From Our WNCC Conference Offices

Friends, here is a word from our Conference Offices. Most, not all, of our delegation supported the One Church Plan, but we also had folk who supported the Traditional Plan. Be that as it may, the bishop and some others will conduct briefings across the Conference over the next few weeks. The one nearest Hawthorne Lane will be at Assurance UMC on March 10 and I do plan to attend.

http://wnc-email.brtapp.com/viewinsite/855a296acfdba9fec09c379395b89aa1

I will interested to hear from those who were "on the floor" and who are more nearly "in the know" as to their read and insights regarding the General Conference.

+ + +

On a personal note, I made it home after a long day of Ubers, plane flights, lay-overs and such. After unpacking and starting the wash, I watched, barely, the last five minutes of the Tennessee beating Ole Miss (and yes, it was clearly a charge!). I do not remember climbing the steps or getting into bed, but there I slept for 11 hours. Good to be home. Looking to eat a nice salad today.

Back to Basics

Back to basics…

Quite unlike the “holy pandemonium” we celebrate at Hawthorne Lane often and again, what we saw and experienced in St. Louis was unholy pandemonium, and the most of it yesterday. We emerged from that “cage fight,” as Rob Renfroe, one of the (to my mind: unprincipled) principals dubbed it more or less rightly, bloodied and battered and absolutely shamed by the ways we treated each other.

It was like that bad but necessary first counseling session for divorcing couples—where the only thing on display is pent-up anger and self-serving self-righteousness, the “look how much I have suffered on account of him/her!”

In actual counseling, of course, even if divorce is inevitable, one hopes that the anger and blame can eventually give way to both appreciation and sadness: appreciation of the other’s qualities that indicate why you got married in the first place; sadness as to why it is a tragedy, for so many reasons, that it seems it has to end this way. And maybe it does. But even then, there ought to be a place for gracious parting, for prayerful blessing as you go, for mutual contrition and repentance, and for an expression of the kind of overarching or undergirding love that may not keep you together but keeps you from remaining bitterly apart.

I saw none of those better angels yesterday. Or this week. At all. And if I would like to think that now—now–we could begin the real conversation, the healing, gracious, bless-you-as-we-go conversation, I fear it will not happen. Remember how my colleague in LA so unsettlingly said, “There is no point in our talking; we can’t change each other’s minds; it is too late; it wouldn’t be fruitful.”

That was about the most cynical, the most emotionally and theological arrested thing I heard all week.  

Still, as the dust begins to settle, we are hearing more and more voices that, as both the bluster and the whine begin to fade, reveal that as of this moment not much has functionally changed. If that in and of itself depressed you a little, join the que. But…

Fans of the Traditional Plan (which passed) know that the actual legislation is in terrible trouble—that what got passed on the floor of GC will almost certainly be ruled unconstitutional (again!) by the Judicial Council, and if/when it is, the UMC will be left with the very same Book of Discipline we already have.

So…

Those in the throes of great lamentation should take note that, Yes, there is a sense in which the Traditionalist voices flexed a bit of muscle. But the percentages, while indicative, were not entirely overwhelming (6.5% points, 54 total votes of 822 cast). And again, it has all been referred (again!) to Judicial Council. As we wait, nothing has functionally changed.

So...those who are gloating that, as one pastor in Atlanta said it, “we now have a Discipline with ‘teeth in it,’” (which, again, we don’t; read above), should take note that, Yes, there is a sense in which the Traditionalist voices flexed a bit of muscle…. but again, nothing has functionally changed.

(Reading the comment of that Atlanta pastor, I could not help but think of Galatians 5:15, “If you bite and devour one another, be careful that you do not consume one another.” Like a snake eating its own tail, we may in fact be destroying ourselves slowly and painfully).

Yesterday as we prepared to conclude, the presiding bishop, instead of calling for “an omnibus motion” to set aside all that was left before us, called for an “ominous motion.” Yep. Got that.   

I think that the fight will continue in Minneapolis in 2020, which is either good news or bad news or both. It is pretty clear that the factions do not like each other very much.

But I find myself thinking about Genesis 1. And Hawthorne Lane UMC.

I am confident that God's blessing rests on HLUMC! I know of more families ready to join our great and growing congregation. The business and busyness and pique that has characterized St. Louis this week is not our agenda for ministry and mission. Yes, we care about LGBTQI+ folk, in the same way we care for other folk: welcoming, working, growing and worshiping with…whoever. Will we sponsor a float in the Gay Pride parade? Maybe not. But we will not protest or boycott it either, and we will listen to and love those who, for whatever their reason, do either. We will try to love everyone and believe that conservative or liberal, gay, straight or unsure, evangelical or struggling with faith, there is a place for you among loving friends at HLUMC.

As to the UMC? I don’t know. I do believe that God’s Spirit can bring order out of the chaos—but as I ponder Genesis 1, I remember that in the light after the darkness God ordained many separations: water from land, earth from sky, animals from humans… only after these (surely) painful separations, this from that, these from those, did their come life and fruitfulness and joy!  

What now?

I have had three calls already... "What happens now?"

The short answer is, We don't know yet.

As I talked to Carrie a moment ago about today's ugliness, a fellow "in the know" came by and he joined the conversation. He noted, as I think I did earlier, that nearly the last think we did was to refer the Traditional Plan back to Judicial Council once again for a declaratory ruling as to its constitutionality, and the Exit plan as well. If, as is expected, all of it is ruled unconstitutional once again, then we are left with exactly what he have right now, which does not please some folk one way or the other, but at least gives us room to move and minister in the ways we do now. So...

Until the ruling, nothing changes.

After the ruling, it may be that nothing changes.

