Relections on General Conference #1

                      The General Conference of the United Methodist Church recently finished its quadrennial meeting.  What was supposed to be a meeting in which major structure change was to take place and processes to make the ministry of the United Methodist Church more nimble turned into disappointment for some as not much was accomplished, and in the eyes of many pastors trust and covenant was broken.  As I have thought about what has happened the last few weeks in Tampa, FL, I have come to some conclusions.  This article is mine and mine alone, and some of ideas discussed in it are probably not what the “leadership” of the denomination wants to hear.  In this post I will talk about a few of the major issues and my take on it.  They are written in the order I think of them not in the importance I place on them.  I will break this up into several different blog posts for ease of reading.  Let me say I am also not opposed to change if it is needed and it is implemented fairly.  The Call to Action and the follow-up done on the report is not necessarily a just or fair document for a large segment of the United Methodist Church.

  1.  The response to the Call to Action Report-The Call to Action was a report issued last year by one of the groups commissioned by either the General Conference or the Council of Bishops.  Prepared by an outside agency that looked at many statistics the conclusions reached were most of the congregations of the United Methodist Church in the United States were ineffective in accomplishing the mission of the United Methodist Church, there were trust issues at all levels of the church, a lot of ineffective ministers, and the organization was a 1950s style in a 21^st century world.  There were other items, but I believe the biggest ones were the ones listed in the previous sentence.  The report, as I said in an earlier blog post, seemed to me to be outcomes looking for a report.  All these items had been talked about for quite some time and now there was a way to make it look snappy while trumpeting the doom of the UMC if these changes were not made.  The response to the Call to Action was, for the most part, backlash.
            A team had worked on a restructuring plan that eliminated, merged, and cut the size of the general boards and agencies.  The overall oversight for the denomination would be delegated to a small board of 15 people.  The number of people involved in overseeing the other boards and agencies would be cut down as well.  The shrinkage and elimination of boards, agencies, and directors as well as consolidating the power into such a small group raised many issues.  Some of the issues raised were a) how would inclusiveness of gender, ethnicity/race, and theological differences be ensured; b) how would the current work be affected; c) was all of the work and issues that had been raised when the commissions/boards slated for elimination had been authorized?  If not who would continue the work/would the work get the same attention?  And, while it probably shouldn’t have there was probably some fiefdom/turf protection going on as well.

            There were two plans put forth to the General Conference, one backed by the leadership the other by the Methodist Federation for Social Action.  A third plan(Plan B), while not submitted officially, also was factoring into what would get passed.  In the process of being vetted and either being recommended or not recommended by a legislative group of the General Conference, it became obvious there was a lot of dissent even among the delegates.  Because of the divisiveness of the proposals there was not recommendation from the committee of either plan, and for a while it looked as if there would be no vote on any plan because of the rules saying it had to come from a legislative committee to amke it to the General Conference's floor for discussion and vote.  Through a lot of finagling and finesse, and representatives from all three plans working together, a plan was put together, presented, amended, voted on, approved, and then struck down by the Judicial Council as not being in accord with the denomination’s constitution.  Some people are quite happy there is no reorganization this quadrennium while others are very upset. 
            As I have thought about the restructuring I have come to the conclusion our organization is not the problem.  The United Methodist Church is a global organization of over eleven million people.  To effectively manage and deliver resources is going to require a fairly large organization.  Does that mean it cannot be tweaked, new boards created or old ones eliminated?  No, it doesn’t.  In fact they probably need to be tweaked.  In my opinion what probably needs to happen is the boards and agencies become more user friendly and have a bigger impact upon all the local congregations.  Resources need to be made available that are user friendly and more affordable.  The internet needs to be used more effectively.  The General Boards and Agencies should work more cooperatively.  My perception is our denomination’s organizational groups are much like the federal government’s security agencies before 9-11-2001.  There is not enough cooperation because everyone wants to protect their territory or they don’t like someone or something.  The boards and agencies should be held to uphold the standards and doctrine of the United Methodist Church and should not look for loopholes to get around the polity, discipline, or doctrine of the denomination.  Some of the boards and agencies, and their general and assistant secretaries seem to push ideas that are not always in line with the UMC’s stated positions.  The issues surrounding sexuality is probably the most notable example of this.

