I offer this blog from Steve Harper as a statement of my heart as I go to the Florida Annual Conference. I pray that the polarization I have seen in the past year would give way to understanding that we are better together than apart-a better witness, a more faithful people and perhaps, even an example if we get it right. Please be in prayer for the next five days as we vote for our delegates to the General Conference in 2016.
As the Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church meet during these weeks, the challenges we face as a denomination become more apparent. And the fact that we are not agreed as to how we should deal with them is equally clear.
But running through the conferencing process is the thread that says, “Stay united!” The sentiment is longstanding, but it has acquired fresh illustration and impetus. I mark the UM Communications’ study in June 2014 as a resurgence of this momentum, where 90% of the laity surveyed in all five Jurisdictions said, “Do not divide!” If we can remember as clergy that we serve the Church (99.9% of which is laity), and refuse to “preacher-fy” the issues, we will see that we have already received our marching orders. And in that commissioning, I see these clarion calls…
(1) Forget the labels. We are a united church, so we must…
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