a line in the list when I went to dinner!)
The evening session was presided over by Bishop William Hutchinson of the Louisiana Area. Two historic decisions were made during the evening session: deacons have been granted sacramental authority either through permission of the district superintendent or the lead pastor of the church, and laity may now distribute communion elements previously consecrated by a pastor in areas where there is no pastor to distribute the elements on a reasonably regular basis. This is intended to be used in remote areas or areas where there is a great shortage of clergy. There are parts of Alaska where there are UM groups that have not had communion for many years.
At 9:45, with all calendar items limited to one speech for and one speech against with a limit of one minute per speech, there were still 40 items left to be considered. The body is operating under an 11 pm deadline for completing business so that closing worship may begin. I’m not sure what items remain so I don’t know if there are significant items left to be considered. It appears that as many as 100 delegates have left and about half the bishops are no longer on the platform. Everyone I see, including myself, is suffering from sleep deprivation. It isn’t bad enough for us to be hallucinating, yet at least!
As we began the day, it was noted that the legislative committees have been upheld 98.6% of the time. It appears that this high percentage has continued throughout the day and is probably a little higher by now. Over the last three or four days there has been bidding going on over a basketball to raise funds for Nothing But Nets. It appears, if all bids are paid, the General Confernce has raised more than $300,000 which translates into 30,000 bed nets to protect children from malaria. The highest bid is $50,000 which Bill Gates, Sr. promised to match with a contribution from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. During this day since we convened fourteen hours ago, 1,000 children in Africa have died from malaria.
I’m going to post this blog now. Sometime later this weekend I will post a wrap-up blog entry that is more reflective than I can be tonight or when things are happening so quickly on the floor. All I can say is that your Minnesota delegates and the reserves here have taken their task very seriously and have done us proud!
The morning session, presided over by Bishop Tom Bickerton of the Pittsburgh Area, focues on financial legislation. Although there were several items that were brought forward that asked for funding outside of the budget preparation process, the items that General Conference decided needed to go forward were able to be incorporated into the budget as proposed so that there will not be the need of annual conferences to adjust their budgets from the amounts that were tentatively given out by GCFA earlier this spring. In essence, the budget was approved as it was presented.
The afternoon session, presided over by Bishop Charlene Kammerer of the Richmond Area, spent the first half of the afternoon deliberating over whether or not to affirm our membership as a denomination in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. By a margin of 52% to 48% the delegates voted to continue as a full and sponsoring member of the organization. The body also expressed support for Taiwan, no change was made regarding a clergy responsibility around issues of homosexuality, amended the definition of family, passed a resolution regarding evolution and intelligent design, rejected removal of some of the chargeable offenses, rejected marriage and covenants between same-sex couples. A couple of these resolutions may have been adopted during the evening session. (I failed to draw a line in the list when I went to dinner!)
The evening session was presided over by Bishop William Hutchinson of the Louisiana Area. Two historic decisions were made during the evening session: deacons have been granted sacramental authority either through permission of the district superintendent or the lead pastor of the church, and laity may now distribute communion elements previously consecrated by a pastor in areas where there is no pastor to distribute the elements on a reasonably regular basis. This is intended to be used in remote areas or areas where there is a great shortage of clergy. There are parts of Alaska where there are UM groups that have not had communion for many years.
At 9:45, with all calendar items limited to one speech for and one speech against with a limit of one minute per speech, there were still 40 items left to be considered. The body is operating under an 11 pm deadline for completing business so that closing worship may begin. I’m not sure what items remain so I don’t know if there are significant items left to be considered. It appears that as many as 100 delegates have left and about half the bishops are no longer on the platform. Everyone I see, including myself, is suffering from sleep deprivation. It isn’t bad enough for us to be hallucinating, yet at least!
As we began the day, it was noted that the legislative committees have been upheld 98.6% of the time. It appears that this high percentage has continued throughout the day and is probably a little higher by now. Over the last three or four days there has been bidding going on over a basketball to raise funds for Nothing But Nets. It appears, if all bids are paid, the General Confernce has raised more than $300,000 which translates into 30,000 bed nets to protect children from malaria. The highest bid is $50,000 which Bill Gates, Sr. promised to match with a contribution from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. During this day since we convened fourteen hours ago, 1,000 children in Africa have died from malaria.
I’m going to post this blog now. Sometime later this weekend I will post a wrap-up blog entry that is more reflective than I can be tonight or when things are happening so quickly on the floor. All I can say is that your Minnesota delegates and the reserves here have taken their task very seriously and have done us proud!
An up and down day...
The day began with music provided by the Christ UMC of the Deaf Choir in Baltimore, MD and Grace Notes of First UMC in Plano, TX. The worship service was the memorial service in which the bishops who have died since the last General Conference were remembered. In addition, there was a time in the service to remember delegates who have died in the past four years as well as a time for individuals to remember persons dear to them who have died recently. The preacher for the day was Bishop Hee-Soo Jung of the Chicago Area who preached on “Jesus, Remember Me” based on selected verses from Luke 23 and Luke 24. Bishop Jung was very clear in stating that he believed Jesus would accept everyone into the kingdom and thus, shouldn’t we in the church be as open? It was a powerful sermon.
The morning session was presided over by Bishop J. Lawrence McCleskey. The retiring members of the Judicial Council were recognized as were the newly elected members (including our own Kathi Austin Mahle) and the officers of the new council: President is Susan Henry Crowe; Vice-President is Judge Jon Gray; Secretary is J. Belton Joiner. I believe the new Judicial Council has selected three very competent persons as its officers. When the monitoring report was made this morning, Minnesota was represented again! This time it was Rev. Dennis Oglesby. (Later in the day, I discovered an old friend of mine from Troy (my former) Conference is a friend of Dennis’. We were talking to each other and getting caught up with each other when Dennis came walking along!) Even at General Conference, like Annual Conference, there is a flavor of a family reunion – it is just quadrennial, not annual, in nature.
The morning session was interrupted with a scheduled "recess" in the form of a silent protest or demonstration by the GBLTQ community their family and friends. (I wrote a small report that is posted on the conference website www.minnesotaumc.org and the video of the 15 minute demonstration can be found on the general conference website (go to www.umc.org and click on the General Conference logo at the top of the page). This was a painful time but it was also the beginning of what could be profound healing within our denomination because of the leadership of our bishops.
Virtually every piece of legislation dealt with Thursday was a constitutional amendment. While you might say, “Yuck, that must be as dry as dust!” Au contraire! Many of them dealt with the Global Nature of the Church and, as the evening drew on, the voting rights of Local Pastors, associate members and provisional members (what will become the new name for probationary members). If the constitutional amendment passes, Local Pastors who have served two years following completion of the course of study or M.Div. degree or provisional members who have completed their educational requirements for ordination, along with Associate Members will be able to vote for General and Jurisdictional Conference delegates although they will not be able to serve in that capacity. It will help them feel that they are being represented during these two conferences that are so much a part of our connection.
What was most troubling to this writer, and I checked this out with several other veterans of numerous general conferences to be sure I wasn’t off on my own, was the way in which many folks just love to parade to the microphone and add no light (or even heat) to the discussion at hand. While I’m sure it is a variety of these, all of these motivations seemed to be at work: inept and/or inattentive delegates who prefer to come to the microphone instead of asking their seatmate their question, those who possess enough ego that they want to see their name in print in the verbatim of the session, or and this is the most troubling to me, what can be seen as a carefully orchestrated attempt to block legislation by raising all kinds of questions and parliamentary maneuvers.
The evening session was presided over by our own Bishop Sally Dyck. Her style, which we have become used to in Minnesota, was a breath of fresh air. She kept things moving and maintained her own sense of humor while keeping everyone else in good humor. If you looked for this post late Thursday evening or early Friday morning, I apologize. I have been writing this sitting in the press section. While I have internet connection, I have no power source. About half way through this post my computer told me to shut down or lose my work. Thus, I shut down to avoid disaster. When I got back to the hotel at 11:30 p.m. I was too tired to keep writing and do this post. Oh well, one more day. I mean, only one more day!!!