            I also have been wondering if the leadership of the denomination learned anything from the 2008 General Conference when a major restructuring proposal from the leadership came forward to be voted on, and because of the need for constitutional amendments, votes in the individual annual conferences.  While the restructure was approved by the GC, at the annual conference level it was rejected.  As I recall the most common reason for voting no was that no one knew how the restructuring would look or what exactly it would do.  Yes, there were some who wondered about their fiefdoms, inclusiveness, or something else, but people wanted to know how it would work and the effects it would have on people.  The standard answer was, to paraphrase from the best of my recollection, “We don’t know, just trust us that it will be for the best.”

            And that brings us to the next topic, trust in the United Methodist Church.

Here is the outline I used for "Cuts Like a Knife" the first in a series called "Demons of Destruction-Attitudes and Actions that Cause Harm to the Self, Others, and Organizations"  It deals with a critical spirit.  As with the entire sermon series this is just an introduction.  Just as a disclaimer with the outline I know what I am trying to say, but it may not seem to be clear to others.  I have tried to be understandable, but if I am not please forgive.

 

Sermon Outline

May 6, 2012

 Scripture Lessons:  Proverbs 15:1-15 (selected verses about the mouth); Ephesians 4:17-5:5 (Living a holy life, putting aside all sorts of evil practices.  Don’t use foul or abusive language); James 3:1-12 (the power of the tongue including the bad part of it); Colossians 3:1-17 (putting off the old self and putting on the new.  This includes anger, coarse language, etc).

 Sermon Topic:  Demon of Destruction-Critical Spirit/Attitude

Sermon Title:  Cuts Like a Knife

I.  Introduction and Background

    A.  Opening story on Bryan Adams’ “Cuts like a Knife”

    B.  Start of a new sermon series dealing with the Demons of Destruction-Attitudes and actions that can be destructive to the self and or systems.  Topics may include envy, pride, etc.
    C.  What We Are Talking about Today
         1.  What is a Critical Spirit
         2.  How is it expressed
         3.  How can we exorcise it from our lives
         4.  How can we overcome it when it is directed at us

II.  What is a Critical Spirit

     A.  Have you ever worked with someone or have someone in your family who is “perfect.”  They are quick to point out how good they are, and what you are lacking in.  Often it is in a condescending, sharp, or arrogant tone.  Other times they may point something out in a reasonable tone, but it is always what is wrong or what could be done better.  Other times they are pushy and bossy and “you better do it.”  Know I am not talking about doing follow-up on jobs per se, or holding someone accountable, but a way to make a person feel bad about themselves or a way to make the person belittling feel better about themselves at the expense of someone else, or both.
    B.  Biblical Times
         1.  We see in Proverbs 15 numerous sayings about the mouth
         2.  In Ephesians we see abusive language as well as coarse/vulgar language being seen as a bad thing
         3.  In James we see how the tongue should not be cursing the image of God and how much damage such a small thing can cause
         4.  In Colossians again we are told to put aside/take off the old=bad language, envy, slander, etc.
     C.  Our Time
          1.  Merriam Webster on line dictionary defines criticism as the act of expressing disapproval and of noting the problems or faults of a person or thing : the act of criticizing someone or something
          2. It seems as if many people will use “constructive” criticism and seem to be helpful when in reality they are trying to a) get their own way, b) make a person feel bad, c) combination
         3.  Once was told all criticism hurts, it is what you do with it that makes it constructive or not.
              a. Some criticism has no possibility of being constructive
         4.  Critical spirit is when it is common to find fault or disapproval on a regular basis and it is to make one feel better about oneself         or to tear down and/or destroy someone or something.
         5.  A critical spirit may be something one grows up with or it may be acquired through life experiences.  One may not realize one has a critical spirit if it is their personal normal.