And we will face 2020 in Minneapolis poorer in the pocket, battered in reputation (I can't BELIEVE we needed the police for our meeting's close!), and no richer in spirit.

I will have more to say about this in a blog I will post later tonight or tomorrow.

And in my sermon on Sunday at 10:30, and in my "Conference Report" which will take place after worship. And we DO hope to tape that session and post it online, so that those who are unable to attend worship will still be able to see it at their convenience.

That said, as I can attest, there is nothing like being there in person to see it and feel it as it happens--for good and for ill.

Pray for the Church.

This is NOT the Kingdom of God

For about the last forty-five minutes those who had been protesting all week, continued their shouts and chants. “Stop the Harm!” they said over and over, occasionally punctuating it with “bishop!” or “church!” Stop the harm, bishop! Stop the harm, church!

One or two kept trying to get more in the mezzanine to join the chorus and were disheartened that it did not happen. In fat, their numbers dwindled.

One delegate stood to raise a point of order, only to shout “THIS ENTIRE GENERAL CONFERENCE IS OUT OF…” but the bishop cut her mic.

Later, a dozen or so folk brought a cross down the middle aisle of the bar. It was getting near time to adjourn and worship, so it might have been part of the day. Turns out it was a group of protesters who went-up on stage to begin a sit-in. At first, the bishop said, “You do not have access to the stage,” but then said, “You go ahead and take a seat while we complete our work.”

As we debated one of the plan, a fellow said, “This is the Traditionalists’ exit plan. They want all the assets. Fine! I’ll give them the money if that is what they want! You can take our assets, but you cannot make me leave this church.”

 

The shouting continued to the point that I got confused as to what we voted with the last couple of votes.

 

As soon as the last vote was tallied, Donna Pritchard, a spokesperson for the Oregon-Idaho Conference, stood with delegates from her conference and said their conference was committed to staying fully-inclusive in the face of the decisions. The splitting, in other words, has begun.

And then, as we left, there were police EVERYWHERE! Cars, vans, busses (to take the protestors away?), officers. What a testament, that we need St. Louis’ finest to police us because we can’t seem to experience or express the Peace of Christ.

Lord, have mercy.

 

 

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

UUUUUGGG----LLLLYYYYYYY

"You should not gloat over your brother on the day of his  misfortune..." (Obadiah, vs. 12)

"Bless those who curse you, pray for those who those mistreat you..." (Luke 6:28)

"When he was reviled, he reviled not in return..." (I Peter 2:23)

"He prayed, 'Father, forgive...'" (Luke 23:34)

This is not helping anything... it just proves everyone's point, one way or the other.

People dancing and rejoicing at the break.

A group of maybe 15 folk now screaming themselves hoarse, calling out "No, No, No!" (taking pictures and movies of themselves; and I wonder if they hope that someone will call security).

Rival demonstrations all over the auditorium, while the praise team sang--I am not kidding--"Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me."

The last few minutes have reinforced unfortunate perceptions. And there is little to feel but sadness and shame.

And now we are taking-up the Exit plans. Ironic. Many people outside the auditorium may be thinking the same thing.

And now as we prepare to approve plans for disaffiliation and exit...

There are loud cries heard in the camps...

The TP plan passed by some 50 votes. The Chair called recess. On the floor a circle of 150 or so delegates led a response and song ("This is my story, this is my song...") pledging to continue the fight and such. They were answered by hundreds in the stands.

There is anger, sadness, weariness on almost everyone's part. However, a circle of delegates, who appear to be from the Central Conferences (including Africa) have formed a different circle and are clapping and singing and chanting. This is a really ugly moment, and I have a hard time finding much of the Holy Spirit in the room at all.

Down to Cases

Jeffrey Kuan from California-Nevada has amended the TP motion to include, alongside homosexuality, polygamy, divorce and/or remarriage, as disqualifiers for episcopal consecration. In other words, the amendment aims to lift the bullseye off the one thing and widen considerations to all the matters of “biblical sexual ethics” that seem to be so important to some of our brothers and sisters. It is widely-reported that we have (mostly local) pastors in Africa who are polygamous. We have pastors and bishops who are divorced, remarried, and some of them multiple times. We have some who are not celibate in singleness or monogamous in marriage.

While in North America we have made cultural accommodation to non-marital intimacy, divorce and remarriage (in the name of grace and despite Jesus’s clear instructions against it), Mr. Kuan says if we are going to speak against any one of these issues we need to include them all in the name of a consistent and comprehensive sexual ethic. Otherwise we are hypocrites.

Grace is grace for all, or it is grace for none.

Sky McCracken from Memphis says that in his investigative responsibilities re clergy, homosexual issues have taken little time and had little impact, but that heterosexual affairs have split churches wide open. We need to be about discipleship and quit being the sex police.

Cynthia Weems says, “I understand the hypocrisy the amendment addresses, but I cannot support the attempt to make the evangelism exclusive. I will not support the amendment and I will not support the Traditional Plan.”

The Kuan Amendment: Yes: 274, No: 545.

Back to the main motion: Tim McClendon of SC moves we vote the whole question. And asks Tim to pray us through the vote. But before he does...

There has been a move to refer the plan to the General Council on Finance and Administration for cost analyses.

That move failed (I suspect along the lines that the TP will be passed), and now we are back to the main motion with a few more stalling tactics in place. Actually, it feels like a MAJOR stall. I am wondering if some of the delegates are hoping to leave here in 30 minutes with no plan. One young delegate is moving now to "divide" the motion to take them one by one. No way that tactic will work, but it is a last gasp.

Several other motions related to points of order, chair rulings questioned... and now, at 5:52 p.m., Tim McClendon is called back to pray us to and through this motion.

