Clericeric

18 More Groups that have Infiltrated the Church

Lately I have held back from sharing much about what I call "faith with feet." By FwF I mean: Christians don't live in pews, but in the world. If our faith makes no difference in the world where we live it isn't much of a faith. As a follower of Jesus, God has made you a new creature, dude! (or dudette!) The Holy Spirit lives inside of you! So bear fruit worthy of this new life.

I have quoted Dave Barnhart here before. His take on Glen Beck's latest tomfoolery is full of wit. 

Since Glenn Beck keeps ranting about left-leaning Christians* who use the word “social justice” to advance their agenda, I thought I’d also point out a few other groups who have infiltrated the church, many of whom use the Bible to support their agendas:

18. White Supremacists
17. Atheists
16. Pagans
15. Right-wing Tea-party Fruitcakes
14. Pedophiles
13. New Agey Crystal-Wearing Vegans
12. Labor Unions
11. Jerks
10. Libertarians
9. Glenn Beck Listeners
8. Self-avowed, Practicing Gays and Lesbians
7. Self-avowed, Practicing Homophobes
6. Self-avowed, Practicing Evangelicals
5. Unreformed Calvinists
4. Unrepentant Arminians
3. Closet Papists
2. Sinners
1. Christians

These people are inside your church! Some of them are clergy! Scary!

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*He didn’t actually say "left-leaning" - he said "communist" and "Nazi." That’s part of what makes this particularly dishonest. He knows very well what he’s talking about: Christians who support healthcare reform and justice for the poor because they believe in the Biblical mandate to love their neighbor with more than superficial charity.

I really hope he keeps talking about this. The more he talks the more transparent he becomes.

Posted by Dave on 03/12 at 11:16 AM

Barbara Brown Taylor, on Lent

A visit to The Text This Week website is usually the third step in my sermon writing process. In fact, it is my home page. Jenee Woodard, the curator of TTTW, offers an incredible gift to the church through her work. There is a link to make a donation, but she charges no subscription fee to peruse her extensive library of collected and organized links to hundreds of biblical study and preaching resources. Check it out here.

I mention TTTW because this week Rev. Woodard features a Barbara Brown Taylor quote that stops me cold.

"That hollowness we sometimes feel is not a sign of something gone wrong. It is the holy of holies inside of us, the uncluttered throne room of the Lord our God. Nothing on earth can fill it, but that does not stop us from trying. Whenever we start feeling too empty inside, we stick our pacifiers into our mouths and suck for all we are worth. They do not nourish us, but at least they plug the hole."

If you have heard me preach more than three times you've probably heard me reference BBT's writing. She's my favorite preacher to read. The quote if from an article in The Christian Century ("Settling for Less," February 18, 1998, page 169). You can read her whole article here, or archived at Religion Online here. But, you really want to read it.
Trust me.

Settling for Less (Luke 4:1-13)

¹Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, ²where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. ³The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” ⁴Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” ⁵Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. ⁷If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” ⁸Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” ⁹Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, ¹⁰for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ ¹¹and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” ¹²Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ¹³When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Do not bother looking for Lent in your Bible dictionary. There was no such thing in biblical times. There is some evidence that early Christians fasted 40 hours between Good Friday and Easter, but the custom of spending 40 days in prayer and self-denial did not arise until later, when the initial rush of Christian adrenaline was over and believers had gotten very ho-hum about their faith.

When the world did not end as Jesus himself had said it would, his followers stopped expecting so much from God or from themselves. They hung a wooden cross on the wall and settled back into their more or less comfortable routines, remembering their once passionate devotion to God the way they

Top 10 reasons Ash Wednesday is better than Christmas

A preacher friend posted this list. I laughed till I nearly wet myself. Now all of his preacher friends are re-posting it. Dave, it's gone viral. You're going to be famous, man!

10. No braving the malls looking for Lent gifts
9.  No pressure to send “Merry Ash Wednesday” cards
8.  No explaining why using chi-rho isn’t “X-ing Jesus out” of Lent
7.  No dominion-ist fundagelicals trying to fight culture wars by putting “Jesus resisting temptation in the wilderness” displays on public property
6.  No celebrity holiday albums
5.  No Ash Wednesday sitcom specials
4.  No saccharine email forwards about “the true meaning” of Ash Wednesday
3.  No tacky Ash Wednesday sweaters
2.  “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return” extremely difficult to use in consumer marketing strategies
1.  Nobody ever says, “Ash Wednesday is really all about the children.”

others have added:
*  No holiday letters bragging about your kids' report cards, your travels, or your promotions.
*  No Ash Wednesday tree to decorate.
*  (Actually, I think a card with some ashes in it might be nice....)

Observing Lent at Edgemont

Dear Edgemont members and friends,

This season of Epiphany (I see! or, Aha!) has been a good one at Edgemont. We have seen an encouraging burst of energy among our ministry teams and committees. Our Administrative Council has been working with us toward better communication and greater ministry effort, with a still tight budget. More people are engaged in leadership. We are looking for new ways to be in service in our community. We have donated significant sums to the relief effort in Haiti, to the Good Neighbor fund, and you continue to support the church well with your tithes, gifts and offerings. Thank you for your faithfulness!

On Ash Wednesday, February 17th, we will to pass from the season of Epiphany to Lent. Lent is the season of 40 days (not counting Sundays) before Easter. It’s purpose is to prepare us for the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Having seen Jesus, what does that mean for our lives?

Richard Garland writes, “I am not fond of Lent. There is for me a burdensome quality to a season that begins with ashes and ends with a tomb. It has for me the heavy feel of dark duty. So, I tend to approach Lent with an attitude that I need to do something, or give something up. By the end of Lent I have often been exhausted and aching for some decadent "death by chocolate" dessert. But I need Lent. I need the disciplines that we associate with the season. I need the insights those disciplines typically reveal. I need the transforming power of the Spirit that the insight calls forth.”

“What are you giving up for Lent?” may be a question you have heard before. Some choose to give up one particular thing for Lent; caffeine, or chocolate, or meat on Fridays. Prayer, repentance, alms giving and fasting are traditional practices during this season, and can be lived out in a variety of ways.

For me, Easter is always more powerful and joyful the times I have given particular personal attention,

United Methodists respond in Haiti

Check out UMNews Service

here: United Methodists respond with prayer, aid for Haiti.
http://tiny.cc/S8RFr

and here for coverage of all UMC news from Haiti
http://tiny.cc/TIG7u

a Comment on Scott's Thoughts

The following is my comment on Scott Coats' blog post from yesterday, which was based on the devotional he led before our Administrative Council meeting this week. I thought he made some great points.

Scott, you did an awesome job with the devotion at Ad Council - well told and good content. Your point was perfect for this moment in the life of our church, and the terrific follow-up questions zero us in on the goal of making disciples. You are spot on to emphasize that discipleship is a lifelong process. So many never receive the wise encouragement you heard, and are left with that bereft feeling of “I thought everything was going to be different now that I’ve been baptized!”

Can I broaden our understanding of Jesus’ “go make disciples” just a hair? The broader part is in the “making” of a disciple. I loved the illustration you used at the meeting - if I remember you said, “getting saved is not the finish line of a race. It is more like the starting line of a marathon, a lifelong journey.” You are right, discipleship is a journey – yes, the part about “people in the door and butts in pews” is indeed ancillary, but getting them to the starting line is a crucial first step in the taking of that journey.

I learned one way to approach this passage in a class focusing on the verbs: Go, Make, Baptize, Teach, Remember. Each part is an essential role of the church. That framework has helped keep me centered when things start to get wild around here.

 “Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing^xthem in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember,^xI am with you always, to the end of the age.” ^x~ Matthew^x28:18-20

The main job of the church, according to these last words of Jesus in Matthew, is to “make disciples.”

Care of creation - United Methodist style

On November 3, 2009, the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church issued a pastoral letter to the church, “God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action” (See United Methodist News Service story).

The bishops recommend that the pastoral letter be shared during the season of Advent in each of 42,600 congregations worldwide. Additionally, a liturgical setting for the letter offers responsive elements for congregational participation. These are a “lament for God’s people and God’s planet,” confession of “failure to embody the image of God,” and call to action inviting people to join the bishops in their own nine pledges for urgent, effective action.

The full text of the pastoral letter is below. A PDF of this document, and a liturgical setting are available at http://hopeandaction.org

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God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action

A Pastoral Letter from the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church[1]

God’s creation is in crisis. We, the Bishops of The United Methodist Church, cannot remain silent while God’s people and God’s planet suffer. This beautiful natural world is a loving gift from God, the Creator of all things seen and unseen. God has entrusted its care to all of us, but we have turned our backs on God and on our responsibilities. Our neglect, selfishness, and pride have fostered:

• pandemic poverty and disease;

• environmental degradation, and

• the proliferation of weapons and violence.[i]

Despite these interconnected threats to life and hope, God’s creative work continues. Despite the ways we all contribute to these problems, God still invites each one of us to participate in the work of renewal. We must begin the work of renewing creation by being renewed in our own hearts and minds. We cannot help the world until we change our way of being in it.

We all feel saddened by the state of the world, overwhelmed by the scope of these problems, and anxious about the future, but God calls us and equips us to respond. No matter how bad things are, God’s creative work continues. Christ’s resurrection assures us that death and destruction do not have the last word. Paul taught that through Jesus Christ, God offers redemption to all of creation and reconciles all things, “whether on earth or in heaven.”(Col 1:20[ii]) God’s Spirit is always and everywhere at work in the world fighting poverty, restoring health, renewing creation, and reconciling peoples.

