Judicial Council Ruling on Separation - Pastor Robert’s Response

Pastor Robert’s Response

November 3, 2024

Beulah UMC

I just want to share a few words about the recent United Methodist Judicial Council decision that ruled that Annual Conferences can no longer use paragraph #2549 of the Book of Discipline to allow congregations to separate from the denomination.

When I heard about this decision earlier this past week, I knew that this would be difficult news for churches who are considering separation. And my first thought was to say a prayer for my Beulah congregation because of all of the time you have already put into the early part of this process toward potential separation. My prayer was and continues to be for us to be able to process this news and to lean on God for comfort, strength, and guidance.

The second thing that I did after that prayer, was to contact our District Superintendent to see if there was any official response to this news from our South Carolina Annual Conference. And she referred me to this joint response from our new Bishop, Leonard Fairley and our South Carolina Board of Trustees Chairperson, Rev. Shannon Bullion which is available on our conference’s website. 

Sisters and brothers in Christ,

 

We know that many of you have been in prayer concerning the UMC Judicial Council’s decision about the use of Paragraph 2549 of The UMC Book of Discipline as the basis of a process allowing local churches to leave the denomination.

 

The Judicial Council has announced its decision, saying Paragraph 2549 “cannot be construed or used as legislation permitting the gracious exit of local churches because it applies to church closure and the sale of property, not disaffiliation. Any application of ¶2549 to that end would be a misapplication of Church law.” (Decision No. 1512)

 

As a connectional church, the South Carolina Conference is bound by the decisions of the Judicial Council. The impact of this decision is that, effective immediately, the Local Church Closure and Separation Process approved by the Trustees of the Annual Conference is no longer available as a means of separation from the denomination.

 

Trustees anticipated this possibility when they introduced their “Checklist for Closure and Separation in 2025,” advising that the Judicial Council was reviewing Paragraph 2549 and that, “this process may be affected by their actions and decisions.”

 

If you have any questions about the Judicial Council’s decision, please call 803-735-8771 or email inquiries@umcsc.org.

 

We invite all South Carolina United Methodists to join us in focusing our prayers, our time, and our energy on our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Join us in seeing the possibilities and living the promise – in sharing the grace, the love, and the peace of Jesus Christ among God’s people.

I attended yesterday’s Bishop gathering at Trinity UMC in Blythewood, and Bishop Fairley shared with us his continued love and support for churches who have been impacted by this Judicial Council ruling. I met a retired couple who attend a church in Irmo and asked their thoughts about the recent Judicial Council decision. And they shared how it’s been a difficult past couple of years because of some of our churches who decided to separate. But then, they shared how they believe that our new Bishop will help bring healing so that we can all move forward in a positive way.

And the last thing that I would say to you is this. You are to be commended for the diligence you have given to the process toward separation, and I know this is a very difficult time for many of you. I will continue to support you in any way I can moving forward and look forward to our common mission as United Methodists which is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

And please remember as I have shared with you since I became your pastor a year and a half ago, that as a United Methodist congregation, you can still choose what weddings are held here and the profile of the pastor you would like to serve here. Those are the things that have not changed even after last spring’s General Conference where LGBTQ restrictions were removed. Congregations like Beulah UMC still get to choose how they will decide these issues at the local level.

Our separation committee which has put in a number of hours working on this process will be meeting soon to go over the latest information about the Judicial Council decision. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as we move forward together trusting in God’s faithfulness.

Bumping into St. Paul in Heaven (A Theological Conversation about the Future of the United Methodist Church)

You probably know some jokes about the person who meets St. Peter at the pearly gates, like this one for example:

A man walks up to the pearly gates. St. Peter asks, “How did you get here?” The man answers, “Flu.”

Now that you’ve had your religious humor for the day, these Pearly Gate jokes got me to thinking of what it would it be like to bump into St. Paul in heaven. By the way, would bumping into one of the apostles in heaven be kind of like bumping into a celebrity here on earth? Would we be star-struck and blurt out something really bizarre or will it feel more like an even playing field? 

As we ponder this deep mystery, here is how a chance meeting with St. Paul in heaven might go.

“Oh my. You’re…you’re…you’re…”

“St. Paul, but just call me Paul. Welcome to heaven. New here?”

“Yep. Just arrived a while back, getting adjusted. Hey, since I ran into you and I’m sure you get asked this all the time but can you explain some things to me that were a little confusing down on earth? You said a lot of things in your letters regarding topics like slavery, women in ministry, homosexuality. I’m assuming you know that these topics have led to some heated conversations in a lot of different denominations. The topic of LGBTQ has been the pressing issue the past several decades for us. So which one of us is right? Conservatives or Progressives?”

