Why I'm Taking a Stand

I intend this to be my last Blog related to General Conference `08. However, I wrote this last night (at home, thank God) and shared it with my congregation this morning at church. It was part of our "Did You Know?" piece in worship.

I need to begin by setting the stage, so that you might have a glimpse into the depth of what I experienced at General Conference in Fort Worth on Wednesday afternoon (4/30/08). It began during the deliberations of Paragraph 161G of the Book of Discipline. That’s the paragraph that has stated, for the past 32 years, “The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.” This paragraph has been at the heart of United Methodism’s version of the social and religious controversy that has added to the to division of states into red and blue; and brought entire denominations of the Christian Church to the brink of schism.

Unfortunately, it is a controversy that is usually talked about in terms of Biblical beliefs, societal standards and norms, and traditional religious and relational values. Rarely does the larger portion of our population ever talk about Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered and Bi-sexual (GLBT) people as just that: people. We theorize and forecast. Talk in terms of slippery slopes and lamented days gone by, but hardly do we ever look at how our talking around people dehumanizes, distances and depersonalizes those already disenfranchised.

I not only came face-to-face with that kind of hurtful speech at General Conference, but far worse; I heard remarks coming from people gathered for proposed “Holy Conferencing” that were downright unholy and hate filled. I was shocked and deeply saddened!

Every time a vote was taken Wednesday afternoon on an item that hurt the GLBT people present, they and their friends would simply stand silently and respectfully in protest for about 30 seconds. Even though the speech grew more hateful and people seemed to be standing more often, I still had hope. This time a Committee was actually binging forward a new statement that was both honest about the divisions and the hurts of the past three decades, but more importantly, respectful of the faithfulness of all those who have struggled on every side of the issues surrounding our understandings of human sexuality and the Christian faith.

But because the incompatibility clause was not there, lines were drawn and the dehumanizing rhetoric began to grow. We were lead in prayer to refocus us all on the presence and power of our loving God. And finally the vote: 517 to 416 to reject the new statement for another that is far worse than anything we’ve had in the last 12 years. As usual, the media and cameras descended, shooting as many pictures possible of the once again devastated GLBT people and friends who had the courage to even still be there after all that had been said on the floor. That is, all the media except the official video cameras of the General Conference. They all stayed focused on the conference secretary. All microphones, but his were silenced, and for the next 20 to 30 minutes he read out loud 3 Judicial Council decisions that had been referred to them earlier.

There was no recognition or even an attempt to break for a recess so that people who were hurting could have a little time to sort out what had just happened. There was absolutely nothing that resembled the Christ-like Church I believe we are called to become.

As I saw the hundreds of gifted pastors, church members, musicians, singers, Sunday School teachers, Seminary professors, students, (etc.) and friends that were weeping, sobbing and trying to hold on to their sense of dignity, value and worth in light of what their church had just told them; I realized that I could no longer sit still for the dispassionate, hurtful actions of my denomination. I have never been so close to surrendering my orders and walking away.

But the sad reality is that I lacked the courage; and my thoughts ran to my family and children that still need my support; but my heart and mind also ran to you, my church family. I asked myself; if I quit now, would the next person in this pulpit give voice to Christ’s inclusive love as I hope I do? Would they go out into the community to strive to give voice to those that our very denomination seems bent on silencing? Would I ever find another church home like this? A place where, as imperfect as we are, we do strive to live out of the abundant grace and hope of loving community rather than hide behind the closed doors of scarcity based on fear and familiarity. I asked myself, what more can I do to stand up for the silenced, wounded, and wronged, that I haven’t already done? It was in those thoughts that I wrestled Wednesday night.

As I prepared to go back for the opening worship service on Thursday morning, I gained a moment of clarity. I can keep standing up. Every time the voices of fear and dehumanization try to force others to sit down and be quiet, I can stand up. And so my friends, I’m standing up, literally! I have decided that from now on as a symbolic gesture of solidarity with my Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered, Bi-sexual and yes; faithful and blessed brothers and sisters; as an elder of the United Methodist Church; which I still love and hope for, I will remain standing every time I am in public worship. Whether it is at Annual Conference, in joint services here in Schenectady, or God help me, at another General Conference; and yes, here on Sunday mornings. However, here, and only here, I would hope you would take this simple, symbolic gesture as a deep and heartfelt thank you for the support, love, and care shown n this place in Christ’s name.