Yes for the TP: 438          No for the TP: 384

People are Tired, Gloves are Coming Off

Emmanuel Cleaver, from MO, is telling us that the Traditional Plans is looking at ONE issue and overlooking many other social/ethical issues that are at least as crucial as the issue of homosexuality: the racial inequalities that evidence themselves in disproportionate incarcerations and gun violence, the matter of divorce among clergy (which is clearly discussed by Jesus while homosexuality is not), the fact that gender and race plays a part in appointments and episcopal elections, and “and African-American bishop being forced to retire under the guise of ineffectiveness when there are many bishops who are ineffective and some who should not have been elected to begin with…”

If we are going to get “biblical,” as the supporters of this plan claim, let’s get real biblical, remembering that Jesus fed all the people, not just the 5000 men who were counted, but also the women and children who went uncounted. We are in this General Conference not counting many of God’s children who are beloved by Jesus, too, while we are paying attention to a very small part of the whole counsel of God. It is a live question as to why this, so passionately and so much, when other issues that are clear are more clearly disregarded in practice.

Mark Holland says that the TP is elevating The Discipline above the Bible, and that we are paying attention to a few parts of the text, while bishops are guilty of divorce, and members of the bar are divorced, and we are neglecting the weightier matters of justice and mercy…and he is determined to move to amend every piece of the TP until the monster trucks roll in and we will not finish and not be certified…

The chair cut off Mr. Holland’s message.

The University Senate, in the person of Kim Ingram, representing the seminaries of the UMC, are saying that a generation of young UM ministers will be lost and that seminaries may even pull-out.

Gregory Gross, a gay deacon, is saying, “let’s approve the amendment” and investigate ALL the members of the Board of Ordained Ministry, all the bishops, all the officers… Have you really followed ALL the book of Discipline? If you are going after me, you need to go after everyone.

So...What did YOU do for lunch?

I played ping-pong, of a sort.

Leaving the Dome, after a really tough morning, I took a couple of selfies with the folk from Westboro Baptist Church. I was SO disappointed, as there were only three or four of them today. After yesterday, perhaps they felt their work was done.

The guy in the shot to the left--it is not a great picture, I confess--is preaching through a bullhorn. Typical invectives and such.

The guy in the camouflage jacket. a big burley guy...  after I took the shot I walked over to him and said, "You guys are HILARIOUS! Thank you so much for entertaining us all week! Really funny routine!" He smiled smugly, nodded slightly, signaled to another fellow. As I started away, the guy he signaled (a tall, thin African-American guy) came toward me with a bullhorn  calling, "You are going to die in your sins!" All I will say is that the bullhorn helped. At least I could hear him.

I invited them to lunch, but they didn't seem interested. Just as well, because I came here, to Hamburger Mary. I came here the other day, accidentally. Today I came back on purpose, with about 200 other UM's. The poor staff... my server says that normally, on Tuesday, they sit around looking at each other (I did not make a joke, though tonight is Dinner with the Divas). But apparently, after a LONG morning, and so much grim discussion about all matters...well, all the matters before us... a LOT of people, gay and straight, felt the need to just relax a little and get a burger and laugh and smile.

I ordered the Queen Mary, of course, which is a bacon cheeseburger by another name, with "ta-tas," tater tots.

When in St. Louis...

And I will be leaving tomorrow.

Things are Getting Interesting...

At 11:00 a.m. local, rulings from the Judicial Council were announced. Eight aspects of the Traditional Plan were ruled Unconstitutional, and both the Boyette and Taylor Disaffiliation plans were ruled Unconstitutional. You will see the notes I was taking as the reports were reported.

Then, Tom Berlin from Virginia rose to bring a "Minority Report" in hopes that the One Church Plan may be reconsidered as a substitute motion. 

Immediately, we began hearing speeches for and against the substitute motion, which are taking the typical lines of debate... the Word vs. the Flesh, the statement of Jesus about marriage vs. the "love" that ensures unity. Scripture is being quoted. Every one is accusing the other of judgmentalism…

A young woman delegate from (I missed where) rose to speak of the 15K signatures on a petition started and received since last evening, in support of the unity of the church and equal marriage rights for LGBTQI+ folk.

This is a picture of To Berlin.

A woman delegate from OK rose to say, "When you accuse me of being unloving, when I love my lesbian niece but do not condone her actions, you hurt my ministry and my relationships with others. And in fact you shouldn't want to be in a church with me if you consider me as mean as you accuse me of being."

A young woman rises to speak as a "Young Evangelical" who is against the OCP, who stands for scriptural holiness and speak for themselves. She says the claim is to include, not exclude, and to work with LGBTQI+ folk for a just society, while still arguing for a traditional and orthodox definition of marriage so as to leave a legacy of holiness for future generations.

We will soon be voting now as to whether the delegates are willing to reconsider the OCP. OCP's Last Stand, as it were.
All the speakers are saying "Vote and Please Don't Abstain," because apparently many have abstained either because the OCP does not go far enough or because they do not want to be considered judgmental.

One rises to say that a speech suggested that one of the speeches suggested LGBTQI should be drowned, and wonders how we can stand aside in the face of such language.  Berlin comes back to say that we have been gracious regarding divorce, so why not in this. While others have compared the issue before us to a soccer field, he compares it to a playground where we learn to play nice and there is not someone ready to throw penalty flags at every moment. If we want scriptural holiness, then he wants us to apply it equally to divorce, to cohabitation, to all the matters that related to sexual ethics.

Lots of cheers and jeers.

The head of the legislative committee asks us to reject the substitute and go forward with the Traditional Plan.