The morning session was presided over by Bishop J. Lawrence McCleskey. The retiring members of the Judicial Council were recognized as were the newly elected members (including our own Kathi Austin Mahle) and the officers of the new council: President is Susan Henry Crowe; Vice-President is Judge Jon Gray; Secretary is J. Belton Joiner. I believe the new Judicial Council has selected three very competent persons as its officers. When the monitoring report was made this morning, Minnesota was represented again! This time it was Rev. Dennis Oglesby. (Later in the day, I discovered an old friend of mine from Troy (my former) Conference is a friend of Dennis’. We were talking to each other and getting caught up with each other when Dennis came walking along!) Even at General Conference, like Annual Conference, there is a flavor of a family reunion – it is just quadrennial, not annual, in nature.
The morning session was interrupted with a scheduled "recess" in the form of a silent protest or demonstration by the GBLTQ community their family and friends. (I wrote a small report that is posted on the conference website www.minnesotaumc.org and the video of the 15 minute demonstration can be found on the general conference website (go to www.umc.org and click on the General Conference logo at the top of the page). This was a painful time but it was also the beginning of what could be profound healing within our denomination because of the leadership of our bishops.
Virtually every piece of legislation dealt with Thursday was a constitutional amendment. While you might say, “Yuck, that must be as dry as dust!” Au contraire! Many of them dealt with the Global Nature of the Church and, as the evening drew on, the voting rights of Local Pastors, associate members and provisional members (what will become the new name for probationary members). If the constitutional amendment passes, Local Pastors who have served two years following completion of the course of study or M.Div. degree or provisional members who have completed their educational requirements for ordination, along with Associate Members will be able to vote for General and Jurisdictional Conference delegates although they will not be able to serve in that capacity. It will help them feel that they are being represented during these two conferences that are so much a part of our connection.
What was most troubling to this writer, and I checked this out with several other veterans of numerous general conferences to be sure I wasn’t off on my own, was the way in which many folks just love to parade to the microphone and add no light (or even heat) to the discussion at hand. While I’m sure it is a variety of these, all of these motivations seemed to be at work: inept and/or inattentive delegates who prefer to come to the microphone instead of asking their seatmate their question, those who possess enough ego that they want to see their name in print in the verbatim of the session, or and this is the most troubling to me, what can be seen as a carefully orchestrated attempt to block legislation by raising all kinds of questions and parliamentary maneuvers.
The evening session was presided over by our own Bishop Sally Dyck. Her style, which we have become used to in Minnesota, was a breath of fresh air. She kept things moving and maintained her own sense of humor while keeping everyone else in good humor. If you looked for this post late Thursday evening or early Friday morning, I apologize. I have been writing this sitting in the press section. While I have internet connection, I have no power source. About half way through this post my computer told me to shut down or lose my work. Thus, I shut down to avoid disaster. When I got back to the hotel at 11:30 p.m. I was too tired to keep writing and do this post. Oh well, one more day. I mean, only one more day!!!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
A Painful Day
The day began with wonderful music from the Africa University Choir and from The Spiritual Image of the South Hayward, CA United Methodist Church. Both of these choirs joined with a young adult choir (age 18 to 40-ish) made up of delegates, visitors and General Conference staff in providing music during worship. The preacher for the morning was Bishop Violet Fisher of the New York West Area. Bishop Fisher preached on Jesus’ encounter with the Woman at the Well. The phrase that sticks in my mind from the sermon is “Was this encounter The Necessity of the Call” or was it “The Call of Necessity?”
As a part of the early morning reports, Liz Lopez for the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women participated in bringing the monitoring report from yesterday’s plenary sessions. A summary of this report is printed in the Daily Christian Advocate each morning. It is called the H.E.R.O. report. This is an acronym for Honest, Empathetic, Respectful, Open-minded. Generally speaking there has been a good balance of speaking on the floor between men and women, clergy and laity, ethnic delegates and white delegates. Intentionality regarding inclusiveness has been shown in virtually every quarter of General Conference.
Much of the morning and the entire afternoon plenary was spent talking about issues relating to human sexuality. The General Conference took action during the morning session that deplored violence towards anyone for a reason of sexuality or gender. The action also called for education of church members and the society at large to work against the practice of violence.
During the afternoon session with much debate and discussion the General Conference inserted more restrictive language into the Social Principles relating to homosexuality and marriage. This was a very painful time with much passion on both sides of the issue.
I suspect because of the way in which the afternoon session ended and the action taken, the evening session seems to be subdued. I found myself regularly exasperated with the number of persons who came to microphones and either did not have any understanding of how the general conference rules call for the body to operate, or they were intentionally trying to tie up the body and keep it from taking any action. There is a third possibility – given the number of questions that could have been asked of one’s seat mate but instead the delegate comes to the microphone. The issue may well be one of ego. To come to the microphone gets your name into the Daily Christian Advocate in the verbatim transcript of the session. The General Conference rules call for one to not move from their place to a microphone until they are recognized by the presiding officer. I estimate that for every person who comes to the microphone the body waits from 15 to 30 seconds or longer for persons to get to the microphone. Given the number of persons who speak each day, it would not surprise me if the body spends 30 to 60 minutes a day waiting for persons to come to the microphone!
The evening session is spending a major amount of time debating whether or not the pastor has the right to determine who can or cannot become a member of the local church. There seems to be a lot more concern about the church being taken advantage of by someone joining the church for ulterior motives than for the ecclesiological and theological issues involved. The minority report which wanted to give pastors the authority to set the standards for membership was defeated. The majority report which specifically denied the pastor that authority was then debated and then the body defeated that item, but by a very narrow margin! Sometimes ambiguity is the preferred posture!
Although there is still approximately 90 minutes left in the session (it’s 9:30 p.m.) I am going to file this blog entry. There are 122 items left to be dealt with before adjournment on Friday evening.
As a part of the early morning reports, Liz Lopez for the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women participated in bringing the monitoring report from yesterday’s plenary sessions. A summary of this report is printed in the Daily Christian Advocate each morning. It is called the H.E.R.O. report. This is an acronym for Honest, Empathetic, Respectful, Open-minded. Generally speaking there has been a good balance of speaking on the floor between men and women, clergy and laity, ethnic delegates and white delegates. Intentionality regarding inclusiveness has been shown in virtually every quarter of General Conference.
Much of the morning and the entire afternoon plenary was spent talking about issues relating to human sexuality. The General Conference took action during the morning session that deplored violence towards anyone for a reason of sexuality or gender. The action also called for education of church members and the society at large to work against the practice of violence.
During the afternoon session with much debate and discussion the General Conference inserted more restrictive language into the Social Principles relating to homosexuality and marriage. This was a very painful time with much passion on both sides of the issue.
I suspect because of the way in which the afternoon session ended and the action taken, the evening session seems to be subdued. I found myself regularly exasperated with the number of persons who came to microphones and either did not have any understanding of how the general conference rules call for the body to operate, or they were intentionally trying to tie up the body and keep it from taking any action. There is a third possibility – given the number of questions that could have been asked of one’s seat mate but instead the delegate comes to the microphone. The issue may well be one of ego. To come to the microphone gets your name into the Daily Christian Advocate in the verbatim transcript of the session. The General Conference rules call for one to not move from their place to a microphone until they are recognized by the presiding officer. I estimate that for every person who comes to the microphone the body waits from 15 to 30 seconds or longer for persons to get to the microphone. Given the number of persons who speak each day, it would not surprise me if the body spends 30 to 60 minutes a day waiting for persons to come to the microphone!
The evening session is spending a major amount of time debating whether or not the pastor has the right to determine who can or cannot become a member of the local church. There seems to be a lot more concern about the church being taken advantage of by someone joining the church for ulterior motives than for the ecclesiological and theological issues involved. The minority report which wanted to give pastors the authority to set the standards for membership was defeated. The majority report which specifically denied the pastor that authority was then debated and then the body defeated that item, but by a very narrow margin! Sometimes ambiguity is the preferred posture!
