Contemplation in a Whirlwind?

Advent begins next Sunday (November 30th). This is a four week period of time marked off on the calendar in many churches just prior to Christmas. We mark it off to remind ourselves the best gift of Christmas, a fresh experience of Jesus in our lives, will require some preparation. We'll need to make room in our schedules and in our thoughts to focus on Jesus.

Frankly, it often seems like a pathetic effort to get hold of something precious but darn near allusive. An incident from my newspaper delivering days comes to mind. I used to deliver papers to patients at the hospital. It was a pay/copy deal. I'd take 100 copies into the hospital and folks would hand me a quarter for a copy. Whatever didn't sell I'd schlep home.

It was a 30 minute walk from the hospital to my home. On the way home one day lugging about 40 unsold papers, the bundle got away from me. As the pile hit the ground, a huge wind sweep through and sent all those papers airborne. I scrambled to grab what I could, but within minutes, the neighborhood - fences, trees, car windshields, gardens, etc. - were covered with papers.

What a mess!

Frankly, this season before Christmas can feel just like that. Out of control.

I'd sure like it to be different this year, because I know there's more to this time than shopping, baking, rushing and running.

What can be done? Let me draw some wisdom from the story I recalled above. If I had been less focused on the papers blowing away and just dove on the ones still on the ground, I'm sure I could've saved a lot more. I wonder if I just aimed to hold on to some time, some focus and some energy for Jesus this Advent, I might find it all more satisfying?

What are the few things you could do (or not do!) that would better prepare you to experience some spiritual refreshment this Advent? Dive into those things and let the rest go if they must. Its okay.

One thing I'm going to do is make sure my day begins with a time of silent prayer, a few verses of Scripture and singing a verse or two of an Advent or Christmas hymn. I think if I get to that, others things can blow by. Its okay.

What do you really long for in the days ahead? Everything isn't possible, but something is. What will you dive on?

Paying Attention

"This is the first, wildest, and wisest thing I know, that the soul exists, and that it is built entirely out of attentiveness."

- poet Mary Oliver

I was blessed on the way to the mailbox last Tuesday...

How's that for an opening line? Actually, I found three baby "redpole" birds strewn across our driveway. This was after wild winds and heavy rains had slammed into our neighborhood. I wasn't looking for these little birds ( I was actually looking for my tax rebate!), but there they were. I spotted one, then another, and then another. Next to the last was a tiny nest.

There are few things more vulnerable looking than a baby bird. They might have been two days only. Fuzzy feathers and lots of pink skin. I got the nest and coaxed each bird into it, prodding gently with a twig (I knew touching them would leave "human smell" on them and be the kiss of death). Once in the nest, I carried them to our screened porch and set them down so they'd be able to weather the next storm.

My girls wanted to feed them, but I knew their only real chance was a reunion with mom and dad redpole. That night I placed them up in the tree they'd fallen out of and prayed they'd be found (but not by a blue jay).

What happened next? Praise God, mom and dad found them. The next morning the tree was alive with small squawks and the flutter of wings.

Mary Oliver says our souls are built out of attentiveness. Seeing, noticing, attending. A sober, somber voice within me wants to ask "how many times have you walked right by (or right over) similar situations, missing a chance to bless and be blessed." But a more Holy Voice within me says, "Tuesday you noticed and see what good it did your soul."

Still no rebate check, but every time I walk by the tree and spy those little birds, its like receiving the touch of healing oil on my soul.

Pastors and Parliamentarians

Annual Conference finished last Sunday and this year I had one of the best seats in the house - on the left hand of the Bishop, serving as her parliamentarian. In many ways my presence there was a perfect example of the "Peter Principle"in action, but it turned out to be an enjoyable experience. This is Bishop Fisher's last annual conference session with us, so I felt very blessed to be able to sit next to her. She's given me the opportunity to take on some responsibilities (like chairing our Conference Boundaries Task Force) which really stretched me. I'm grateful she saw potential in me I'd not seen in myself. I will certainly miss her and wish her all God's best in retirement (though I doubt she'll be idle for long!).