Aware of God’s vision for creation, we no longer see a list of isolated problems affecting disconnected people, plants, and animals. Rather, we see one interconnected system that “groans in travail.”(Romans 8:22) The threats to peace, people, and planet earth are related to one another, and God’s vision encompasses complete well-being. We, your bishops, join with many global religious leaders to call for a comprehensive response to these interrelated issues. We urge all United Methodists and people of goodwill to offer themselves as instruments of God’s renewing Spirit in the world.

First, let us orient our lives toward God’s holy vision. This vision of the future calls us to hope and to action. “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”(Jer 29:11) Christ’s resurrection assures us that this vision is indeed a promise of renewal and reconciliation. As disciples of Christ, we take God’s promise as the purpose for our lives. Let us, then, rededicate ourselves to God’s holy vision, living each day with awareness of the future God extends to us and of the Spirit that leads us onward.

Second, let us practice social and environmental holiness. We believe personal holiness and social holiness must never be separated. John Wesley preached: “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social. No holiness but social holiness.”[iii]  Through social holiness we make ourselves a channel of God’s blessing in the world. Because God’s blessing, care, and promise of renewal extend to all of creation, we can speak today of “environmental holiness” as well. We practice social and environmental holiness by caring for God’s people and God’s planet and by challenging those whose policies and practices neglect the poor, exploit the weak, hasten global warming, and produce more weapons.

Third, let us live and act in hope. As people in the tradition of John Wesley, we understand reconciliation and renewal to be part of the process of salvation that is already underway. We are not hemmed into a fallen world. Rather we are part of a divine unfolding process to which we must contribute. As we faithfully respond to God’s grace and call to action, the Holy Spirit guides us in this renewal. With a resurrection spirit, we look forward to the renewal of the whole creation and commit ourselves to that vision. We pray that God will accept and use our lives and resources that we re-dedicate to a ministry of peace, justice and hope to overcome poverty and disease, environmental degradation, and the proliferation of weapons and violence.

With God’s help and with you as our witnesses…

1. We as your bishops pledge to answer God’s call to deepen our spiritual consciousness as just stewards of creation. We commit ourselves to faithful and effective leadership on these issues, in our denomination, and in our communities and nations.

2. We pledge to make God’s vision of renewal our goal. With every evaluation and decision, we will ask: Does this contribute to God’s renewal of creation? Ever aware of the difference between what is and what must be, we pledge to practice Wesleyan “holy dissatisfaction.”[iv]

3. We pledge to practice dialogue with those whose life experience differs dramatically from our own, and we pledge to practice prayerful self-examination. For example, in the Council of bishops, the fifty active bishops in the United States are committed to listening and learning with the nineteen active bishops in Africa, Asia and Europe. And the bishops representing the United States’ conferences will prayerfully examine the fact that their nation consumes more than its fair share of the world’s resources, generates the most waste, and produces the most weapons.

4. We pledge ourselves to make common cause with religious leaders and people of good will worldwide who share these concerns. We will connect and collaborate with ecumenical and interreligious partners and with community and faith organizations so that we may strengthen our common efforts.

5. We pledge to advocate for justice and peace in the halls of power in our respective nations and international organizations.

6. We pledge to measure the “carbon footprint”[v] of our episcopal and denominational offices, determine how to reduce it, and implement those changes. We will urge our congregations, schools and settings of ministry to do the same.

7. We pledge, to the best of our ability, to provide the resources needed by our conferences to reduce dramatically our collective exploitation of the planet, peoples and communities, including technical assistance with buildings and programs, education and training, young people’s and online networking resources.

8. We pledge to practice hope as we engage and continue supporting the many transforming ministries of our denomination. Every day we will thank God for fruit produced through the work of The United Methodist Church and through each of you.

9. We pledge more effective use of the church and community webpages to inspire and share what we learn.[vi] We celebrate the communications efforts that tell the stories of struggle and transformation within our denomination.

With these pledges, we respond to God’s gracious invitation to join in the process of renewal. God is already visibly at work in people and groups around the world. We rededicate ourselves to join these movements, the movements of the Spirit. Young people are passionately raising funds to provide mosquito nets for their “siblings” thousands of miles away. Dock workers are refusing to off-load small weapons being smuggled to armed combatants in civil wars in their continent. People of faith are demanding land reform on behalf of landless farm workers. Children and young people have formed church-wide “green teams” to transform our buildings and ministries into testimonies of stewardship and sustainability. Ecumenical and interreligious partners persist in demanding the major nuclear powers to reduce their arsenals, step by verifiable step, making a way to a more secure world totally disarmed of nuclear weapons. God is already doing a new thing. With this Letter and the accompanying Foundation Document, we rededicate ourselves to participate in God’s work, and we urge you all to rededicate yourselves as well.

We beseech every United Methodist, every congregation and every public leader: “Will you participate in God’s renewing work?” We are filled with hope for what God can accomplish through us, and we pray you respond: “We will, with God’s help!”

May God’s grace purify our reason, strengthen our will, and guide our action. May the love of God, the peace of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit be among you, everywhere and always, so that you may be a blessing to all creation and to all the children of God, making peace, nurturing and practicing hope, choosing life and coming to life eternal. Amen.

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[1] 2004 General Conference of The United Methodist Church called for the Council of Bishops to publish new documents and a study guide similar to the Council’s landmark call in 1986, In Defense of Creation: The Nuclear Crisis and a Just Peace. This is the Council’s response to the General Conference action (The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2004: “Replace In Defense of Creation with new Document and Study Guide”).

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[i] In 2002, Reverend Dr. William Sloane Coffin, referring to a political trio of threats said, “A more likely and far more dangerous trio would be environmental degradation, pandemic poverty, and a world awash with weapons.” The Chautauqua Appeal, with Joan Brown Campbell and Stephen J. Sidorak, Jr. 

[ii] Unless otherwise noted, all scriptural references are from the New Revised Standard Version published by the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. 

[iii] Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1739, ¶ 5. 

[iv] “When… Christian perfection becomes the goal, a fundamental hope is aroused that the future can surpass the present. And a corresponding holy dissatisfaction is aroused with regard to any present state of affairs—a dissatisfaction that supplies the critical edge necessary to keep the process of individual transformation moving. Moreover, this holy dissatisfaction is readily transferable from the realm of the individual to that of society, where it provides a persistent motivation for reform in the light of ‘a more perfect way’ that goes beyond any status quo.” Runyon, Theodore, The New Creation: John Wesley’s Theology Today (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998), p. 168. 

[v] A “carbon footprint” is an estimate of how much carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) is produced to support life activities including travel and home energy use. Carbon footprints are also applied on a larger scale to companies, businesses, and nations.

[vi] In support of the many persons who have followed this project of the Council, an interactive multimedia website will have resources, educational materials, downloadable video clips and social networking: www.hopeandaction.org.

State of Sumatanga

ed: A repost from the Rev. Bob Murray, Executive Director of Camp Sumatanga.

How Did We Get Here?
July 1, 2009

In the mid to late 1990’s Camp incurred substantial debt for the construction of the Retreat Center and McKinney-Atkins Building.  At least one major fund-raising attempt was made and another planned.  The second attempt was aborted because it was determined that it would probably interfere with the requests for funding of the United Methodist Conference Center at Birmingham-Southern.  Through various donations and from operating revenues Camp has paid this debt down to approximately $750,000.

For most of its years Camp has not had sufficient funds to adequately maintain our facilities.  We started a campaign (called The Psalm 16 Campaign) in 2007 to raise funds ($4,850,000) for much needed capital improvements: for restorations to the Pool Camp facilities and to the Lodge; for expansion of the waste water treatment capacity; for paying off the indebtedness; and for starting an endowment to help defray some future maintenance costs.  As of June 30, 2009, we have received approximately $1,500,000 in pledges on this campaign.

Since 2000 residential use of Camp has fallen over 30%.  In 2008 we had 30% fewer camper nights (heads in bed) than we had in 2000. We believe that this loss of customers was in part because of the result of lack of hospitality, unappetizing  meals and unclean facilities.  In the past 18 months we have addressed these issues and have taken corrective actions to assure that our guests feel welcomed, enjoy the meals and stay in clean facilities.  We have made major strides in changing the attitude and culture here.

We have implemented a business plan that involves aggressive marketing of camp to churches and other groups, but most of the fruit from that effort will not be realized until 2010 since most of the groups that we have attracted are planning several months in advance.  The worldwide recession has had a devastating impact on our bookings with many of our longstanding groups canceling their events.  In the meanwhile, our expenses are continuing.

Many churches from this Annual Conference never use Camp Sumatanga.  Others rarely use it.  Some come for day events exclusively.  Essentially, we cannot survive if our churches do not use our camp for overnight events.

Facing this disastrous combination of events we have asked the churches of the North Alabama Conference to receive a special offering toward helping us raise $300,000, which we believe will make it possible for us to remain in operations through the end of 2009.  As of June 30, 2009 we have received over $162,000 at Camp and we understand that additional funds are currently being held at the Conference Treasurer’s Office.  However, this infusion of cash will not save Sumatanga by itself.  We must also have more groups come to camp and spend nights in our facilities. If we the people of the United Methodist Church are not going to use it, we don’t need to save it.

If I may provide additional information, please contact me at (256) 538-9860.