Although there is still approximately 90 minutes left in the session (it’s 9:30 p.m.) I am going to file this blog entry. There are 122 items left to be dealt with before adjournment on Friday evening.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
A Presidential Day
Our day began with solid music – the orchestra and 80+ voice choir of The Church of the Resurrection in suburban Kansas City. The counterpoint was provided by a wonderful band called Unido in Christo from South America (sorry, I don’t remember the specific country – see the new summary on the General Conference website). In addition to these two adult groups, we also were mesmerized and energized by the Hope for the Children of Africa choir. The preacher for the day was the presiding bishop of the ELCA, Bishop Mark Hanson, formerly Bishop of the St. Paul Synod. This was the ecumenical service that occurs each year on one morning of General Conference. Bishop Hanson preached about our baptism and the demand that Jesus places on our life. The great commission and the great commandment are imperatives, not offered to us as subjunctives.
Before going on further about today, I want to drop back to last night’s (Monday) debate on the creation of a task group to move toward the approval of a new hymnal by the 2012 General Conference. While it is typical that we have a new hymnal about every 20 to 24 years, it was the younger delegates that were opposed to looking toward a new hymnal, not older delegates. Their position tended to be that it would be out of date before it was published and that the need to produce a bound volume did not appeal to their generation. It was an interesting discussion about how the hymnal has been a tool for faith development. The haunting question remained even after the debate ended and the task group was created: Will a printed hymnal in the 21st century continue to be a strong tool for faith development in children, youth and young adults? The current hymnal has been one of the best selling items for the Publishing House. Will this happen again? I don’t believe anyone knows the answer to this question.
The rest of the morning and half the afternoon as well as all evening has been spent in debate of calendar items (items brought to the floor by the legislative committees). In fact, as I am writing the evening debate is underway. Currently the first hour has been spent on debate of the formula for establishing the number of bishops in the U.S. jurisdictions. Until now, the minimum number of bishops for a jurisdiction has been 6. Currently it appears that the new minimum will be 5 which will result in every jurisdiction losing a bishop or at least be at a level one below what they could currently have. This means the West will drop to 5, the North Central (our jurisidiction will drop to 9 as well the Northeast dropping from 10 until 9. The Southeastern and South Central jurisdiction could each have one more than they do and that extra (unfilled) position will be lost. This is being done to allow more bishops in the parts of the world where the church is growing – Africa and the Philippines.
The last half of the afternoon session consisted of an address by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia. A woman in her middle 60’s (by my guess) she is an economist and a business woman by training. She spoke with strong conviction and told much about how her upbringing in a Methodist church and attending a Methodist secondary school has been responsible for her success and her sense of morality and vitality in working on the problems of her country. She called the church to work together with the countries of Africa and the rest of the developing world to combat poverty. She is convinced that working in partnership this can be accomplished. President Sirleaf is the first democratically elected female head of state in all Africa. She told us that the United Methodist Church in Liberia runs 133 schools where 27,000 students are enrolled, we have a leading university, four mission stations and a healing ministry that is well known in Minnesota – Ganta Hospital. In addition, there are three clinics in other parts of Liberia. She maintained that the Church has been in the forefront of the fight to give democracy a stronger life. It has also given voice to the voiceless, shelter to the homeless, and education which instills hope, honesty and hard work. She held the conference in the palm of her hand for approximately 40 minutes before it stood and applauded and sang while she greeted each of the bishops individually, taking another 10 to 15 minutes. This concluded the afternoon session. (Note: If other notable actions are taken during this evening’s session, I’ll report it in tomorrow’s blog post.)
Before going on further about today, I want to drop back to last night’s (Monday) debate on the creation of a task group to move toward the approval of a new hymnal by the 2012 General Conference. While it is typical that we have a new hymnal about every 20 to 24 years, it was the younger delegates that were opposed to looking toward a new hymnal, not older delegates. Their position tended to be that it would be out of date before it was published and that the need to produce a bound volume did not appeal to their generation. It was an interesting discussion about how the hymnal has been a tool for faith development. The haunting question remained even after the debate ended and the task group was created: Will a printed hymnal in the 21st century continue to be a strong tool for faith development in children, youth and young adults? The current hymnal has been one of the best selling items for the Publishing House. Will this happen again? I don’t believe anyone knows the answer to this question.
The rest of the morning and half the afternoon as well as all evening has been spent in debate of calendar items (items brought to the floor by the legislative committees). In fact, as I am writing the evening debate is underway. Currently the first hour has been spent on debate of the formula for establishing the number of bishops in the U.S. jurisdictions. Until now, the minimum number of bishops for a jurisdiction has been 6. Currently it appears that the new minimum will be 5 which will result in every jurisdiction losing a bishop or at least be at a level one below what they could currently have. This means the West will drop to 5, the North Central (our jurisidiction will drop to 9 as well the Northeast dropping from 10 until 9. The Southeastern and South Central jurisdiction could each have one more than they do and that extra (unfilled) position will be lost. This is being done to allow more bishops in the parts of the world where the church is growing – Africa and the Philippines.
The last half of the afternoon session consisted of an address by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia. A woman in her middle 60’s (by my guess) she is an economist and a business woman by training. She spoke with strong conviction and told much about how her upbringing in a Methodist church and attending a Methodist secondary school has been responsible for her success and her sense of morality and vitality in working on the problems of her country. She called the church to work together with the countries of Africa and the rest of the developing world to combat poverty. She is convinced that working in partnership this can be accomplished. President Sirleaf is the first democratically elected female head of state in all Africa. She told us that the United Methodist Church in Liberia runs 133 schools where 27,000 students are enrolled, we have a leading university, four mission stations and a healing ministry that is well known in Minnesota – Ganta Hospital. In addition, there are three clinics in other parts of Liberia. She maintained that the Church has been in the forefront of the fight to give democracy a stronger life. It has also given voice to the voiceless, shelter to the homeless, and education which instills hope, honesty and hard work. She held the conference in the palm of her hand for approximately 40 minutes before it stood and applauded and sang while she greeted each of the bishops individually, taking another 10 to 15 minutes. This concluded the afternoon session. (Note: If other notable actions are taken during this evening’s session, I’ll report it in tomorrow’s blog post.)
Monday, April 28, 2008
Unusual Business
Today is a day that is primarily taken up with business. I must admit that I arrived at the session a little later than usual and missed the great music that has been a part of each day's opening. Bishop Ernest Lyght of West Virginia was the preacher. While it took him a little while to get wound up, he preached an excellent sermon. There was a time for a recognition of what response the Church has made following the destruction to the Gulf coast by Katrina as well as a recognition that there is much work that still needs to be done. There are still thousands of persons in FEMA trailers because there is not sufficient liveable housing available. We still need many work teams and funds to assist in this work. There will be another offering in August this year to assist with reconstruction of churches and parsonages which cannot be done with UMCOR funds. A young adult woman wrote a beautiful song that summed up her feelings after living through Katrina. She was here to sing that song for those assembled. It was obvious that it moved us.
Following this presentation, we moved to elections for Judicial Council, the University Senate and Trustees for John Street Church in New York City. The big news is that Kathi Austin Mahle was the first clergy elected for three vacancies on the Judicial Council. I was sitting two seats away from Kathi when she was elected. Needless to say, she was glowing after being elected on the second ballot. Rod Wilmoth was elected as a clergy alternate. In the opinion of this writer, the delegates moved the Judicial Council back to a more centrist position through its elections today. In addition to Kathi, the other clergy elected included Belton Joiner a retired clergy from North Carolina and Bill Lawrence, the dean of Perkins School of Theology. The two lay persons elected were Angela Brown of California-Nevada Conference, an assistant district attorney and a retired Commander in the US Naval Reserve, and Ruben Reyes, an associate justice of the Philippines Supreme Court.
Two other celebrations occurred today: the 60th anniversary of The Advance and a presentation of the Hope for the Children of Africa Choir. This group of young people from Uganda was brought here by the South Georgia Conference. They electrified the General Conference – delegates, bishops, staff and visitors – not only with their music but their finely tuned choreography as well. They will provide music for tomorrow’s opening worship. I understand the largest Cokesbury store in the world (the temporary one set up here in the convention center) has a CD of theirs for purchase.
