Site
Contents
 |
General Information about the Area Office
North Indiana Conference Office
South Indiana Conference Office
Prayer Guides
(Courtesy of the NIC Prayer Team)
Area United Methodist
Foundation
For resources to assist your congregation in welcoming guests,
click here
Seashore District Volunteer Center VIM project -- Completed
Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
September 2002 |
Can this 'marriage' be saved? They need each other!
It is a dilemma! I have two valued friends, each vowing or at least threatening to leave The United Methodist Church. One, a self-described "Liberal," the other a self-described "Conservative." I put the terms in quotes these days for their definitions reflect less and less their original meaning.
One friend says The United Methodist Church has become too "liberal." The other, it is becoming too "conservative." Interestingly, both are satisfied with their congregation and pastor.
I listen with patience, understanding, and some agreement here and disagreement there, to an all too familiar litany of concern.
Disagreement of a public statement issued by a General Agency, or a staff member, sermon of a particular pastor, action of a bishop, behavior of a caucus, are cited with considerable passion. And, yes, even non-action by the Council of Bishops. Or "inappropriate" action! Each of my friends is feeling left out or "pushed out"; their view, sentiment or positions no longer reflected or less so in the life of the church.
|
My friends threaten to leave The Church because it is too Liberal and too Conservative! |
My friends are not extremist in any sense of the word. Each is a loyal, long-term United Methodist. They both genuinely love the Church and are generous supporters.
I do not minimize or trivialize their different perspectives -- theological, sociological, political. Some are core values, others merely personal taste and preference. Different as individuals are different. Their concern is important.
But what hurts most is they believe the place that was once "home" no longer feels like home. The welcome, familiarity, even the security once afforded is slipping away. So they reason, "I'll just leave!" It becomes a response of many -- to leave -- just leave. A congregation, denomination. Or a marriage.
I've always believed the Church, a congregation and a family were places of welcome in spite of! It's where you can go when there's no where else to go. Where opinions, and perspectives, while often radically different and sometimes in conflict, are faced and acknowledged and challenged but do not obliterate the unique binding tie of belonging.
Certainly in family and indeed congregation, I recall individuals or even groups who managed to transcend some basic differences, at least from their perspective to hold to the binding tie of belonging.
One of the grand features of Methodism is it's polity, which allows for civil discourse, open debate, even the modifying of its basic guidebook, The Book of Discipline -- every four years, no less.
Even annual conferences engage in serious debate on fundamental, social, political and theological issues.
I recall as a young pastor in my annual conference, usually finding myself on the losing side of most propositions. I now recall with sentimental appreciation, the valuable personal relationship developed with a respected conference leader with whom I disagreed on myriad propositions.
I trust the annual conferences in Indiana, congregations and the denomination will always be places where persons will be valued above their opinion, political affiliation, or even theological perspective. These are utterly important and must always be open for examination and evaluation to determine which are "closer" to truth, which are consistent with Scripture, and which can stand the test of reason. But above all else, which are more Christly.
I believe that it is not too much to expect that those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will find ways, indeed Christly ways, to examine, dialogue and debate important and substantial issues of faith and living in these turbulent days -- short of eviction or withdrawal. Of course, there is always the potential for irreconcilable differences.
Interestingly, my friends threaten to leave The United Methodist Church because it is too Liberal and too Conservative!
Needless to say, I pray each will see their place -- important place -- in The United Methodist Church. We need them both because each will contribute to the Church's continual search to find ways to express truth. And know it more fully.
By the way, my friends are husband and wife. It would be ironic if they found a way to live in the same house together, but not in the same church!
Last updated on 01/14/2004