Rev. Bob Murray
Executive Director
Sumatanga

Seven Year Plan of Ministry

An impossible task has been set before the churches of our conference. The bishop and superintendents have asked us to provide them with a plan for the next seven years of our ministry. Seven years! We don’t even know what we are teaching during Soul Food this fall, and they want a seven year plan? Many of us preachers chuckled and rolled our eyes, thinking that this will be another project assigned to ministers and their people that will result in a piece of paper, filed and never to be seen again. Poor attitude? Maybe. Cynical? Certainly. But we’ve done this exercise before.

Yet, I am still enough of an optimist to see the benefit of long range hope. And we have also learned that we will never accomplish anything new without making a plan and setting forth. So with this hope I sat down to write a seven year plan of ministry for Edgemont. (Plus, our D.S. threatened the preachers with punishments untold if we didn’t.)

Un-approved as yet, and seen only by me so far, here it is. You will benefit from having a better idea where your preacher is coming from, and the kind of Gospel I feel called to preach. And perhaps this can be a starting point for new goals and enthusiasm at EUMC.

Seven Year Plan of Ministry for Edgemont

1. Develop a clear (better) understanding of evangelism, and a sense of urgency for making more disciples of Jesus (immediately)
   We have received untold grace from God in Jesus Christ. If we aren’t sharing this best-news-ever with as many people as possible, maybe we don’t really believe it in the first place?
2. Craft our worship services to effectively attract non- and nominally-religious people in the Shoals community (1 year – 18 months)
   With an eye toward our 1st goal, we will evaluate and improve our three worship services. We are willing to change what needs changing for the cause of sharing Jesus, perhaps even beginning new services. We will create authentic worship that fits us, and attracts others. (i.e. Thursday @ 8pm, Saturday night, etc.)
3. Focus attention firmly on the future (immediately – 7 years)
   While vision/mission statements may be somewhat overrated, there is no denying that a BHAG (big, hairy, audacious goal) is a truly motivating force. We need a BHAG, with some smaller HAGs along the way. (This BHAG will probably focus around children and youth.)
4. Continuously evaluate our effectiveness in all areas of ministry (continuously)
   …eliminating weaknesses, and building on our strengths. We have already found some success using the Natural Church Development process. Along with NCD we will also emphasize “all members in service” based upon their spiritual gifts.
5. Develop a hunger for the spiritual disciplines (immediately – seven years)
   We will provide teaching, encouragement and opportunities to help disciples grow in their faithful practice of prayer, study, stewardship, service and witness. Our methods will include classes, book clubs, small groups, prayer teams, art forums (SWtMoX), fellowship, community outreach/gatherings, worship, mission trips…
6. Create and Develop an awareness that stewardship is a lifestyle, not just a weekly check. (immediately – seven years)
   Stewardship means ‘how we use our stuff,’ which includes everything. Are we using every moment and resource at our disposal to follow Jesus, to serve others in his name, and to share God’s grace?
7. Become passionate about missions and helping others (international in two years)
   …in the name and way of Christ through local, regional and international mission efforts. This will help us to overcome our tendency (like every church) toward an inward focus. Some call this tendency “naval gazing.” Tony Campolo calls it “spiritual incest.”
8. Continue to refine our structures and leadership around the mentoring model (immediately – full implementation in three years)
   We have done some work in this regard, but our committees and teams could really use some firing up. Lot’s of great ministry is happening, but lots more could be accomplished if we were more organized and communicated better.

The time frame on each item may seem short. Recently I remarked that sometimes I am impatient with myself. While healing from a cold or injury I want to be better now. But often, God will remind me that I need to relax and trust God to take care of me. Well, this seven year plan will take at least seven years, but our attitude needs to be ‘persistent, powerful, patient, and hopeful.’ Eugene Peterson wrote a book called A Long Obedience in the Same Direction [at amazon]. I haven't read it yet, but it sounds like one that would be good for me.

I offer this plan as a starting point, but lets get started. And may all of our lives glorify God.

Camp Fighting to Stay Open Past September

I am not unique - everyone who spends time at Sumatanga falls in love. Not necessarily because it is the best church camp in the world (it is pretty close), but because Sumatanga is one of those numinous places where one feels their spirit connect with God on a regular basis. My spiritual journey weaves in and out of that patch of ground in middle Alabama. If my memory serves correctly, something like 70% of all the preachers of the N. Alabama Conference went to summer camps there. That certainly says something about its importance in the formation of leaders for the future.

Our church (Edgemont UMC) will receive a special offering for Sumatanga on June 28 July 5. In an act of faith, our women scheduled their annual retreat there for October. It would be a tragedy if we fail to save our camp. Let's support Sumatanga. Bart says it much better than me...

Camp Fighting to Stay Open Past September
written by Bart Styes

This past weekend, the United Methodists of North Alabama met for their annual conference. Rev. Bob Murray, executive director of Sumatanga Camp and Retreat Center, gave his report on Friday afternoon. While improvements in hospitality, food, cleanliness and safety have been made in his 18 month tenure, Rev. Murray stated "I don't have good news for you today."

Sumatanga will run out of operating funds some time between August and September of this year. That means camp will not be able to pay staff, pay utilities bills or make payments to creditors.

For over 60 years, the camp has served guests of all denominations as a Christian camp and retreat center. It is best known for it's summer camping program and the Walk to Emmaus. But it is also used year round by diverse groups like cancer survivors, addicts in recovery, the Kairos prison ministry, campus ministries and local church family retreats. In recent years, more guest are choosing to get married at the open air chapel that overlooks camp from Chandler Mountain.

Unfortunately, overall usage of the camp outside of the summer months have been steadily declining for several years. While a business plan that aggressively markets the camp has been implemented, the steady decline combined with the recent recession have dramatically impacted group reservations.

If business continues on its current pace the camp will cease to exist as year-round camp and retreat center. The camp is currently $900,000 in debt and is running about $300,000 a year behind in revenue for its usage.

Rev. Murray shared that while he believes that Sumatanga is relevant to the ministry of the Methodist Church and of North Alabama, he told the conference delegates that ultimately they would have to decide if camp would continue as a vital ministry. He noted that the biggest help to Sumatanga would be for churches to make more use of the camp and have more overnight events there.

Following this report a passionate discussion from the floor began. A motion was made and approved for each church in the conference to take a special offering for the camp by the end of July. As well, a clergy person pledged $1,000 and challenged 100 other delegates to join him that day in making the same gift. A goal has been set to raise at least $300,000 in donations that can be used for operations by the end of the summer. As of Monday, June 8, over $85,000 had been received or pledged.

As Bob shared with a guest booking an event this week without a guarantee that the camp will be open at that time, "I don't know yet what is God's ultimate plan for Camp Sumatanga. But I rest in the knowledge that His plan is perfect."

Camp Sumatanga is on the web at www.sumatanga.org and their phone number is 256-538-9860. The 1,700-acre site is open year round for families, churches, schools, and corporate groups. Accommodations range from RV hookups and cabins to dormitory style halls and motel style rooms. They offer summer camping and year-round accommodations.

If you want to help keep camp alive, mail a check to:
Camp Sumatanga
3616 Sumatanga Road
Gallant, AL 35972

Make it out to Sumatanga
memo line: general donation

Edgemont's 50th Anniversary Celebration

We had a wonderful 50^th anniversary celebration yesterday. We were thrilled to have Edgemont’s second pastor, Rev. Bill Smith, in attendance. Founding pastor Dr. Jim Wood was unable to attend due to his health, but sent a wonderful letter [found in the church’s newsletter here] that we read. Our District Superintendant, Rev. Mike Stonebreaker and wife Jane were present with their son, daughter-in-law and 8 week old grandson! And of course, it was a great honor to have Bishop Will and Patsy Willimon join our celebrations.

So many people deserve kudos for helping to make the day wonderful that it would be impossible to thank them all – but I want to name just a few who went above and beyond the call. Emily Rhodes and Joe Massenburg were our organizing team, and put in many hours of thinking, planning and work. Huge thanks to them! Thanks to Dr. Kenneth Johnson, our church historian, for your continued work to help us remember our past, and for sharing with us during the service. Cathy Moor, Brenda Crowson and Annette Miley worked tirelessly putting all of the pieces together for an Edgemont quilt. There are squares for each of our ministries, many of our families, and some which represent the pastors. (There is still a short time left for you to turn in a quilt square representing your family. Get those quickly to the church office!) The quilt is a beautiful marker of this great day. Thanks to everyone who helped decorate the sanctuary and Family Life Center, and to the many who brought food. And special thanks to Beth Haddock who made an amazing cake in the shape of our sanctuary!  Our musicians did a great job pulling together classic hymns with new praise music. The choir and band sounded great together. We appreciate everyone who helped make the day special!

Bishop Willimon preached a challenging and inspiring message on Matthew 25:31-46 [link to scripture]. He spoke of the great love, work and sacrifices of Edgemont’s founding members which have brought us to this point. You were praised for your and willingness to reach out in new ways, and for your effectiveness to grow during a time when many churches in our denomination are shrinking. (An increase of 50% in worship attendance in the last 4 years is no small feat!) He went on to say that we very well may be facing a time of even greater challenge, that will require higher levels of courage and faithfulness from us in order to succeed in the next fifty years.

Following scripture, the Bishop dared us to be faithful in small things. For we will be judged by Jesus on this basis, “just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Doing the small thing to share Christ’s love with ‘the lease of these’ will be the criterion on whether we “inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” or are banished “into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Burt is making copies of the dvd to share. Check in the office.)

I submit that even though we are talking about faithfulness in small things, answering the question ‘how shall we organize ourselves to respond to the least of these,’ will be no small task, and yet will play a major role in our effectiveness at being a church into the next fifty years. This task is only a piece of the puzzle for us, but it is a major piece.