The remainder of the day was spent dealing with legislation. It was anticipated that Bishop Dyck would be presiding over this evening’s session. We arrived following dinner to discover that the Committee on Presiding Officers had asked Bishop Warner Brown, who had presided over the afternoon session to continue in the evening session because there was unfinished business that would be best if the same presiding officer continued through that business. We anticipate seeing Bishop Dyck in the chair at a later time.
Today was a day of business, but it was not usual.
Following this presentation, we moved to elections for Judicial Council, the University Senate and Trustees for John Street Church in New York City. The big news is that Kathi Austin Mahle was the first clergy elected for three vacancies on the Judicial Council. I was sitting two seats away from Kathi when she was elected. Needless to say, she was glowing after being elected on the second ballot. Rod Wilmoth was elected as a clergy alternate. In the opinion of this writer, the delegates moved the Judicial Council back to a more centrist position through its elections today. In addition to Kathi, the other clergy elected included Belton Joiner a retired clergy from North Carolina and Bill Lawrence, the dean of Perkins School of Theology. The two lay persons elected were Angela Brown of California-Nevada Conference, an assistant district attorney and a retired Commander in the US Naval Reserve, and Ruben Reyes, an associate justice of the Philippines Supreme Court.
Two other celebrations occurred today: the 60th anniversary of The Advance and a presentation of the Hope for the Children of Africa Choir. This group of young people from Uganda was brought here by the South Georgia Conference. They electrified the General Conference – delegates, bishops, staff and visitors – not only with their music but their finely tuned choreography as well. They will provide music for tomorrow’s opening worship. I understand the largest Cokesbury store in the world (the temporary one set up here in the convention center) has a CD of theirs for purchase.
The remainder of the day was spent dealing with legislation. It was anticipated that Bishop Dyck would be presiding over this evening’s session. We arrived following dinner to discover that the Committee on Presiding Officers had asked Bishop Warner Brown, who had presided over the afternoon session to continue in the evening session because there was unfinished business that would be best if the same presiding officer continued through that business. We anticipate seeing Bishop Dyck in the chair at a later time.
Today was a day of business, but it was not usual.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Sacred or Secular?
For the first time in recent memory, and perhaps since there have been General Conferences, there have been officially scheduled Sunday sessions. (That is not to say that there has not been General Conference work done on the Sabbath. In past General Conferences Sunday has been an unscheduled day to allow rest and relaxation as well as mundane activities such as laundry, etc. Legislative Committees who found themselves behind in their work, often found the need to work part of Sunday.) Some would say, as at least one delegate did, that we should not do such work on the Sabbath. The age old question of sacred vs. secular remains alive today. Some would say that there is a definite division between the two, but this writer sees less and less of a distinction. Instead, I tend to say all things created by God are by their very nature sacred. What secularizes the sacred is the way in which we deal with whatever it is. Thus, it is fine to do the church’s work on the Sabbath. Like any other day, we need to pay particular attention to HOW we do the church’s work.
A couple of Minnesota items: Judy Zabel, delegation chair, and Mary jo Dahlberg were both elected to the inter-jurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy. At their organizational meeting last night (which necessitated their missing the Minnesota dinner) Mary jo was elected to the executive team of this body as a lay representative from the North Central Jurisdiction. This body is the one which facilitates the transfer of bishops across jurisdictional lines – a very rare occurrence. In addition, the Discipleship Legislative Committee has recommended adoption of one of Minnesota’s petitions which calls for the creation of study materials that will inform youth and adults about the theological issues surrounding war and peace. It has yet to come to the floor of the plenary for consideration. Watch this space for this and the fate of other MN petitions.
This morning’s plenary recognized the fourteen bishops who are retiring as well as the new leadership team of the Council of Bishops: President – Bishop Gregory Palmer, President-Designate – Bishop Larry Goodpaster, Secretary – Bishop Robert E. Hayes, Jr., Ecumenical Officer – Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader, Executive Secretary – Bishop Donald Ott. The last two positions are filled by retired bishops.
Time was also spent celebrating the 40th anniversary of the dissolution of the Central Jurisdiction which segregated African-American churches from white churches. This existed from 1939 until 1968. There was also a report on Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. The morning concluded by the adoption of the first items of legislation.
The entire afternoon will be spent in legislative committees and the evening will be a relaxed one as the Central Texas Conference presents a program for delegates and visitors that celebrates the culture of Central Texas. Monday will signal the beginning of morning, afternoon and evening plenary sessions. Monday evening’s session will be presided over by Bishop Sally Dyck!
A couple of Minnesota items: Judy Zabel, delegation chair, and Mary jo Dahlberg were both elected to the inter-jurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy. At their organizational meeting last night (which necessitated their missing the Minnesota dinner) Mary jo was elected to the executive team of this body as a lay representative from the North Central Jurisdiction. This body is the one which facilitates the transfer of bishops across jurisdictional lines – a very rare occurrence. In addition, the Discipleship Legislative Committee has recommended adoption of one of Minnesota’s petitions which calls for the creation of study materials that will inform youth and adults about the theological issues surrounding war and peace. It has yet to come to the floor of the plenary for consideration. Watch this space for this and the fate of other MN petitions.
This morning’s plenary recognized the fourteen bishops who are retiring as well as the new leadership team of the Council of Bishops: President – Bishop Gregory Palmer, President-Designate – Bishop Larry Goodpaster, Secretary – Bishop Robert E. Hayes, Jr., Ecumenical Officer – Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader, Executive Secretary – Bishop Donald Ott. The last two positions are filled by retired bishops.
Time was also spent celebrating the 40th anniversary of the dissolution of the Central Jurisdiction which segregated African-American churches from white churches. This existed from 1939 until 1968. There was also a report on Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. The morning concluded by the adoption of the first items of legislation.
The entire afternoon will be spent in legislative committees and the evening will be a relaxed one as the Central Texas Conference presents a program for delegates and visitors that celebrates the culture of Central Texas. Monday will signal the beginning of morning, afternoon and evening plenary sessions. Monday evening’s session will be presided over by Bishop Sally Dyck!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Wonders and Miracles
Today is a day of wonders and miracles. We learned at the end of today’s morning plenary that an apparent miracle has happened – three days ago. Much like Moses’ staff coming to life, the gavel that Bishop Huie used to gavel the General Conference to order on Wednesday evening has just walked away! We learned that yesterday Bishop Middleton was using the presiding officer’s copy of Roberts’ Rules of Order to gavel the body to order. Today, Bishop Ntambo was using a small child’s hobby horse. And we just thought he was trying to be Texan! It remains to be seen if the gavel will be guided back to the presiding officer’s desk.
It is interesting to see how bishops vary in their style of presiding. Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo has a more authoritarian style than we have seen so far in this General Conference. This is somewhat reflective of the reverence and thus the power that episcopal leaders in Africa have vs. what most episcopal leaders experience in the United States. Bishop Ntambo also has an engaging smile and a great sense of humor that goes hand in hand with his smile.
The morning got off to a rousing start with an excellent sermon by Bishop William Hutchinson of the Louisiana Area. The service focused on a renewal of baptism vows with water sprinkled on the delegates and visitors by confirmands from the Central Texas Conference. Bishop Hutchinson called us to open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit and not just rely on ritual to bring us to a new or renewed faith in Jesus Christ. Again, transformation was the message if we are to take seriously our call to discipleship.
The remainder of the morning was taken with celebrations and reports. The first was a celebration of the rural church and rural life during which Alan Bolte told the story of the re-emergence of the Hubbard Church and Ruth Wiertzema, a diaconal minister in Minnesota who is the Director of Connectional Ministries in the Red Bird Missionary Conference, telling a little of the ministry of Red Bird. Throughout the presentation leaders of our church and world told of their early nurturing in a small membership church within United Methodism.
Following a break, the delegates heard a report on the Central Conference Pension Initiative in which the progress that is being made in providing pensions for our clergy colleagues in Africa and Asia primarily is underway. A report was then received and highlighted from the Task Force to Study the Episcopacy. There are several action items that are coming to the General Conference as recommendations from this task group. The morning was completed with a report by the Study Commission on the Relationship between the UMC and the Autonomous Methodist Churches in Latin American and the Caribbean.