“Want the short answer? Neither.” “Uh, OK. Let me rephrase. Which side is more correct?”

“Same answer. Neither. What denomination did you say you were down there?”

“United Methodist.”

“Oh, yeah. That explains it.” “Explains what?” “Well, you all make theological decisions as a group like the early church theologians did in forming the creeds so you’re bound to have heated conversations even after something has been decided. I give you Wesley types credit for group discernment because some denominations and non-denominations don’t even allow differing opinions.”

“Well, don’t take this the wrong way, but based on your letters… by the way Philippians is my favorite…anyway, sometimes, you come across as an arrogant *#%!” Like for example, you wrote that homosexuality is a sin even using the word, ‘abomination’ and women should be silent in worship. Really, those big issues and you didn’t elaborate even just a little? And then on the other hand, why didn’t you just come out and say that slavery should be abolished for good? I know that you said that in Christ there are no longer slaves or free, which is a great theological statement but you didn’t go far enough in terms of slavery as an institution in my humble opinion. That would have at least made it a little harder for southern slave holders to justify owning slaves.”

“OK, Ok, I hear you. My bad. I get that these issues are way more nuanced depending on when you are living, but I was living out this new Jesus faith during the 1st century, like over 2,000 years before your time! Ok? Times were different then, like REALLY different. Slavery was part of society, period. Women’s roles were defined by the Greco-Roman culture, period. It would have been way too much of a stretch to introduce all of these changes at once not to mention anticipating what you would all be dealing with several centuries later. That’s why I wrote what I did about those issues.”

“And by the way, before you get too sanctimonious, that’s what your denomination and hundreds of others have been doing over the years. Like, wasn’t it your denomination in the 1800s that split over bishops owning slaves? Tell me how that wasn’t clear cut for y’all. And while I’m at it, your Book of Discipline as late as the 1940s didn’t even allow your clergy to officiate at the wedding of someone who was divorced unless it was clearly due to adultery. Like really?? We’re talking middle of the 20th century and you STILL were dealing with that issue and it took several decades before you finally loosened up on that one. And women in pastoral ministry, not until the 1950s? Are you kidding me? I know that wasn’t the most enlightened era of human history, but again, it’s not like you were living during the 1st century!”

“And don’t get me started about gay marriage and ordination. I know the Bible touches on those issues like 6 out of the 32,000 verses. God expects us to wrestle with these issues in the time we’re living by interpreting scripture through the lenses of tradition, reason, and experience, which if I’m not mistaken is what you call the quadrilateral approach. You don’t get a free pass, my friend. You have to do the hard work in your lifetime, too. And admittedly, that’s often a very messy, contentious, and gut-wrenching process which you know all too well. Believe me, been there, done that! You’re the ones that have to live with yourselves in trying to explain how suppressing someone’s sexual orientation and desire for intimacy is a good thing. And simply saying that God gives every gay person the gift of celibacy sounds theologically weak to me, but again, not my battle.”

“If I was living out my faith in the 21st century, who knows what letters I might have written or I guess you call it blogging, now. But my point is that in my writings I was setting a trajectory of what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus and part of the Jesus community in the time that I was living. And yes, I get asked this all the time. Absolutely, I did my best to write in such a way that anticipated how people might read this in the future, but cut me some slack because I really thought Jesus was going to return way before your century, like even in my lifetime. Sorry if I sound so defensive.”

“Did any of this answer your question? What was your question again?”

“Not really, but if you don’t mind telling me, where does St. Peter like to hang out up here?”

A Brick by Brick Way Forward for the UMC

Just a few weeks ago, we were holding candles singing, “All is calm, all is bright.” How quickly the mood of Christmas Eve has shifted to a not so calm silent night following the breaking news of a possible split in the UMC denomination over LGBTQ issues.

I wonder if this shift in mood was similar to other moments in our denomination’s history like when they received word of a proposed split in 1844 over the divisive issue of slavery. And let’s not forget other controversial debates that our Methodist ancestors have had over issues such as divorce and the ordination of women. For that matter, reading the New Testament and early church history always reminds us that a shortage of controversial issues is usually not a luxury for people of faith. Where there are Christians, there will always be disagreements.

When I arrived at seminary, my hopes were high. To be honest, I was wondering what an academic institution of higher learning would offer someone like me who already had a strong biblical faith. My “all is calm, all is bright” assurance of my faith was suddenly rattled by the remarks of one of the seminary professors at our first day of orientation. 

This wise New Testament scholar offered us this analogy which I continue to remember to this day. 

He said, “Think of your faith as a brick building. Our job at the seminary is to blow up your building and then help you reassemble the bricks so that you will leave from here with an even stronger and more well-rounded faith.” 