The sanctuary is now decorated for Advent / Christmas! Many thanks to Kristi, Nikki, Jennie, Jerry, Annette, Nancy and Emma for your help putting up the tree and trimmings. If you weren’t here yesterday, you missed out on a ton of fun! You won’t want to miss any of the Sundays of Advent, as we prepare again to welcome the Christ Child into our hearts. Join us at 9 or 11:15 for worship, and 10 for Sunday school. We'd love to see you.

This just in from the Bishop...

This just dropped in my inbox a few minutes ago. It is the Bishop's Weekly Email message, to which you can subscribe, if you wish. Very often he has something good and interesting to say for pastors and church leaders. I thought you might be particularly interested in his reflections on how the economy has impacted the church, and good church folk like you.

Mercy Despite the Misery Among North Alabama Methodists

In the past month I’ve met with dozens of United Methodists individually and in groups discussing the future of their church, their discipleship and their response to the Conference Priorities.  Our discussions were focused on church matters, but in the course of those discussions at dozens of locations throughout our Conference, mostly in small congregations, I became aware of other concerns.

 

From what I’ve heard I am becoming increasingly troubled about the economics of the middle class.  Methodism is a mostly middle class movement, in our past and today as well.  Something about the way we do church (maybe our middle-of-the-road theology?) appeals to folks in the middle.  Today, folks in the middle are hurting.  The “misery index” – inflation linked with the wages and jobs – is squeezing our people. Add soaring energy prices to this, as well as the housing crisis that is greatly reducing the value of homes, and it’s a crisis.  It is downright un-American that our tax and wage structure have enabled the rich to get richer and the middle class to get squeezed.  It’s ironic that we have chosen to wage the ill conceived “War on Terrorism,” borrowing most of the money for the war, charging it to our grandchildren, when the economy is hurting middle class Americans more than Islamic terrorists.  For the first time in our nation’s history, the middle class is shrinking.

Ten qualities of an effective team-player...

I saw this today as I was prowling some cool blogs and it made me think about you guys at Edgemont. You guys really do make a great team. Can you think of people at EUMC who go with each characteristic? It would be cool and encouraging if you named names in the comments...i.e. "Jojo demonstrates good listening!" AND, Which of these characteristics to you embody?

an effective team-player:

• Demonstrates reliability. Gets work done and does his fair share to work hard and meet commitments. He follows through on assignments. Consistency is key.
• Communicates constructively. Expresses her thoughts and ideas clearly, directly, honestly and with respect for others and for the work of the team.
• Listens actively. Absorbs, understands and considers ideas and points of view from other people without debating and arguing every point.
• Functions as an active participant. Fully engaged in the work of the team and does not sit passively on the sidelines.
• Shares openly and willingly. Takes the initiative to keep other team members informed to help get the job done and prevent surprises.
• Cooperates and pitches in to help. Responds to requests for assistance, works with others to accomplish any task.
• Exhibits flexibility. Rolls with the punches and can consider different points of views and compromise when needed.
• Works as a problem-solver. Willing to deal with all kinds of problems in a solutions-oriented manner. A problem-solver, not problem-dweller, problem-blamer, or problem-avoider.
• Treats others in a respectful and supportive manner. Treats fellow team members with courtesy and understanding to help get the job done.
• Shows commitment to the team. Cares about her work, the team, and the team's work. Shows up every day with this care and commitment up front.

The U2 Sermon Series

I was so proud of Edgemont this past Sunday. We kicked off our "Gospel According to U2" sermon series really well. The band did their usual terrific job leading us throughout the service. Then they really topped themselves, supported by the addition of Lee Taylor (lead singer at the Wednesday evening youth worship service) and our chancel choir. They really hit a home run on U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. The choir will assist again on the final week for Pride (In the Name of Love). In the intervening weeks, for the more traditional 11:15 service, we'll do an acoustic version of the U2 songs, while still using the full band at the 9am service.

HUGE thanks go out to everyone who helped pull this all together: Eddie, Ryan, Bryan, Lee, Scott, the chancel choir & the band. You guys are really amazing.

Here's the schedule for the songs we'll be doing: 

• 8/24    I Still Haven’t Found What I’m looking For  |  John 3:16-17 &  Mat 16:24
• 8/31    Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of   |   Rom 7:19-25            
• 9/07    All Because of You   |   Eph 2:1-10, 19-22   
• 9/14    Yahweh    |   Luke 24:1-3  &  Mat 5:13-16           
• 9/21    Pride (In the Name of Love)   |   Isaiah 53  (with the choir!)

I was proud of the band, Lee and the choir for doing an outstanding job. I was proud of the church, which as a whole, embraced a (slightly) radical idea to reach out in a new way. I was proud to get to hear the music of one of my favorite bands played in church. (You might be wondering if I have pride issues!!! ;-) But most of all I am proud that we are looking for signs of God's activity in the world around us. We are trying to be faithful witnesses to the myriad ways God expresses grace to all people, and trying to welcome them into the love of Christ. Really, it's all pride in the name of God's love.

How about some .mp3 love to tide you over 'til you get to hear our band do these songs?

[.mp3]   Stuck in a moment   -   [.mp3]  Acoustic version
[.mp3]   All Because of You
[.mp3]   Yahweh
[.mp3]   Pride (in the Name of Love) (live)

Youth Ministry Makes a Difference

We are excited at Edgemont to be growing a great youth program. Bryan, our Director of Student Ministries, has done a good job building lead teams, equipping adults and youth, creating a youth space ("the Pit"), and bringing together an outstanding worship band for Wednesday night worship. It has been a good year. There is more to do, but we are on the way. An excellent youth program is crucial to the faith life of our young people, and the new kids who are coming!

I just read an article that touches on several areas of interest for me... youth ministry, and the future leadership of our church. Bishop Robert Schnase of the Missouri conference writes about the great impact, and the deep need, for solid youth ministry. Here is an excerpt:

There is a direct connection between strong local congregational youth ministries and the call to ministry. Obviously, there are tons of benefits besides this that result from strong youth ministries – lives changed, faith taught, young people supported through hard times, ethical shaping, community bonding in Christ, etc. But if your church wants to impact the number and quality of future pastoral leadership, begin by having an effective youth ministry, even if it’s small.

You can read the full article here.

Conversation with Bishop Willimon about the War

As announced at Annual Conference 2008, Bishop Willimon is hosting several conversations throughout North Alabama for North Alabama United Methodists to gather in the spirit of Christian Conferencing to discuss the War in Iraq.  Please join the people from Edgemont who are going to this event. The conversation closest to us will be:

• August 21, 2008 – 6:30 – 8:30
  at Central UMC in Decatur (616 Jackson Street, 35601)

We will leave from the Edgemont parking lot at 5:00 [note: this is earlier that originally posted] - and take the church van if there are enough people. You can check the conference website for other locations if you cannot make it to this one.
Peace!

Youth water battle

I just uploaded some pics from the youth "water battle" they had last week. Thanks Gigi for the shots. I can't quite tell what they are doing, but it looks like they are having fun! View them here.

Fond Farewells

Two of our members are moving away, and we will miss them both. Kristin Mass has been attending EUMC regularly at the Traditional service for about 2 1/2 years. We cheered her on as a power player on the UNA softball team, and prayed for and with her after her ACL surgery. She's headed off to law school in Arizona. Brittney Odom is one of our newest members. She attended the Alternative service. A few months ago she her faith was solidified as we worshiped together and the congregation shared Jesus' love and grace with her - she professed faith for the first time and was baptized this past May. She is moving to Wisconsin to be closer to family there.

Both of these women are amazing in their own right, and have been a real blessing to us in the Edgemont community. They go with fond farewells, our deepest wishes for their good future, our love and prayers. Many blessings to you.

Sometimes I don't talk so good

Sometimes I don’t talk so good. Near the end of this weeks’ sermon I told a Fred Craddock story, but muffed it during the early service. Got it mostly right the second time around, but thought I’d post it here for anyone who might want the full impact. So here it is:

People say, “Oh, you can’t change a leopard’s spots, can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Wrong. If you believe in God, you can teach an old dog new tricks. … [Greyhound dogs] exhaust themselves chasing that mechanical rabbit around the ring. When the dogs get to the point that they can no longer race, the owners put a little ad in the paper to see if anybody wants to adopt one for a pet. You can have these dogs free; otherwise, if no one takes them, the dogs are destroyed.

[I visited a church member once who’d adopted one of these amazing dogs.] He was a big, spotted greyhound, lying on the floor there in the den. One of the kids in the family, just a toddler, was pulling on its tail, and a little older kid had his head over on that old dog’s stomach using it for a pillow. The dog just seemed so happy. I said to the dog, “Are you still racing?”

“No, no,” the dog said, “I don’t race anymore.”

I asked, “Do you miss the glitter and the excitement of the track?”

“No,” he replied.

“Well, what’s the matter? Did you get too old to race?”

“No, I still had some race in me.”

“Well, what then? Did you not win?”

“I won over a million dollars for my owner.”

“Well, what was it? Bad treatment?”

“Oh no,” the dog said, “they treated us royally when we were racing.”

“Did you get crippled?”

“No.”

“Then why?” I pressed.

He said, “I quit.”

“You quit?”

“Yes,” he said, “I quit.”

“Why did you quit?”

“I discovered that what I was chasing was not really a rabbit, and I quit.” He looked at me and said, “All that running and running and running and running, and what was I chasing? It wasn’t even real.”

A whole new life, just like that. That is what I believe.

Fred Craddock, The Cherry Log Sermons, p. 29-30, ©2001, WJK Press.