Serving as parliamentarian is kind of like umpiring a baseball game. Most of the time its pretty routine and uneventful. Balls and strikes and a whole lot of waiting. But then somebody gets a "hit" and all of a sudden there's movement and a squeeze play at second which is really close. Most motions at annual conference pass without amendment and most debate proceeds without subsidiary motions or points of order. But then, "bam," all of a sudden, there's all sorts of talk and questions are flying and bishop is turning to me asking advice. "

Some find parliamentary procedure burdensome and heavy-handed. It can certainly be used in ways which limit free discussion and/or preclude input. But when used as a tool rather than an end in itself, I think it can help a body make good decisions.

That's how I think we tried to use in last weekend.

Difficult Day

Just before dinner General Conference voted on what is perhaps the most divisive matter among us: whether or not our denomination understands persons who are involved in same-sex relationships to be engaging in sinful behavior.

The particular issue raised this afternoon involved a petition to change the statement "The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching" found in paragraph 161 (g) of our Social Principles. Instead of this statement, the petition asked our Church to acknowledge that we are not of one mind on this issue and that people on "both sides" of the issue are making a sincere witness to their faith.

This change made (and makes) good sense to me, for two reasons: 1) it offers an honest statement of sentiment among us and 2) it removes the condemning language regarding gay and lesbian persons. I, therefore, voted in favor of changing the language in the Discipline.

Which meant I ended up voting in the minority. (The picture above depicts the witness made by some delegates in solidarity with gay and lesbian persons impacted by the decision). The petition failed by a vote of 55% to 45%. I'm disappointed, though not surprised. Having been a member of the UMC for 23 years (18 as pastor), I know how difficult this issue is for us. We read the same biblical text related to this issue and take away different meanings. We've been shaped by different life experiences.

But for me, the issue isn't defined by legislation, voting results or even biblical interpretation. Its about the value of people in God's eyes. When I voted today, the faces of gay and lesbian family members, friends, parishioners and clergy colleagues were in my mind's eye. My love for them, and more importantly, the love I know God has for them, compelled me to vote for change.

That change didn't come is, as I said, disappointing. I don't resent the 55% of my sisters and brothers who voted differently then me. I know God loves them too, no more or less than God loves me. I trust we're all seeking to be faithful. And I rejoice in a God who sticks with us through all our deliberations, stumblings and struggles.

While munching a bagel in my hotel...

Last night I was in my legislative committee until midnight, so I'm taking the morning off. Marti Swords-Horrell (there's a familiar name!) is our reserve delegate, so she will sit in for me this morning with full voice and vote. Among other things, this gives me a chance to update you on what's been happening here.

First, though, an apology about the lack of pictures in this blog. I've been taking them and trying to upload them, but with no success. I'll keep trying, so keep checking back.

Since Friday most of my time has been in legislative committee (subcommittee). Mine is the Ministry and Higher Education committee, a group of about 100 from all over the world. Our committee was assigned over 230 petitions to review and make recommendations to the large body. Every petition must be reviewed and a decided upon! That's why we were at it until 12 midnight and will return to it over lunch.

The issues before us include:

• whether a pastor has the authority to deny a person membership in the church (we recommend rejection of this one),
• whether a local pastor (unordained but licensed persons pastoring churches) can vote for General conference delegates (this one we recommend approval),
• changes in the process of ordination to make it more streamlined (some petitions approved, some referred for further study)

For the most part there's been a pretty broad consensus on the issues. Most of us want to make the path to ordination more inviting to young people, less burdensome and more understandable, while not watering down the requirements.

Even around an issue with significant disagreement such as whether a UMC clergyperson could preside at the union ceremony of a same-sex couple, the debate was civil and respectful. I think all the work done to set the tone in our first couple of days here has made a difference. Our bishops emphasized the need to engage in "holy conferencing," listening to each other, speaking the truth in love and trusting God to speak in our midst, sometimes in challenging ways.

