PNW Lay Tributes (a Hunger Games reference if you are unfamiliar). Photo of Marie Kuch & Gail Grossman by the Rev. David Valera.
I know this must sound cliché but from what I have seen of the Current General Conference from the live stream and Twitter it looks like we are attempting to plan and partake in our version of the Hunger Games.
The church in the stereotypical way would be considered The Capital (the overseeing power of the body). However good this is there is always a downside of such a ruling power. The victors would be the whole General Conference 2012 delegation. They were voted on in an organized fashion, often times grueling process. The rest of the United Methodist Church would be the sponsors for this said Hunger Games. We would pour out during this time of holy conferencing with prayer and radical hospitality for all.
This is obviously something we don’t want to end up happening. But in all reality we often times fall back on the idea that it’s everyone fends for there self in the time of need and in holy conferencing. The fact that we needed to agree and change the rules before we were even able to holy conference scares me. It seems like we are becoming to idea that trusting in the church is not the right way.
Yet right now the one stable thing we need is to trust the church. We might not necessarily agree with everything the church does but we are all United Methodist. Just like Amory said in the laity address “If it’s to be…it’s up to me…it’s to be…it’s up to you…”
As the United Methodist Church we need to be rooted in our efforts through the whole community. We may not all agree the issues being brought before us but there comes a time where we need to step beyond our boundaries for the common good for those lives we have left unnoticed unwilling by our actions.
May the Odds be Ever in our Favor to do what’s right for the whole global community and The United Methodist Church community.
Heavenly Father, Grant us the ability to see the truth in the global community. May we be able to understand each other’s differences and use those differences to create a strong bond with the whole United Methodist Church. In Christ, our Lord, Amen.