In it, but not of it...

Lately, the music heard most frequently through my speakers is from an Irish rock band called U2. You may have heard of them. Since they are a favorite of mine, there is nothing strange about this, except that I’ve been reflecting theologically about U2 of late. We are preparing for a sermon series to begin August 24 that will be titled “The Gospel According to U2.” Our band is now learning several U2 songs that tie in with the scripture, theme and sermon for each week. I can’t wait to hear their take on Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found…, Stuck in a Moment…, and All Because of You.

Some of you are very excited about this – while some may find it a bit odd. But, this isn’t at all a new idea. How many of you remember “The Gospel According to Peanuts” by Charles Schultz? On Amazon.com you will find “The Gospel According to…” a great number of different folks: Hank Williams, Dr. Seuss, Bruce Springsteen, Jazz, Tolkien, Patti Labelle, Oprah, America, The Simpsons, The Sopranos, Zen, The Beatles, Elvis, dogs, Spider-Man, Harry Potter, Starbucks… and the list goes on ad infinitum.

Gospel means “good news.” When an author titles their work “TGAt whatever,” they are usually trying to get at some sort of deeper meaning in their chosen topic, whether or not it is specifically Christian. And sometimes it seems like they are trying to ascribe a deeper meaning than really exists. I mean, really… TGAt Dogs?

When we Christians say Gospel, or good news, we mean something specific. “Good News” is the story of God’s love and forgiveness made available for all people through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Good News means that for everyone who will believe and follow, God will give them new and abundant life in Christ.

Jesus prays for his followers...

     “But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”   ~ John 17:13-18

We are trying to accomplish two things with this sermon series. First we are attempting to live out Jesus’ prayer that we be in the world, but not of it, by looking at the music of U2. They are one of the most popular rock bands ever. They sing, speak and work (in the real world) on issues of peace, justice, heaven, and love – deeply biblical topics – and they do so quoting scripture all through their songs.

Yet, U2 is decidedly not a Christian band. Though they are Christians (3 of the 4 members, anyway) they will not call themselves a Christian band. They still drink and smoke, and sometimes curse. We’ll look at them honestly, and ask how they can, or should, help us to be “in the world.”

Second, we are hoping that this series attracts some non-religious and nominally-religious people to be our guests at Edgemont – folks who don’t attend church anywhere right now. This may be the perfect opportunity for them to hear the Good News in a way that they have never been able to hear it before. Soon, you will see postcards, billboards and advertising for our church and this sermon series. Help us by praying for our non-religious friends in the community. Pray for an opportunity to invite someone. I am praying that even if you are somewhat skeptical about this series, you can come with a heart open to the ways that God reveals God’s self to us everywhere – bushes that burn, rocks that spring forth water, and even rocks that roll.

If you would like a taste of the music we will play, check out Yahweh [.mp3], and All Because of You. [.mp3]. Enjoy!

Just the facts, ma'am.

It's been a while since the last update here. I've thought about it, but just haven't been able to work up the gumption to actually write. So, I'm declaring that this is an official "Summertime Slump." It's summer. Everyone's gone, or coming, or going anyway. We're supposed to be vegging beside a pool, sipping fruity drinks and doing skin damage in the sun. We are more "chill" than "motivated" in the myspace status bar.

Other than that, we've got Vacation Bible School going on at Edgemont. It is really going well, thanks to Stephanie and Nancy, and countless outstanding volunteers. The kids are having a great time with the Power Lab curriculum from Group. They really are enthusiastic about the power Jesus gives them for life. (Aha!) I'm always impressed how engaged the kids are, and how much they get out of VBS. It is a ton of work to pull off - huge time, energy and some $$ are needed to pull off. But if anyone needs reminding, it is worth it to share God's love in a way that we know is real and lasting. Bryan Miller remembers VBS as one of the very first places he heard about Jesus, or felt God's love for him. Ask him about it!

My sister and brother-in-law bought a house! Very cool for them to be able to get a space that will fit their growing family. We'll pop over to Hunts-patch this weekend to celebrate Emma & Mike's birthdays, and check out Bec's new digs. Maybe we'll get a few more pics of Harrison, too.

The only other thing I was going to tell you about is that I'm going with Scott tonight to see Glen Phillips in Nashville. He is the former lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket, if you remember them. He is a very smart songwriter. A favorite lately is called Waiting [.mp3] on the album Mr. Lemons. Check it out if you get a chance. I'll try to write something about our road trip tomorrow. Till then, ya'll chill out.

Legacy

I wonder, who introduced you to Jesus? How did you acquire your faith? How did you come to know that God loves you, forgives you, and makes you into a new person? How did you learn about the Bible? Who taught you about sin & forgiveness; death & resurrection; abundant life now & eternal life in heaven? Take a moment and think about those people. Surely there are several, and probably they are not all family members. You are the legacy of those folks’ life in faith.

I wonder, if your grandchildren live elsewhere, who is contributing to their life of faith? Now, consider your own legacy. How have you contributed to your own legacy of faith? You have an opportunity to make a huge impact in the life of some great kids, with relatively little effort, during Vacation Bible School this summer. This Sunday is the last chance to sign up to help.

Please contact Stephanie Buffaloe [email] this weekend to let her know you can help with Vacation Bible School!

Pastor's Corner

(pssst; two posts today!)

Good morning! “…and in case I don’t see you: good afternoon, good evening and good night,” is the very friendly greeting of Truman Burbank in the 1998 film, The Truman Show.

“Truman is a normal man, living in a normal town. He grew up to be a desk clerk for a insurance company, living an ordinary life, having an ordinary wife, an ordinary neighbor and an ordinary friend, who pops in from time to time with a sixpack. But Truman is not happy with his life. He wants to see the world. He wants to get away from his happy-happy, ever tidy, nice'n'shiny little island town at the seaside. In reality, Truman was an abandoned child adopted by his own TV show. His “father”, Christof, a reckless TV-Producer whom he never met, made up the Truman Show in which life is live. So, everyone around poor Truman is an actor with a little headphone in the ear. One day, Truman accidentally bumps into a catering area backstage and gets pretty suspicious. His plan now is: Pretend to be sleeping and steal away...” [from IMDB.com]

The Truman show came on TV the other day. It is a delightful play on some of our deepest questions: Who am I, really? Who’s am I? What are the ‘underlying driving forces’ in my life? Is this all a trick? Who is God? Where is God? Is this a trick? The movie is also a great reminder of how easily we can become blinded by consumerism, and lured into doing some pretty horrible things to one another (or at least condoning horrid things by sitting by and watching).

We Christians, people who are followers of Jesus, have some assurances and comfort because of our faith. We know that we are God’s children, whom God loves very much. We know that there are indeed underlying forces (good & evil) and that God is at work in the world and in our lives through the activity of the Holy Spirit to bring about good things for all creation. And we know that, even though we still sometimes get confused, God has saved us from evil by sacrificing Jesus, and raising him from the dead.

There is much more to our faith in God through Jesus Christ. I wonder if we could answer some of the basic questions our friends might have about what we believe? An Edgemont member received an email from one of the vendors at our yard sale. She was thanking us for making them feel welcome, and went on to say “My husband grew up Catholic and I was raised Church of Christ. What do Methodists believe, anyway?” Not a small question, but I was very proud of the answer sent back. How would you answer that question? We need to refresh our memory on the basics occasionally.

Our church has grown a great deal in a relatively short period. Did you realize that our worship attendance has increased by 48% the last few years?!!! I attribute this growth to you – the gracious, welcoming and friendly way that you invite and welcome people to church goes a long way toward helping people feel comfortable in our community of faith. (I’m coming to a point… I promise!) We could be a better church – we certainly aren’t perfect. We need to be better at organization, more committed to attending worship, better at inviting people to help, more proactive in helping you to discover your gifts for ministry, have a better understanding of our faith. Yet, I can see God at work in your lives in so many ways, and it is a joy to watch you sharing God’s love and grace in our community and the world beyond. We are so proud to see the children’s department grow from 10 to 60 children; the youth group grow from 4 to 35; the adult classes grow to over 100 in attendance every week (and new classes itching to start).

There is lot’s to think about and prepare for at our church, but only one thing I want to ask you to DO in this months eNewsletter: please sign up to attend “What We Believe” during May and June, at 6:30 on Wednesday nights. We will be using the book, “United Methodist Beliefs: A Brief Introduction.” (books will cost $11.) It will be a great opportunity to learn more about Edgemont and Methodism if you are new to our community. It is a wonderful time to invite a friend or neighbor who might be curious about us. And it is a great chance at a refresher for all the “old hands” here. I can pretty much guarantee you will enjoy the class, and learn lots.

 

I want to mention that the Personnel Team (SPRC) is working hard on addressing our pressing staff needs – with Curtis retiring on July 18, and the rapid growth in our youth group and children’s department, there is a lot to manage. Please pray for this process.

Also, be on the lookout for an upcoming program we are excited about. Becoming Contagious Christians will be offered this summer as an exciting initiative. Our new District Superintendent, Rev. Mike Stonebreaker, has asked us to be a model church for this program, and then to share our success stories with other churches in the Northwest District! What a vote of confidence!

Please help me to say "thank you" to our outgoing District Superintendent, Rev. Hal Noble on Sunday, May 4th at 2:30 at the Brandon Ministry Center. He has been a tremendous leader, tireless in his dedication to challenge and equip the churches and ministers of our Northwest District to be effective in our ministry for Christ - a true friend to Edgemont, and to me. I have very much appreciated his work, care and leadership.