I am, in a sense, asking for your permission and approval. My intent is to continue this practice until the doors of the United Methodist Church are truly open and this unholy language is removed from the Discipline. That will most likely mean for at least the next four years. However, if this will cause a problem for any of you, I would hope that we could talk, so that I can prayerfully reconsider this decision, if needed. I’m sure we’ll be talking in the staff parish team soon enough. I will, as I hope I always try to do, take everyone’s needs and feelings into account.

But especially for this Sunday, I thank you for putting up with me and my pastoral eccentricities. But more so, I thank you for continuously reminding me why I answered this often disturbing call to ordained ministry in the first place; so that all, and “all does mean all,” might see the love of God know Christ’s Jesus and the community Jesus has called us to create together. Thank you.

A Tale of Two General Conferences:

Truly, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.” I started this day early, writing a critique of everything that was wrong with General Conference. Then Friday afternoon came and suddenly it seemed as if the delegates, the presiding Bishops, and last of all – those involved in the chicanery got it. So I’ve decided not to do a re-write, but to give you both perspectives; one after the other; in the form of two articles:

Holy Confusion… Or Unholy Conferencing?
May 2, 2008 - morning

In review of the processes that took place on the plenary floor, I have gained a deeper respect for the “Renew and Renewal Coalition’s” ability to (masterfully!) manipulate the rules of order to inflict confusion and a “divide and conquer” attitude that consistently pits US interests against the perceived interests of the “Central,” now “Regional” Conferences. One only needs to look at the transcripts of what took place at General Conference 2008 to get a clearer picture… and those transcripts are all ready being reviewed and appeals will most likely be coming. Coupled with the campaign of misinformation that occurred in both legislative committees and on the plenary floor, along with the incredibly grueling schedule of 8 AM to 11 PM every day (some legislative committees ran to 2 AM on some nights) of General Conference, my conclusions are as follows:

1) Well intentioned, caring delegates who came to be a part of “Holy Conferencing” for our UMC, so that we might have a “Future With Hope;” were unwittingly manipulated because of their lack of understanding about procedures and “Roberts Rules of Order.” They, unfortunately, became the victims of orchestrated “Holy Confusion” that was the plenary floor of GC `08.

2) The acts of Church leaders (intentional or otherwise) like the Rev. Author Jones (son of Bishop Scott Jones), the Rev. Eddie Fox, Bishop Timothy Whitaker, and the many different delegates who were given prepared statements and motions, designed to confuse delegates, dilute authentic dialogue, and prolong issue after issue… were nothing less than shameful and the promoters of “Unholy Conferencing.

3) In the fastest growing areas of our connection… Central Conferences; delegates where used time and time again by the “Renew and Renewal Coalition” to make statements (many out of order) that made it sound like a vote for a more open and inclusive church was a vote that would confuse, devastate, and ultimately unravel the churches of the Central Conferences, especially in Africa. Instead of calling, supposed parliamentary questions, out of order (that were clearly speeches against inclusivity), Bishop Whitaker allowed speakers to say some of the most hurtful things I have ever heard coming out of a General Conference: “Homosexuals are born of the devil.” In light of the cell phone scandal and other issues, many are beginning to wonder if the “Renew and Renewal Coalition” groups aren’t practicing the trade of back room colonialism with our Central Conference brothers and sisters.

4) If United Methodism and especially General Conference are ever going to be able to reclaim the process of Holy Conferencing, three things have got to happen…

A. We can’t continue to cut corners with time and finances to make future General Conference events more affordable. I understand that the United Methodist Church, just like the current cultures of our world, is operating out of a theology of scarcity rather than the abundance of God’s love and Grace. Unfortunately, when we trim free time and compact days all in the name of cost savings, we create the very kind of stress, pressure and possibilities of abuse that not only occurred, but that add to our growing unhealthy and spiritually disjointed lives.

B. Delegates have got to be trained within Annual and Central Conferences on Parliamentary procedures and the principals and boundaries that are appropriate within the context of Holy Conferencing.

C. Bishops need the same training, but also need realize that it is their privilege, obligation and responsibility to control the tone and vibrancy of debate. They must also be trained to realize when speakers are misusing or trying to manipulate the floor through procedural maneuvers, so that they can rule them out of order. Finally, they must be committed to the higher principals of fair, balanced and authentic discussion and debate, even more so than the issues at hand and their personal viewpoints and allegiances.

