Methodist Federation for Social Action

I am intrigued by Cynthia Astle’s proposal that we have a moratorium on legislation at General Conference 2004. Like Ms. Astle, I am sick unto death of spending vast amounts of energy battling one another within our church - energy that could be much better spent engaging other United Methodists in efforts to discern, plan and take action in response to Micah’s call to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God and to respond to the Gospel mandate to love our neighbors.

Rather than battling over the UMC’s membership in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, I pray for the day when I can put my energy into reaching out to girls and women who become pregnant when they do not wish to be so. There is so much our church should (and could) be doing:

promoting early and accurate information on sexuality and reproduction within a Christian context;
providing financial, emotional, medical and spiritual support to girls and women who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant;
supporting families in making a child available for adoption for those who choose this option; and
providing support, particularly for very young parents if they choose to raise the children they bear.

Rather than battling over whether homosexuality is “compatible with Christian teaching” I pray for the day when I can put my energy into making ours a church where God’s good gift of sexuality can be celebrated.

I yearn for the day when our churches become places where people of all ages can bring their concerns, questions, celebrations and pain over things related to the expression of their sexuality. When children in our Sunday school classes are able to discuss age-appropriate topics about sexual expression in the context of loving relationships. When youngsters in our youth groups turn to youth leaders rather than peers on the street corner to sort through their questions about sexual orientation and responsible and loving sexual expression.

Rather than battling over doctrine, I pray for the day when we can recognize God speaking through those who hold different perspectives. I sincerely believe that the church needs the gifts offered by all within our church family. It is entirely natural, and I believe healthy, for the church to live within the tension of conservatives who point us to ancient truths and progressives who point us to God's ongoing and ever-new revelation.

I yearn for the day when those across the spectrum can value the gifts offered by those who are in a different place than they. I long to offer my own gifts and insights without fear, confident that they will be valued. I pray to God for the grace to value the gifts and insights of those who believe differently than I.

Rather than battling over whether our national church agencies are accountable and should be shut down, I pray for the day when I can put my energy, time and talent into building up our national agencies. As one who has worked at the national level for many years, I am aware of the weaknesses of the General Board of Church and Society and the General Board of Global Ministries. I am also aware of the magnificent work and witness of these agencies over the years. I want to work to strengthen them in those areas where they are weak and to celebrate and support them in those areas where they are strong.

Quite apart from the issues that stir controversy in the church, my heart aches that the church does not put more energy into areas that have been sorely neglected. The most glaring of these, I believe, is the reality of poverty, in the U.S. and around the globe. For God’s sake, literally, let’s stop battling long enough to join hands in responding to the Gospel mandate to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. Let’s examine together how the death penalty relates to Scripture’s admonition to refrain from killing and to free those who are imprisoned. Let’s talk together about how to raise our children with Christian values amidst the runaway consumerism in society around us. Let's move beyond services of repentance and reconciliation and take action against the myriad ways that the evil of racism rears its ugly head. Let’s pray for all who are at risk in Iraq, but at the same time get down on our knees together as we ask God’s guidance on how to live together without having to resort to the horrors of war.

I don’t know if Ms. Astle’s proposal will move us in this direction. But I, for one, would be willing to consider its merits. Legislation at General Conference is important but is only a part of our Christian witness.

I was recently reminded of the words of St. Francis that Christians should preach the Gospel always and if necessary, use words.

Why, one might wonder, if I hold these beliefs do I remain at the helm of the Methodist Federation for Social Action, an independent network of United Methodist’s known for progressive stands and consistent advocacy?

I admit to being unabashedly progressive in my beliefs. I am fully committed to the separation of church and state. The fact that I am firmly committed to a woman’s right to choose whether to bear a child does not mean that I do not ache at the number of abortions that are performed each year. The church must do better in offering ministries that will diminish this number.

I am 100% convinced that sexual orientation is a gift of God that can be expressed either responsibly or irresponsibly. Homosexuals, no less than heterosexuals, are capable of committed, loving, Christian relationships. This does not mean that I am unaware of the ways in which some gay and lesbian persons choose unhealthy and exploitative expressions of their sexuality in the same way that some heterosexual persons do. It is here that the church must respond.

I find that my understanding and experience of God, and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are best described by many of the theologies that have found expression in recent decades. I cannot begin to describe my utter joy during the first summer of seminary when I discovered feminist theology. Finally, I was able to put words to my experience of God. It was a joyous experience of “coming home” if you will. This does not mean that I don’t honor the experience of those who experience this same sense of oneness with God through traditional theological expression. Nor does it mean that I believe there is no place for traditional theological expression in the United Methodist Church.

In her editorial, Ms. Astle accuses those on both the "right" and the "left" of using half-truths and outright lies as weapons. While I have taken considerable care to avoid doing so, I am sure that I have blind spots. I have written and spoken on several occasions about the need to speak, write and act with a spirit of love and compassion. While I have not equivocated in terms of my convictions, I have sought to convey respect of those with whom I differ. Insofar as I have failed at doing this, I apologize and commit to redoubling my efforts.

So, will a moratorium on legislation at General Conference 2004 accomplish the goal of discerning and aligning ourselves with God's will for the church? I don't know. One concern I'd have is that we might just be putting off hard decisions for another four years. On the other hand, I'm open to discussing the idea further.

One of the things that grieved me most at the last General Conference was that there appeared to be precious little room for the Holy Spirit to find expression in our midst. Anything that changes that reality is worthy of serious consideration.