Many blessings to all of you. See you in church!

 

Everyone is Clergy

Lately in worship we have emphasized the role of everyone as ministers in wherever your life takes you. I was blog reading this morning and found the following liturgical reading on Brian McLaren’s site. His bio calls him “an author, speaker, pastor, and networker among innovative Christian leaders, thinkers, and activists.” How do these words fit into your idea of yourself? your church? and your God? Please post your comments!

Everyone is Clergy
a liturgical reading.

Everyone is clergy. Everyone is called to serve,
To create, to communicate,
To participate with our good Creator
In the making and remaking of our good world.

Everyone is clergy. Everyone is called to stand,
To struggle, to suffer, to trust and to love,
And so to join in the unmaking of injustice and
In the liberation of earth from every form of sin.

Everyone is clergy. Everyone is called to holiness,
To faithfulness, to health, to growth,
To serenity and activity,
To the practices of life
In the kingdom of God.

All our daily work is holy. Every act of service,
Every deed of neighborly kindness,
Every smile or sigh, every touch or tear
Can be a sacramental act expressing the presence of the living God.
Every drop of sweat that falls in honest labor for the common good
Joins with every movement toward others
In the daily liturgy of human work.

Some are given special gifts to equip and inspire others for this daily work of faith
And labor of love.
All are channels of grace, given, received,
Shared in a symphony of many voices and instruments,
So the earth may be filled with the glory of God.

You are clergy. So am I. Together
We are called to learn God’s music of life
In the unique instruments of our bodies, our persons, our times, our settings.
Then we are sent out to play it with joy and sincerity wherever we go.
Together we are part of a truly apostolic succession:
The people of God sent into the world, generation after generation,
As Jesus was sent by the Father,
In the power of the Holy Spirit,
For the good of the world.

So let us work and rest together,
Let us play and sing together,
Let us by our faithful lives bring glory to the true and living God.
For we are all clergy
And we are all called.

The Easter Season

Whew! We made it through another Easter! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. This one snuck up on most of us, since it was only one Sunday shy of the earliest date Easter can fall. As I write this it is only 44 degrees outside. One blogger/preacher said he just couldn’t get into it this year, since his town was covered in twelve feet (!) of snow. It was just too much of a stretch to proclaim resurrection while all the world around him was still frozen – not a flower in sight.

For me, it was a joyful day. I got to meet quite a few new people – some of our church folks brought friends and out-of-town family. We had a good number of first time guests. It was heart warming to see some of our college students home for the Easter weekend. They are growing in grace and wisdom, and we are so proud of them.

Joy also because the confirmation class came to join the church after 14 weeks of intensive study. I am so proud of each one. Emily Cox, Samantha Cox, Jessica Danielowicz, Megan Glasgow, Allison Rieff, and Amber Wamack are all wonderful young women. It will be amazing for us to be in ministry with them. We owe a huge thank you to their mentors, too. Please take a minute to offer your appreciation to Jennie Corley, Suzie Martin, Allison Perry, Linda Spry, Carolyn Townsend and Katie Wissert.

Joyful, too, because this is the day when, really, our hope is born. Capital “D” Death is defeated! The consequences for all our sins has been demolished, and now we can receive Capital “L” Life just by accepting this gift, and believing in Jesus. God will forgive us, make us new and clean, and give us abundant new Life in Christ. Over the next several weeks we will focus on what exactly “new life” might mean for us in our day-to-day living.

I’ll bet the snowed-in preacher will have a great message next week when the lectionary brings us to the story of Doubting Thomas. He’ll be able to preach on his uncertainty about all this “new life talk.” It’s hard sometimes, isn’t it, to live our lives as resurrection people when all around we see the signs of crucifixion, or at least death, every day. We want to believe, but after we’ve been hurt so many times, it’s almost easier to give up. At Edgemont we will talk about this tension over the next few weeks, too.

I know a man who lost his wife on Valentine's Day. Sadly appropriate, somehow. Married sixty-odd years and in love every day of it. He was devastated - lost about 40 pounds. You know, one of those who take it so hard, you figure he won't last much longer, he'll just die of grief. Then one warm November morning he fell in his carport - broke a hip, and had to lie there for 4 or 5 hours till he could get a neighbor's attention. As I visited him in the hospital he said, "It hurt like hell, but it was probably the best afternoon I've had in a while. See, I decided that I really did want to live." And you could tell. He was still skin and bones, but the sparkle was back in his eye. His light was "on" again.

It occurred to me just today (I'm a little slow sometimes) that I was a witness to resurrection. He was a goner, but then there he was, alive and smiling. Still sad about his wife, but glad to be alive. Jesus keeps appearing in unexpected places, and bringing us back to life. Glory. Amen.

Concerning the Death Penalty

These are comments from Bishop Willimon's weekly email, archived at ...

Monday, March 31, come hear Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking, speak at Highlands United Methodist Church, Birmingham at 7 p.m.

There may be sound arguments in favor of the Death Penalty. Unfortunately for us Christians, none of these arguments can be made on biblical or Christian theological grounds. The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church oppose capital punishment. That provision states as follows:

The Death Penalty
We believe the death penalty denies the power of Christ to redeem, restore and transform all human beings. The United Methodist Church is deeply concerned about crime throughout the world and the value of any life taken by a murder or homicide. We believe all human life is sacred and created by God and therefore, we must see all human life as significant and valuable. When governments implement the death penalty (capital punishment), then the life of the convicted person is devalued and all possibility of change in that person’s life ends. We believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and that the possibility of reconciliation with Christ comes through repentance. This gift of reconciliation is offered to all individuals without exception and gives all life new dignity and sacredness. For this reason, we oppose the death penalty (capital punishment) and urge its elimination from all criminal codes.

- From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church--2004.

Based on statistics from the Bureau of Justice, Alabama leads the nation in the rate of new death sentences for the past five years. With a population of 4.5 million people, Alabama imposed 13 new death sentences, greater than the 11 imposed in Texas with a population of 23.5 million.

Senator Hank Sanders from Selma has regularly introduced a bill in the Alabama Legislature for a number of years seeking to declare a moratorium on the death penalty. It has had no success thus far. It has been introduced again this year.

United Methodist, Bill Clark (member of Highlands UMC) has recently presented a resolution to the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association which calls for a joint resolution of the Governor and the Legislature to direct a study of the death penalty process with a moratorium being declared during that study.

I invite you to join us on March 31 in thinking about and praying for the issue of the Death Penalty in Alabama.

Will Willimon

Journey to the Holy Land

Are you interested in the possibility of traveling with Edgemont to the Holy Land? We are looking toward a journey to Israel in the last quarter of 2009, or early 2010. Traveling to Israel, you will join an enriching world of learning and Christian fellowship that can be matched by few other experiences. Some have called this a “retreat in motion.” We are having an initial interest meeting on March 11^th at 6:30 in the sanctuary to learn more about dates, costs and itineraries.

I am hoping to have 20 or more from EUMC, but we are also inviting friends and neighbors from beyond the church. We would love to have you and your family along, too! Don’t hesitate to call the church if you have questions.

Some resources about traveling in Israel:

• Educational Opportunities Tours [link]
• Jerusalem Institute for Biblical Exploration [link]
       - Renowned biblical archaeologist Charles Page
• Jerusalem Cornerstone Foundation [link]
• Jerusalem Biblical Studies Society [link]
       - this is the guide who led my group, Brian Kvasnica
• Bible Places [link]
       - pictures and descriptions of places in the Bible (neat!)
• Apply for your U.S. passport [link]

Easter is around the corner

The sermon series, Our Family Tree: What the Denominations Believe and Why, concludes March 2^nd with Methodism. Many of you have responded positively to learning more about our Christian brothers and sisters. I have enjoyed it, too!

We will focus on the season of Lent for the next two weeks, leading up to Easter on the 23^rd. I can’t wait to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection with you. This year we will receive our confirmation class into adult membership on that special day. They have been studying about the life of Jesus, and what it means to be his followers. What a perfect day for them to commit their lives to Christ!

This is a very early date for Easter. Jerry Miley sent me an email I found interesting… “as you may know, Easter is always the 1^st Sunday after the 1^st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).

The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

Soul Food, on Wednesday’s at 5:30, is a great time for food, fun, fellowship and learning. We are trying something new starting on the 12^th; Emily Rhodes and Mary Katherine Rowe will be our “in-house caterers.” The price of the meal is coming down, as is the family cap… $4 for adults, $2 for children, with a family cap of $12. This is down from $6, $3 and $20 respectively.

After dinner, there are programs for Adults, children and youth at 6:30. The next Book Club selection will be “Five Obscure Books of the Bible.” Anybody know what Habakkuk says? We will start there. How about Titus? We will look at what the Bible has to offer from some of the less familiar passages. Don’t miss out on the fun!

The Denominations

Greetings my friends. I have really been enjoying our current sermon series called “Our Family Tree: What the Denominations Believe and Why.” It has been a real learning experience for me as I prepared each message. So far we have learned from our sisters and brothers in faith of these denominations: Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutherans, Presbyterians and Episcopalians. Over the next weeks we will also learn from the Baptists, the Churches of Christ, Pentecostals, and conclude with the Methodists.

If you were in church this week, I challenged you to take on a faithful practice of prayer after the example of our Anglican (a.k.a. Episcopalian) friends. Especially at Lent (which begins on Wednesday) prayer will allow God to shape our lives in worship and service, and make us ready for Easter.