What did the Renew and Renewal folk do that angered me so much? They have once again attempted to use misinformation and graft to keep the Central Conference delegates voting their way. One example of misinformation, that Bishop Whitaker unfortunately didn’t correct, was in pointing out that the “Social Principals” are not binding for the Central Conferences. By the “Book of Discipline,” Central Conferences are only bound to the Articles of Faith and the UM Constitution. The Central Conferences vote on their own Disciplines at their own Central Conference gatherings. Yet they are still voting on issues that will only be binding to the US churches.

Another tactic that was applied, was the manipulation of Parliamentary procedures. When the amendments that they wanted for the Constitutional changes weren’t going their way, they tried to reintroduce the same amendments over and over again with slightly different wording. What was at stake… was the ability of the church’s newly forming study committee on the world-wide UMC to be able to truly study and make recommendations in 2012. The Renew and Renewal folk wanted a fixed outcome that would have forced the study committee to do only the work of coming up with the procedural needs and changes to make that outcome happen. My favorite maneuver came in the midst of the protracted and exhausting Constitutional discussions, when everyone wanted to simply get these discussions done. A woman from Virginia moved that in view of the number of items we still needed to deal with and the lack of time we had left, “we limit debates to only one for and one against for any item that has less than 10% descent from the committees. Oddly, that didn’t affect the current Constitutional debates (all with more than 10% descent), but would later curtail discussion around critical issues of Middle East Peace, Anti-racism Training and Missions. I tried to object, but went unrecognized. After the dinner break, before I could point out what the body had unwittingly done, they masterfully moved to move all of those same items back to the consent calendar. Moving them to Friday’s consent calendar meant that these items would be virtually impossible to get off again. That can only be done by a motion to suspend the rules for reconsideration of an item (very difficult to get support for). In one short vote to speed things along, a sense of need that the Renew and Renewal folks had helped to create, the body silenced any discussions on those afore mentioned items as well as any discussion around ethical investment and divestment issues. Well played! If only we had had a skilled chair, or one that wasn’t already taking sides.

This General Conference may go down as one of the most politically motivated and unholy conferences ever… or at least leaving us all crying out, “Holy Confusion, Batman!”

Oh the Difference a Day Makes
May 2, 2008 – Evening

Something has happened at General Conference. They are no longer willing to tolerate the Renew and Renewal Coalition supporter’s shenanigans. They are voting them down left and right. And it seems they may have even begun to see through what has been done to the process of Holy Conferencing over the last several days. Even their favorite tactics of misinformation and moving things by percentages of descent seems to have backfired… they aren’t being allowed to get a few things they want off of the Consent Calendar back on the floor.

Three major issues that are important to most progressives actually got passed. The UMC will continue to be a signatory member of RCRC (Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice); Article IV of the Constitution was amended to open church membership to all – all means all; and, we have a new definition of family that not only recognizes families of all different structures, but calls for our support of families – love makes a family!

These were very significant votes. Article IV of the constitution, if it passes two thirds of the Annual and Central Conferences in 2009, will give ground for the new Judicial Counsel to overturn Decision #1032. No longer will families headed by single parents, same sex couples, or loving grandparents be unrecognized and support in the UMC. The UMC will continue to support a woman’s right to reproductive choice. Article IV passed by 12 votes, RCRC support by 32, and the redefining of family stayed on the Consent Calendar (this was a backfire) by only a few percentage points.

Some of the attempts to manipulate discussion and even voting continued: several of us witnessed and reported a Nigerian delegate (Row 2, Seat 5) voting on two voting machines on issues relating to human sexuality, reproductive choice, and that impacted Africa… that is after he made sure a Marshall wasn’t in the area watching. We were in the Press Section above him and were shocked by how obviously intentional and aware he was of what he was doing. The attempts at delay and over-amend issues continued, but the delegates would have none of it.

I believe the delegates became trained in a “trial by fire” method over the preceding days and were now doing what a little prior training would have made possible throughout. It was wonderful to behold and actually left those of us who were devastated by Wednesday’s heartless and dysfunctional procedures – with a little Hope. Maybe even for “a Future with hope.”

Two Other Friday Stories Worth Checking Out:
(Click on article title)

Same-sex couple says ‘I do’ outside church assembly


Transcripts of Bishop's Sermons (I'd recommend Bishop Jung (5-1-08) and Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer(5-2-08 closing))

God’s Grace Personified

If you’ve been tracking the news from General Conference, you probably already know that Wednesday was a deeply sad and hurtful day for about 45% of United Methodists, that is if the General Conference is truly representative of the greater denomination. The beautifully written paragraph that came out of the Church and Society 2 Legislative Committee was replaced by a minority report that is similar, but in my opinion, worse paragraph 161G than what was already in the Book of Discipline. I personally am enraged and would love to launch into a diatribe of all that is wrong with the UMC right now; but in solidarity with those who have been truly crushed and once again dismissed as human beings by their church, I will try to bring the same Grace and love to this blog as they brought to GC yesterday.