III.  How is it expressed

      A.  Talk about how people communicate in many different ways-verbal, non-verbal, combination, written,
      B.  In Scripture
           1.  From what I have seen it is most often expressed verbally,
      C.  Our Time
           1.  Verbally is still probably the most common way
                a.  The favorite words of an individual or corporate entity-We cannot do it that way because we have never done I that way/we always do it this way-in its own way that is a cutting and critical remark essentially saying that the person’s idea is not even worth considering
                b.  Put downs/insults when things don’t go just right or just because-
                     I.  Words have immense power and calling someone stupid, making them feel little, etc  will cut like a knife and eventually mar a person
                     II.  Talk about kids being called stupid by parents and coming to believe it, comments made by parents that still effect people 80 plus years later
                c.  Tone can carry a lot if criticism
          2.  Non-verbally can be purposefully avoiding people, shaking the head, body language like finger pointing 
          3.  It can be talking with others-“The pastor’s kids should not be wearing tied dye clothes and getting their tongues pierced.  They have an image to keep up.”  Or “I cannot believe So and so was holding the glass in their right hand, everyone knows it is supposed to be held in their left and you pour water our the spout not putting the pitcher on its side.
          4.  Written
          5.  In tone:
               a.  Sharp, biting tones carry cut sharply.
               b.  A disappointing tone can add burden to a person’s ego/self

IV.  How can we exorcise it from our lives

       A.  Talk about how the old horror movies that deal with demons often would have an elaborate exorcism rite.  Sometimes the person would want it done other times it would have to be imposed on them.
       B.  Biblical Times
            1.  Colossians, James, and Ephesians all talk about setting aside or not participating in in letting the tongue run amok, slandering people, controlling the tongue.
            2.  The idea is to take out the old ugly spirit and replace it with a new, clean and pure spirit.
       C.  Our Time
            1.  While we are not talking about an actual demon today, we do need to exorcise a critical spirit from our lives as it impacts our relationships as well as other people’s lives and organizations.
            2.  First thing is we have to do is to see if we have a critical spirit
                 a.  Almost all of us have one at least time to time
                 b.  We HAVE to admit that it does occur
                 c.  It may have become the norm for individuals and for organizations to be critical/cutting/ insulting.
            3.  If we are catch ourselves making a cutting remark we need to stop ourselves from doing it.
            4.  If we realized we have made a cutting remark, or someone has told us that it was an uncalled for remark then we need to apologize.
                 a.  There will be times when what needs to be said is not comfortable or it may hurt, during those times we need to use grace.  There are times when it is not a negative use of the critical spirit.
                 b.  At the same time there are those who may say that everything that is said that is holding us accountable is negative and will not listen or their spirit says you are flat out wrong.
                     I.  We need to proceed carefully in those situations
             5.  We may need to look at our history and see what bad patterns we are continuing from our past and our families past
                  a.  Just as abuse is passed on to successive generations so can the critical spirit.
             6.  We need to pray, read Scripture, find someone who is able to help hold us accountable.
             7.  We also need to replace what we want to get rid of with something positive and Godly
                  a.  Remember what Colossians says, to take off the old and put on the new.

V.  How can we overcome it when it is directed at us

     A.  The old saying about sticks and stones is wrong-they both hurt and they both can cause long lasting harm.
     B.  Our Time
           1.  When it is directed at us look to see if there is any truth in it.
           2.  Understand that sometimes people do not know they are being hurtful or insulting as it has become their norm.
           3.  Hold the person accountable
                a.  Don’t let it slide, be willing to say something instead of rationalizing it away like “that is just so and so and he/she always talks that way.”
           4.  Talk to God
           5.  Seek professional help.

VI.  Conclusion

      A.  Rmember that just as a break up and leaving can cause somebody to feel like their heart has been cut with a knife.  The effects of a critical spirit can do the same thing to a person’s spirit and to an organization’s spirit.  We need to replace our hurtful spirit with peace, love.  It will take work, and it will take time.  Are you willing to replace the things of the devil with the things of God?

Lent, Mortality, and Aging (Pastor Dave's Newsletter Article March 2012)

                This winter has been tough on me health wise.  Usually I might get one or two colds and they usually are not that bad.  For whatever reason this year I have had several colds that have really sapped my strength and energy, joints hurt, and I don’t feel like exercising.  I almost get over one, and BAM, another one comes along.   I have asked myself why is this year different than others, and why am I coming down with these colds?  Some of the answers I believe are 1) Carolyn and I teach our kids to share, and they share with us the colds they pick up at school or daycareJ; 2) Being a pastor I interact with a lot of people and I can be exposed to something in the community or at a meeting even if people I am seeing do not know they are contagious and there seems to be a lot of colds going around; 3) I am getting older.

