Reconciling Ministries Network

A light in the darkness

By Laura Young

Greetings from Texas.  The devastation that Hurricane Ike brought to the Gulf Coast is heartbreaking.  Much of Texas will be in recovery mode for quite a while.  Just viewing the photographs brings about a pain that is hard to describe.  Every hurricane is different, but the pain is a familiar pain.  I grew up only 40 minutes from the Galveston seawall.  Hurricane preparation is a familiar drill.  When you live down here, it’s just something you do.  These days, I live about 120 miles north of Galveston’s beaches.  This part of Texas is more used to providing shelter for those who evacuate.  Ike had other plans.  Friends even farther north than I am took a hit.  We felt Category 2 winds up here.  A 75’ pine tree fell on our house.  It was only one of many trees that fell on homes, some causing loss of life.  Our church tried to provide care for evacuees in a city without power, gasoline, or ice. 

This is day 12, and still thousands of people in the Houston area are without power, stable homes, and reliable communication.  It is anything but “business as usual.”  Today, for the first time, Galveston residents are being allowed to return home to see what remains.  My family was fortunate.  Our home received minimal damage and had power restored on day 8.  That was certainly the longest I had ever lived without electricity.   We were grateful for a cool front that arrived on day 2, but I didn’t do well being cut off from the world for those 8 days.  During that time text messaging via cell phone was the only way to communicate, and it wasn’t a sure thing.  We had a hand held sports radio that provided only local information.  I did fine reading by flashlight, taking cold showers, and eating non-perishable food, but it didn’t take long to confirm that I’m addicted to nightly baseball games, MSNBC, and the internet.  Important events all over the conference had to be cancelled.  All businesses and schools were shut down.  Destruction and debris was everywhere.  Survival and clean up was the only activity – still is in some places.  Each morning when the sun came up we all got back out and continued the effort.  Being ever aware that our challenges were nothing in comparison to those on the coast, we knew better than to complain.   

In the midst of all of this, there were wonderful scenes and stories of neighbors reaching out to neighbors and strangers reaching out to strangers.  In a town that was pitch dark by 8:00 pm there was light everywhere!  Not a day went by when Christ-like behavior didn’t pop up at every turn. 

Around here, people get their electricity from a company called Entergy.  Let me tell you, when those trucks showed up we were pretty excited.  They worked tirelessly, in dangerous conditions, and showed great attention to our safety.  They were living without power too - away from their families and camping in “tent cities” and the end of each day.  As people drove by, some were interrupting their work to say thank you, or to ask when they might expect power.  Even when interrupted, these Entergy employees exhibited very positive attitudes.  More Christ-like behavior.  It was impressive. 

Power and internet were restored to our neighborhood on Saturday afternoon.  That gave us just enough time to write and print out thank you letters to all the people we had been dependent upon over the past 8 days and have our congregation sign each one.  As I looked up the addresses I had trouble finding one for Entergy.  Browsing through their website I couldn’t help but notice the word “inclusion” in their “About Entergy” pull down menu.   

Of course, I had to go check it out.  I discovered their 5-page statement on “Diversity and Inclusion.”  It is filled with words like “integrity,” “people,” and “value.”  Pretty typical.  It also includes phrases such as, “environment that fosters creativity, productivity and mutual respect of all people.”   Then, in a nation where most companies stretch themselves to use the word “tolerance,” Entergy says,

“A cornerstone of Entergy’s culture is respect, respect for every individual regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation or any other cultural factor.

‘Tolerance’ is insufficient in this organization that values the differences among its nearly 14,000 employees.”

Yep!  More Christ-like behavior.  No wonder their employees were impressive.   

Flip-Flopping

by Laura Young

We hear a lot about flip-flopping during political campaigns and the term jumped out at me during yesterday’s sermon. 

First of all, let me say that I’m a big fan of Marcus Borg and have been fortunate enough to hear him lecture on quite a few occasions.  He often provides handouts to accompany his lectures and tells his audiences to “borrow [his material] shamelessly”.   I’m about to “borrow shamelessly” the core message from yesterday’s sermon and throw in a Dr. Phil quote as well – free of charge. 