As every vote was taken on the floor that wounded the souls of our Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgendered United Methodists and their United Methodist friends, we stood for 30 seconds in silent protest. Then the vote came to change what has been called the “foundational” Disciplinary paragraph, or “the incompatibility” paragraph: 161G. As I wrote earlier in “All Means All! I Hope!” …there was a wonderfully honest attempt to change the language so that we could finally live up to our public persona of “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.”

When the vote finally came forward and the United Methodist Church began another four years of hypocracy in the face of the Christian faith and exclusion that tries to disguise hate as love; people in tears and anguish stood silently and respectfully throughout the bleachers. One person yelled out “shame” and she was quickly comforted and quieted by her friends. As the Conference prayed and then moved on as if all were the same; well I guess it sadly was; more and more people in the bleachers began to stand. Then some of the delegates on the floor began to stand in solidarity. I noticed dozens of delegates holding each other, some sobbing, and still the General Conference secretary ran on reading off legislative corrections, changes and announcements.

The intent of the Common Witness leadership, which I am a part of, was to remain quite and respectful; but sometimes things take on a life of their own. A man, somewhere in the back of delegation section D began to simply sing “Jesus Loves Me.” Within seconds, delegates and those in the stands were all holding hands, standing and singing together. I looked out, tears running off my cheeks, making sure that I made eye contact with every delegate that I could, both seated and standing.

It was a terribly painful day! Exclusion, hate and ignorance carried the day and I knew that many both here in Fort Worth and back in all of our United Methodist communities at home were hurting. I watched hundreds of delegates walk out at the dinner break, some singing with us, some with eyes focused downward. When all had left, singing stopped, and remaining delegates and onlookers were invited back to the “Clock-tower” building for pastoral care and support.

While at the Clock-tower I saw leaders trying to offer comfort and encouragement even as they broke down in tears. Then the word came that some of the Bishops wanted some of the Reconciling Ministries Network leaders to meet with them… a summons. We all immediately knew that we were going to be offered a moment of sterilized witness on the conference floor the next day.

Two powerful events took place on Thursday morning.

The first event is best described in an article from today’s “Daily Social Questions Bulletin,” entitled: “Brokenness Made Visible.” Yesterday’s early morning witness at the entrance to the
Fort Worth Convention Center required arriving delegates andvisitors to step over and around the bodies of people symbolically lying wounded on the pavement at the entrance. Among the wounds they represented are those of rejection from membership, denial of orders, and unjust judgment of people for their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

As people lay sprawled on the sidewalk, others drew chalk outlines of their bodies. Some got up and others lay down, finally forming a maze of body outlines which gave pause to arriving delegates. Some stopped to talk with or pray over the supine bodies, others quickly looked away and rushed through.

The event concluded with words of solace for the spiritual violence endured by LGBTQ people and their parents, pastors, friends and other allies during the earlier General Conference session, where several resolutions marginalizing and isolating them were passed in an attempt to close the church to them because of their very God-given natures.

Witnesses wearing black left the area, singing “What Does the Lord Require of You?”

The second came at 10:30 AM, the presiding Bishop called for a 15 minute suspension of General Conference, so that the floor could be opened to a “respectfully” presented and received demonstration. Several hundred people came in, made a human cross throughout the center of the floor and began to sing, “Were You There.” While singing, the leadership of the common witness groups entered the floor and draped the crystal cross on the communion table at the center of plenery floor (and our human cross)in black. Then all were invited to come to the table and add a black strip of cross to proclaim our grief over the UMC's brokenness and our continued hope that we might find comfort that in grief we are still, ultimately, a resurrection people.

To see the video of this witness click here and click on the “Homosexuality Witness” link. Watch, but realize that while hearts were hurt and some wounded beyond repair, the spirit and love shared by the group of people gathered on the floor remains strong and vibrant! Where hearts and minds opened? Who knows, but the one sure answer was that the doors of the United Methodist Church are still locked tight!

My conclusion, as a Christian, straight, male, life-long Methodist, now clergy... I saw little of God's grace in the tone, spirit and activities of the plenery sessions of General Conference in these moments. And in the actions, restraint and dignity of the LGBT community... I saw God's Grace personified!