Methodists or Communists?
I am doing my doctorate on Revitalizing Congregations at St. Paul School of Theology and I expected that the GC 2012 would give more freedom to local churches. Local churches know better what and how to do things in their context. Should we not trust that local leaders have enough faith, ethics, integrity, and morals to do ministry in their local context without that FAT Book of Discipline (BOD)? Are we going to continue driving small churches nuts telling them what to do and how to do what they know better from where they live and serve?
The Methodist Church continues practicing power over the powerless.
Many years ago we started a Methodism movement in Russia, and my church grew to over 1000 members in just 3 years! The movement choked, however, under the heavy foot of an unwanted bishop. How could the General Church place a German Bishop over Russians? Russia lost 20 mln people because of WWII with Germany. Besides, the country was not ready yet for a structure. That's an example of how the system, instead of working from the bottom up, works from the top down. This is also way too similar to Communists' power over.
My present church in Raytown, MO has never seen a single Bishop in our worship services in 30 years, but we get lots of instructions and reprimands. If not for reports, the Bishop will never even know about our existence! Telling small churches what to do, the hierarchy suppresses people's creativity, and kills the Spirit. The General Conference 2012 did not have time to discuss how to make the work of bishops and DSs more effective, but it was all about ineffective pastors that the system tries to get rid of. Do I want to compare it with the Communist system? Even the blind will see...
I came to this GC with anticipation of the promised lightening up of the Book of Discipline. Instead, the work of the legislative committees didn't differ from 2008. To my horror, I saw more additions to the BOD than removals. Sad. Precious time of all delegates was wasted for voting and discussing the issues that not always related to 49% of delegates from Central Conferences and to local church leaders.
Human sexuality should never be a major subject of the General Conference for almost two decades! All people are included, all people are loved, it is clear to a child. The more we talk about it, the less people we have on the pews!
Besides, in some cultures it is a taboo to even mention sexuality in public. Americans just love to discuss what people do in bed! Wherever you look, it is all about SEX! Could the Methodist Church be different? Did anybody think how uncomfortable it was for delegates from other countries to discuss sexuality for two weeks? Is it what radical hospitality is about? African, Asian and European delegates went home feeling very uneasy about many things they heard and witnessed at the GC 2012. Will that help our denomination to stay together?
The time of the General Conference should be used for visioning, mutual learning, rather than management and conversations about sex.
Thinking about the end of a guaranteed appointent for clergy, I remember one more similarity with Communists: in Russia a woman had an enviable "untouchable" status if she was a communist. Well, here is where Methodist women will envy their Communist sisters! Since it is no longer safe to be just an elder (ordained clergy in America used to have a guaranteed appointment), and especially to be an ethnic minority Methodist woman, then, since I never wanted to be a Communist, who should I become to continue serving God in this church?
www.lifeofasoul.com
Comments