From the Bishop: How Can I Say Thanks?

Lindsey Davis

Words truly are inadequate to express the heartfelt thanks overflowing in our hearts after our final Annual Conference with the gracious people of North Georgia. The entire week was one of thanksgiving for us. It was so much fun seeing the generous giving of our people to Nothing But Nets, the Child Rescue Center in Sierra Leone, Our Daily Bread in Athens and, of course, to Venezuela Now and Honduras Outreach. Taken together, you gave over $261,000 to missions and more continues to come into our Conference Treasurer.

The Thursday night celebration of our ministry here was terrific. Although Jennifer and I had a few tears in our eyes, it was a lot of fun. (Our grandchildren still believe it was a birthday party for me.) Thanks for coming, especially to all who stood in the long line at the reception to offer us personal words of greeting.

Soon a new Bishop will be named for North Georgia. Whoever it is, that leader will be fortunate to serve with such a loving group of disciples. The best is yet to come for North Georgia. You will always be in our thoughts and prayers. We hope to see you in the years to come. But if we don’t, we will see you on the other side of the Jordan – what a day of rejoicing that will be, when we all see Jesus and shout the Victory.

All our love,
Lindsey & Jennifer

Bishop Lindsey Davis serves the North Georgia Conference. He can be reached at bishop@ngumc.org.

The United Methodist Church has lost its way

The “news” coverage of the 2008 General Conference in the May 16th WCA confirmed my fears about The United Methodist Church. The UMC is on a path that makes the Hebrew’s forty years in the desert look like an organized “Sunday walk in the park”. The Board of Church and Society and the Women’s Division of the Board of Global Ministries will continue as members in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC). The RCRC mission statement at www.rcrc.org and the Book of Discipline’s stance on abortion have very similar schizophrenic stances ignoring the right to life of the unborn.Our belief in the sanctity of unborn human life makes us reluctant to approve abortion. But we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother...The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2004.

People of faith actively support women’s right to choose. We are pro-choice—not pro-abortion. Being pro-choice means we honor all choices. RCRC website, Common Questions.General Conference again rejected changes in the UMC homosexuality stance. The WCA reporting of this rejection is quite amusing. The majority report advocated deleting the “incompatibility with Christian teaching” and adopting “Faithful, thoughtful people who have grappled with this issue deeply disagree with one another; yet all seek a faithful witness.” One would think that a “majority report” would have the inside track on adoption, yet the “minority report” was adopted by the General Conference to retain the current language. Maybe the minority is actually the majority.

How long before the opinion of us in the pews is overcome by the well financed efforts of the homosexual lobbying organizations: Soulforce, Affirmation, Reconciling Ministries Network and Methodist Federation of Social Action. All UM’s should research these organizations. They and the press will not give up advocating change in the UMC position on homosexuality. As evidenced by the press time and photo in the WCA of the “marriage” ceremony of Julie Bruno and Sue Laurie. It is time for us “the minority” to organize and have our voices heard on the social issues plaguing the UMC. We could call the organization The Bible Is The Word Of God, Spiritual Action Committee.General Conference approves $642 million church-wide budget. That is a hefty wagon to pull considering we suffer a continued membership loss. Add an additional $3.7M of petition requests: $600,000 to study the church’s increasingly global nature, $290,000 for central conference affairs, $300,000 for a committee on faith and order, $115,000 for the church’s Judicial Council (likely to finance cases of transgender clergy and pastors officiating same sex unions that are not really “legal” weddings) and $50,000 for the Sand Creek Massacre site (a National Historic Site managed by the U.S. National Park Service). Imagine feeding the poor, housing the homeless or supporting missionaries with that $3.7M. Is the UMC a good steward of its financial resources?

Display of Boots represents “human cost of war”. The Council of Bishops recently called for an end to the war in Iraq and immediate withdrawal without calling on Al Qaeda to do the same. “War is incompatible with Christian teaching” except when someone declares a “just war”. Now who makes that crucial decision? “Just war” is a convenient tool used to advance political agendas of certain church factions. This war was started not by peaceful people but by those wanting to dominate the world in the name of a perverted ideology. If we are serious about opposing war; why do we continue to provide Chaplains to the U.S. Armed Forces? Why do many UMC young people enlist in such an abhorrent endeavor? (Thank God for those patriots serving in the Armed Forces) Our Council of Bishops and many members are out of touch with reality. Evil does exist and the battle is for the God given right of freedom and more importantly the very existence of the Christian faith.