Berlin asks for prayer--not to support the OCP, but to show love for the church. An amazing moment as many delegates, members of the audience, and even the bishops come forward to join each other in prayer. Some delegates, however, refused to move, or could not... make of that what you will.

And, as people all over sing "They will know we are Christians..." we vote as to whether to substitute the Minority Report:

Yes: 374

No: 449

And we are back to the Traditional Plan. The OCP dies with a whimper.

This is our agenda for the day. Those of you who would like to check the Advanced Daily Christian Advocate for explanations of these items.

The first item is somewhat misnamed: at this point it has not to do with the One Church Plan; it has to do with how what the General Conference will ultimately pass today will be facilitated and implemented in the Central (non-English speaking) Conferences, and not sooner than 12 months after the 2020 General Conference (for example, in the Philippines, Africa, Russia, etc.), subject to the specific contexts of those places.

We rather easily dispatched matters related to the pensions and properties. Now a break before we begin the more pressing and, I suspect, painful business of trying to perfect and implement the matters from the Traditional Plan.

Remember, last fall many parts (about 40%) of the TP was ruled Unconstitutional. Late yesterday afternoon we requested another declaratory ruling from the Judicial Council as to this plan. We fully expect the same concerns to be voiced, though some will have been corrected. The several remaining areas of concern will be addressed. Good News, in their "Focus" this morning lists at least nine places that need "fixing."

Some are openly hoping it can't get fixed at all or in time, which would leave us where we are, $5M and five days later. Be that as it may, there will then follow discussion/debate on the two Exit plans. Gonna be a long day. Can you tell I am PUMPED?

Fingers at the ready! Power cords on hand! New batteries in my mouse!  Your intrepid blogger, at it for another day!

Sleeping Through the Storm (not me)

It is Day Three of the actual Conference (although we started on Saturday with a day of Prayer).

Before us today, following morning worship, is the Plenary vote on the matters we discussed yesterday (and I reviewed last night). We will take up the petitions again, and if the ones that have been referred to Judicial Council are found unconstitutional by the Judicial Council (as is quite likely), there will be work to perfect them. More debate and discussion. And posturing.

The Good News folk are crowing a bit. Their morning digest of yesterday is that United Methodists made a clear preliminary decision. THey say, “This decision (approving the Traditional Plan and defeating the Once Church Plan) was painful for the church and for the delegates. Ultimately, however, the decision is in sync with the Scriptures and the historic teaching of the Church. It opens up the possibility of God’s transformation for all of us in our own brokenness. It creates a new way for the church to move forward in faithfulness.” (Thomas Lambrecht, today’s General Conference Focus; www.goodnewsmag.org).

Not to be cynical, but there is brokenness and there is brokenness.

All over the auditorium concourse as I came in were members of the Queer clergy with rainbow tape over their mouths, with bags over their head, as it to symbolize their being invisible and muted. I don’t know whether those kinds of expressions are sensitizing or quite the opposite, or whether some are quite glad to get these voices and faces out of the church. All I do know is that there is a deep sense of woundedness and despair, especially among some of our younger clergy who came into St. Louis with real hope that we would find a way to keep the tent big enough for all of us who claim Jesus, Wesley, Methodism and the work of the church.

We will see whether there is the least of that hope left today.

The morning preacher talked of Jesus asleep in the boat. One of my favorite stories. And how Jesus was blissfully unaware of the crisis till the disciples called-out, screamed, pleaded with him to help them. Then we prayed, very quietly. Might have been a time for chorus prayer or that Korean form we learned the other day. Then, too soon, we stopped. I thought I saw Jesus’ eyebrows raise a bit as he took a deep breath and lick his lips, and resume his rest.   

Day Two is a Wrap

Friends-- it has been a long couple of days. I am most gratified that this blog has received, as of 10:52 p.m. tonight, more than 1600 views (this is more than the sales of my books combined! Well, not quite, but still quite a number!). I thank you and pray that my reactions and impressions have not misguided you at all or been camouflage, but have helped you a bit as you have tried to do your own processing about the General Conference.

On a personal note: I have eaten badly, slept poorly, and consumed too much... well, I am in St. Louis after all!

One more day to go. Tomorrow we will be looking at Wespath Plan (which has to do with church property, pensions and the like), the Traditional Plan (which is the only plan that survived today's debate and legislative voting), and two Exit or Disaffilliation plans.

As to matters related to Wespath, there is still considerable discussion as to what it will "cost" a church that wishes to leave the denomination with their property (which is held in trust for the Annual Conference). Right now, there is talk of the equivalent of two years of Conference apportionments, some amount related to pension... the exact amount would vary from church to church. Whether churches could afford such a pay-out is a live topic. I doubt we will get more specific information than the above on tomorrow.

As regards the Traditional Plan, cynicism reigns--at least among the folk with whom I have talked.  There is a rumor that some of the most vocal advocates of this plan will get it passed, then leave the denomination anyway to start their own ("setting the house on fire as you close the door" is the language that has been used). The plan as it was originally advanced ran afoul, last fall, of the Judicial Council, but tomorrow will see us attempt to "perfect" the motions.

If the restrictive language is tightened and the investigative/punitive aspects ratcheted-up, no telling where that will leave many pastors and churches, bishops and annual conferences.

My suspicion is that Boards of Ordained Ministry will receive WAY more than the usual requests for early retirement (a friend told me tonight that while s/he had not really thought about retirement till this week, and could not have imagined this conference prompting such thoughts, s/he now thinks "sooner rather than later," and maybe much sooner; and "if I have to sign some sort of oath of allegiance to the new rules, WAY sooner").

If the TP is defeated (not likely), we would leave St. Louis $5 million poorer and in exactly the same square we were in Saturday morning. Of course, for some supporters of the OCP, better poorer and where we were than where we might end up if the TP passes.