As a help to your prayer life, I have posted links to the Daily Office from the Church of England on the upper left-hand side of this page. This service is provided by the official Church of England web site, © The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2002-2004. Notice that you have links to yesterday’s prayers, as the day you are looking for may change, since they base their days on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

It might take you 15 minutes to read all the way through the prayers and scripture passages, but it is well worth the investment of your time. I have really been blessed just by using this prayer format for two days. Sometimes my own words start to sound stale, or feel like they ‘bounce right off the ceiling’ as Chris Write sings. Using these words of the church frees my mind to focus on God. Somebody else has done the hard work for me.

Granted, after a while using someone else’s words can feel stale or artificial, too. Don’t get stuck in one way of doing things all the time. Let the Spirit breathe some fresh life into your prayers by shaking yourself up, just a little bit.

I would love to hear how this works for you. Feel free to leave comments from the link right under this post. Many blessings to you. May you experience a Holy Lent!

Reconciliation

I am blown away. Melanie sent me the link to this CNN news story about the kid who shot and killed two sisters and then himself at a church in Colorado. "Wow" is all I have to say. Here is God's love and forgiveness made real for us – incarnation in action.

Killer's parents hug, cry with parents of 2 slain teens

By Eric Marrapodi and Wayne Drash

(CNN) -- Pastor Brady Boyd calls it the "highlight of my ministry" -- seeing the parents of the man who shot up his church be embraced by the parents of two teenage sisters who were killed in the attack.

"The four of them met and hugged and cried," said Boyd, the senior pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"It made me evaluate my own life and think, 'Is there anyone I'm not forgiving?'"

Boyd was referring to a meeting on January 3 between Ron and Loretta Murray, whose 24-year-old son Matthew carried out the December 9 attack at New Life Church, and David and Marie Works, whose daughters, Stephanie, 18, and Rachael, 16, were killed in the rampage. David Works also was wounded in the shootings.

The pastor said he invited the Murrays to visit the New Life campus after praying over the holidays. The family immediately accepted his invitation and was given a guided "step-by-step" tour of where the rampage took place and shown where their son died.

"It was extremely emotional. They wanted to hear the details. I kept telling them I would stop with details, but they wanted to hear them," he told CNN in a phone interview this week.

At one point, the parents also met with security guard Jeanne Assam, who shot their son in the leg before he turned his gun on himself. The parents thanked Assam for her swift action and for helping save more lives, said Casey Nikoloric, a Murray family spokeswoman and long-time friend.

"They told Assam that they were so deeply sorry she had to do what she did," said Nikoloric. "There were tears, lots of embraces, prayers."

The visit, she said, was "very, very, very important" in the healing process for the Murrays as they deal with the loss of their son and the terror he inflicted.

Boyd agreed. "I thought this would be best for the Murrays," he said, adding that it touched everyone involved.

"I've never seen repentance and forgiveness as profound as I did that day."

The Murrays toured the church with their other son, Christopher, 20, a student at Oral Roberts University. The Murrays met the Works in Boyd's office. He said he also asked the Murrays to share "some of the good memories" of Matthew as a boy.

"It put it in context: This kid was raised in an upper middle-class home and had every chance to do well," Boyd said. "You wonder what went wrong for Matthew. They described Matthew as any parent would describe their son."

The pastor said he didn't tell many people about the meeting before it happened, fearing it "could have gotten volatile and hostile."

"It was risky, but I knew enough about the Murrays to know they were mature and good people," he said.

On Sunday, he began his sermon by telling his congregation about what had transpired just a few days earlier. He was met with loud applause.

Matthew Murray began his assault that day at the Youth With a Mission center in Arvada, Colorado, killing two people -- Tiffany Johnson, 26, and Philip Crouse, 24 -- and wounding two others before he went to the New Life Church, about 80 miles away. The Murrays visited the mission center December 12 and met with the families of the slain victims, according to Nikoloric.

"The depth of our sorrow and our grief is greater than we could possibly describe," the Murrays said in a written statement. "But with thanks to God, these remarkable families and their pastors and churches, healing and reconciliation have begun."

to find this article click

From the October “Pastor’s Corner”

Greetings in the name of Christ,

As I write this month my thoughts are in two places; here with you, and far across the sea. On October 3 I will fly from Atlanta to Tel-Aviv with seven other friends in ministry. You may recall that I am participating in a 3-year continuing education program called ICE – the Institute for Clergy Excellence – through a Lilly Foundation grant. Already we have studied with some of the best teachers and preachers in the world today – John McLure, Tony Campolo, Adam Hamilton, and Leonard Sweet. On later trips we will study with Peter Storey in South Africa and Eugene Peterson in Montana.

In Israel we will study with Brian Kvasnica for 14 days. Some of the places we are going include the Jezreel Valley, Mt. Carmel, Nazareth, a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee (!!!), the Mt. where Jesus gave the Beatitudes, Capernaum, Bethsaida, the Jordan River, Amman, Petra, Qumran, Jericho, Bethpage, Mt. of Olives & Garden of Gethsemane, the old Emmaus Road, and of course all around Jerusalem. I’m getting really excited! If I’m able, I will update my blog with brief descriptions and pictures of our journeys along the way. Upon my return I’ll give you several opportunities to see pictures and hear stories from our trip. I’m tentatively planning to lead a group from Edgemont on a tour of the Holy Land sometime in 2009, and I hope you can come!

While I’m away we have planned some very exciting worship services. W.G. Henry has agreed to preach again for us on October 7^th. Many of you were blessed when Rev. Henry preached here back in June. He is always exciting and engaging! On the 14^th we will celebrate Laity Sunday. Our Lay Leader has arranged for a number of our young leaders to share how they see God at work through the people of Edgemont. You won’t want to miss either of these worship experiences.

On Wednesday evenings we have arranged for Rev. Dr. John Yeates to lead 3 amazing Bible studies. Even if you are not a regular Soul Food participant, you will want to join us (5:30 for dinner, 6:30 for the programs) for these sessions on Oct. 3, 10 & 17. The first week will be on “The Ministry of Women in the Bible.” Week two will be on “Early Methodism,” and the thirds is called “Methodism in America.” I have heard Rev. Yeats teach on all three of these topics and enthusiastically recommend him to you. His teaching style is fun, engaging and informative. Don’t miss it!

Last week I was moved by an email written by our bishop, and want to share some of his thoughts with you here…

The Christian faith is always in danger of becoming a set of beliefs, a philosophy of life, a helpful technique for getting what you want. But isn’t this faith a set of beliefs?

Christianity is first of all about God, about God who has come to us as a living, dynamic, complex personality who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If we could adequately get this God fixed, defined, and stabilized into a set of beliefs, then the God we were believing in wouldn’t be the God of the Bible, wouldn’t be the living Lord. Therefore, United Methodists tend to stress faith in God as a relationship with a living, moving, demanding Lord rather than as a set of static ideas.

One of the main differences between a living God and a dead God is that a living God can still surprise you. In Trinitarian faith, it’s not only that God once appeared, that God has spoken; it is also that God continues to reveal and to disclose, to appear and to show up when least expected or even wanted. God speaks. God continues to create something out of nothing, as in Genesis 1. And sometimes the something created out of nothing is a new you! If you can find a God who can be easily defined with a definition, pinned down with a creed, fixed by a set of absolute propositions, reduced to six fundamentals, go worship that. It will be easier than serving a God as loquacious, invasive, and demanding as the Trinity. But it won’t be as much fun. It also won’t be as true.

In talking about God in this fashion I am talking like an heir of John Wesley. In 1735, as Samuel Wesley lay dying, he called his son John to his bedside and urged him to seek a personal relationship with the living God through the Holy Spirit. Wesley said later that he had the form of faith without the personal experience of faith. Shortly thereafter, on his rough voyage to be a missionary in Georgia, John Wesley was deeply impressed by the Moravians on board whose firm faith challenged his own uncertainty. Back in England , Wesley met frequently with Peter Böhler who stressed the pietistic religion of the heart.

Then, three days after his brother Charles had experienced a dramatic, heart-felt conversion, on Sunday, May 24, John Wesley’s soul was engulfed by the living God:

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans.  About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation: And an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death. [from John Wesley’s Journal, p.66]

“Aldersgate” is a short hand way of explaining why Methodism has always stressed the personal, relational, experiential reality of the triune God rather than some static, abstract divine set of attributes. It is of the nature of the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - to be in relationship, indeed to be relational in the deepest, most dynamic sense. To know, truly know this God is to be in relationship with God, to have one’s life engaged, engulfed, enflamed in a most assuredly personal way.

William H. Willimon

 

In Christ’s Love,

Eric

Did you know...?

Did you know that Jennie Corley, our director of Early Arts, is the president and founder of a new conference-wide ministry called ALUMAP? The Alabama United Methodist Assoc. of Preschools is doing a great job providing leadership and education to our many churches who minister to children through programs like our Early Arts.

If Wesley was right, are we wrong?

Eric’s comments: Again, I’m intrigued by the Bishop’s weekly emial, and thought that you might be, too. It’s long, so give yourself 20 minutes or so. Or just 1½ minutes to read the synopsis. Good stuff. Challenging. You’ve been warned.

First published: 8/13/2007 at the North Alabama Conference Website

This week, Bishop Willimon delivered the keynote address for the Oxford Institute of Wesley Studies at Christ College, Oxford University. A copy of his remarks follows:

Synopsis: What if Wesley was right? That is, what if Wesley was right, not about everything he believed, but what he most essentially believed? Particularly, what if Wesley was right in what he believed about God – a Triune God who intrudes, makes new, transforms and empowers? What if Wesley was right about the transformative, miraculous power of grace? If Wesley was right, in what he believed about God and what he believed about transforming grace, then in what ways might we contemporary followers of Wesley be wrong? In what ways does Wesley judge us and challenge us today, if Wesley was right?