                Getting older is something all of us face, but at the same time many of us do not want to do so.  Getting older means our bodies do not bounce back like they used to do.  We are not so limber, energy levels drop, and we begin to look back at the glory days of our youth.  Getting older also means we begin to lose friends and loved ones to death, to moves, to marriage, and careers.  We might begin to worry about what is going to happen in the twilight of our years, who will take care of us, or any number of other questions that concern wellbeing or mortality?

                Lent is a season to examine our mortality.  It can also be a time to reaffirm our trust in the faithfulness of God.  Scripture tells us that our days upon the earth are numbered, that we will age, and diseases and infirmities will come our way.  We also learn Death can come at any age, and people mourn the loss regardless of the age of the deceased.  At the same time Scripture reminds us that God is with us through all of our hurts, illnesses, and death.  We are told that all those who call upon the name of Jesus, crucified, risen, and coming again, will be saved, and not only saved, but on the day of the Lord’s return will rise with body and mind made whole and perfect. 

                Is it easy to trust in the faithfulness of God?  For many the answer is no, it is not easy.  It takes work and a willingness to work on our relationship with the Triune God.  Our trust can be weakened by our distance from the Lord, by occurrences in our lives that bring us down, by doubts, fears, and personal desires.   The way we build the trust in God’s faithfulness is to spend time with the Lord in devotions, in service, in worship, and in corporate and individual study.  It is God’s grace through our faith in Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection that saves us, but growth in that grace, and the ability to stay deeply rooted in the grace, takes work.

                This Lenten season I am encouraging you to spend more time in worship, in study, in the spiritual disciplines to help strengthen your faith and build your trust in God.  Also, be willing to talk to God about your hurts, concerns, and your worries.  Remember God wants All of us, not just part of us. 

Blessings,

Pastor Dave

Steve Jobs/Apple, The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, & The Culture

This will be the pastor's article for the February newsletter for the churches I am appointed.

            A few months ago one of the co-founders of Apple, Steve Jobs, passed away.  In the days that followed the outpouring of grief and accolades was tremendous.  A changer of culture, an innovator, a visionary, and prophet are all some of the names or descriptions that have been used to describe him.  Some of the responses in different comment boxes and letters to the editor in newspapers made it seem as if Steve Jobs could walk on water.

            On the same day Steve Jobs died (October 5, 2011) a man named Fred Shuttlesworth passed away in Birmingham, Alabama at the age of 89.  His death was noted by many of the same newspapers as Steve Jobs’ death, but not in the same manner.  From what I have gathered Jobs’ death made the front page of many, if not most, of the major newspapers across the land, Shuttlesworth’s made it somewhere in the national section or on the obituary page’s Notable Death’s or similar title.  I found this disheartening.  Some may ask the question, why was it disheartening or why I get worked up over something like obituaries?  Others may ask, who is Fred Shuttlesworth? 

            The answer to the latter question is easier to answer and that Fred Shuttlesworth was a Baptist minister and one of the three people who founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).  The other two were Ralph D Abernathy and Martin Luther King, Jr.  Rev Shuttlesworth was one of the primary movers and shakers in the Civil Rights moverment, but never received the attention the other two did as they moved into the national spotlight.  However, he was just as important and in some ways more important, than Martin Luther King or Ralph Abernathy.  USA Today mentioned how historians believe the Civil Rights movement would have looked very different if he had not been involved.  He was the one who invited King to Birmingham.  He also refused to knuckle under even after two bombings, over a dozen arrests, and numerous beatings with at least one involving bats and bicycle chains and his wife was stabbed.  He was trying to help people of color who were being mistreated by the system and to preach and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

            The answer to the former question is a bit more introspective and theological.  There is no doubt Steve Jobs impacted society.  His marketing savvy and passion for his products helped change the way people in America, and to a degree the world, listen to music, communicate with each other, making work more portable with i-pads, and other products.  He changed the way people see animation by being the CEO of Pixar Animation.  At the same time I have to ask myself, did he change people’s hearts?  Did he impact society’s beliefs about people?  Personally I do not think so.