Then there is the matter of Exit or Disaffiliation Plans. If you are interested, you may find the five plans here--though only two of them passed from today and into tomorrow. The Boyette Plan and the Taylor Plan are the last ones listed and described in the link.

http://www.umglobal.org/2019/02/what-are-differences-between-five-exit.html?m=1

Friends in the know say we should "root" for the Taylor Plan, as the Boyette plan guts the agencies and depletes reserves so that the agencies will be crippled from the get-go.

Again, some are in favor or torching the place. But what we hope and pray for is a gracious exit. 

I will try to keep you posted tomorrow. You may of course watch the live stream.

And as a part of that you may choose also to see, as a PiP, the ESL presentation.

I was reminded of that this afternoon when I had a chance today to talk for about 15 minutes to my friend Michelle Provart Menefee, the ESL interpreter I met last summer in Dallas. It was so good seeing her again! 

Members of HLUMC may remember that I preached a sermon with Michelle as the primary illustration: how mesmerized I was watching her work that conference because she absolutely inhabited the language of the presentations. I was speechless, but tearful, watching her work. In my sermon I talked about how, for example, it is one thing to play notes and another to perform music. That it is one thing to know some sign language (I know a few signs), and another to inhabit and interpret the ESL translation (as she does).

I said it was one thing to say some bible verses or cite some Jesus stories, but another thing--called incarnation and holiness--to inhabit the gospel in such a way that it becomes art and music and authentic testimony (maybe I should have preached that sermon here!).

Turns out, Michelle has interpreted (including this one) the last four General Conferences and will most likely also be in Minneapolis. She told me to tell you that you can find the ESL on the English stream, though she herself will not be on it tomorrow as her duties will focus on deaf delegates.

May God grant us all sleep and peace and the assurance that because God is God and we are God's children, all is well. And all is well. And, as St. Julian said, all manner of things shall be well.  

The Simple Plan

Regarding the Request for Declaratory Decision: 54% vote to refer/request.

Now, a Simple Plan.

First speaker: For: The church is not safe/sacred space for all God’s children. I am child of mission, and mission will allow all people to come in.

Second speaker: Against: A southern CA preacher, who is African-American, both gay and a veteran, speaking of his fear that the Simple Plan that is not radical enough, that it does not go far enough. He lives with fear on account of his race, and with fear in the church because we do not welcome. We have been loud about money, and property and who is excluded…but silent about the excluded children of the church.

Third Speaker: For: German delegate who dreams that on Wednesday there will be no distinctions at all and will stand for the Kingdom of God.

Fourth Speaker: Against: Mexican delegate, passionate, but I have no translation device (but see below).

Fifth Speaker: For: A Western Pennsylvania woman whose pastor is very conservative but finds the descriptions in the Social Principles to disrupt his focus on ministering by telling him that some of whom he serves are described as sinful.

Sixth Person: Against: A Russian woman who, while they have a strong regard for all of creation, fears the changing of the language will drive the church further underground (for in Russia, homosexuality is a crime) and the church will not be able to be a welcoming community as they try to grow. The acceptance of the Simple Plan will cause the rejection of the church out of hand by the culture.

Seventh Person: For: A self-identified Queer lay woman from New York: The Simple Plan does not call for anyone to believe anything they do not believe. It simply allows LBGTQI+ to live freely in their context in their church. To be equated with “alcoholics” (as the speaker above from Mexico) is insulting.

Eighth Person: Against: A self-identified Queer woman clergy from New England: the sins of silence and fear cannot be undone by the deletion of the language. It cannot make a real difference. We can confess but we cannot change. This plan does nothing to bind people to a welcoming and repentant lifestyle. It is time for more that doing no harm; it is time for doing good.

Vote to close debate: needs two-thirds: debate is closed.

Support Simple Plan: 323 (40%)

The Rainbow Volcano Just Erupted

The matter before us was "referral for a declaratory decision" as to the constitutionality of the Traditional Plan. There were speeches for and against that referral, which only requires a one-third vote to sustain. A young man rose to speak, wearing a rainbow stole, a reserve lay delegate, who began to speak of the "crucifixion of the church," and how if we pass a plan that contains parts we already anticipate will be ruled unconstitutional (as many parts of the Traditional Plan have been), that it will cause inestimable harm to the witness of young, progressive Christians like him who are in secular settings but have been able to share the love of Jesus with folk who have never heard a gospel of grace but only a gospel of judgment. He spoke with the fire of a tent preacher, and before his three minutes were done half the bishops, a third of the delegates and a lot of the observers were on their feet clapping. I was too slow with my camera to catch the man or the moment, but it was a moment.

The Chair called for a break, and now clusters of delegates are huddling. Between the "matter of dignity," which was a somber moment, and the eruption of the Rainbow Volcano, which was unbridled, the Conference is in an interesting dither at this point.

We still have to vote on referral for the declaratory decision, and we have to hear from the Simple Plan supporters. We are scheduled to go for 2 more hours and we may need it. Stay tuned.

"A matter of dignity..."

Predictably, there was a motion to bundle the rest of the petitions and dismiss them. Several of the LGBTQI folk asked to exempt The Simple Plan for a consideration of it. It is clear it will not pass--that is the resolution simply to remove the discriminatory language in The Discipline--but several of the delegates including Adam Hamilton have asked that the Simple Plan be discussed as a way of honoring the folk around whom this conference has been called. As a matter of dignity, he said.

The delegates passed the amendment, though 370+ plus voted against it. And so we will talk about it for a while.

Now, another motion also to exempt the Connectional Conference Plan as a way to find a third way that might allow for continued unity. This motion had no chance and was soundly defeated.