The United Methodist Church is not united but fragmented with a myriad of “warring” factions. We no longer view the scriptures as God’s word that defines our theology. The UMC is on the same path as the Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Embracing non-scriptural based theology and political correctness. Does the future a hold a gut wrenching split in the UMC?I pray our Council of Bishops, clergy, lay leaders and membership re-embrace the divinity of the Bible, stop re-interpreting the scriptures to advance political correctness and social agendas and get back to living the example of Jesus Christ.

Ron Asby is a member of St. Paul UMC Marietta, Ga.

From the Editor: How ‘open’ are we?

Jim Nelson

In this issue we didn’t report on many of the petitions submitted to General Conference that were rejected, resulting in no changes to the Book of Discipline. A few even had heated debates on the Conference floor, but still resulted in the Conference deciding to do nothing, and leave the Discipline unchanged.One that caught my interest dealt with the pastor’s authority in deciding who is and is not worthy to join the church. The petition was in response to a 2005 decision by the Judicial Council, which upheld a pastor’s decision to deny membership to someone whose lifestyle he disapproved of.

The majority report coming out of the legislative committee asked the conference to make it clear that pastors and congregations “are to faithfully receive all persons who are willing to affirm our vows of membership.” Whereas the minority report urged delegates to declare “pastors have the responsibility of discerning one’s readiness to take the vows of membership.”Both were rejected. But I found the report of the debate by the United Methodist News Service interesting. It stated that a member of the Georgia delegation speaking in support of the minority report said, “pastors must be good shepherds who care for their flock. Allowing anyone to come into the community could have unintended consequences.”

I’m confused. I thought we were all sinners, and none of us are “worthy” of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Besides, what I believe is a sin; you may not and vice versa. Some sins are out in the open; even in-your-face. Whereas, others are more subtle, in the dark, done behind closed doors. The Bible tells us that a sin is a sin, and no one is any worse than any other. Who decides what behavior is acceptable and what is not?If “unintended consequences” is a problem, I am more concerned about the sins I can’t see, than the ones I can. They are often more insidious and can cause much more damage. So how do we keep out those whose sins we don’t see?

A church is defiled not by who it lets in, but by who it keeps out. Jesus said he came for the sick, that those who are well have no need for a doctor. Our churches should be full of the vilest people so we can help heal them, and lead them to Christ. Plus, how do we know the unacceptable person wasn’t sent by God, led by the Holy Spirit? If we deny them membership, are we not then denying or blaspheming the Holy Spirit, the unforgivable sin? Maybe God sent them to us because God knew that once they become active in our church, and felt the love that surrounded them, they would change their ways and live a more righteous life. Or maybe God sent them to teach us something. The Bible is full of stories of God using unholy people for holy purposes.

Jesus tells us that as we judge so shall we be judged. And isn’t “discerning one’s readiness” really just a euphemistic phrase for “being judgmental”? I don’t know about you, but I want to make the standard I set for God to judge me to be as low as possible. Being “good shepherds who care for their flock” could mean not diminishing the lives of our congregations by denying them the opportunity to interact with someone God sent to live and worship among them. Is “open hearts, open minds, open doors” just a slogan or what we truly believe?

From the Bishop: Hope for Africa Children’s Choir is a true blessing

B. Michael Watson

The theme for this year’s General Conference of The United Methodist Church was “A Future With Hope.” Nothing demonstrated that expectant theme better than the presence and ministry of the “Hope For Africa Children’s Choir.” These twenty-three beautiful children, ages 5 to 12-years-old, and their wonderful adult leaders are winning the hearts of everyone who sees and hears them. It is a joy to know that loving resources from the South Georgia Conference have made it possible for this choir to travel from Uganda to the United States to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in such a remarkable way.