I remember shaking my head and thinking to myself, “Yeah. Whatever. Don’t be messing with my bricks. They’re fine the way they are.”

It was only a few months into my first year of seminary, that I began to realize the importance of that brick building analogy. Not only was I being introduced to a variety of biblical and theological perspectives that l never knew even existed, but I was also meeting other seminary students who represented a variety of faith experiences and backgrounds so different from my own. Professors were challenging our long held assumptions and had the audacity to make us think and rethink and then think again! That professor at orientation was right. My faith was beginning to blow up brick by brick. I was not in the mood to sing “all is calm, all is bright,” because I was feeling unsettled, anxious, and even angry at times. I’m not sure when I started to finally begin feeling like the bricks were starting to get reassembled, but I remember leaving seminary with a deep appreciation for that experience as difficult as it was at times.

Our Methodist/Wesleyan faith encourages us to always be moving onto perfection, to always be learning, growing, stretching, tearing down, and reassembling our faith brick by brick. One of the tools that John Wesley taught us to use in this process is the quadrilateral where we approach scripture through the lenses of tradition, reason, and experience. Tradition is what informs us of how the church over the centuries has grappled with various issues of faith. Reason reminds us of the importance of using critical thinking and rational thought in our approach to faith. And experience opens us up to new perspectives of how God is at work in the world through the eyes of others. Approaching our faith in this way reminds us that we are always a work in progress. We are always learning, discovering and experiencing the Bible in ways that connect to the world in which we live. 

Over the past few years, I have been on an intensive journey in rethinking my biblical/theological understandings regarding LGBTQ issues. 

Applying the Wesleyan quadrilateral has been a process of my faith getting deconstructed but along the way, those same bricks have been slowly coming back together to form an even stronger building.

One of the key growing pains for me in this process has been acknowledging that while the Biblical authors were inspired by God, they were also writing during a particular time, a particular place, and to a particular people who were living in a particular context. All of this needs to be weighed alongside of today’s 21st-century understanding of same-sex orientation vs. what they knew about same-sex relations in ancient times. This is similar to how the creation stories in the book of Genesis are not meant to be based on 21st-century science but based on the science and cultural setting of their day.

Looking at my faith through the lense of experience has also led to a deconstruction/reconstruction in my faith regarding LGBTQ issues. Statistics reveal a much higher rate of suicide for teenagers who are gay vs. those who are straight. Suppressing how God has created you and feeling like you always have to hide who you really are is never healthy and life affirming. When the religious community in which you participate tells you that you are a sinner if you are gay or that you are not worthy to be married to a same sex partner or be considered for ordination, that toxic spiritual environment leads to feelings of dehumanization.

My experiences in getting to know the faith stories of people in the LGBTQ community who love Jesus with all their hearts have been painful to hear. For example, a couple of years ago, I was listening to an interview with Trey Pearson, the former lead singer of the popular Christian band, Everyday Sunday. Here’s one of their popular songs.

During the interview, Trey was talking about what his life has been like since he publicly came out as gay a couple of years ago. It was so sad to hear his story and even sadder when he said during the interview that a concert his band was supposed to give in the community where I serve as pastor was canceled because he had recently announced that he was gay. 

During this interview, he said how his band needed to break up over a long and successful career because Christian venues which are mostly evangelical no longer wanted them to perform. The good news is that Trey has started a new solo career touring around the world to provide a safe space for the LGBTQ community. During the interview, they played the song, “Hey Jesus,” from his new CD. I cried as I listened to it because it is his personal prayer to Jesus since he has come out. 

A few days after I heard his interview, the Holy Spirit started working on my heart to contact Trey and see if he would be able to perform that song at my church the Sunday before the special General Conference last February.

Honestly, I didn’t know how my congregation was going to respond to his story of faith and the singing of his song, but he received a standing ovation of appreciation. It was so moving! It was one of the top worship experiences in my thirty plus years of pastoral ministry and I will never forget it. 

I recently caught up with Trey to let him know of the positive ripple effect that he helped to start just by coming down to share his journey of faith with us. 

My biblical and theological understanding has changed over time because of these kinds of biblical perspectives and experiences.  Like my professor said, my carefully constructed brick building of faith will get knocked down from time to time. 

About three months after last year’s special General Conference, I was feeling very discouraged, irritable, confused, and angry toward my denomination. The bricks of my faith had been thrown everywhere. I wondered how they were going to get reassembled. 

Our church decided to develop a welcome/diversity statement to help people know that we are an inclusive church. Some people have joined our church because of that statement. We are also seeing a more diverse group of people attending our services and church events. I was starting to see a few bricks getting reassembled!

