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.

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!