The delegates are starting to get restless. They are feeling the pinch to have more legislative committee time. Their first hurdle must be passed by 4:30 today as all items with financial implications must be out of committee so they can be printed in tomorrow’s Daily Christian Advocate (our version of the Congressional Record) so that they can be properly dealt with by the General Council on Finance and Administration for the final printing of any amendments to the budget which must occur by Wednesday.
On a lighter note, all Minnesotans at General Conference will be gathering for dinner tonight. I suspect we will all see some that we have not yet seen. The convention center and its myriad of activities are such that one cannot possibly see everyone they know who is present! I’m off with a videographer to tape some of our delegates in legislative committee work in preparation for the video we will show at annual conference.
It is interesting to see how bishops vary in their style of presiding. Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo has a more authoritarian style than we have seen so far in this General Conference. This is somewhat reflective of the reverence and thus the power that episcopal leaders in Africa have vs. what most episcopal leaders experience in the United States. Bishop Ntambo also has an engaging smile and a great sense of humor that goes hand in hand with his smile.
The morning got off to a rousing start with an excellent sermon by Bishop William Hutchinson of the Louisiana Area. The service focused on a renewal of baptism vows with water sprinkled on the delegates and visitors by confirmands from the Central Texas Conference. Bishop Hutchinson called us to open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit and not just rely on ritual to bring us to a new or renewed faith in Jesus Christ. Again, transformation was the message if we are to take seriously our call to discipleship.
The remainder of the morning was taken with celebrations and reports. The first was a celebration of the rural church and rural life during which Alan Bolte told the story of the re-emergence of the Hubbard Church and Ruth Wiertzema, a diaconal minister in Minnesota who is the Director of Connectional Ministries in the Red Bird Missionary Conference, telling a little of the ministry of Red Bird. Throughout the presentation leaders of our church and world told of their early nurturing in a small membership church within United Methodism.
Following a break, the delegates heard a report on the Central Conference Pension Initiative in which the progress that is being made in providing pensions for our clergy colleagues in Africa and Asia primarily is underway. A report was then received and highlighted from the Task Force to Study the Episcopacy. There are several action items that are coming to the General Conference as recommendations from this task group. The morning was completed with a report by the Study Commission on the Relationship between the UMC and the Autonomous Methodist Churches in Latin American and the Caribbean.
The delegates are starting to get restless. They are feeling the pinch to have more legislative committee time. Their first hurdle must be passed by 4:30 today as all items with financial implications must be out of committee so they can be printed in tomorrow’s Daily Christian Advocate (our version of the Congressional Record) so that they can be properly dealt with by the General Council on Finance and Administration for the final printing of any amendments to the budget which must occur by Wednesday.
On a lighter note, all Minnesotans at General Conference will be gathering for dinner tonight. I suspect we will all see some that we have not yet seen. The convention center and its myriad of activities are such that one cannot possibly see everyone they know who is present! I’m off with a videographer to tape some of our delegates in legislative committee work in preparation for the video we will show at annual conference.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Change Begins Within
Friday, April 25 began with rousing music at 8 am for the 15 minutes prior to worship. Two vocal choirs – Christ UMC from Baltimore, MD and First UMC, Lawrence, KS – produced outstanding sound. This was interspersed with the gentle clear sounds of the Council Oak Bells from Round Rock, TX and the raucous sounds of our own Lake Harriet UMC Band. They did Minnesota proud. As they were preparing for a noontime concert, I had a chance to talk with Lyndy Zabel. He said it was just great to play for the delegates and visitors and participate in the worship service. It isn’t often you get a chance to play for 2,000+ people in a United Methodist setting!
Worship at General Conference is always such a multi-cultural experience. In addition to the music already mentioned above, the formal worship service began with a prayer led by Bishop Benjamin Justo of the Philippines in his native language. The preacher for the day was Bishop João Somane Machado of Mozambique who preached in Portuguese interspersed with the English translation. He spoke about the importance of repeating our message to ourselves and each other until we begin to live it. If we really believe in our mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world” then we must live the Methodist Way of “doing no harm, doing good and staying in love with God” as spoken about in Bishop Reuben Job’s new little book on our distinctly Wesleyan heritage and theology.
I was moved by the message, in part because it so resonates with where I am in my own faith journey. The change that is needed within the US part of our denomination needs to start with us getting on our knees – literally or figuratively, I don’t care – and asking that change happen within each of us. Bishop Machado told the delegates and the rest of us assembled here that personal transformation is the key to new life.
The business of the morning consisted of receiving nominations for the University Senate that is responsible for accreditation for church purposes of seminaries and colleges, and for the Judicial Council, our version of the Supreme Court. On Monday these groups will be elected. Two members of our conference are nominated for the Judicial Council: Rod Wilmoth and Kathi Austin Mahle.
The morning ended with a wonderful report by Bishop Tom Bickerton of Pittsburgh on Nothing But Nets on this, the first World Malaria Day. To date, with the various partnerships that are involved, $20 million has been raised to buy treated bed nets to help eradicate the disease from Africa. Bishop Bickerton also announced that earlier this week he was in New York at a meeting of the United Nations Foundation which announced that they are contributing $5 million to the partnership they have with the United Methodist Church and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the Global Health Initiative. The goal is to raise $100 million over the next several years to eliminate the diseases of poverty: malaria, HIV/Aids, and tuberculosis. Bishop Bickerton concluded his presentation by walking to the communion table at the center of the delegate seating and laying a $10 bill on the table, challenging all the delegates to walk past that table and put a similar amount on it. It was a moving and fitting way to end the morning’s plenary.
The rest of the day is being spent in legislative committee work.
The haunting question I am left with is “can we mobilize ourselves as well for personal transformation as we can to attack external problems?” Whether it is internal or external change, the distinction and separation is artificial. We need to go to our knees so that the personal internal transformation process can begin, but it must also happen as we tackle the massive problems of the world such as poverty. The Wesleyan Way of Living, while it includes three parts, is a whole. This is not multiple choice. It is all three: do no harm, do good, stay in love with God!
Worship at General Conference is always such a multi-cultural experience. In addition to the music already mentioned above, the formal worship service began with a prayer led by Bishop Benjamin Justo of the Philippines in his native language. The preacher for the day was Bishop João Somane Machado of Mozambique who preached in Portuguese interspersed with the English translation. He spoke about the importance of repeating our message to ourselves and each other until we begin to live it. If we really believe in our mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world” then we must live the Methodist Way of “doing no harm, doing good and staying in love with God” as spoken about in Bishop Reuben Job’s new little book on our distinctly Wesleyan heritage and theology.
I was moved by the message, in part because it so resonates with where I am in my own faith journey. The change that is needed within the US part of our denomination needs to start with us getting on our knees – literally or figuratively, I don’t care – and asking that change happen within each of us. Bishop Machado told the delegates and the rest of us assembled here that personal transformation is the key to new life.
The business of the morning consisted of receiving nominations for the University Senate that is responsible for accreditation for church purposes of seminaries and colleges, and for the Judicial Council, our version of the Supreme Court. On Monday these groups will be elected. Two members of our conference are nominated for the Judicial Council: Rod Wilmoth and Kathi Austin Mahle.
The morning ended with a wonderful report by Bishop Tom Bickerton of Pittsburgh on Nothing But Nets on this, the first World Malaria Day. To date, with the various partnerships that are involved, $20 million has been raised to buy treated bed nets to help eradicate the disease from Africa. Bishop Bickerton also announced that earlier this week he was in New York at a meeting of the United Nations Foundation which announced that they are contributing $5 million to the partnership they have with the United Methodist Church and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the Global Health Initiative. The goal is to raise $100 million over the next several years to eliminate the diseases of poverty: malaria, HIV/Aids, and tuberculosis. Bishop Bickerton concluded his presentation by walking to the communion table at the center of the delegate seating and laying a $10 bill on the table, challenging all the delegates to walk past that table and put a similar amount on it. It was a moving and fitting way to end the morning’s plenary.