Last year, while I was in the East Africa Annual Conference on one of the many missions connected with our South Georgia partnership in ministry with that conference, a group of us had the thrill of sharing in the official opening of Humble United Methodist School in Mukono, Uganda. In this miraculous manifestation of God’s marvelous ministry through The United Methodist Church, we rejoiced to celebrate that over 200 beautiful children now live in hope because some of their sisters and brothers in Christ love enough to feed, clothe, house, educate, and medicate them. The school’s mission is to provide orphans and other vulnerable children with quality education enriched with vocational skills and Christian morals to develop self-reliant and faithfully fruitful adults who will live in service to others as God-fearing and responsible members of the human family.

A music academy was born out of this ministry. Now, the “Hope For Africa Children’s Choir” is a new and living embodiment of hope for the future through the precious sights and sounds of some of the world’s most vulnerable children. You will want to meet the children and adults in this wonderful ministry. On page 6 in this issue of the Wesleyan Christian Advocate you will be able to find their scheduled performances. I hope that you will be able to attend one or more of these inspiring events and that you will be led by God’s Holy Spirit to help continue this ministry with our sisters and brothers in Africa. Your help is a participation in a future with hope! Gifts can be made through any local church or directly to the South Georgia Annual Conference, P. O. Box 52101, Macon, GA 31208, designated to our East African partnership.

Mike Watson Resident Bishop South Georgia Area The United Methodist Church.

Aging Well: Mrs. Louise Short: A True Hero of General Conference

Robert Beckum

One of the highlights of General Conference was the brief address of Mrs. Louise Short. Her statement was not an official part of the day’s agenda—-just a courtesy. Sometimes, however, amazing things happen apart from the “planned agenda.” But first, let me tell you what was on the printed agenda. We began each day with “The HERO Report.” This report came jointly from The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women and The General Commission on Religion and Race. The purpose of this daily report was to “monitor” the language and behavior of delegates, pointing out terms of condescension or other alienating use of language, which would undermine our commitment to holy conferencing. Furthermore, the daily report celebrated the contributions of minorities, the marginalized—-those whose voices may be minimized by commonly accepted assumptions.

Now, back to the unplanned order of the day—-Louise Short. At age 102 she was attending her 20th General Conference. She is the widow of the late Bishop Roy Short, and she attended her first General Conference in 1938. In Fort Worth, she was perhaps the only person present who had attended every meeting of General Conference in the United Methodist Church. She challenged the first assumption of the day when she informed the two young men sent to escort (read help) her to the stage that she was fully capable of coming to the stage without their assistance. She began by saying, “I know that most of you are amazed that I am still alive, but the truth is I’m not only still alive, I’m still LIVING!”

Then, to the Delegates of General Conference who, in its ten days of meeting, totally ignored the needs and the contributions of older adults she raised two concerns more powerfully than any other voice. First, she raised her concern over the role of the laity. “We (the general church) need to do a better job of empowering the laity—-the people in our local churches—-to be in ministry and to reach people for Christ. Solid leadership comes from solid local churches and the people in them—-lay persons are the heart of our churches and everything we do must enable them to be in ministry.” Second, Mrs. Short voiced her concern that the people called Methodists might be losing their courage to stand as faithful witnesses to the most important social issues of our day. Her most important advice to the 2008 General Conference: “Keep the faith,” she said simply, “Keep the faith.”
In Louise Short’s five minute address I heard the prayer of the psalmist: “So even to old age and gray hairs, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come”(Psalm 71:18). She didn’t make it into the HERO report given daily at the conference. My guess is, however, she made it into the report of heroes, which truly matters. This 102 year-old saint gave voice to the concerns of millions of United Methodists and their hopes for the future of our connection.Rev. Robert Beckum is Vice President of Church Relations and Development Magnolia Manor rbeckum@magnoliamanor.com

From the Editor: It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Comin’

Jim Nelson

Good Friday is the most holy day in the liturgical year. It is the Christian version of Yom Kippur: our Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement was not and is not a feast day. In fact it is the only day in the scriptures on which God commands the people to fast, “it shall be a holy convocation for you: you shall deny yourselves and present the Lord’s offering by fire.” (Leviticus 23:27b) If you sacrifice to the Lord on that day in order to atone for all of your sins, they will be forgiven.On Good Friday Jesus was sacrificed upon the cross. He became for us a sacrifice to God so that all our sins could be forgiven.