And then one day, the Holy Spirit reminded me of how important the benediction at the end of a worship service is. It’s that final reminder before leaving worship that we are each loved by God. I wrote the first part of that benediction and included a line from a benediction found in our UMC marriage ceremony liturgy. I smiled at the irony of using our own denominational liturgy to arrive at a different theological conclusion regarding the LGBTQ community. We now say this benediction together after each service.

The calmness of “Silent Night” turns into an unsettling period of growth and uncertainty. But through much prayer, discernment, study, wrestling, and experiences, those bricks will get reassembled and our faith will become even stronger. I see this happening in my life and in the life of our church. Praise God!

As we prepare for this May’s General Conference to make key decisions regarding the LGBTQ community who are brothers and sisters in Christ, my prayer is that brick by brick, we will find a way forward and a place where we can sing again, “all is calm, all is bright.”

Don't Overlook Our "Little Methodists!"

Rarely does a Sunday go by that I don’t receive a drawing, a hug, or nice comment from one of our “little Methodists.” This is the name that I have given to the young children who frequently greet me on Sunday morning.

Recently, one of our little Methodists gave me a drawing of our new “Love-Grow-Serve” logo. Our PR department must be doing something right!

A couple of months ago, another little Methodist had climbed the stairs to the 2^nd floor to tell me, “Happy birthday, Pastor Robert!” Another little Methodist told me a couple of weeks ago that she might be a pastor someday.

Once in a while, a little baby Methodist will cry out during the middle of the worship service to let us all know that the sermon is particularly good that morning. I’m glad that this is becoming a common occurrence!

These little Methodists remind me that we are so blessed to have a church with people of all ages. The next time you see or hear a little Methodist, make sure you let them know that you are so glad they are an important part of our church family

Thank God for little Methodists and thank God for all of you! Together, we are the church!

From Polar Vortex to Burning Hearts

Polar Vortex is how we describe this past frigid winter season. Temperatures were often minus zero. Record snow falls were recorded. Schools were closed. Even churches struggled to keep the doors open during those really cold and snowy Sunday mornings. My philosophy is that if the coffee and donut volunteers can make it to church in blizzard-like conditions, then we're open for business.

I am not a fan of winter or cold weather. I do cheer on Mother Nature to provide a thin blanket of snow for Christmas morning, but that's about it. I've never understood why people like to brag how snowy and cold it was back when they were kids. After living through this past nasty winter, I think it's time that we nominate summer for "Best Season of the Year" award.

We have finally arrived at the month of May. You never looked so beautiful than you do now. We missed you, month of May. Where were you when we needed you this past January, February, and March?

This year, the month of May is the month of warmth. I'm not necessarily referring to the temperatures, although 60 degrees does feel a lot better than minus 60. I'm referring to Emmaus Sunday which is tomorrow, the first Sunday of May. Since Easter came late this year, this pushed the reading of the Emmaus story to the month of May.

The Emmaus story has that famous scripture verse where those two people who were very sad all of the sudden realize that it was the risen Christ who had been with them the entire time. When they realized that it was Jesus who had been speaking with them, they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?"

 The chill of Good Friday gave way to burning hearts when Jesus revealed himself to these two disciples who were on their way to the little village of Emmaus.

The warmth we will experience as we reflect on the Emmaus story tomorrow in church will continue to the end of this month when we celebrate the May 24th anniversary of John Wesley's Aldersgate heart-warming experience. In 1738, John Wesley, an Anglican Priest was at a low point in his spiritual journey. He was seeking and praying for an assurance that Christ had forgiven him of his sins.

On May 24, 1738, Wesley's chilled faith was melted during a prayer meeting that was held on Aldersgate Street. In his journal, Wesley writes about that event, "About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

John Wesley and his brother Charles went on to share the good news that we can have an assurance of Christ's love. The coldness that John Wesley had felt in his faith had been melted by this assurance.

This weekend, an Emmaus weekend is being held for some members of my church. It's a three day retreat where they hear talks on the Christian faith, have small group discussion, eat plenty of food, pray, and share in worship. I give thanks to God that their hearts are being strangely warmed.

No Polar Vortex is too great for God.

Happy Anniversary, United Methodist Church & Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve marks the anniversary of the formation of what is now know as the United Methodist Church. Below is an historical summary of the historic Christmas Eve conference held in Baltimore, MD in 1784.  A member of my church gave me a beautiful ceramic of the original Lovely Lane Meeting House where the conference was held.  Merry Christmas and Happy Anniversary, United Methodist Church!

The Original Lovely Lane Meeting House was built in 1774. Ten years later, the Methodist Societies hosted the famous Christmas Conference at Lovely Lane Meeting House, where a new denomination was born: the Methodist Episcopal Church.

