I began my morning today by fielding a phone call from one of my favorite people, the Lutheran pastor from Lake Ann. I am blessed to share this community with Pastor Justin and he is often a friend with whom I can discuss theology and church life. Our call this morning was two-fold....1st, Justin needed to use the gym for his son's baseball practice....and 2nd, he wanted to know what is going on in UMC-land. I told him that today was going to be an important day for the UMC and a bit about the nature of the discussions to take place. His reply was, "We [ELCA] did it. We lost congregations...but now we are moving along." He didn't actually say that the decision to ordain all people called to ministry (regardless of their sexual orientation) was painless or helpful, but he did feel confident that the ministry of the ELCA has only gotten stronger. Then he reminded me that the UMC and the ELCA are in full-Communion, which means that we can pair up for worship services and Holy Communion. In fact, we've done this many times when our two congregations worship together. This seems an interesting option considering votes taken today affirming the current wording in our Book of Discipline (our rule book) that clearly states homosexuality is a practice incompatible with Christian teaching.
I want to be clear here...I'm not writing this to get your opinion on the issue of homosexuality/clergy/ordination/or Scripture. This is not a fight I even have the stomach for tonight. I'm writing because I have some serious questions about what lies at the root of this decision today. Definitions of sin aside...what lies underneath these decisions?
If you've followed the buzz today you may have heard a response from our Grand Rapids DS. After having experienced what took place this morning she spoke of her sorrow on behalf of the young people for whom inclusion is not even a question, or an issue. This is my paraphrase, and my interpretation anyway.
Ever since I became an official pastor in the UMC I have repeatedly heard, "We need more young people....we need more young pastors....what are you doing to grow the number of youth in your church..." Too many times to count I have been able to stand as I hear "If you're in this room and you're under the age of 40 please stand......" We are in real trouble when we look around and realize that before long we aren't going to have enough pastors to fill churches. We are in even more trouble when we examine the downward slide of young folks attendance and participation in the UMC.
Is our stance on homosexuality what is causing our slow (and painful death?) Are young people staying away because we just can't get our minds wrapped around the idea that sexual preference does not define a human being? I was asked earlier tonight (thank you Zach) some other tough questions. How would you answer these in light of recent General Conference events?
- From your point of view, what motivation might a young to-be clergy person have to progress through the UMC's extensive educational and denominational hoops if there is no guarantee of a job, and policy keeping them from fully expressing their ministry of inclusiveness and love?
- What reason might you suggest for other non-clergy ministry professionals (who have fewer stakes) to stay with the UMC long-term if the denomination is clearly set decade after decade against inclusive loving ministry?
My stance on these issues continues to be transformed as God continues to work within me. I serve a church where the decisions made today will be celebrated and find myself in the mystery of ministry as the Holy Spirit challenges us to do ministry together. More and more I see how the political realm of the world is only mirrored in the politics of the denomination I have chosen to serve. I wasn't naive enough to think that disagreement wouldn't exist...but I do believe that no matter what the issue, we as Christians are called to respond with an attitude of love and respect. Perhaps the most detrimental thing that has occurred (in my reading) at General Conference is the ability for those who serve God to speak without these two foundations of Truth.
Tonight I don't know what to think. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve God here in Lake Ann. I'm grateful for some amazing, intelligent colleagues. I'm grateful that I'm not responsible for judging anyone else's behavior, sin, or place in God's Kingdom. My heart hurts however, for those who feel they do not have a place in a church/movement that began for that very reason, to spread the Gospel to all people.