The lectionary text was Matthew 15: 21-28.  This is the story of the Canaanite woman who comes to Jesus asking him to heal her daughter from demon possession.  Part of their exchange includes Jesus saying to her, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”  Remember that one?  We studied the story from a perspective that was brand new to me.  Jesus first showing some cultural and religious prejudice (Yikes!) and then allowing his mind to be changed!?  (Hmmm)  Could Jesus be accused of flip-flopping?  Is this a bad thing?  The sermon unpacked all the cultural and religious traditions out of which Jesus had initially responded, but I can’t reproduce that part.  (I missed half of it because I was making modern day comparisons in my head.)  Yes, we have stories of politicians flip-flopping for all the wrong reasons, but what about when a person flip-flops because they now know more and their heart has changed?  Dr. Phil has been quoted saying, “we do the best we can with the information we have at the time.”  Makes sense to me. 

On one hand, this is a very risky biblical story because the “captain of our faith” who emerges from it produces a disorienting effect.  Jesus showing cultural and religious prejudice?  (We certainly aren’t willing to say that Jesus is prejudice.)  On the other hand, anyone willing to take the risk, and leave the story fully intact - not giving in to temptation to rescue Jesus by reading all sorts of redeeming excuses into the story, but allowing the story to have its full disarming effect, can find rare help for overcoming one of the most difficult obstacles we face as people of faith . . . prejudice that seems to be required by our faith.

A disturbing amount of human prejudice is supported by various interpretations of scripture.  The abandonment of prejudice, the crossing of traditional boundaries, is the good news of this story and maybe the very reason it was told.  It is hard not to draw the conclusion that Jesus, himself, felt challenged, was willing to learn and then made a transition. 

But isn’t that what good leaders do?  They aren’t prideful or stubborn, sticking to a belief for a lifetime over and above all new insight and information to the contrary.  Good leaders are perpetual learners and sometimes that means flip-flopping.  I think this story might provide a rare biblical road map for faithful people who are struggling to let go of old traditional prejudices that seem to be required by their faith.  It seems to me that Jesus might be giving us a wonderful example of how even a divine human being continues to learn and grow.  It seems to me that Christ himself is showing us how to embrace new insight and delight in our “A-ha” moments.  When faced with the decision to either continue cultural and religious prejudices or love his neighbor, Jesus crossed the traditional boundary of his time and chose to love his neighbor.  I think I’ll call that “divine flip-flopping” and it gets my vote.   

Our Theological Task

By Laura Young

“Just out of curiosity, how many of us are at least familiar with the quadrilateral?”

This question was asked by the Rev. Dr. John Fellers as he facilitated a workshop entitled, Reclaiming our Wesleyan Roots.  The workshop took place during the 2007 Texas Annual Conference and was offered in preparation for a Board of Church & Society resolution that was to be discussed during a business session the following day.
 
There were fifty-four people in the room, four of whom were workshop leaders so I won’t count them.  The remaining fifty consisted of clergy and lay delegates (mostly lay) who were representing their local congregations at annual conference - in an election year, I might add.   The comments and questions raised during our discussion led John to ask about the quadrilateral.  It was very clear that we were clueless and he just couldn’t stand it any longer.  I could sense (and shared) his concern from my seat on the back row.
 
“Just out of curiosity, how many of us are at least familiar with the quadrilateral?” he asked.
 
Eight hands were raised.  Eight hands.  Eight was disturbing enough, but we quickly determined that five of those belonged to either clergy or Christian educators so we probably shouldn't count them either.  We were down to three.  My neighbor and I leaned toward each other and asked if anyone knew CPR.
 
This random survey wasn’t a revelation.  It only confirmed our fears.  It also launched a larger concern and finally gained the attention of a group a bit larger than those eight people.  I wish I could say we’ve made some progress but I see no evidence of that.  The only hope I have is that, over a year later, some of us are still talking about that workshop and those eight raised hands.
 