John Wesley had reluctantly agreed to the American Methodists’ desire to organize their own church. He sent Thomas Coke to supervise the process and to consecrate Francis Asbury as “general superintendent” of the Methodists in America. When Coke and Asbury met at Barrats Chapel in November 1784, Asbury refused the appointment unless the preachers elected him. The meeting was scheduled for the next month, December, at Lovely Lane Meeting House in Baltimore.

Freeborn Garrettson was sent “like an arrow,” in Coke’s words, to contact as many preachers as possible to meet in Baltimore. Garrettson recorded in his journal: “My dear Master enabled me to ride about twelve hundred miles in about six weeks; and preach going and coming constantly. The conference began on Christmas day.” More than sixty preachers (and numerous visitors) responded to Garrettson’s call.

Friday, December 24, 1784: …” It was agreed to form ourselves into an Episcopal Church, and to have superintendents, elders, and deacons. When the conference was seated, Dr. Coke and myself were unanimously elected to the superintendency of the Church, and my ordination followed …We spent the whole week in conference, debating freely, and determining all things by a majority of votes… We were in great haste, and did much business in a little time.” Francis Asbury, Journal.

Besides organizing a church and approving Asbury and Coke as their leaders, the members elected twelve preachers as “elders,” Wesley’s suggested term for fully ordained clergy. The conference also formally adopted The Sunday Service, Wesley’s abridgement of the English Book of Common Prayer, as the new church’s liturgical guide.

In 1786, the Lovely Lane congregation relocated to nearby Light Street, and the original site was later occupied by the Merchants Club, whose building now houses the Baltimore International College (now 206 E. Redwood St.).

Today the Lovely Lane name is kept alive by the continuing congregation, formerly First Methodist Church, and now again Lovely Lane United Methodist Church.

NOTE: This article can be found at http://lovelylane.net/home/history/

A Methodist Sun Tan at Rehoboth Beach

As I heard the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, children playing with their sand buckets, and leisurely conversations all around me, I was reminded of the tranquility that a trip to the beach provides.  Today is my first day back to work from a week's vacation, and I feel refreshed, renewed, and spiritually alive thanks to my trip to the sandy shores of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Relaxing on a bench along the long boardwalk, I noticed a historical sign about Rehoboth Beach across from me.  Above is the picture that includes the history of this place of spiritual refreshment.  To my surprise, I discovered that this was no ordinary vacation resort.  This was holy ground (or should I say, "holy sand.")   Like so many of our country's hospitals and nursing homes, even this scenic beach resort was started by early Methodists!  This prompted be to read more about this Methodist connection which I found on this website.

In 1872, the Reverend Robert W. Todd, of St. Paul's M. E. Church in Wilmington, being very feeble from weeks of camp meeting services, visited Ocean Grove Camp Meeting on the Jersey Shore. Returning to St. Paul's, greatly restored in health and spirit, he told of his experiences in a sermon, using as his text the words, "And the sea hath spoken."

This holy renewal experience led this Methodist clergyman to establish "The Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church" on January 27, 1873.  The name, "Rehoboth," had already been given to the nearby bay by 17th century English explorers from the Virginia colony. They had chosen this name from the bible because it means, "broad places." Reverend Todd's desire was to provide a place where people could come to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and to experience the beauty of God's good creation along the Atlantic Ocean.  This Methodist preacher who had experienced God's renewing love on his recent trip to the beach, wanted others to experience this transformation as well.

This vacation came at just the right time for me.  It was just a couple of weeks ago that my mother died unexpectantly.  I was feeling emotionally drained and tired in the days that followed.  In short, I was not myself.

Now, I'm back home.  And like Reverend Todd, I feel renewed because of my "holy sand" experience.

"The sea hath spoken."

A 21 Day-Complaint Free Challenge

Today, a church newsletter came in the mail that had an article about the "21-Day Complaint-Free Church Challenge."  This is an organization that provides purple wrist bands to any who would take up this challenge. 

Here's how it works.  Each time you complain, use sarcasm or put someone down, you have to put the purple wrist band on your other wrist.  If you go 21 days straight without changing your bracelet, you have successfully completed the challenge.  So far, more than 9 million bands have been distributed around the world.

Why 21 days?  Many studies suggest that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. 

Here are some benefits of the challenge:

1. Once this becomes a habit, we are more likely to continue to live in a more positive way.
2. It's radical.  In a world that often seeks to tear down others, this offers a radical Christ-like alternative.
3. Wearing the purple bracelet is an opportunity to share your faith.
4. This helps us realize that any kind of positive change takes time.

As we've been focusing on John Wesley's "Three Simple Rules" for these three weeks of our worship services, this challenge fits in with the first simple rule of "doing no harm."  By being gracious, patient, and loving toward others, especially those with whom we disagree, we live out this first simple rule.