The rest of the day is being spent in legislative committee work.
The haunting question I am left with is “can we mobilize ourselves as well for personal transformation as we can to attack external problems?” Whether it is internal or external change, the distinction and separation is artificial. We need to go to our knees so that the personal internal transformation process can begin, but it must also happen as we tackle the massive problems of the world such as poverty. The Wesleyan Way of Living, while it includes three parts, is a whole. This is not multiple choice. It is all three: do no harm, do good, stay in love with God!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
We've Only Just Begun
Well, it has gotten underway. At 6 pm Wednesday, April 23 – 40 years to the day and just a few miles from Dallas, since the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodists united to form The United Methodist Church – the opening communion service started the 2008 General Conference. Although the official gaveling of the conference did not occur until a little after 8 pm when the plenary began, the conference traditionally begins with this opening service of Holy Communion.
It was a good service with excellent music and liturgy, complete with dancers. The table was presided over by Bishop Janice Huie of the Houston Area, preacher and the outgoing President of the Council of Bishops and Bishop Gregory Palmer of the Iowa Area and the incoming President of the Council of Bishops. Our own Victoria Rebeck was one of the deacons who also took part in the service.
The evening plenary was taken by a major revision of the Rules of Order and a merger of the Rules of Order Committee with the Commission on the General Conference. Although this was a lot of structural material, it will enhance the functioning of this and future General Conferences. One thing removed was the language that required the delegates to vote on a committee’s recommendation rather than on the item itself. Thus, if the committee recommended defeat of an item, and the delegate wanted to vote for an item, they had to vote “no” in order to vote to approve an item. Now the committee’s recommendation will be announced but the item itself will be voted on.
Today until mid-afternoon, the flavor has been very different. The Episcopal Address was delivered by Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher. It was well done and sprinkled with lots of multi-media material and set totally within the context of the liturgy for communion. We also heard from the Connectional Table on the seven vision pathways and the 4 thrusts into which each of these pathways fit. The first-ever address by young people was very moving. I hope that it is placed on the general conference website for downloading or at least for watching. What a wonderful group of youth and young adults from across our entire connection! They focused on how important it is for us to stay united regardless of what tends to divide us.
The laity address occurred in the afternoon and, in comparison to the other two addresses, was anti-climactic. It did focus on some simple ways in which laity can be invitational with those who have no church without being overbearing or obnoxious.
Yet to come today is the organization of the 12 legislative committees and their initial working meetings this evening. We begin Friday at 8 a.m. with a Minnesota musical group under the direction of Lyndy Zabel. After a 15 minute concert, they will also provide the music for the morning worship service.
It was a good service with excellent music and liturgy, complete with dancers. The table was presided over by Bishop Janice Huie of the Houston Area, preacher and the outgoing President of the Council of Bishops and Bishop Gregory Palmer of the Iowa Area and the incoming President of the Council of Bishops. Our own Victoria Rebeck was one of the deacons who also took part in the service.
The evening plenary was taken by a major revision of the Rules of Order and a merger of the Rules of Order Committee with the Commission on the General Conference. Although this was a lot of structural material, it will enhance the functioning of this and future General Conferences. One thing removed was the language that required the delegates to vote on a committee’s recommendation rather than on the item itself. Thus, if the committee recommended defeat of an item, and the delegate wanted to vote for an item, they had to vote “no” in order to vote to approve an item. Now the committee’s recommendation will be announced but the item itself will be voted on.
Today until mid-afternoon, the flavor has been very different. The Episcopal Address was delivered by Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher. It was well done and sprinkled with lots of multi-media material and set totally within the context of the liturgy for communion. We also heard from the Connectional Table on the seven vision pathways and the 4 thrusts into which each of these pathways fit. The first-ever address by young people was very moving. I hope that it is placed on the general conference website for downloading or at least for watching. What a wonderful group of youth and young adults from across our entire connection! They focused on how important it is for us to stay united regardless of what tends to divide us.
The laity address occurred in the afternoon and, in comparison to the other two addresses, was anti-climactic. It did focus on some simple ways in which laity can be invitational with those who have no church without being overbearing or obnoxious.
Yet to come today is the organization of the 12 legislative committees and their initial working meetings this evening. We begin Friday at 8 a.m. with a Minnesota musical group under the direction of Lyndy Zabel. After a 15 minute concert, they will also provide the music for the morning worship service.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Reflections on Appointed Ministry
The appointed ministry in The United Methodist Church doesn’t look like it did when I was first appointed to the Danville Circuit (Danville, West Danville, Walden & South Walden) in Northeastern Vermont in 1971. The secular world has changed greatly as has the church world in the intervening 37 years. (I use the term “appointed ministry” rather than “ordained ministry” to be inclusive of our licensed local pastors. My roots are in an annual conference where there were a lot more licensed local pastors than there are in Minnesota. Several of my formative years, including when I felt my call to ordained ministry were under the guidance of a licensed local pastor.)
There is the distinct possibility that “guaranteed” appointment for elders will be significantly altered if not eliminated at General Conference. Interestingly, this term does not appear anywhere in The Book of Discipline. What is guaranteed, unless an elder is on leave of absence, is equitable compensation at the level authorized by the annual conference, but I don’t know any annual conference that feels it can easily compensate a pastor and not appoint them to some valid ministry.
I am ambivalent about ending guaranteed appointments. There is nothing wrong with a system that expects appointed clergy to move to any appointment within the annual conference and thus at the same time being guaranteed a place in the system. It only becomes problematic if someone is no longer effective in ministry, regardless of the reason, and the system is unable to put in place corrective or supportive actions that will address the issues of ineffectiveness. Perhaps it means we have not been clear about the expectations when someone came for credentialing or that we have not helped pastors in that continual process of re-tooling that is required and even more evident in times of rapid change. That doesn’t mean as clergy we don’t bear the primary responsibility to remain current and competent in the skills required for pastoral ministry.
There is no question for me that some of us have gotten caught up in the success trap. There is a big difference between being successful and being effective. Eugene Peterson in Under the Unpredictable Plant writes
Even if we have not bought into the success trap, it may well be that we have not equipped laity for their rightful place in ministry and thus have attempted to do more and more in our need to be needed and thus fed the dis-ease and ill health within congregations. Many of us have become more involved in institutional maintenance or simply being chaplains and neglected the call to equip the church to fulfill the Great Commission. I am convinced we are in a time when there are more than a few clergy who feel caught. They have been in the system too long to feel able to leave and go into other forms of ministry or employment. This tragedy is further complicated by the fact that the church, unlike corporate America is unable to provide good transition packages to assist these persons in moving out to other forms of endeavor. I know from talking to a number of clergy who have left appointed ministry that they are much happier.
Not many years ago we were talking about the “rabbit in the snake” in that many clergy were within ten years of retirement and there were few younger clergy coming into the system. We have more young clergy than we did for awhile, but we still need more. At the same time we have fewer fulltime appointments so the crisis has been much slower to develop. Kentucky Annual Conference just announced that they were short of clergy. When the call went out to see who had a surplus, only two conferences responded quickly that they had more than they could appoint: New England and North Georgia. When someone asked me recently if we needed clergy, I responded that we always need good clergy. We have to focus on quality, not quantity. The mission of the church is too important to do otherwise.
I don’t know the answers to it all. I do know that regardless of what General Conference does, the problem will not be solved.
There is the distinct possibility that “guaranteed” appointment for elders will be significantly altered if not eliminated at General Conference. Interestingly, this term does not appear anywhere in The Book of Discipline. What is guaranteed, unless an elder is on leave of absence, is equitable compensation at the level authorized by the annual conference, but I don’t know any annual conference that feels it can easily compensate a pastor and not appoint them to some valid ministry.