So, we are back to the bundle: dismissing all other petitions except for The Simple Plan. The motion passes, meaning we will hear from supporters of the Simple Plan.

Tomorrow, the Plenary will consider the matters approved today. The Traditional Plan and one of the Exit (Disaffiliation) plans will be referred to Judicial Council, perhaps for a declaratory decision as to the constitutionality of The Traditional Plan. If the JC declares the amended TP unconstitutional, there is a good chance we will leave hear at Square One.

The One Church Plan...

No surprise here, really. After the more-or-less deprioritizing of the petition yesterday (though it had received two-thirds of the bishops' support when it came as the recommendation from the Commission on the Way Forward), the prevailing sense was that it would not be passed today.

The debate moved predictably: those against the One Church Plan argued for a way of reading the Bible that sees the strict injunctions as normative, and other mitigating or redefining texts as less authoritative. Those who were for the One Church Plan appealed to our historic unity, and our current missions and ministries and the need for "contextualization." Those against the OCP called contextualization by another name: congregationalism. Those for the OCP noted that contextualization is the way we work already in a whole lot of ways.

Jesus' words on marriage were invoked; so was the fact that Jesus' answers may not have been to our question (much as the Good Samaritan redefines the lawyer's question about neighbor).

A man from Liberia, another from Congo, a man and a woman from Russia and one from the Philippines spoke in their own languages (contextualization) as to their hopes and fears. The two from Russia suggested the OCP would destroy the Church in Russia, though nothing in the plan demand any conference change their current stance on human sexuality, marriage or ordination.

Tensions rose incrementally through the afternoon, and "points of order" were continually raised as a ways to camouflage speeches for and against, but I found myself thinking the will of the body was already evident. At 3:22, a second vote was taken to close debate and call the question. At 3:25, the vote was taken on the One Church Plan. Here is the vote:

Again, today is technically a "legislative committee" meeting, designed to debate, amend and perfect the motions that will be voted on tomorrow in the "plenary session." Because this is a special called conference to discuss the one issue related to human sexuality and its correlates, the same delegates who vote in the plenary also constitute the legislative committee.

In other years, there would be any number of legislative committees working on the many sections of the Book of Discipline. Delegates would be assigned to one of these committees. This session, there is only one matter before us, and so all the delegates are serving in both capacities.

Whatever is passed today will be forwarded to tomorrow's Plenary Session for final vote. The failure of the One Church Plan today means it will not come up tomorrow.   

That was fun...

And we needed a bit of fun... The amendment was rather inconsequential, and failed for lack of a majority.

Lunch, If We Have the Stomach for It

This is how the politics is being played-out, at least as I understand it (I am learning [too much] as I go). Those who have crafted and advanced The Traditional Plan, which strengthens existing exclusionary language and mandates swift consequences for transgressions, realize they have a problem: the Judicial Council has already ruled over 40% of the Plan unconstitutional. A Modified version was also found to be lacking in constitutional merit.

This morning, many people rose to offer amendments to the latest plan in hopes of patching-up the issues. That could have been a long process, and no guarantee the holes would have been plugged.  

The legislative strategy for those who oppose the TP or MTP was, therefore, to close debate and vote to pass the MTP, in order to advance it to tomorrow’s plenary. From there, if it is passed, it will be referred to the JC again, and if it is once again found unconstitutional, then we will end-up exactly where we are now.

Several attempts were made to refer the plan to JC today, but by the technicalities of Roberts’ Rules of Order, we cannot do that till tomorrow (today we are a “legislative committee,” not a “plenary session,” though the membership of the two is the same). UPDATE: SEE BELOW

Meanwhile, we are debating and voting on Disaffiliation motions. You can find these resolutions in the Advanced Daily Christian Advocate, pp 205 (Taylor, 90066), pp. 201 (Boyette). 

We are using language like “good divorce,” “bad divorce,” “burning the house down as we walk out the door,” “wrecking the connection.”

Both Taylor and Boyette have now passed. We will take a lunch break, if anyone has the stomach for it.

BUT, there is a new ruling on the floor now that the committee CAN refer the TP we just passed to JC. I suspect that will happen right away.

My lip is quivering and I have a really bad headache. Pray for the Conference.  

At 11:34, EST, 10:34 Central...

The Traditional Plan was passed. Now, the Plan will head to the Plenary on tomorrow, and should it be passed, it will be referred to the Judicial Council, and perhaps earlier. Over 40% of the plan as it was originally crafted was ruled Unconstitutional, and even after modifications it has not been made workable according to our Constitution. We are now considering motions on Disaffiliation, which is a terrible word, but if we are to divide I would hope we can find a gracious way to bless each other as we do. As Abraham said to Lot, "If you take the right, I will take the left. If you take the left, I will take the right. We are kin."

Also, see this article: https://religionnews.com/2019/02/22/united-methodists-should-acknowledge-reality-that-they-are-no-longer-united/?fbclid=IwAR19PULMgV_Ju_d4Au1GQkMOLzyJZBpWSPiXB3K3WtSQn-_lN950cOuN7kA

Adam Hamilton on the Bible

https://mailchi.mp/unitingmethodists/newsletter-2019-02-25?e=c9fdcf1b16

Another irreplaceable chunck of a finite and rapidly passing existence

We have been here for 90 minutes, ninety precious minutes, and we are nowhere further along than we were. I keep thinking about the ways Hawthorne Lane, the street, has been dug and re-dug for 2 years, now, and in Tommy Lawing’s words, “we’ve yet to see a foot of track.”

A bit of background… the Traditional Plan is before us. Las fall, several sections of it were ruled unconstitutional according to the Church’s Constitution. Today, the folk who are advancing the plan are trying to amend it on the fly to make it pass muster. It would be a long process if it could be done. But this is the stated agenda of Good News and WCA—the more conservative of our brothers and sisters.

