Give me your hand
Difference of opinion is nothing new for United Methodists. Given that our way of doing church is built around "conferencing", you can track it all the way to John Wesley. He was obviously dealing with significant differences in his sermon entitled "The Catholic Spirit" where he focuses on the call to love one another and says, "All men approve of this, but do all men practice it?" Then he goes on to one of his most famous quotations:
"But even though a difference of opinions or modes of worship may prevent an entire external union, yet need it prevent our union in affection? Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without a doubt, we may. Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart? If it is, then give me your hand."
Regrettably, the recent General Conference seems to have forgotten Mr. Wesley's admonition. When it came to the debate over homosexuality, the conference couldn't even agree to disagree. A statement which simply acknowledged what we all know to be true--that United Methodists are not of one mind--failed to pass. Evidently there are too many folks who are not even willing to acknowledge that other faithful Methodists see things differently than they do. Amid some of the unfortunate action of the General Conference--for example, undermining the guarantee of appointment for clergy while maintaining life tenure for Bishops--I would suggest that one of the truly low moments was when the conference failed to pass this compromise statement on homosexuality. The other was when they actually voted on whether or not God loves all persons and it barely received a majority vote. Though I hate to be negative, at this point I can find very little positive result coming from this General Conference. You can find reports at www.umc.org.. but for our purposes, I hope at least in this congregation we can find a bond of love that goes deeper than our differences and a covenant of grace which allows for our diversity. We may not all think alike or vote alike, but we can all seek to offer our hand in love to one another and at least within this congregation we will seek to live in love...even when we disagree.
One of my favorite quotations from E. Stanley Jones is carved in the cornerstone of Morrison Hall at my alma mater, Asbury University. It says:
"Here we enter a fellowship. Sometimes we will agree to differ. Always we will resolve to love and unite to serve."
May it be so. Amen.
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