What if Wesley was right?

Silly question. We’re here because we all believe that Wesley was right, not right about everything, to be sure, but right about the things that matter. And if Wesley was right, about what he was most right about, then perhaps we should be uncomfortable.

Lifetime learning

Just wanted to let my faithful readers (ahem) know that I'm back from Kansas City with a head-full of great ideas. I spent a week with my ICE group (see Institute for Clergy Excellence) studying with Adam Hamilton, the Sr. Pastor of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, or COR for short. It was amazing. I think we were all pretty inspired.

Pastor Adam spent most of the time teaching us his process for developing his sermon series'es (how do you make that word plural?) He is convinced that a series will hold the attention of guests and members better than other methods. They definitely do a terrific job with promoting each series in the community, primarily with postcards, but also with personal invitation cards people can give to their friends.

Hamilton also gave us great insight into managing staff, setting up his leadership teams, and we even got to sit in on their weekly Worship Team meeting. It felt good that at Edgemont we are already doing some of the things Adam taught us about, but it was exciting to see how they do things "at that level."
 

And now for a little Discipline... ooooh.

Though large portions of the Discipline are considered church law, the section called The Social Principals (.pdf) is not binding, but are rather, part of the accumulated and expressed wisdom of our every-four-year meeting called General Conference. Every UM member has the right to petition the Conference to add or change the wording in the Discipline. Petitions are received, debated and voted upon by the representatives we (the churches) send to the General Conference. GC is the only body that can properly “speak for” the church. In The Social Principals we say who we are.

Near the beginning of our Book of Discipline (BOD) paragraph ¶101 talks about our General Rules and Social Principals:

“…Methodists in every age have sought to exercise their responsibility for the moral and spiritual quality of society. In asserting the connection between doctrine and ethics, the General Rules provide an early signal of Methodist social consciousness.

The Social Principles provide our most recent official summary of stated convictions that seek to apply the Christian vision of righteousness to social, economic, and political issues. Our historic opposition to evils such as smuggling, inhumane prison conditions, slavery, drunkenness, and child labor was founded upon a vivid sense of God's wrath against human injustice and wastage.

Our struggles for human dignity and social reform have been a response to God's demand for love, mercy, and justice in the light of the Kingdom. We proclaim no personal gospel that fails to express itself in relevant social concerns; we proclaim no social gospel that does not include the personal transformation of sinners.

It is our conviction that the good news of the Kingdom must judge, redeem, and reform the sinful social structures of our time.

The Book of Discipline and the General Rules convey the expectation of discipline within the experience of individuals and the life of the Church. Such discipline assumes accountability to the community of faith by those who claim that community's support.

Support without accountability promotes moral weakness; accountability without support is a form of cruelty.

A church that rushes to punishment is not open to God's mercy, but a church lacking the courage to act decisively on personal and social issues loses its claim to moral authority. The church exercises its discipline as a community through which God continues to "reconcile the world to himself."

One more quote from the Discipline… ¶160:

“The United Methodist Church has a long history of concern for social justice. Its members have often taken forthright positions on controversial issues involving Christian principles. Early Methodists expressed their opposition to the slave trade, to smuggling, and to the cruel treatment of prisoners.”

A recurring refrain now from clericeric: a faith that doesn’t mean something real and practical to every area of your life – money, relationships, job, free time, hobbies, politics – is a flaccid faith. Faith in Jesus Christ makes all things new! (2 Cor 5:17) Likewise, any religion that leaves no impression on the culture it inhabits is not worth your time… an impotent religion, a flaccid faith.

The One Good Reason

Well, I talked again with my friend (let’s call him Harry), and he gave me the best reason of all for the church to steer clear of politics. Manipulative, bullying abuse! It makes me angry enough to spit to learn that ministers in my denomination would behave so poorly as to use our understanding of faith in manipulative, bullying and abusive ways.

As the story goes, some years ago a clergy-person-of-authority told Harry’s friend (let’s say, Joe) that he could not be a Methodist and vote to approve a particular ballot initiative! So Joe left Harry’s church and went down the street for a less manipulative, bullying & abusive denomination, where Joe still attends (sort of) to this day.

Some of you may now be saying to yourselves, “that’s not surprising, Eric. Not really even a big deal, compared with some of the kinds of manipulative, bullying & abusive things we hear TV preachers saying on a regular basis. Like Robert Tilton saying [opens in new window] ‘send us $1000 and the Lord will send you healing.’” And you are right. People pull all kinds of crap (can you tell I’m still angry) in the name of religion. But we Methodists are supposed to be above all that, right? We’re supposed to be reasonable people, clear thinking, generous, open hearts-minds-and-doors kind of folks.

Now before I go and get completely bent, let me tell you the rest of the story. We Methodists do indeed have a doctrinal stance on the issue on which Joe was voting. Our stance is different than Joe voted. I hope that the clergy-person-of-authority was trying to say something like ‘we believe that on this issue, our faith would have us act in this (or that) loving & just way. That’s one non-manipulative way to approach it. Probably, there are several other graceful approaches. But he did not.

All that said, the best reason for the church to refrain from political engagement is in order to keep from becoming manipulative, bullying and abusive to it’s members and the broader public. But this is not really a good solution – to avoid a calling because we might fall into sin. I am genuinely angry and grieved when my sister or brother clergy-folk use religion to bludgeon others, whether they are Methodist or not. But we cannot quit our good work because of sin. We must confess, repent, and be transformed to serve another day. God help us.

In my next post I’ll share some of what United Methodists believe about political engagement.

Annual Conference

Fresh back from Annual Conference. We Methodist's have this meeting every year called Conference (AC). All of the Methodist pastors and delegates from all the churches in the North Alabama region (also called a “conference,” oddly enough) get together to share what God is doing in/through/around/near our various ministries, to plan for the coming year, and to pass a few resolutions. (More on resolutions later.) And every forth year we elect delegates to go to the BIG SHOW, General Conference, where pastors and delegates come from around the globe. This was one of those election years.

It was also unusual because we met not at Birmingham Southern College – where we've met for the last... I don't know how many years – but instead at Clear Branch UMC. I think everyone was surprised that it worked out almost completely better. The only thing not better was the schedule. In the past it was a 4 day meeting; Sunday through Wednesday. It’s not often you will hear me asking for a longer meeting, but part of what is great about AC is catching up with all of your friends from former churches, and other pastor buddies. This year we crammed the whole 4 days into 2 (well, 2½ really) and it was all business. But I did get to see most of ’em.

I’ve put off blogging on this b/c I was pretty mad about the resolutions. There was a resolution brought forward by a group of preachers addressing the war in Iraq. Personally, I thought it was pretty well reasoned, balanced, and not overly political. There were 6 or 7 “Whereases” (is that a word?) that pretty much just laid out facts. “Whereas, the war on Iraq was predicated on what turned out to be false pretenses, since we can’t find any WMD’s… “whereas, (x) many people have died in Iraq as of (y) date… stuff like that. The “therefore be it resolved” was pretty well balanced, too. It encouraged diplomacy, economic efforts, reconstruction, oh yeah, and withdrawal as soon as possible.

I don’t know your feelings, but I’m less and less patient with our reasoning of “we broke it, so now we have to fix it.” Iraq is not a china shop. The analogy doesn’t fit a whole country. I’ve been reading Jim Wallis and Tony Campolo lately. (see my blog on Tony) Recently Tony reminded me that ‘Jesus said for us to love our enemies, and I’m pretty sure he meant by this that we’re not supposed to kill them.’ So, I was going to vote for the resolution.

Then an amendment was brought. (Is there a word for “brought with smugness?” I can’t say I have good thoughts for the guy who brought the amendment – love, yes (trying anyway), good thoughts, no.) Anyway, he proposed ten or so words be clipped from the “therefore” part which referred to the withdrawal. It was quickly seconded, the question called, and approved by a *counted standing* vote. At this point, few of us had the stomach for an actual political debate on the floor. The question of the entire resolution was called for standing vote, and it passed. Interestingly, when the ‘nays’ voted, all of the original drafters were standing. Without the withdrawal, it was a resolution that even the Prez. could vote for.

All of that was bad enough, but the part that made me furious two comments that followed. A lay person address the conference with “There is separation of church and state for a reason, people. We have no business as a church telling the government what to do.” which makes me sick on so many levels I hardly know where to start, so I won’t. Come on people of faith! Jesus makes all things new! His kingdom is close at hand, but has not yet been fulfilled. Remember the book of Acts? It’s now the role of the church to do Christ’s work in the world. If your faith is not an important shaping force in all of your political choices, then you have a mighty flabby faith. Let me rephrase… a functionally flaccid faith.

The second comment was worse, because it came from a preacher, who should have understood that he was completely twisting history to make his point. He called for us to remember and honor the German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a faithful Christian who fought against the evil of the 3^rd Reich. Well yes, DB did work in several plots to assassinate Hitler. But DB was a deeply committed pacifist. He wrote describing the anguish he went through in choosing to assist in the plots. But he determined that an evil monster in your midst which threatened the lives of many innocents had to be stopped. Maybe it’s just me, but I do not think that the two situations – Iraq and 1930’s Germany – are at all comparable. I was annoyed that the Bishop didn’t correct this misappropriation of history.

This is more than you wanted to read… AConf. was good. I am proud of our United Methodist church in so many ways. Sorry for going on such a long rant.