We have spent a good amount of irreplaceable time debating and voting on the amendments, while the main question about the Traditional Plan has received only two speeches so far, both in the negative.

The mood among the supporters of Once Church, Connectional Conference and The Simple Plan is pretty somber. It is reported this morning that Adam Hamilton, one of the leading voices behind the Once Church Plan, was weeping last night with the realization that OCP is, it would appear, dead.

Now, a ruling this morning says that today the delegates could advance both the Traditional Plan and another plan to tomorrow’s “plenary” (technically, while the delegates are the same one to the other, today’s meeting is a “legislative” session to consider all the motions before us, so as to decide which are up for a final vote and in what form; the “plenary” tomorrow is vested with the authority to pass the actual legislation). It is hard to imagine, though, that we would advance more than one, or that tomorrow’s votes would not echo yesterday’s prioritization or today’s vote (if we ever get to it)…

If we do, though, we duke it out tomorrow. I suspect the fight will begin in a few. Already the clichés are  being weaponized: Love! Bible! Exclusion! Doctrinal Unity!

The second speech in Russian has taken us to break as the translation equipment has failed. They are working to fix it.

Stay tuned.

The Demonstrations Have Begun... and will, I suspect, intensify

This was taken earlier today, after the Once Church Plan, The Simple Plan, and the Connectional Conference Plan were not "prioritized" for discussion. The Traditional Plan will be discussed/debated beginning tomorrow at 8:20 a.m. Whether we get to the OCP (which was about 6th on the list, and prioritized by less than 50% of the delegates) is anyone's guess.

Pray for the General Conference.

First Day's a Wrap...

The end of a long day. A weird day. A disconcerting day. A hopeful day nonetheless.

As to the last…  

So, in spite of all that has gone on in St. Louis, I got an email tonight from a family wanting to join our church and, though they come from a “believer’s baptism” background—after talking with me about it a couple of weeks ago—want to have their children baptized when they join our church. That is an indication to me that no matter what happens here, back home, the work goes on and the gospel will prevail.

That is the message I need to hear and also to proclaim. And to remember always. The gospel is not fettered by our stuff.

As to the former...

Today we had Westboro Baptist people on two corners, to flank us as we exited. Screaming, with signs, promising us Hell. Hilariously, one woman was holding a sign that said, NO WOMEN PREACHERS! (Westboro lost their sense of irony, and what constitutes preaching, decades ago.)

Three GREAT moments re WBC:

One: as we were leaving, a panel truck that had been hired by…someone… with a “The United Methodist Church: Called to Faith, Called to Prayer, Called to Serve” pulled-up in front of the protestors on the one side, hiding them from us for a while. I was not quick enough with my camera to get a shot of it. It was PERFECT!

Two: a car pulled even with the same group as the truck drove away, and blared their horn to drown-out the amplified invectives.

Three: I stopped in front of the larger group and laughed out loud and said, “Y’all are so funny! Y'all are SO FUNNY!!"

I was remembering how in Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban, Professor Lupin said that while the spell, “Ridiculus!” could repel a boggart, what really “finished them off” was laughter. Likewise, in Stephen Donaldson’s The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, what destroyed Lord Foul, the “devil” figure in the trilogy, was laughter. We spend too much time fighting and fretting these idiots. Laughter does it, or will. They are in fact ridiculous.

Speaking of which… today we had other protesters who demanded we love them, while daring us not to. They were carrying signs of their own, so to speak, though of a different kind. And absolutely mystified why folks on the WAY left drive people to the right, even as people on the WAY right drive people to the left.

Today I had a pastor refuse to talk to me beyond “his” recognition that we could not talk—that it was too late to have conversation, that discussion was pointless. Really?

Today I saw us prioritize a proposal regarding pensions/property and three disaffiliation plans ahead of a plan to keep our church from splintering. THREE DISAFFILIATION PROPOSALS before a proposal to keep the Church together.

“What happened to the Peace of Christ?” said one text I received on the downside of it. Great question, I responded.

I have tried to ask myself the question I put earlier: What am I afraid of? If we split?

I am afraid that the young men I baptized in January, the young families I have already welcomed and the others I soon will—people for whom the gospel is real for the first time in a long time or ever—that I will have to tell them that our church cannot agree on how to love God and neighbor, and that they will decide it was a mistake to believe that this gospel could make a difference in the and their world.

But I trust that, as Bishop Carter said today, “that the One who began a good work in them will complete it before the Day of Christ…”

+ + +

Tomorrow, at 8:20, we begin discussing and debating The Traditional Plan, with a possibility for the strengthening of existing exclusionary language, aggressive investigation and swift punitive enforcement. Which is to say, now the REAL fun begins.

I have NOT lost my sense of irony. Or sarcasm.  

Grimly...

In the process to prioritize the petitions to be considered, The Traditional Plan and THREE Dissolution plans were prioritized above the One Church Plan. I fear that means schism is more inevitable than ever. I hope I am wrong.

This is all that is before us this afternoon. Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of NC is presiding--God help her. After her prayer, she invoked Gil Rendle, an expert in groups and process, who says, "When you have very little time, go slowly."

There are predictable uncertainties and glitches in the tech-nology, having to do with translations of the proceedings and voting, but many delegates are already registering to speak (though some accidentally on account of unfamiliarity with the technology!).

My reading of it is, once we get past the glitches (we are learning as we go that we will discuss (I hope) the main proposal and its fifteen collaterals.