I'm going to go shopping to see if I can find a purple wristband and give this a try!

Calendar of the Saints (March 3) - John & Charles Wesley

Today on the calendar of saints we give thanks to God for John and Charles Wesley who started the Methodist movement in 18th century England to renew the Church of England.  Known for their emphasis on classes or what we would call today, small groups the Wesley brothers helped to start a revival that eventually made its way to America.  Many religious bodies including the United Methodist Church started because of their ministry and outreach.

John was the chief preacher/organizer/theologian and Charles included the theology of the Methodist movement into his song lyrics.  In just a few Sundays when we celebrate Easter Sunday, we will be singing one of his hymns, "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today."

As we pause to reflect on John and Charles Wesley today, here are some foundational parts of what it means to live out the Christian faith from a Wesleyan perspective:

• Practice the "Means of Grace" on a regular basis which includes communal/private worship, prayer, scripture reading, acts of social justice/compassion, fasting, etc.
• Participate in a class/small group where people can "check in" with each other for encouragement and accountability in living out our walk with Christ.
• Live out the General Rules (The Three Simple Rules) of 1) Do no harm. 2) Do good.  3) Stay in love with God.
• Emphasize God's grace in all that we do which includes God's prevenient grace (the grace that goes before us,) God's justifying grace (the grace that saves us from our sins,) and God's sanctifying grace (the grace that leads us on to perfection and roots out the sin in our lives.)

Prayer
Lord God, who inspired your servants John and Charles Wesley with burning zeal for the sanctification of souls, and endowed them with eloquence in speech and song: Kindle in your Church, we entreat you, such fervor, that those whose faith has cooled may be warmed, and those who have not known Christ may turn to him and be saved; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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The Reformation & Methodism

Today is Reformation Day (Oct. 31.)  On the Eve of All Saints, Day, October 31, 1517, Augustinian Father Doctor Martin Luther, professor of Scripture at the University of Wittenberg, Germany posted an invitation to debate on the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral. The invitation to debate contained ninety-five points, or theses, concerning the sale of indulgences. Luther chose this date for posting his theses because the coming holy day would bring many of the community to services, ensuring that his statements would receive wide exposure.

Throughout my pastoral ministry, I have always included a reference to Reformation Day on the last Sunday of October to remind us of this significant part of the history of the church.  We always sing the hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" and I try to include a reference to the Reformation in my sermon.  Yesterday, I had a quote from the great Lutheran pastor/theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

United Methodists have an interesting relationship with the Reformation.  The Reformation in which Protestantism led to the beginning of new church denominations took place during the 1500's.  The Anglican Church was influenced by the Protestant Reformation and sought to continue their Roman Catholic heritage.  King Henry VIII didn't want to be under the authority of the Roman Catholic Pope.

John Wesley who was a Priest in the Church of England which was a mixture of Roman Catholic and Protestant influences has sought to embrace both of these significant influences in the history of the church.  Even though we are a Protestant denomination, we need to remember that Roman Catholicism has a significant part in our Methodist heritage.

When Methodism spread to America and became it's own denomination, separating itself from the Anglican Church, we increasingly gravitated more toward our Protestant roots because of the democratic spirit that led to the birth of a new country.  However, our official Book of Worship includes liturgy that comes from our Roman Catholic heritage through the Anglican Church.

So, while it's important to celebrate Reformation Day as United Methodists, let's not use this as an opportunity to widen the chasm between Protestants and Catholics and mistakenly separate ourselves from our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ.   The Protestant Reformation reminds us that the church needs to continually be reformed and shaped by the Holy Spirit and Roman Catholicism reminds us of the long standing history of the church and the rich liturgy of our faith.

While the United Methodist Church doesn't have an official "Reformation Day" prayer, I think this prayer for the church out of our Anglican/Episcopal prayer book, is very appropriate for the spirit of this day.  Happy Reformation Day!

Prayer for the Church:
Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen.
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John Wesley's Journal

One of the great resources of our Wesleyan heritage is John Wesley's journal which includes Wesley's day to day entries.  It's a wonderful gift to be able to read what Wesley experienced on a given day during his ministry in the 1700's. 

This Sunday, I'll be sharing several of his journal entries to make the point that there are many challenges in ministry.  Thankfully, there are also many joys that accompany our walk with Christ.

Journaling/writing is a spiritual discipline that can help us receive God's grace as we reflect on our day to day activities in the context of our faith.  One of the reasons I started my Nikos blog four years ago was to use it as kind of a personal faith journal.  It also serves as a communication tool of church events so it has a dual role.

There are several ways to have access to Wesley's journal which include a hard copy for purchase and a website that has daily his daily entries corresponding to our present date.  This website is also available through facebook.  If you have an account through facebook (it's free!) just type in "John Wesley Journal" in the search and the daily journal entries will appear everyday.
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Happy Birthday, John Wesley, I Think...