            Fred Shuttlesworth on the other hand was instrumental in changing society and culture not just physically, but in the hearts and souls of people.  He listened to the Holy Spirit’s urging to put the Gospel into active living even if it meant putting himself in harm’s way.  Because he was willing to pay the cost of discipleship the way people of color are treated and thought of is completely different than it was 60 years ago.  In my mind Rev Fred Shuttlesworth should have been on the front page and Steve Jobs should have been further back in the papers as what the good reverend did was more profound, longer lasting, and harder than what Steve Jobs did.

            I bring the lives of these two men forward to ask you an Ash Wednesday and Lenten question or two.  The first is, what type of impact are you making on the people around you, your family, friends, co-workers?  As we examine our mortality and think about our deaths on this world, how do you think people are going to remember you?  Will it be for the things you provided them to make life easier or glitzier, etc, or will it be for how your living helped shaped them as a person?

            The second question, and some follow-up ones to it, is how and why do you impact people’s lives?  Is it for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  Do you ever think about how what you do impacts other people’s thoughts and helps shape them?  Have you ever thought you may not know the impact you have, either good or bad, until years later?

            Ash Wednesday is a day we traditionally examine our mortality and our lives with God.  Lent is a season of preparation as we prepare for both Good Friday and Easter.  Lent is a season of penance and examination, as well as a time to lay our burdens down at the cross.  I am going to encourage you this Lenten season to examine how your life is impacting others, and then offer them to the Lord through Jesus and the cross.  There will be some things that are good, an encouraging spirit; reaching out to people who are hurt; sharing how God is working in your life are some examples of the good that we do and can offer to Jesus.  At the same time there are those things that harm others and ourselves such as a critical spirit; insults; grudges, constant use of foul language; emotional, physical, mental abuse; and others that hurt others, society, and the Gospel.  Offer those to Jesus and ask for what he wants to give to you.

Blessings,

Pastor Dave

What Type of Toilet Paper Does Your Church Use?

What Type of Toilet Paper Does Your Church Use?

            Have you ever thought about what type of toilet paper your church uses?  Is it the nice soft kind that you can blow your nose comfortably in if there are no tissues around, or does it feel like the strongest grade of industrial sand paper that can be bought?  What is the deciding factor in how the toilet paper is purchased?  What type do you have in your own home?  These are interesting, and some will say, unimportant and even stupid questions, but I would argue that the type of toilet paper used in many, and maybe most, local congregations and denominational headquarters and agencies/boards often will show where our priorities lie.  I will admit up front that a) all I have is my own observations to support my conclusions, and b) some people may be uncomfortable with the subject of toilet paper.

            My experience is that most churches use either the cheapest or close to the cheapest brand of toilet paper they can find.  If they use a janitorial or office supply company they may be using the generic office brand the supply company sells-either the individual rolls or the big commercial rolls that go into dispensers.  If it is a local church custodian buying the supplies it is often what is on sale.  It is very seldom a name brand such as Charmin, Northern, or Angel Soft.  The reason given on why the cheaper version is purchased is usually we have to be good stewards of our money, and most people won’t really notice the difference.  A few more reasons are that the name brand is too expensive or the supply company only carries one type.

            I will agree with the statement we need to be good stewards.  However, being a good steward does not always equate to buying the cheapest.  What does it say to visitors and guests when we have scratchy TP?  Do we really care what they think about our bathrooms?  Imagine if instead of scratchy TP a congregation would offer extra soft ______.  What would people think?  While it probably would not be a deciding factor in a person’s choice of a congregation it could play a factor in the overall experience. 

