As you know, our church is fighting. And the outlook looks anything but unified. Some parting of the ways is likely. Just as in any other family, when a split happens the children feel pain. We wonder "why?" We get angry at others. We harbor great resentment, even to God, though we may not admit it. The nature of this split is unhelpful, because our family called the United Methodist Church operates like a federal government with law books, judiciaries and legislators. We won't say good-bye. We will simply change words in our law book and that will be that.

Lost in all of this is the fact that our law book (The Book of Discipline) lays out a beautiful summary of our history as a Christian body seeking to experience the life-changing grace of God and determining myriads of ways to share this good news. You may remember my go-to story about the UMC. We own a water-buffalo in the Philippines that helps a nurse employed by the UMC to carry medical supplies to very remote corners of the country. I love that our big church reaches small places like that.

In divorce, the parties involved divvy up the goods. The Proposals, Plans, Processes and Propositions before General Conference in May are mostly about the goods: the properties, the clergy pensions, the general agencies, the logo and name. There is one of the goods that I will claim, not because it is mine, but because it so spiritual, true and cannot be possessed by any sole human. It is a teaching in the front of our Book of Discipline in a section called "Our Theological Task". In a section subtitled "The Nature of our Theological Task," the Book of Discipline states that "every generation must appropriate creatively the wisdom of the past and seek God in their midst in order to think afresh about God, revelation, sin, redemption, worship, the church, freedom, justice, moral responsibility, and other significant theological concerns. Our summons is to understand and receive the gospel promises in our troubled and uncertain times." (para. 105)

This is ultimately what we are doing in moving to be a more inclusive and loving church. I appreciate that two years ago we engaged in a Lenten study on The Bible and Human Sexuality. I am grateful that before and after General Conference 2019 many of you attended Table Talks to hear from other United Methodists addressing this controversy in our church. I appreciate also the engagement you undertook by welcoming PFLAG into our church to talk directly about what it's like for LGBTQ+ people to hear the church fighting over them. I am grateful for the Church Council's thorough discussion on what does inclusivity mean for us as Christians. I am thankful for the many conversations I have had with individuals and groups within our congregation. I know that the spiritual maturity of this congregation is a real strength. I know that the genuine ways you have engaged will buoy the congregation for whatever happens to the denomination. We have thought afresh about these matters.

Amazing isn't it? We are in "troubled and uncertain times" and the Book of Discipline tells us what to do in these times. In order to be true to ourselves, we must continue thinking afresh about God, ourselves, our church, the world around us and the spiritual matters of our time. We need not be afraid, even though change is on our doorstep. I'll do my best to keep the information current. Please recommit yourself in this new decade to honest talking and grace-filled listening. And know that Kingdom of God is near.