Listen Up People its the only way to hope
Cereleaun| May 1, 2008 at around evening timeSo recently I was writing on a blog for class and realized that much of what I said there would pertain to what I say here. It was in response to another poster who wrote about the importance of liturgy at General Conference and the lack of response. I wrote
”I to was at the Methodist General Conference this week. I was quite pleased by the worship services but I noticed that no matter how wonderful they were in pointing out the issues surrounding the church it did not make a difference. In fact I just received a text message from Becca that said that the floor did not recognize one of the young adults when he was trying to speak even though he was trying so hard to be noticed. The worship has emphasized so many times that receiving the young and listening to their claims is the next step to continuing the church but did it get into action no. To often during liturgy and worship settings we say what we should do but we never do what we say. The next step in this process should be action not lethargy but how an we fix this process?
We could go hardcore mean and say it is a requirement of the church to have one deed done with proof that you can show your next Sunday service. That would be quite a different way of the church but it would guarantee action. The problem with this is what action it would guarantee
We could also emphasize when something does get done, after all so many times what is done goes unnoticed, one noticeable change in that would make a world of difference. Any acknowledgment of the deeds and services done may serve the need of the church to speed it onto action.”
I never did come up with a conclusion other than the need to listen and actually do something with the message received. The message of social justice is a large part of our church but when will we put our actions where our slogans are? We will put our money into different places but never our time and effort. Well I can not say everyone does this but most people do. When actual work is done it guarantees results, laziness never prospers, which is why I am so glad that MoSAIC, RMN, PRN, and SoulForce are such a guiding action force at the general conference. I was only there a week but not a day went by without some other action coming from the people of these groups, getting the name of inclusion out into the open and helping us take baby steps towards a unity within the church.
Categories: General Conference 2008, Reflections
2 Responses to “Listen Up People its the only way to hope”
I was present at the student forum at OKC in 1996 and participated in the first meetings (and prayer, and singing) that led to the formation of MoSAIC. I was a volunteer at the GC this year, translating for international delegates. I was heartbroken (though I ought to be used to it by now) to hear to hear that the cruel language in the Book Of Discipline had been retained. In between, I have tried to fight the good fight as a lay person, realizing that “straight white men 18-45″ need to make their support heard, particularly in my part of the country (I live in Texas). This is not, as the bishop from Georgia said, an action that 99.9% of Christians would support, nor indeed, the God of my faith or the Christ of my understanding.
Please, let’s grieve and mourn, and then LET’S GET BACK TO WORK. They can only win if we give up and go home, leave the church, or whatever. Don’t quit the church in disgust - they are trying to drive us out - a homogenized, white-bread, unquestioning church is what they want. Let’s not hand it to them on a platter.
Love to all,
- Rob
p.s. I’ve been playing Solomon Burke’s “None Of Us Are Free” over and over. It’s comforting, but also stirring.
Bishop Davis’ 99.9% is an inaccuracy. An example: one of “his” churches in 90% GLBTQ, yes, you read that right, and I am proud to be a member of that local church. So, know even in the midst of grieving for what just happened, there is hope and a place in the UMC for all of God’s beloved children.
Care to comment?