I am ambivalent about ending guaranteed appointments. There is nothing wrong with a system that expects appointed clergy to move to any appointment within the annual conference and thus at the same time being guaranteed a place in the system. It only becomes problematic if someone is no longer effective in ministry, regardless of the reason, and the system is unable to put in place corrective or supportive actions that will address the issues of ineffectiveness. Perhaps it means we have not been clear about the expectations when someone came for credentialing or that we have not helped pastors in that continual process of re-tooling that is required and even more evident in times of rapid change. That doesn’t mean as clergy we don’t bear the primary responsibility to remain current and competent in the skills required for pastoral ministry.
There is no question for me that some of us have gotten caught up in the success trap. There is a big difference between being successful and being effective. Eugene Peterson in Under the Unpredictable Plant writes
A successful pastor will discover a workable program and repeat it in congregation after congregation to the immense satisfaction of her parishoners. The church members can be religious without prayer or dealing with God. Prostitute Pastor.(p. 60) Successful pastors will eventually crash and burn or they will become cynical and either live an unhappy and unfulfilled life or they will leave ordained ministry feeling like a loser. As Peterson indicates, it is easier to be successful than to be effective. Effective pastors are able to enable many of the lay persons in the congregation to grow deeper in their faith and make progress on the path to discipleship.
Even if we have not bought into the success trap, it may well be that we have not equipped laity for their rightful place in ministry and thus have attempted to do more and more in our need to be needed and thus fed the dis-ease and ill health within congregations. Many of us have become more involved in institutional maintenance or simply being chaplains and neglected the call to equip the church to fulfill the Great Commission. I am convinced we are in a time when there are more than a few clergy who feel caught. They have been in the system too long to feel able to leave and go into other forms of ministry or employment. This tragedy is further complicated by the fact that the church, unlike corporate America is unable to provide good transition packages to assist these persons in moving out to other forms of endeavor. I know from talking to a number of clergy who have left appointed ministry that they are much happier.
Not many years ago we were talking about the “rabbit in the snake” in that many clergy were within ten years of retirement and there were few younger clergy coming into the system. We have more young clergy than we did for awhile, but we still need more. At the same time we have fewer fulltime appointments so the crisis has been much slower to develop. Kentucky Annual Conference just announced that they were short of clergy. When the call went out to see who had a surplus, only two conferences responded quickly that they had more than they could appoint: New England and North Georgia. When someone asked me recently if we needed clergy, I responded that we always need good clergy. We have to focus on quality, not quantity. The mission of the church is too important to do otherwise.
I don’t know the answers to it all. I do know that regardless of what General Conference does, the problem will not be solved.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Are We Ready to Follow?
Have you ever said something and then said to yourself, "What did I just say!" not so much as a question but as an exclamation? That's what I did when I told Victoria Rebeck, Minnesota Conference's Director of Communications, that I wanted to do a blog about what I was experiencing at general conference and that I would begin about a month before with at least a weekly entry into my blog. First of all, I didn't have the faintest idea how to blog -- the technical aspect of it. Secondly, would I have anything to say? I knew I would have things to say once I was in Fort Worth and General Conference had begun, but what would I say beforehand?
As an English major, I was subjected to James Joyce and thus knew a little something about stream of consciousness writing even if I never could really understand what Joyce was trying to say. We all have thoughts, but would it be anything worth saying to someone else or even if it was, would anybody care?
Well, the first entry occurred late last week. I woke up at 3 a.m. today -- for some strange reason I do that from time to time even when my mind isn't particularly whirling about anything and perhaps not even turning, to say nothing about whirling. As I came more awake I realized I was thinking about leading and following. My thoughts just seemed to go to General Conference. For the last couple of General Conferences there has been some clamor for the Council of Bishops to lead. There's no question that there are some excellent leaders among our bishops, not to mention a few managers as well. Something happened in 2004, though that we still don't fully understand and won't for awhile yet. We elected a class of bishops across the United States (I don't pretend to know enough about those who were elected in other countries to make an inclusive comment.) that are taking leading seriously and have not waited any respectful moments t o say nothing about years before beginning to lead within the Council. I am proud to say that our Bishop Sally is one of those leaders. I'm pretty well-connected across this denomination and regardless of where I go and I have friends from across both the political and theological spectrums as soon as Minnesota is mentioned, and sometimes before, people begin to talk to me about our bishop. They are impressed. They have heard her speak at an order of elders meeting in their conference, at their conference session, at a seminary graduation. Regardless of the situation or reason for the gathering they are impressed because of the content of what she has to say and because of the passion and commitment that are obviously behind the message.
As we move toward General Conference 2008, it is clear that Bishop Sally Dyck, along with her episcopal colleagues on the Council of Bishops, are prepared to lead our church. They have put forth Seven Vision Pathways: 1. Teach the Wesleyan model of reaching and forming disciples of Jesus Christ. 2. Strengthn clergy and lay leadership. 3. Develop new congregations. 4. Transform existing congregations. 5. expand racial/ethnic ministries. 6. Reach and transform the lives of new generations of children. 7. Eliminate poverty in community with the poor. The question is, are we prepared to follow? You cannot have good leaders unless you have good followers. Are we willing to be good followers and embrace these areas of collaboration: Leadership, Congregational Development, Elimination of Poverty and Global Health? I've been reading the recent book, Jim and Casper Go To Church. It tells the story about a pastor and an atheist who travel across the country and write about their experiences in a variety of large and emerging churches. Casper, the atheist is always asking the question, "What do you want me to do?" As Christians we tend to be more centered on pronouncement than on action. The Council of Bishops is issuing a Call to Action: Live the United Methodist Way; Start New Churches; Reach the Children; Stamp out malaria and HIV/AIDS. Can we put aside ideology and mobilize for action?
This is our central question as a denomination! Are we prepared to follow our bishops and transform who we are as a church? Will we take seriously the call to make disciples and to live out our discipleship in world-transforming ways? Four years ago I addressed General Conference during the opening session as the Chair of the Commission on General Conference. I held up a vision of working together and loving one another as we made decisions. Any semblance of that vision had been swept aside even before I had gotten off the platform. It was obvious that there were folks present in Pittsburgh as there are at every General Conference, who had come to do battle, and battle was more important than relationships.
As I get older there is a softer side of me that suggests that it is all about relationships. Whenever we are more concerned about our position and posture on any issue than we are about our relationships we have forgotten one of the basic tenets of our movement – holy conferencing.
Positions that are shaped out of ideology tend to become more rigid. When we are more rigid we are less open to change. Sometimes fighting, regardless of the issues, has more to do with an unwillingness to change and to admit that maybe we need to change in order for a greater good to happen. We can fight about guaranteed appointment, we can fight about issues of human sexuality, we can fight about social positions. The issue doesn’t make any difference if that issue and our need to be right keeps us from going to our knees in admission that we need to change. Our church will not grow until we put the Great Commission and the Great Commandment ahead of any ideological position. Both of these "Greats" were calls to action by Jesus to his followers.
As an English major, I was subjected to James Joyce and thus knew a little something about stream of consciousness writing even if I never could really understand what Joyce was trying to say. We all have thoughts, but would it be anything worth saying to someone else or even if it was, would anybody care?
Well, the first entry occurred late last week. I woke up at 3 a.m. today -- for some strange reason I do that from time to time even when my mind isn't particularly whirling about anything and perhaps not even turning, to say nothing about whirling. As I came more awake I realized I was thinking about leading and following. My thoughts just seemed to go to General Conference. For the last couple of General Conferences there has been some clamor for the Council of Bishops to lead. There's no question that there are some excellent leaders among our bishops, not to mention a few managers as well. Something happened in 2004, though that we still don't fully understand and won't for awhile yet. We elected a class of bishops across the United States (I don't pretend to know enough about those who were elected in other countries to make an inclusive comment.) that are taking leading seriously and have not waited any respectful moments t o say nothing about years before beginning to lead within the Council. I am proud to say that our Bishop Sally is one of those leaders. I'm pretty well-connected across this denomination and regardless of where I go and I have friends from across both the political and theological spectrums as soon as Minnesota is mentioned, and sometimes before, people begin to talk to me about our bishop. They are impressed. They have heard her speak at an order of elders meeting in their conference, at their conference session, at a seminary graduation. Regardless of the situation or reason for the gathering they are impressed because of the content of what she has to say and because of the passion and commitment that are obviously behind the message.
