Is There A Future for the UMC?

A special called session of the General Conference of the UMC occurs later this month in St. Louis, Missouri.  I have, in many respects, remained silent on my views regarding human sexuality and the church.  I pastor a congregation that, I think, welcomes everyone - liberal, conservative, straight, gay, women, men, people of different ages and nations - who are, at their core, children of God.  As God's children, they are welcome at the table.

Our congregation engages in Disciple Bible study, and this year, we've been working through Jesus in the Gospels.  I facilitate two different sessions of the study each week, on Tuesday night and on Thursday morning.  This past week, we were talking about Jesus and his opponents - Pharisees, scribes, Sadducees, and others.  It struck me, as I was doing the reading this past week, that Jesus spokes some harsh words to those who opposed him, but the purpose in doing so was not to create a further chasm - "us vs. them" - but to give them an opportunity to reconcile with God.

That seems to be Jesus' main purpose - to reconcile people with God.  His healings accomplished that purpose, because the cured could return to worship and be a part of the community.  His work with tax collectors and sinners brought them to a place where they were reconciled with God - Zaccheus' story comes to mind.  He sought to bring the downtrodden, the outcast, the scorned to a place where they could be in relationship with God - but he also did that with the Pharisees, the Zealots, the Sadducees, and those within the religious establishment.  Even on the cross, Jesus' words - "Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing" - provided an opportunity for reconciliation.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure all of us need some reconciliation with God.  My relationship with God isn't perfect, just as my relationship with others isn't perfect.  As much as I try to live Biblically and follow in the footsteps of Jesus, there are times where I mess it up, fall down, and struggle.  However, the Holy Spirit is still at work, drawing me closer to God each day.  That gives me hope for the future.

So I'm praying.  I'm praying for my congregation.  I'm praying for my denomination.  I'm praying for delegates to General Conference.  I'm praying for my LGBTQ brothers and sisters, as well as my traditionalist colleagues and friends.  I'm praying for liberals and conservatives, for Democrats and Republicans and Libertarians and Independents.  I'm praying for each and every one of us - that the Holy Spirit would reconcile each one of us to God - and through God - to each other.  I need all'y'all to help me follow Jesus - and quite possibly, you need me too.  Our future lies in all of us being reconciled to God.