Today is John Wesley's (the 18th century founder of Methodism) birthday anniversary, I think.

Wesley's birthday is a bit confusing since he was born on June 17, 1703, according to the Julian Calendar in use at the time. In 1752 Britain joined the rest of Europe and shifted to the more accurate Gregorian Calendar. A consequence of this was to add 11 days to the calendar. From 1752 and for the rest of his life, John Wesley celebrated his birthday on June 28th.

For years, to help my 7th grade confirmation classes who were preparing for church membership to know that Methodism was started by John Wesley in 18th century England, I would remind them of John Wesley's birthday. I mistakenly gave them the date of June 17. A few years ago, I realized that June 28 (today) is the more correct date.

Putting aside the dating of Wesley's birthday for the moment, one of the theological doctrines I appreciate most about Wesley was his emphasis on prevenient grace which is the grace that comes to us before we are aware of it. Wesley believed that in order for someone to repent and enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, that person first needs God's prevenient grace to work ahead of his/her awareness and "stir" that person (Wesley's term) to accept God's grace through Christ for him/herself.

Prevenient grace is the reason why several denominations including our own practice infant baptism. We believe that God's grace works ahead of our awareness of it, although, I can make a pretty good argument that just as infants can know of their mother's love, they can also have a sense of God's love at that age.

So today, on John Wesley's birthday, I celebrate his emphasis on the theological doctrine of prevenient grace, which reminds us that grace is a gift, offered to us even before we are even aware of it.

"I Felt My Heart Strangely Warmed"

John Wesley's Journal Entry - May 24, 1738

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

I began to pray with all my might for those who had in a more especial manner despitefully used me and persecuted me. I then testified openly to all there what I now first felt in my heart. But it was not long before the enemy suggested, “This cannot be faith; for where is thy joy?” Then was I taught that peace and victory over sin are essential to faith in the Captain of our salvation; but that, as to the transports of joy that usually attend the beginning of it, especially in those who have mourned deeply, God sometimes giveth, sometimes withholdeth, them according to the counsels of His own will.

After my return home, I was much buffeted with temptations, but I cried out, and they fled away. They returned again and again. I as often lifted up my eyes, and He “sent me help from his holy place.” And herein I found the difference between this and my former state chiefly consisted. I was striving, yea, fighting with all my might under the law, as well as under grace. But then I was sometimes, if not often, conquered; now, I was always conqueror.

John Wesley and Giving Up Chocolate for Lent

A nice article on John Wesley's thoughts on the spiritual discipline of fasting is provided by Heather Hahn. So what do you think? Does giving up chocolate or coffee or whatever, trivialize the purpose behind fasting? Here is a portion of her article.

Wesley endorses fasts

Methodism founder John Wesley wasn’t content to limit fasting only to Lent. He fasted twice a week — on Wednesday and Friday — said the Rev. John Farthing, retired Hendrix College professor and now senior pastor of Greenbrier First United Methodist Church.

“His fast did not involve abstinence from food altogether, but allowed for limited consumption of food and drink,” Farthing said.

Wesley also advised moderation because he didn’t want Christians to fast so severely that they damaged their health.

Still, Farthing points out that Wesley’s idea of moderation would seem quite ascetic by today’s U.S. standards. Wesley was adamantly opposed to overindulgence. He also criticized the common Lenten practice in 18th century England of abstaining from pleasant food. In short, Wesley — like Ditmer — was not a big fan of giving up chocolate for Lent.

“I take that to mean that Wesley sees such minimal fasting as a trivializing of something important,” Farthing said. “I think the absence of an emphasis on Lenten fasting reflects Wesley’s desire for fasting to be an integral part of the Methodist lifestyle rather than just an annual observance.”

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Wesley, The Movie

OK, all of you John Wesley fan club members! The movie, "Wesley," is being released and is being shown in various theaters around the country, but not in the Ohio area as far as I can tell. By going to the movie website, it appears that it might have the same quality as "Amazing Grace," the true story of William Wilberforce which premiered a few years ago.

With more United Methodist churches than post offices, I can see a bunch of DVDs of this movie being sold for use in new member classes, confirmation classes, and classes interested learning about the history of the Methodist movement.

If you read Wesley's journel entries, it's easy to see how there would be plenty of action tense moments for a full length movie.

When I read about this new movie on Wesley, I felt my heart strangely warmed.

March 3 - John & Charles Wesley Remembered

The Anglican and Episcopal church calendars have set aside today, March 3 as a time to give thanks to God for brothers, John and Charles Wesley, 18th century Anglican Priests who started the Methodist movement. March 3 was chosen since both John and Charles died during this month. Charles died in 1788 and John died in 1791.