I honestly don’t get it.  Why do clergy reject the quadrilateral?  What is there to reject?  This is a mature, responsible, intelligent, loving tool for theological reflection.  It is widely revered and used by many mainline protestant denominations.  It is fully explained in our Book of Discipline under a heading that reads, “OUR THEOLOGICAL TASK”.  For goodness sake, friends.  This doesn’t sound like a “take it or leave it” option.  Surely it’s not one of those “non-essential” things we’re hearing about lately.  This is “Our Theological Task” and seems rather important!  We, the United Methodist Church, are not biblical literalists.  We never have been.  And we’re not “selective literalists” either.  We just know better than that.  We love more than that.

On Monday morning of every annual conference, the parade of soon-to-be-ordained elders makes its way to the front of the sanctuary.  Our bishop asks a series of questions and they answer as a group.  It is the same series of questions they have prepared for and have already answered for the Board of Ordained Ministry.  Before they begin, the bishop turns and reminds elders already in full connection that this is a time for each of them to renew their own ordination vows.  I cringe each time we get to questions eight through eleven.

8. Have you studied the doctrines of The United Methodist Church?
9. After full examination, do you believe that our doctrines are in harmony with the Holy Scriptures?
10. Will you preach and maintain them?
11. Have you studied our form of Church discipline and polity?
12. Do you approve our Church government and polity?
13. Will you support and maintain them?

I don’t understand why a person who is called to ministry, but doesn’t agree with our theological task, would choose to be ordained in the United Methodist Church.  I don’t understand how we have raised at least one, perhaps two or more generations of United Methodists who are barely familiar with the quadrilateral.  I know far too many lifelong, active United Methodists who reached their sixties before ever hearing the term.  I don’t understand how pastors who clearly ignore the quadrilateral (not to mention their seminary education and ordination vows) are allowed to continue.  This, it seems to me, is getting to the root of our struggles as a denomination?  Shouldn’t this finally make its way to a front burner?

Boycotts and backfires

by Laura Young

The founder of the American Family Association (AFA) says the McDonald's Corporation's refusal to be neutral in the cultural war over homosexuality has resulted in their declaration of a boycott against the popular fast-food chain.

AFA founder Don Wildmon says they went to McDonald's after learning several months ago that the company had joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. And following a $20,000 donation to that group, one of McDonald's executives was placed on the Chamber's board of directors.

"We contacted McDonald's and showed them what they were doing -- that is, helping to support the homosexual agenda," explains Wildmon. "...[O]ne of the primary purposes of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is to promote homosexual marriage."

After meeting with Wildmon, the corporation refused to withdraw their support for the Chamber. "...In fact, McDonald's strongly told us that they are reaffirming their commitment to -- they called it -- 'diversity,'" he continues.

Wildmon says that reaffirmation means throwing the corporation's full weight into the cultural battle on the side of homosexuality -- which is why AFA is calling for consumers not to help McDonald's do it with their dollars.

This above snippet is from an AFA article being distributed through onenewsnow.com.  It showed up in my inbox last Thursday, just before the holiday weekend.  I have to tell you, it made me laugh out loud.  It didn’t take long to look up a McDonald’s email address and fire off a quick note of appreciation to the corporate office. 

A few hours later we hopped in the car to attend a program my 6 year old was singing in.  Her program wrapped up just before lunch time and the girls asked if we could eat out on the way home.  They wanted pizza, Mr. Gatti’s Pizza, to be exact.  Now you should understand that these little ones have an ulterior motive.  Mr. Gatti’s makes a great spinach pizza –my favorite.  If they can get Mom to go for this, it gets them to the restaurant game room after lunch.  They were certain this would be an easy sell and were quite surprised when I countered with the suggestion to go to McDonalds instead.  I had stumped them and the initial response was dead silence.  You see, the “happy meal” might be a successful kid magnet, but Mom just isn't that impressed with the menu, and it is impossible to keep that indoor playground clean.  I admit that I have caved to the occasional drive thru to pick up happy meals on the way to a committee meeting, but I draw the line when it comes to actually going there to eat in.  I have successfully steered them away from McDonalds so many times they rarely even ask any more.  Go me! 

So . . . . . the girls are confused, the husband is laughing (he knows exactly what I’m up to), and now my 4 year old breaks the silence. 

“Why do we get to go to McDonalds?” she asks. 

I’ve got some explaining to do.    

“Mom has a whole new respect for McDonalds,” I said.  “Let’s go eat and I’ll tell you all about it.”