As we move toward General Conference 2008, it is clear that Bishop Sally Dyck, along with her episcopal colleagues on the Council of Bishops, are prepared to lead our church. They have put forth Seven Vision Pathways: 1. Teach the Wesleyan model of reaching and forming disciples of Jesus Christ. 2. Strengthn clergy and lay leadership. 3. Develop new congregations. 4. Transform existing congregations. 5. expand racial/ethnic ministries. 6. Reach and transform the lives of new generations of children. 7. Eliminate poverty in community with the poor. The question is, are we prepared to follow? You cannot have good leaders unless you have good followers. Are we willing to be good followers and embrace these areas of collaboration: Leadership, Congregational Development, Elimination of Poverty and Global Health? I've been reading the recent book, Jim and Casper Go To Church. It tells the story about a pastor and an atheist who travel across the country and write about their experiences in a variety of large and emerging churches. Casper, the atheist is always asking the question, "What do you want me to do?" As Christians we tend to be more centered on pronouncement than on action. The Council of Bishops is issuing a Call to Action: Live the United Methodist Way; Start New Churches; Reach the Children; Stamp out malaria and HIV/AIDS. Can we put aside ideology and mobilize for action?
This is our central question as a denomination! Are we prepared to follow our bishops and transform who we are as a church? Will we take seriously the call to make disciples and to live out our discipleship in world-transforming ways? Four years ago I addressed General Conference during the opening session as the Chair of the Commission on General Conference. I held up a vision of working together and loving one another as we made decisions. Any semblance of that vision had been swept aside even before I had gotten off the platform. It was obvious that there were folks present in Pittsburgh as there are at every General Conference, who had come to do battle, and battle was more important than relationships.
As I get older there is a softer side of me that suggests that it is all about relationships. Whenever we are more concerned about our position and posture on any issue than we are about our relationships we have forgotten one of the basic tenets of our movement – holy conferencing.
Positions that are shaped out of ideology tend to become more rigid. When we are more rigid we are less open to change. Sometimes fighting, regardless of the issues, has more to do with an unwillingness to change and to admit that maybe we need to change in order for a greater good to happen. We can fight about guaranteed appointment, we can fight about issues of human sexuality, we can fight about social positions. The issue doesn’t make any difference if that issue and our need to be right keeps us from going to our knees in admission that we need to change. Our church will not grow until we put the Great Commission and the Great Commandment ahead of any ideological position. Both of these "Greats" were calls to action by Jesus to his followers.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Looking Towards Fort Worth
Pastors who are not appointed to local churches always feel a little strange during significant holy seasons, especially during Holy Week. This is a special week for me, not only do I make it a time for some significant reading, study and specialized prayer and devotions (this year I’m reading Crossan & Borg, The Final Week as well as a devotional throughout Lent by an Anglican Franciscan sister) but on this Holy Thursday I am launching the first electronic version of “On Moses’ Shoulders” as well as a blog on General Conference. It is my intention to blog at least weekly in the month leading up to General Conference. In addition to writing several stories communicating how the Minnesota delegation is faring during the marathon quadrennial event, I plan a daily blog with my impressions and thoughts about what is happening in Fort Worth. This is not meant to be particularly newsworthy (you can get plenty of news, including live streaming, from gc2008.umc.org) but rather to include my perspective on what is happening or not happening at General Conference.
“What difference does it make?” To the average person in the pew I think the importance of General Conference is way over-rated. Many of us who are more involved in denominational life try to make it much more important regardless of what part or parts of the political or theological spectrum we populate. There are few actions of general conference that make a radical difference in the average congregation. It may make a difference if we feel strongly about any particular issue or if an action of this body gives a particular class of individuals a right or privilege or takes one away. Regardless of where any one of us is on any issue, I think it is important to remember disciples of Jesus Christ will not be made as a result of actions taken in Fort Worth. Even in the church, regardless of one’s denomination, the legislative process is a lot like making sausage. I am convinced that what causes Jesus to shed the most tears is how people are treated not what decisions are made, although decisions may impact individuals greatly. The question remains, regardless of the issue, can we talk together in respectful ways? Can we listen to those with whom we do not agree? Can we be patient enough to hear another’s point of view and be open enough to the possibility that we may not be in sole possession of all truth and right?
We are not of one mind on any number of issues. I do not believe this General Conference will make definitive statements on human sexuality, clergy orders, itinerancy, or guaranteed appointments. I may be wrong. I believe the talk about ultimate separation will continue around the edges, but I do not believe it will occupy center stage. I am not sure we can ever agree on some of these issues. I am even more concerned that we cannot agree to disagree and thus we keep poking each other in the eye with a sharp stick. Is this how Christians are to behave towards one another?
I don’t like moving towards General Conference with the feeling of dis-ease that I have, but nonetheless, it is how I feel. I do have some sense of relief this time that I didn’t have in 2000 or 2004. I have no responsibility for the sessions. It will be interesting to see how the process plays itself out. For financial reasons it was decided to shorten General Conference by nearly two days. How this will play out remains to be seen because there were no major decisions made to do things differently. Just think, it will be like an annual conference session that starts every day at 8 am and concludes about 10 pm for ten straight days! At least in past General Conferences, Sunday, and depending on the workload of your legislative committee, much of Saturday gave you time to sleep, do a little sightseeing and laundry! Another prediction: Working for ten days straight will not improve dispositions!
Future blogs will focus on process, some issues, people who make a difference, and what are the Minnesotans doing at General Conference. Although we will have eight delegates (four lay and four clergy) seated as well as several reserves, most there will be doing other things. We’ll talk with them and report on what they are doing as well as the delegates. I may even regale you with some culinary exploits, although barbeque is not one of my areas of expertise!
“What difference does it make?” To the average person in the pew I think the importance of General Conference is way over-rated. Many of us who are more involved in denominational life try to make it much more important regardless of what part or parts of the political or theological spectrum we populate. There are few actions of general conference that make a radical difference in the average congregation. It may make a difference if we feel strongly about any particular issue or if an action of this body gives a particular class of individuals a right or privilege or takes one away. Regardless of where any one of us is on any issue, I think it is important to remember disciples of Jesus Christ will not be made as a result of actions taken in Fort Worth. Even in the church, regardless of one’s denomination, the legislative process is a lot like making sausage. I am convinced that what causes Jesus to shed the most tears is how people are treated not what decisions are made, although decisions may impact individuals greatly. The question remains, regardless of the issue, can we talk together in respectful ways? Can we listen to those with whom we do not agree? Can we be patient enough to hear another’s point of view and be open enough to the possibility that we may not be in sole possession of all truth and right?
We are not of one mind on any number of issues. I do not believe this General Conference will make definitive statements on human sexuality, clergy orders, itinerancy, or guaranteed appointments. I may be wrong. I believe the talk about ultimate separation will continue around the edges, but I do not believe it will occupy center stage. I am not sure we can ever agree on some of these issues. I am even more concerned that we cannot agree to disagree and thus we keep poking each other in the eye with a sharp stick. Is this how Christians are to behave towards one another?
I don’t like moving towards General Conference with the feeling of dis-ease that I have, but nonetheless, it is how I feel. I do have some sense of relief this time that I didn’t have in 2000 or 2004. I have no responsibility for the sessions. It will be interesting to see how the process plays itself out. For financial reasons it was decided to shorten General Conference by nearly two days. How this will play out remains to be seen because there were no major decisions made to do things differently. Just think, it will be like an annual conference session that starts every day at 8 am and concludes about 10 pm for ten straight days! At least in past General Conferences, Sunday, and depending on the workload of your legislative committee, much of Saturday gave you time to sleep, do a little sightseeing and laundry! Another prediction: Working for ten days straight will not improve dispositions!
Future blogs will focus on process, some issues, people who make a difference, and what are the Minnesotans doing at General Conference. Although we will have eight delegates (four lay and four clergy) seated as well as several reserves, most there will be doing other things. We’ll talk with them and report on what they are doing as well as the delegates. I may even regale you with some culinary exploits, although barbeque is not one of my areas of expertise!
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