I've admired Wesleyans for a long, long time.
Part of my research over the years has been traditional Wesleyan theology. In seminary, I wrote several papers on John Wesley as a practical theologian: Spiritual direction as a Wesleyan means of grace, Wesleyan worship as a blend of tradition and innovation, Wesleyan theology as practical divinity, and a master's thesis on Wesley's own practice of the Prayer Book as an evangelical Anglicanism (that rooted parish life in the liturgy which was the only pattern for congregational renewal).
So the past few days have grieved my heart.
The final day of the special General Conference of The United Methodist Church has come and gone. Twelve hours ago, the "Traditional Plan (as modified)" passed. Yes, it's been referred to the Judicial Council for an evaluation of its constitutionality. What's not clear, then, is what comes next.
I suspect that the two disassociation plans will become the practical avenues by which the disaffected ("losers") will find a way out, now that the Conference has doubled-down on the "traditional" view.
I've always believed that views on human sexuality would take a back seat to winning. That this Conference wasn't really about sex at all.
Because now, I suspect, the "winners" will go after other things that have irked them for a long, long time. Things like the ordination and appointment of women. (Yes, I believe this will become the next battle line in the ongoing skirmishes of life inside the Methodist teapot.)
I suspect that the "winners" have always wanted to win. At any cost. Win and walk away as the whole house burns -- that seems to be the mentality of the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA), who vowed to leave the denomination if anything less than the "Traditional Plan" passed.
But let's be clear here: The mentality of the WCA had already surrendered traditional Wesleyanism a long, long time ago. I can't ever imagine John or Charles Wesley uttering anything like the burn-it-down rhetoric of the WCA. And theologically, if you've decided that you can leave behind sisters and brothers with whom you disagree, you've already changed the Church from the Body of Christ into a backed up and bludgeoned corpse anyway. Just read Paul's correspondence to the Corinthians.
If I'm being honest, I'm tired. My soul hurts and my heart aches. Because Wesleyans -- as a whole -- lost yesterday.
I don't know what will happen today. And I'm weary in that uncertainty.
But of this much, I'm sure: Yesterday's vote wasn't about sex. Yesterday's vote was about declaring victory against the "forces of modern secularism" (whatever the bleeping-bleepity-bleep that is). It was about declaring victory for one of the most aggressive and effective lobbying groups within Methodism. It was their first step in the ongoing militaristic march of scorching every religious and political conclusion with which they disagree.
When the Church's apostolic conversations were overrun by American political hacks, Methodists moved from holy conferencing to shouting matches and protests. The Westboro Baptist folks stood outside the arena and shouted down Conference attendees on the outside, and inside certain brothers and sisters destroyed option after option of working a way forward in favor of no way forward at all.
Yes, there were Wesleyans at the General Conference who believed in holy conferencing as a means of grace. These folks put forward the "One Church Plan" that would have held Wesleyans together in unity-without-uniformity. They prayed and they wept as that plan was flatly rejected. Their voices were silenced by money, power and influence.
Make no doubt about it: Money, power and influence. Those were the gods worshipped at the General Conference over the past weekend. That's why I say that yesterday's vote wasn't about sex. Yesterday's vote was about the mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church. It had little mention of Jesus. And yet, Jesus was still there.
Roberts Rules of Order may have stifled the holy conferencing, and encouraged parliamentary gamemanship, but the Conference couldn't make a motion on the real presence of Christ in their midst. Right there with all the women and men whose souls ache, whose hearts are broken, whose bodies are weary.
That's what these political power-house folks just don't understand. They're playing the role of Pilate, not following Jesus. They're crucifying, yet again, the One who stands in the midst of the rejected. The One whose bloody murder becomes the salvation of the whole lot -- enemy and friend alike.
So let's just be honest: Yesterday's vote wasn't about sex. It was about money, power and influence.
And here's the Good News: Jesus is bigger than the money, power and influence that has him killed. All the religious and political wannabes can't change that. Not The United Methodist Church. Not the United States of America. No one.
Money, power and influence may have won the day. They may have gotten their demands by putting their opponents in the proper place. And they may even (again, I suspect they do) have other goals in mind. But that's hardly how this story ends.
Wesleyans are an Easter people, and hope is their song.
