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.