            I think a deeper reason for buying cheaper or cheapest toilet paper is it can show where our priorities lie.  Instead of paying a few dollars more a case of good toilet paper it is decided to buy the cheaper one just because it is cheaper.  It will save the congregation a few dollars and often the congregation will say they need to all of the money they can get in the bank.  Instead of seeing it as an act of hospitality to both guests and members it becomes a money saving option.  The money saved goes into the general fund or a savings account and not into a ministry of some sort.  It is a part of the survival mode so many congregations are in and instead of looking outward in ministry they are looking inward hoping to survive.  Instead of spending money on ministry to those in need, the priority becomes keeping the door open for the members.

            There are other examples we could look at besides toilet paper-tissues; snacks with the type of juice, crackers, and other food we get; paper plates-you know the really cheap paper ones or the Chinette; fillers for ditty bags for small children during worship; and other items.  Why are we willing to get second best in the church, but will say that the cheap stuff is good enough for the congregation?  What does that say to others who may not know anything about church or even Jesus?

Here are some questions to ask yourself about priorities and hospitality:

1.  What type of toilet paper do you use at home? 

2.  Why is it ok to use something cheaper at church than at home?

     a.  We talk about the local congregations being a part of God’s house, should we not provide the best we can afford for the Lord, and if we do not what does that say to the community outside of the congregation about where our priorities lie?

3.  Are we more concerned about saving a few dollars than we are about showing hospitality to guests?

4.  What are the priorities of your local congregation, your conference/synod/diocese headquarters, or denomination’s?  Note-this can be different from what your stated mission is.   Do they buy things that say their priorities are different from their mission?

5.  What does your church’s toilet paper say about your congregation?

Blessings,

Pastor Dave

The Quest for Profits: What Role Do We Have in the Rise & Fall of People and Countries?

            I read a lot of different style of books, techno-thrillers, urban fantasy, traditional fantasy, science fiction, detective/mystery and some westerns.  I have even been known to read a romance novel or two especially if I do not realize it is one when I pick it up.  One of these romance books I accidently picked up because I thought it was a techno thriller, and it was more so than a romance, was called “Crimson Code” by Rachel Lee.  It is not a bad read, and it has some unique ideas.  One of the more interesting ideas is the idea that there has been a group of people around the world who are more interested in power and money than they are in ethics and morality.  This group of people instigate and manipulate people and nations into hot and cold wars so weapons can be sold, stocks can be raised, pawns can be moved into positions, etc.  This group is centuries old and familial.  What really piqued my interest was the idea that people would be willing to start wars, use blackmail, and resort to assassinations to make more money.  I have often wondered if there are groups who do try to do these things or who, maybe not manipulating nations into war, put profits before people.  Before you say there isn’t, or I am into conspiracy theories let me ask you a few questions.

            How often have you heard about criminal groups using violence and fear to enlarge their territories or make more money?  What about multi-national companies who move to other countries to avoid the environmental, labor, or safety laws?  What is the primary responsibility of corporations?  Are we complicit in any way to the rise and fall of people or countries?  As we look to make money do we contribute to any of the other subjects we have talked about recently-human trafficking, immigration concerns, etc?

            This morning we will continue our series on the Church, personal holiness and social holiness and will be looking at money, business, and the quest for profits.  Specifically we will look at how the quest of money can impact not just the quest seeker, how the quest for money interacts with other social holiness issues, and how we all are players in the rise and fall of nations.  IF we have time we will talk about how money does not necessarily solve all of our problems.

            First of all let me state a few things:  1) Business is in business to make money, 2) Scripture does not say money is evil, 3) Scripture does show rich people are loved by God and can be saved by faith in Jesus just as a poor person can.  At the same time we hear in Scripture that it can be very difficult for a rich human being to enter the kingdom of heaven to the point Jesus says in Matthew it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  This is most likely because people who have riches or many possessions put their trust in what they have and not in Jesus.  It could also be they are scared  or do not desire to pay the price to be a follower of Jesus which is to be willing to give up all to serve Jesus.  Remember the rich young man in       who wanted to follow Jesus but could not because he was not willing to give all up to be a disciple.

            I also want to say that compared to many in the world each and every one of us in this room today is incredibly rich.  Even the poorest of the poor in this country often have more than other world citizens. 