Part of my research over the years has been traditional Wesleyan theology. In seminary, I wrote several papers on John Wesley as a practical theologian: Spiritual direction as a Wesleyan means of grace, Wesleyan worship as a blend of tradition and innovation, Wesleyan theology as practical divinity, and a master's thesis on Wesley's own practice of the Prayer Book as an evangelical Anglicanism (that rooted parish life in the liturgy which was the only pattern for congregational renewal).
So the past few days have grieved my heart.
The final day of the special General Conference of The United Methodist Church has come and gone. Twelve hours ago, the "Traditional Plan (as modified)" passed. Yes, it's been referred to the Judicial Council for an evaluation of its constitutionality. What's not clear, then, is what comes next.
I suspect that the two disassociation plans will become the practical avenues by which the disaffected ("losers") will find a way out, now that the Conference has doubled-down on the "traditional" view.
I've always believed that views on human sexuality would take a back seat to winning. That this Conference wasn't really about sex at all.
Because now, I suspect, the "winners" will go after other things that have irked them for a long, long time. Things like the ordination and appointment of women. (Yes, I believe this will become the next battle line in the ongoing skirmishes of life inside the Methodist teapot.)
I suspect that the "winners" have always wanted to win. At any cost. Win and walk away as the whole house burns -- that seems to be the mentality of the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA), who vowed to leave the denomination if anything less than the "Traditional Plan" passed.
But let's be clear here: The mentality of the WCA had already surrendered traditional Wesleyanism a long, long time ago. I can't ever imagine John or Charles Wesley uttering anything like the burn-it-down rhetoric of the WCA. And theologically, if you've decided that you can leave behind sisters and brothers with whom you disagree, you've already changed the Church from the Body of Christ into a backed up and bludgeoned corpse anyway. Just read Paul's correspondence to the Corinthians.
If I'm being honest, I'm tired. My soul hurts and my heart aches. Because Wesleyans -- as a whole -- lost yesterday.
I don't know what will happen today. And I'm weary in that uncertainty.
But of this much, I'm sure: Yesterday's vote wasn't about sex. Yesterday's vote was about declaring victory against the "forces of modern secularism" (whatever the bleeping-bleepity-bleep that is). It was about declaring victory for one of the most aggressive and effective lobbying groups within Methodism. It was their first step in the ongoing militaristic march of scorching every religious and political conclusion with which they disagree.
When the Church's apostolic conversations were overrun by American political hacks, Methodists moved from holy conferencing to shouting matches and protests. The Westboro Baptist folks stood outside the arena and shouted down Conference attendees on the outside, and inside certain brothers and sisters destroyed option after option of working a way forward in favor of no way forward at all.
Yes, there were Wesleyans at the General Conference who believed in holy conferencing as a means of grace. These folks put forward the "One Church Plan" that would have held Wesleyans together in unity-without-uniformity. They prayed and they wept as that plan was flatly rejected. Their voices were silenced by money, power and influence.
Make no doubt about it: Money, power and influence. Those were the gods worshipped at the General Conference over the past weekend. That's why I say that yesterday's vote wasn't about sex. Yesterday's vote was about the mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church. It had little mention of Jesus. And yet, Jesus was still there.
Roberts Rules of Order may have stifled the holy conferencing, and encouraged parliamentary gamemanship, but the Conference couldn't make a motion on the real presence of Christ in their midst. Right there with all the women and men whose souls ache, whose hearts are broken, whose bodies are weary.
That's what these political power-house folks just don't understand. They're playing the role of Pilate, not following Jesus. They're crucifying, yet again, the One who stands in the midst of the rejected. The One whose bloody murder becomes the salvation of the whole lot -- enemy and friend alike.
So let's just be honest: Yesterday's vote wasn't about sex. It was about money, power and influence.
And here's the Good News: Jesus is bigger than the money, power and influence that has him killed. All the religious and political wannabes can't change that. Not The United Methodist Church. Not the United States of America. No one.
Money, power and influence may have won the day. They may have gotten their demands by putting their opponents in the proper place. And they may even (again, I suspect they do) have other goals in mind. But that's hardly how this story ends.
Wesleyans are an Easter people, and hope is their song.