Lunch Parades and Seranades

Some take adoring pictures, some frown and bristle, some try to remain oblivious. Some, as I, just try to chronicle what is happening for the folk back home... We had a parade and serenade during lunch, with members of the Queer Clergy singing "Jesus Loves Me," "This Little Light of Mine," "Lord of the Dance," and "I am Walking in the Light of the Lord."





Lunch Break (or broken)

After the presentations this morning, when, as one of the presenters said, “we are a hurting church in a difficult time,” presiding Bishop Alsted asked all the members of the Commission on the Way Forward to stand. And then, as they made their way off stage—bringing to a final end their years-long work—the bishop asked us to thank them not only for their work, but for modeling the ways in which deep community can exist and flourish even in the midst of deep disagreements. Most, but not all, of the delegates who were able stood and applauded. I watched the Commission members gather off-stage and hug, warmly and lingeringly, as the applause continued. Once again, I found myself crying—these faithful souls have done their very best for us and for Christ, and it may not have been enough. I know what that feels like: to do your best, for Jesus and the Church, but it is not be enough to save or heal or help who or what is hurting in a difficult time.

+ + +

I am just wondering, now, what is the doctrine that demands unity? That is, there are lots of doctrines in the church, but which ones are essential and which ones are less so?
Is Acts 15:29 THE defining text? Maybe, though again I am uncertain as to the exact parallels between what the Council calls porneia and what we are considering? After all, that verse also calls for us to remain kosher.

I don’t know.

But ask yourself: what are the things we must agree on to remain Christian, to live joyfully in the unity of our faith (as the lady presenting the Traditional Plan put it)? Off the top of my heart I say The Resurrection of Jesus. The Trinity. The authority of the living word of God. Faith in Jesus lived in service to the world.

"Jesus is Lord." Yes, THAT is an absolute essential.

If you had to make a list, what would you include?

+ + +

One more thought… one of my counselors used to ask me, “Tom, what are you afraid is going to happen?” So many times I was so afraid, but of what I was not sure. Gradually, by grace, I learned that I do not need to be so afraid. Which is not to say I never am, even now, but much less than before.

A parallel question might be, “What is the payoff, and who gets paid?”

I keep wondering what our people are afraid of, one way or the other. Really: if we split or don’t, what are we afraid will happen? And, What is the pay-off, for staying together or splitting? And who benefits, one way or the other? Madame Coin benefitted from President Snow's downfall. Was she freeing the people or exalting herself?

That may be a dumb question. But I am not afraid to ask it.

The Plans

The morning has been given-over to presentations of the three basic plans.

The One Church Plan seeks to maximize the United Methodist presence and witness/ministry in as many places as possible, with as much contextual diversity as possible. The hope is that the OCP balances different theological understandings of human sexuality with a concern for church unity.

 

The Connectional Conference Plan uses the New Testament language of “vine and branches” to affirm that there is a core of Methodist identity rooted in the theology of Wesley, Methodist hymnody, the General Rules and certain sections of The Discipline; but that “room” or “space” is needed for churches in various geographical, ethnic or cultural contexts to have freedom within that reality to organize themselves administratively and in local missional activity. “Mission and Context” is crucial to this plan.

The Traditional or Modified Traditional Plan aims at Unity in Doctrine, Consistency in Practice and Accountability. The TP affirms that the language in The Discipline is consistent with the scriptures which are applicable in all times an all places: “the clarity and call of the authoritative Word of God” is at the heart of Wesleyan tradition. It does not call for nor does it allow the shaming of persons, but sets the “connectional” and not the “congregational” standard of consistent practice of ordination and marriage. Accountability is a part of our covenant with each other. “To serve with joy in the ordered space” of our common and traditional life.

And now, after a break, the "discussions" will begin. Though, I must say, I have been unsettled by the conversations I had with the LA pastor this morning. It is upsetting to me to think that sermons, straight from scripture, are heard as stump speeches. 

And it has been unsettling to see, already, the cheers and silences that have accompanied the presentations. As one of our speakers said this morning, the Commission revealed the "complexity, diversity, pain and brokenness" that is part of and present in the Body of Christ. And we are unified in that "heartbreaking and spiritual reality" that is on full display here this morning.                                                              

When Worship Runs Aground...

And so this is where we are…

As I was blogging about how wonderful I thought Ken’s sermon was this morning, a couple of folk behind me were talking. I gradually realized they were offering headshakes and critique of the same sermon. One of them was the pastor of a 6000 member church in LA, who says that he heard the sermon as a political pitch for the One Church Plan.

I said, I heard it as an exegesis of Paul.

He said, “Well, that just shows how we disagree and there is no point in our discussing it. Not profitable.”

I said, “What could make it profitable? How might we talk about it that it is a discussion, not an argument.”

“It is too late for that,” he said.

I kept trying to engage him. He said that if things in the church stay the same, he can remain. If the Modified Traditional Plan passes, same. But if the One Church Plan passes, he will have to leave. That he would never have joined the UMC if he had thought, ever, we would move away from our traditional stance.

For him, it all comes down to Acts 15, where the Jerusalem Council told the Gentile churches “to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from strangled animals, and sexual immorality.”

He said that, for him, he had to read “sexual immorality” as same-sex relationships. I wondered if we impose that particular reading on that word, but I said I am just wondering.

“He shook his head. No way we are going to change each other’s minds,” he said.  

“I’m not trying to change your mind,” I said. “I am just trying to understand, and to see if we can talk.”

He said, “It’s no longer profitable. Now, if we leave, I will still be in ministry and support ministry with Reconciling Congregations, and we will baptize babies of gay couples. I have no problem with that. But it is time for us to separate.”

“It feels like a bad divorce to me,” I said.

We shook hands. “Good luck on your blogging,” he said. “Peace of Christ,” I said.