What is this thing called Connectionalism in the United Methodist Church? It’s as simple as people coming together, combining their time, talents, gifts and service to accomplish something bigger than themselves. It's as simple as congregations of those "connected" people; leaders and congregations, "connected in a network of loyalties and commitments that support, yet supersede, local concerns." It is the exoskeleton of our United Methodist System, holding our portion of the body of Christ together... giving us form and substance as God's people called "United Methodist."
Lately, however, we seem to have become the "Untied" Methodist Church. We're suffering from what many have called "creeping congregationalism," but I find that to be slanderous of those denominations that use a congregational based system of governance. In my humble and I am sure, offensive opinion, what we are really suffering from is self-righteousness born out of arrogance and fear. Whether the arrogance is intellectual or spiritual; we seem more bent on proving that we are right than trying to do anything Christ-like. If you don't believe me, listen to the "Young People's Address" from yesterday's sessions. They were far more eloquent and on target than I could ever be.
Our Connectionalism means that if we are ever to be the "tree of life, planted by the waters of God's righteous, love and grace; then we have got to realize that we are all a part of the same family tree. We have all got to allow unity built out of the strength of diversity, rather than forced unity build out of codified rules and dogma that make it impossible for others to be who they are and share their faithful witness of God's love in their life... oh yeah, that's what Jesus spoke out against among the Pharisees... it is what many are crying out to be liberated from in the Untied Methodist Church of 2008.
So what do cell phones have to do with it. In my last blog I said that the three simple rules of "Do No Harm, Do Good, Keep Loving God" are good rules for living! But, that "I want to explore the difficult question of `how do these rules apply when someone else is doing harm in the name of God?'" I want to explore that question because of something else I discovered last night.I stopped by the Commission on the General Conference office to see a friend. While there, my friend handed me a flyer that had been submitted to that office by the "The Renewal and Reform Coalition," the caucus group that is made up of "The Confessing Movement, Lifewatch, UM Action (The United Methodist wing of the Institute for Religion and Democracy), Transforming Congregations, Good News and The Renew Women's Network." You see, anyone who wants to pass out a flyer to any General conference Delegates, has to submit two copies of it first, to the Commission on the General Conference.
There I was, reading a letter of welcome to the Central Conference Delegates (Europe, Africa and the Philippines - about 25% of the delegates). On it as an act of hospitality, "the Renew and Reform Coalition" offered them a free cell phone. Oh, by the way, they have also invited the Central Conference delegates to a day of shopping at an area mall next Wednesday. Many others are wondering how a caucus group can give away digital cameras in Pittsburgh in 2004 and now cell phones; and not call it vote buying or more appropriately... graft. As if this weren't unethical enough, on the back of the flyer, "the Renew and Reform Coalition" listed their slate of nominees for the open positions on Judicial Council. How shamelessly obvious is that!
In this day and age, when our connectionalism is being threatened by so many worldly forces... materialism, nationalism, militarism, and a world view of fear based on scarcity... how can those who are supposed to love our Wesleyan heritage and the democratic polity that it is built on, do things that continue to undermine and deteriorate the very things they say they want to preserve? So how can I do no harm, do good and stay in love with God in the face of such hierocracy and un-Godliness? Simple, I'll try to never stop keeping the love of God, neighbor and self at the heart of what I try to live by... but I will also continue to shine the light on evil, injustice, manipulation and deceit whenever I can. I will forgive my brothers and sisters, as I hope they will forgive me my faults. But I will also remember that forgiveness can never be extended to those who don't want to change for the good, harmless, God loving ways we are all called to live toward.
What might the words of Jesus be for "the Renew and Reform Coalition's" actions and a General Conference that would allow this type of unethical behavior to continue? Might it be, if you are seeking it, "you are forgiven; go and sin no more?"
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2 comments:
Steve:
Mostly because I've noticed no one has yet commented, I thought it'd be a good idea to post something to let you know that at least one person is reading your blog!
I also want to observe that along with arrogance and fear, the self-righteousness you've observed arrises out of a desire for control. By forcing conformity to archaic theology, the Confessing Movement in its various manifestations wants to bend the will of others to its own idolatrous image of christianity. Somehow, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29) becomes, in the hands of the Confessing Movement, the "thief [that] comes only to steal and kill and destroy." (John 10:10) No one can acknowledge Christ without accepting, as the guiding principle of one's life, Jesus' commandment that we should love each other as Christ loves us. (John 13:34) The love that Christ modeled requires honesty, not uniformity.
I was told by a friend recently that someone offered to prayerfully consider the positions of MFSA if my friend was willing to prayerfully consider the positions of IRD.
After prayerful consideration, I'm reminded of Mark 11:15-17:
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
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