All Means All! I Hope!

The focus of this General Conference has so far been about a spirit of unity among all. To the credit of our Bishops, Young Adults and Youth, we are being asked to realize that unity means everyone needs to be welcomed to the table, even in disagreement. Maybe especially then!

I am always amazed and refreshed by the young adult voices of our church! They seem to be so far ahead of the rest of us in making all of the connections between faith, culture, and living with a hope born out of the presence of God.

Yesterday (Saturday) at a Young Adults Rally that started at 1st Church and ended at the North Entrance of General Conference, more than 200 people gathered to offer support and hope. Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger, chairperson of the United Methodist Student Movement served notice on her church; a church that seems mired by infighting and debates, rather than spirit filled and free to serve our living God.

“Change is coming,” she said, "The United Methodist Church is getting closer to welcoming everyone regardless of their sexual identity... Don’t worry; it will happen because nothing can stop the force of this generation.”

The Division on Young People, United Methodist Board of Discipleship, is sponsoring one resolution that asks the denomination to offer membership “to all who have been baptized and those who have professed their faith regardless of age, class, ethnicity, gender, race, and sexual orientation.”

“We are offering bold pieces of legislation,” said Theon Johnson III, co-chair of the division. “We are not called to do church but to be the church.”

Maybe... I hope... this General Conference will get it and throw wide it's doors to all people. Realizing once and for all... "All Means All!"

To that end, I want to let you know about some legislation that's working it's way through committees right now. In response to Judicial Council Ruling #1032, the prevailing direction (so far) isn't to add more types of people to the litmus test of who should be included, but to get rid of the list all together and simply state that our church is open to all people... and of course, all means all.

In terms of Human Sexuality and the Social Principles' "incompatibility" clause; it appears that at least in the committee phase, the mood is that it is time to accept the reality that not all people of faith agree and that just because we don't agree, that doesn't mean we get to fight over who is really the faithful. The result is a wonderful, honest statement about God's gift of human sexuality and the complexity of that gift. It also would allow for honest, humble, faithful discussion within the church among those who faithfully disagree.

I don't want to get your hopes up, so please remember this is at the very preliminary stages of the legislative process. But imagine how church and conferences might be different if this were adopted:
(Paragraph 161G) Human Sexuality. We recognize that sexuality is God's good gift to all persons. We believe persons may be fully human only when that gift is acknowledged and affirmed by themselves, the church, and society. We call all persons to the disciplined, responsible fulfillment of themselves, others, and society in the stewardship of this gift. We also recognize our limited understanding of this complex gift and encourage the medical, theological, and social science disciplines to combine in a determined effort to understand human sexuality more completely. United Methodists, along with other Christians, have struggled to find principles for applying traditional teachings to contemporary understandings of human sexuality.

We recognize that sexuality is part of the larger human mystery, to be received and acknowledged in grateful responsibility. We reject all sexual expressions that damage or destroy the humanity God has given us. We deplore all forms of the commercialization and exploitation of sexual relations, with their consequent cheapening and degradation of human personality. We call for strict global enforcement of laws prohibiting the sexual exploitation or use of children by adults and encourage efforts to hold perpetrators legally and responsible. We call for adequate protection, guidance, and counseling for children thus abused. We believe that the Church family should support all families in providing age-appropriate education regarding sexuality to children, youth, and adults. We challenge all members of our community of faith to commitment, integrity, and fidelity in their sexual relationships.

We know that all are God's children and of sacred worth; yet we have been, and remain, divided regarding homosexual expressions of human sexuality. Faithful, thoughtful people who have grappled with this issue deeply disagree with one another; yet all seek a faithful witness. We continue to reason and pray together with faith and hope that the Holy Spirit will soon bring reconciliation to our community of faith. The fire in our disagreements points to a deeper human mystery than we knew. We believe that the Spirit has brought our collective conscience to acknowledge this mystery more honestly, and to make our claims with greater humility before God and our neighbors. We therefore ask the Church , United Methodist and others, and the world, to refrain from judgment regarding homosexual persons and practices until the Spirit leads us to a new insight. In the meantime, let us seek to welcome, know, forgive, and love one another as Christ has accepted us, that God may be glorified through everything in our lives.

When it comes to the days that lie ahead and the long term future of the church... yesterday I was reminded of the Isaiah vision; "your young shall prophesy and your old shall dream dreams." Will this be the General Conference when "All" really means all? I HOPE!