Our subcommittee voted not to change the current language in the Book of Discipline barring clergy from presiding at same-sex unions by a vote of 49-34. I can't say I was surprised by the vote. I think those numbers accurately describe our divide on issues related to the full inclusion of gay and lesbian persons. But I was encouraged by the spirit of our debate.

The rest of the week will be spent in plenary or "big group session" with all 992 delegates meeting together to officially vote on the petitions processed in the legislative committees. Those with overwhelming support of the legislative committees will most likely be accepted with little debate, but some will, no doubt, be dealt with by the whole body.

I'll check in with you later. Hope you are well!

Hope, Focus and Getting it Done

Yesterday morning was our time to hear about the state of the Church and where God is leading us. It was a reality check and a time to reclaim our vision. Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher identified our struggles in this way:

"Our United Methodist soul is fractured by [declining membership, divisive issues and the glitziness of modern culture]. We are plagued with deep fear and anxiety, resulting in symptoms that mimic the reactivity of the world rather than life, ministry, death and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ."

I think she nailed it! But then the message moved on to "so what do we do now?" The answer offered was to concentrate our energies on 4 areas of ministry: leadership development, congregational renewal and growth, ministry with the poor and stamping out killer diseases.

I was struck by how these four issues coordinated with a couple LUMC's 4 critical issues we identified as crucial to our life together: living out a lifelong spiritual journey, reaching 20 and 30 year olds, engaging in vital worship, and retooling the building for ministry/mission.

It seemed to me LUMC's issues of Lifelong Spiritual Journey and Reaching 20 & 30 Year Olds link with both Leadership Development and Renewing Congregations. I also noted none of our issues link up with poverty or disease relief. We do this in many ways (and perhaps that's why we didn't identify these issues), but I wondered if we need to think about how we can grow in these area. I was moved almost to tears by a little 7 year old girl named Katherine from the Pittsburgh who stood before 1000 delegates and told us how she had raised $40,000 to buy nets to protect children in Africa. I could see our kids doing this.

After the presentation around the 4 areas of focus, the first ever "Young People's Address" was given by 6 young adults: Kira, 24, from Russia; Becca, 17, from Michigan; Rev. Annie Arnoldy, 29, from Colorado; Andrew, 16, from Colorado; Matt, 20, from Washington; and Jason, 24, from Nebraska.

This was a powerful presentation. Each young adult shared how important the UMC was to them and what their hopes and dreams were for the future. The four areas of focus were named in concret ways as vital to these young adults. Matt summed up the presentation in this way:

"We have shared stories of persecution, homelessness, and what it means to be a young person in a world desperately in need of Jesus." Then he paused and looked everyone one of us in the eye (amazing, since that's 2000 eyes!). "What you do with what you have heard is really up to you."

I've been thinking a lot about that challenge. Words are great, but actions speak.

It's Begun

The flight from Ithaca to Phili to Dallas/Ft. Worth was smooth. Even the luggage arrived!

The picture on the is of the mobile hanging in the lobby of the convention center we're meeting in (just so you know I'm really in Texas!) [I'm having trouble uploading pictures, so check back later.]

General Conference began with worship Wednesday evening. It was a powerful experience: massed choirs, lilturgical dancers, video displayed on enormous overhead screens, banners and the combined voices of 6500 Methodists filled the auditorium. Bishop Jance Huie of the Houston Area preached on the conference theme of “ A Future with Hope.” Bishop Huie named some of the enormous challenges facing our church in these days: declining membership, worldwide poverty and disease, wars and global warming. She said while 1st Christians were known by the way they loved one another, 21st Christians will need to be known by the way they manifest hope in God’s redeeming work in the world.

After worship, we had initial business to conduct: establishing the policies and rules we’ll use to do the rest of our work. We got done around 11 p.m.

Today has been a powerful day, too. The morning was spent introducing the 4 areas of focus around which our denomination will orient its life in the years ahead: developing principled lay and clergy leadership; planting new churches and renewing existing churches; working with the poor to eliminate poverty; and irradicating the diseases like malaria and AIDS. A pretty ambitious agenda. I’ll speak more about this tomorrow.