            There is a theory called “Six Degrees of Separation” and a game called “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon”.  The idea of the Kevin Bacon game is that an actor through their work can be linked to Kevin Bacon within 6 moves.  The “Six Degrees of Separation” is a theory that people anywhere can be linked within 6 moves.  For many people this is true, and it shows the interconnectedness of our world.  In the world of money and social holiness there are similarities as well in the interconnectedness between issues of social holiness and the quest for money.

            In the quest for money people will often go to great lengths to gain it.  For some it may be being a mule and carrying drugs for a drug runner.  Others will lie, cheat and steal to get into positions to make money.  Still others will abuse the image of God, and this is how the interconnectedness comes into play with other social holiness issues.  There are those who traffic in human beings who beat and tear down the individuals so that others may use them.  There are those who use slave labor to keep costs down.  People immigrate and some employers will hire them knowing they will take lower wages or with the belief they can defraud them of their wages  We need to remember that all people are made in the image of God, and when we mistreat the image of God we mistreat God himself. 

            The mistreatment of the image of God may not always take place with strangers when the love of money is involved.  I understand there are times when people have to work over-time-it may be a busy time at work, emergencies come up, fields have to be plowed, crops have to be gotten in before the weather turns bad.  However, there are those who consistently let work and the chasing of the almighty dollar take precedence over their marriage, their kids, and other relationships.  As I follow the news on the millineal and X generations what I see is a group who are trying not to lose themselves in work.  They are, in a way, rebelling against the demands of jobs and careers that demand allegiance to the employer before allegiance to the family.  They are the generation who does not want to have their kids grow up like the kid did in Harry Chapin’s “The Cat’s in the Cradle”

            And, while we have not dedicated a Sunday to it, there is the issue of stewardship of the environment.  In the passage we read today from Genesis not only do we here about humanity being in the image of God but humanity was given dominion over the Earth.  This dominion is more along the lines of being stewards of it much like the stewards of Gondor in Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy were entrusted with the throne until the king returned.  How often have you seen, heard, or read about companies moving to other states or other countries because the environmental regulations are laxer or non-existent?  This is either to save money or maximize profits.  Often the price that is paid is years in the making.

            So what we can see from all of this is that it is difficult for us to focus just on one issue of social holiness because they are connected to each other.  I would say that the love of money might be the common factor or primary cause of most of the social holiness issues we face.

            So how are we responsible for the rise and fall of people and nations?  Directly we probably are not, but because of our lifestyles and our nation’s choices we have an effect on people throughout the world.  We want cheap oil so we will support regimes who are friendly to our nation even though rights endowed by our Creator are quashed or non-existent.  We want higher stock returns on our investments so we do not care if there are laxer standards or items we would not want in our backyard are built someplace else.  We often are ignorant or turn a blind eye to what is going on as long as we get our money.  If companies move we don’t ask for them to treat their employees as we would want to be treated or for them to follow the same/best environmental rules. 

            What can we do?  We can understand that we do have some culpability in the rise and fall of people.  We can also make it a point to re-order our priorities where God and then family comes before the job, career, and the dollar.  When it comes to other people we need to remember that our choices when it comes to the quest for profit or the dollar does impact them.  It may be indirectly through corporations or directly by missing much in their lives. 

            Money is essential to the running of our society.  It is not evil, and there is nothing wrong with having it.  It is when we begin to love money that we begin to get into trouble.  The money changers and the priests in the temple probably had let their love for money over ride the Lord’s desire for the temple area to be a place of worship.  The commerce was not always honest and it distracted those who came to worship God and could not go further into the temple.  Is your love for money distracting you or others from worshipping your Savior?

Outcomes in Search of a Report: Reaction to Ministry Commission Report 2-2011

            I am a United Methodist licensed local pastor who eventually hopes to be both an associate member and an ordained elder in the denomination.  As such I try to follow the news items that deal with ordination and ministry.  Recently there has been a report issued by The Study of Ministry Commission and/or General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) with recommendations for the General Conference to examine and vote on at the 2012 General Conference being held in Tampa, Florida.  Today as I looked at the news release and read the items the links led me to I had a range of reactions.