Methodism began as a reform movement within the Church of England and in 1784 became it's own denomination in America. The denomination began as the Methodist Episcopal Church and in 1939 it became known as The Methodist Church, and in 1968, the the new name of The United Methodist Church was given because of a merger of The Methodist Church with the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

The prayer below recalls John Wesley's famous phrase when he received an assurance of his faith at a prayer meeting in London in 1738 - "I felt my heart strangely warmed."

Prayer

Lord God, who inspired your servants John and Charles Wesley with burning zeal for the sanctification of souls, and endowed them with eloquence in speech and song: Kindle in your Church, we entreat you, such fervor, that those whose faith has cooled may be warmed, and those who have not known Christ may turn to him and be saved; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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A Rough & Rugged Preacher

This Sunday, at the first of three new member orientation classes at Lancaster First United Methodist Church, I will be sharing this information about one of the most amazing circuit riding Methodist preachers of the 19th century. I also shared this with our staff at this week's chapel time.

• He was born in Virginia in 1785 two years after a treaty ended the American Revolution.
  
• His family moved to Kentucky and there he became a tough guy in rough Logan County, Kentucky known as Rogues’ Harbor. His mother prayed and prayed for him to turn to God.
  
• At age 16 he went to a camp meeting, confessed his sins and became a Christian. He joined a Church and within two years became a preacher.
  
• He was known to take on men who disrupted his camp meeting revivals inviting them to a fight in the woods and he would scare them off because of his toughness.
  
• Crowds from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois flocked to hear him preach and he often spoke for three hours at a time.
  
• 10,000 people came to Christ because of his ministry. Several church buildings needed to be built to make room for the new converts.
  
• He championed the start of new colleges to train preachers and he educated himself to help him in his ministry.
  
• He experienced lots of hardships in his ministry, at one point going without food for 3 days. He once returned from a traveling ministry with only 6 cents in his pocket.
  
• He ran for congress in 1846 losing to Abraham Lincoln. A decade earlier, he had defeated Lincoln in a race for the Illinois legislature.
  
• He died at age 87, leaving behind an autobiography which has become a classic and a tribute to this incredible servant of God.

But what’s most interesting to me is that this man was also the eighth preacher to serve First United Methodist Church in Lancaster, Ohio back in 1806. His name? Peter Cartwright, probably the greatest Methodist Circuit riding preacher to have ever lived.

John Wesley's 306th Birthday Anniversary

John Wesley: June 28, 1703 to March 2, 1791

Dr. Tom Albin - Dean of the Upper Room

This past week, Dr. Tom Albin, Dean of the Upper Room in Nashville, gave two presentations to the clergy of the West Ohio Conference. I heard Dr. Albin give a presentation in Nashville a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the way he was able to communicate how our unique Wesleyan heritage can help our local churches make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. He was equally compelling this past week!

Here are some key thoughts from this past week's presentations worth pondering:

• Methodism is built on a three legged stool - Doctrine, Spirit, & Discipline.
• Methodism at its best provides a system to help all people grow in grace. 1) Small groups for seekers that meet in a neutral site away from the church. The church needs to be present in the public domain! 2) Small groups for people who are willing to grow as mature Christians. 3) Small groups for people who are serious believers and who are seeking to become leaders in the church.
• The big question Dr. Tom Albin asked of us pastors is, "Does your church have an intentional process to help people move into deeper levels of discipleship?" Most local churches offer a wide array of groups/activities but they are often not presented in a methodical way that can help people on their road of discipleship. It's often "hit or miss" in local churches. We need to be much more intentional in our disciple making process.
• For Wesley and the early Methodists, it wasn't just about having the right information on how to be a Christian. It was about having other Christians in a small group setting help them stay accountable in moving forward and on to perfection and holiness.
• The goal of transformation is for men and women to be fully alive. Wesley liked this quote from Irenaeus, a 2nd century early church father, and he adopted it for his Methodist movement. For Wesley, being fully alive meant 1) not being afraid, and 2) having joy.

Another Wesleyan Institute Volunteer Thank You!

The picture above is from our wonderful photographer, John Fristoe. I want to particularly acknowledge John for his photos during the April 23 - 25 Wesleyan Institute which was hosted by Faith Community and the Common Cup shared ministries. The photos are posted on our Common Cup website which John maintains on a regular basis.

Thanks, John! And again, thanks to all the volunteers who made last week's institute an outstanding event.

This Wednesday, April 29, 7 P.M., at our weekly Wednesday Common Cup program, everyone is invited to come and reflect on the teaching/learning highlights of last week's Wesleyan Institute. This will be led by our Common Cup pastors.