Equipping a New Generation
The Annual Conference of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference of the United Methodist Church recently took place. For three days, nearly 400 or more clergy and laity from various Methodist churches in the Delmarva Peninsula gathered for worship, meals, study, and guest speakers. Every year at this time, this gathering brings together people of faith in the same denomination. The theme of this conference was Equipping a New Generation. There were plenty of platitudes about reaching out to the younger generation, which in many churches is the LOST generation. If any church is to survive and raise new leadership, it needs to incorporate the “new” generation into its life and mission.
Have no doubt—this group holds a wide spectrum of opinions and beliefs about the LGBT community. Like many Protestant denominations, the United Methodist Church is struggling to find a middle ground position on same sex marriage. Sometimes it seems as though there is nothing that can bring the opponents and proponents together. When people take the words of the Bible at face value, there is no compromise allowed. This is what the Bible says, and you cannot change what God says about gay marriage! So the mantra goes.
I happened to be one of the delegates from my church at the Annual Conference. Representing Epworth UMC, I brought to the floor for action a Resolution that directed this group to petition the next General Conference (the highest level of the UMC which meets in 2016) to delete the language which prohibits Methodist clergy from officiating same sex weddings, and also prohibits Methodist churches from hosting them.
In presenting this Resolution for action, I shared these thoughts: We can all be in agreement on one thing—the issue of same sex marriage is a divisive issue. There are those here who are passionately opposed to same sex marriage, and there are those who are just as passionately in favor of it, myself included. Our Christian consciences are informed by Scripture, led by tradition, molded by reason and modified by experience. At the end of June, the Supreme Court will make a ruling on whether or not same sex marriage is within the bounds of our Constitution. Just as the Federal Courts have sent this issue to its highest court, so we should send our concern over same sex marriage to our highest court.
No sooner did I deliver these remarks on the Resolution than a gentleman from another church stood at the microphone, ready to offer a counter-Resolution. While I attempted to set the stage for an open and fair discussion on the pros and cons of same sex marriage, this other person was determined to undermine the whole process. His substitute motion was designed to cease debate and bring the whole issue to a speedy conclusion. His motion passed, and discussion came to a close.
The next day, when the next business session began for this group, it was announced that the substitute motion that had passed the night before was invalid! The phrasing of the substitute motion was such that it would have prohibited action that the group had every right to enact. The ruling was that the group cannot prohibit action that it has the right to conduct. This subsequent announcement meant that the Resolution I had presented the previous evening was back on the floor for discussion and action.
As people from opposing perspectives made their way to the microphones, there were reasoned appeals for approval of the Resolution, along with the normal diatribe that served to oppose it. One brave pastor stepped forward and shared that she supported the Resolution because the LGBT community is called by God to be part of the Church. She went on to share, in a broken voice and welling tears, that her brother had transitioned a few years ago, and she wants the Church to be able to welcome her wherever she seeks to worship. This was an emotional and personal story which was offered in a very heartfelt manner.
As those who stood at the microphones shared their perspective in favor or opposition to the Resolution, one person cut the debate short by calling for the question. Debate ended and the vote was taken, this one by paper ballot. While the ballots were being counted, I prayed and asked that the people there would have the wisdom to approve the Resolution. It was not to be. The Resolution failed, by a vote of 120 in favor, 273 against.
While it was disheartening that the vote came in with those numbers, I was greatly encouraged with the debate that had taken place. More people spoke in favor of this action than the previous year. There are more United Methodist churches across Delmarva that are declaring their support for the LGBT community. Next year will be a bell-weather year for the United Methodist Church, when General Conference meets to take action on new language affecting the lives of those who affiliate with this denomination.
Whether or not you belong to a church or synagogue, or express faith in any way, what organized religion has to say about the LGBT community will have an impact far beyond the walls of their places of worship. The struggle is far from over. Getting people to move beyond their entrenched, myopic beliefs is difficult. We need to walk with confidence that we are all in this together. We’re all seeking direction, purpose and happiness in life. Are we ready to equip the new generation? From what I hear, that new generation is already on board.