For the ancient Israelites and for us today, this is not a day of celebration but a day of solemn remembrance of all the sins we have committed over the past year: intentionally or unintentionally. It is also a day to remember the sacrifice made on our behalf.Too many of us take that sacrifice for granted. We no longer remember what dying on the cross meant. We have so romanticized the event that we forget the pain and suffering Jesus endured. We no longer hear the sound of the lash tearing into the flesh of his back. Nor do we feel the rough splintered wood of the cross, which continued to rub against those wounds. Nor do we see the blood from the thorns driven into his head running down his face, mixing with the sweat and the dust and coagulating in his beard.

How many of us would willingly endure such suffering so that others might have life and have it abundantly?We need to honor that sacrifice. The highest attendance day of the year should be Good Friday, not Easter Sunday. Sure the resurrection is something to celebrate. We need to shout Hallelujah on Easter, recognizing his triumph over death. But too often we only want to focus on the Good News at the end, and not the suffering on the cross that preceded it.We also need to honor that sacrifice by how we live our lives. We need to ensure that Jesus did not die in vain merely so we could go on sinning in the world. We need to live our lives abundantly, and help others to do the same.

Today, Good Friday, should be a day of fasting. The discomfort from the hunger we feel is nothing compared to Jesus’s suffering on the cross. Today should be a day of quiet solitude and reflection. Read the letters of Paul, who had a well-defined theology of the cross. Read the story of the crucifixion in each of the Gospels. Seek once again the grace and the forgiveness of God. Mourn again this Friday and Saturday in unity with the disciples of Jesus who had just seen their leader executed, and worried if they might be next.Only by going through the crucifixion, only by focusing on the cross can we truly rejoice on Easter Sunday morning when we celebrate the empty tomb, and life everlasting. Only then will be able to truly understand those words made famous by Tony Campolo, in his book It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Comin’.

From the Bishop: What are our lives shouting about our faith?

B. Michael Watson

Palm Sunday and Easter are days of glorious celebration that surround a week of testing, prayer, betrayal, trial, pain, and sacrificial suffering for Jesus. For Christians, remembering Holy Week is a central part of our annual liturgical journey through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.Palm Sunday through Easter is a high and holy week for us. Like the crowd on Palm Sunday long ago, children and adults still celebrate by waving and wearing palm branches acknowledging our Savior. We then are invited to spend the week seeking to understand what Christ’s saving, graceful, and redemptive love really means and what it cost. We remember that the first Palm Sunday crowd fell away as the week wore on.

In many instances those who lovingly prepare palms for today’s worshippers to wear make them into the shape of a cross! We know something that the biblical crowd did not know. We know about the cross upon which Jesus died. We know that Palm Sunday is not really the day of triumph. Easter Sunday is the triumphant day, and it takes a Cross to get to Easter.Drawing a crowd doesn’t prove everything. Winston Churchill was once asked what he thought about the large crowd that had come to hear him speak. Churchill is said to have responded by predicting that the crowd would have been much larger if he were being hanged. The Palm Sunday crowd that cheered for Jesus on Sunday was replaced by the crowd that jeered at Jesus a few days later. Shouts of hosanna were replaced with shouts demanding crucifixion.

We must be very careful about criticizing that first Palm Sunday crowd’s shallow commitment to Jesus until we have shown more commitment ourselves. We are the crowd today. What are our lives shouting? Are we willing to follow Jesus and remain his disciples in a sinful world that often rejects the divine love of a merciful Lord? Here are some discipleship questions for all of us. Are we willing to love our enemies as Jesus did? Are we willing to forgive those who curse us as Jesus did? Are we willing to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, heal the sick, and visit the imprisoned as Jesus calls us to do? Are we willing to give one day in seven totally to the worship of God? Are we willing to joyfully tithe to God’s work? Are we willing to serve our Lord Jesus Christ without thought of being honored for our service by others? Are we willing to spend time alone in prayer as Jesus did? Are we willing to study the Word of God and apply it to our lives as Jesus did?

Holy Week is a wonderful time for holy reflection on the life of Jesus and on our lives of discipleship. Easter is the time to celebrate that God’s grace is greater than the world’s sin. All who follow Jesus can celebrate the victorious life available to us through Christ’s saving act and marvelous resurrection. We have been empowered to overcome failure, sin and death because we have Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Glory hallelujah!

Mike Watson Resident Bishop South Georgia Area The United Methodist Church.