            A few of the recommendations are not so bad such as separating ordination and full conference membership or trying to educate and build up the different ministry orders.  Some didn’t illicit much of a response, and several just made my blood pressure rise.  I also believe that some of the recommendations, while couched in “reality”, are included out of fear or desire to make things easier for those in supervisory positions.  And, if what I saw where the links took me is the totality of the report, I am irate as there is nothing new.  Instead it is a re-hash of many news bites and previous reports but it now seemingly bears the seal of approval of the GBHEM.  To me it comes across as the outcomes were in need of meetings to be approved.

            Some of the more onerous items:

1.  Local, licensed pastors are still treated as second class citizens even if they continue onto associate membership.  Associate membership is essentially a glorified local pastor who agrees to itinerancy, and currently, is guaranteed an appointment in the annual conference.  They are not allowed to practice ministry to the world as they are licensed to the community.  When they retire they are stripped of their ministerial authority and privileges.  There is no discussion about ordaining associate members or doing away with the probationary period if the associate member applies for full connection and ordination as an elder.  Even though an associate member has completed extensive educational requirements and served at least two years or the equivalent of in full time appointments and often many more, and agrees to live in the itinerancy system the requirements to become an elder from associate membership are the same as someone who is just graduating from seminary.  I also believe there is some educational snobbery involved in the recommendation in keeping the associate membership category and encouraging LPs to become AMs.  The reason for my thinking is that many see the Course of Study (COS) as being inferior to actually going to seminary.  Notice in the report there is no push for LPs or AMs to be ordained even after completing the educational requirements.

2.  The call for the elimination of the “guaranteed” appointment.  Pure and simple this is a reaction out of fear couched in the terms of reality.  If we were out making disciples and winning souls for Christ then this would not be an issue.  There is also no talk in the report what so ever about ineffective churches or supervisors (district superintendents and bishops).  Bishops and district superintendents are still members of the Order of Elders.  The blame for the denomination not meeting its missional goals is laid solely at the feet of the pastors who are serving faithfully in the local congregations.  There is little or no discussion on how or why pastors become ineffective, how to support those who are in difficulty, or the issue that there may be other factors involved that are not church related that are making a pastor seem ineffective. 

Once again a report coming from a General Board or a group commissioned by the General Conference calls for effective pastors but fails to define what an effective pastor is.  The report calls for limited, standard fitness standards and then leaves it up to the annual conference and Boards of Ordained Ministries to define effective.  This might be acceptable, but it does not take into account the difference between each appointment, the fact many times the DSs do not know the whole story or dynamics in a congregation, or the fact that it opens the door to having many different missions in the denomination.  It potentially has the ability to make it more difficult for pastors to transfer from one annual conference to another by having different definition of what is effective, i.e. one annual conference may insist that to be effective a pastor has to be in a certain type of ministry while a minister who is led to go the geographic area of the annual conference may not be able to participate in good conscience thus limiting the effectiveness of ordination to the world.

            I also believe doing away with the guaranteed appointment will hinder the prophetic voice of the local pastor and concentrate too much power in the hands of district superintendents and bishops.  As a local pastor who is not guaranteed an appointment there are subjects I do not willingly bring up because I am afraid of what may happen to my appointment.  I have been told I should not be very visible or should be seen and not heard.  I have heard of a bishop who kept a little black book in his office of those who had disagreed with him.  Whether or not this is true, but just the rumor of it is disconcerting.  A pastor could be set up to fail, and while this may not be likely the church is made up of people and it is a political organization, and be eased out.  There is also the possibility of the older ministers being forced out before becoming eligible for retirement or the medical bills become too high.  Some may call these ideas too conspiratorial, but we have been moving more toward a business model instead of a spiritual model. 

            As I mentioned earlier there are a few items that are good.  I wish there was more.  I also wish there was more meat to it and there was a call for more study on exactly what ordination is and our understanding or it.  While there is a call to integrate theology and practice of ordination I believe we need to figure out what we believe about ordination.  It will be interesting to see what the reaction will be to the report.

Link to General Board of Higher Education & Ministry Website article concerning Ministry Commission Report:  http://www.gbhem.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lsKSL3POLvF&b=6471015&ct=9105463&sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4d53182d2a02faac%2C0

Pastor Dave