Stay in Love with God

This is one of John Wesley's "simple rules." Recently Bishop Rueben Job has brought this Wesleyan way of thinking and growing in our faithfulness into the light once again in his book titled, "Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living." The first "rule" is "Do No Harm." The second is "Do Good." Both of them are very simple and yet incredibly difficult to live out.
The third rule is the key to the other two. They are impossible to do on our own. The challenge is all about relationships.
How do we "stay in love" if we haven't yet fallen in love?
And how do we...once "in love" ...grow that relationship?
John Wesley had specific ideas of how we could and should do that?
I wonder...what do you do to "Stay in love with God?"

Annual Conference

It is that time of year when all United Methodist local churches send both clergy and lay delegates to their annual conference meeting. Trinity is part of Kansas East...the eastern third of Kansas. Kansas West is the remaining portion of the state. Not all states have a conference of their own the Desert Southwest and the Pacific Northwest being examples. Some states have more than one conference:
Texas and Illinois being examples of that.
Annual Conference is to be a time of reconnecting and Holy Conferencing. Person's will be approved for continuation in ministry, for commissioning, and for ordination. The conference will also honor those who are retiring and those clergy who died during the past year.
It is important to remember that as Methodists we do not have a "head" of the church. Instead equal number of lay and clergy vote on the polity or policy issues. The Bishops preside and make recommendations. No one Bishop has ultimate authority although the Council of Bishops elects one of their own to serve as the president, or official spokesperson representing the council.
You can go to the Kansas East Website: www.kansaseast.org to find out more about our conference or www.umc.org to learn more about The United Methodist Church.
All that said, do hold all the delegates in prayer this week. Our work officially begins Wednesday and continues through Saturday at noon. We will not all agree on all the issues before us. There are questions about how we remain a global church and yet honor cultural differnces in the African nations. There will be much discussion on how we might move the wording of "The Book of Discipline" to allow for more regional diversity. Let me just say that North America is not Latin America...and operating as if it is may not be the best way to transform lives and continue to bring God's kingdom to reality.
There will also be much discussion about where we, as an Annual Conference, will meet in the future. We have outgrown Baker University.
I will be happy to share the results of the week with you.
Meanwhile...shalom.

The Birthday of the Church

This Sunday, May 31st is Pentecost...the birthday of the church.
My question is what is the church?
Additionally is the church today what it was intended to be in the first century?
And finally, does "the church," as we now know it, still have meaning for the majority of people living in 21st century?

I know...tough questions.
So...ponder and let me know what you think.
God does still come to us and speaks to us...in OUR language.
Now what?

Next Steps

Last night I met with a group whose purpose will be to discern who God is calling us to be and what God is calling us to do as the church. We had a wonderful discussion and it was clear that Trinity is very important to those who chose to gather on a beautiful spring evening.
The challenge I placed before them was to articulate what they understood the mission of Trinity to be in light of the mission of the UMC... "...to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."
They were stuck...uncertain of our mission. They did agree that the reason they like Trinity is it is comfortable...small and unpretentious. We were able to claim then that one purpose or mission of Trinity is to provide a comfortable place to worship.
What else? That's the question...what else are we to be?
Shouldn't everything we do be driven by the desire to meet our goal?
If we are to be agents of change....transformation...what does that look like?
We will meet again at 7:00 on June 9th. Everyone is invited. If you are not able to attend send your input. A post on this blog is a possibility or e-mail me at otumc@sbcglobal.net
What particular steps do you think we need to take to meet the mission....
For fun you might want to visit the web sites of many churches...large and small and see what you can learn about their missions.
We do need to know where we are going don't we?
I know treading water is exhausting and not nearly as much fun as actually swimming toward and reaching a destination.

A Wedding Time of Year

Last weekend I officiated an outdoor wedding. And although there were some "differences": a flower dog, and 7 Bridal Heralds...little boys waving poles with cloth and flowers attached, it was a traditional wedding.

Last night I worked with a couple making the plans for their wedding service coming up later this summer. It will be in the church and it will be what we would all consider to be a typical or traditional wedding.

Last week I received a formal wedding invitation in the mail. Not so unusual, especially for this time of year. The difference is the wedding is going to be in Iowa. The reception in Kansas. And, the marriage will be between two women.

These are two professional middle age women who have been partners for years. They own a house together and regularly worship together, at a United Methodist Church. Indeed, I consider them to be friends and appreciate them individually and as a couple.

I know I am opening a "can of worms" here...
A marriage between two women is different. Some would argue it is not Biblical. Some want to fuss over the term "marriage" and save it for the man and woman relationship only. Certainly, as United Methodist Clergy I cannot officiate same sex unions and further,the State of Kansas does not recognize them.
So, these friends are going to Iowa to a church that is not United Methodist to be legally married.

They will be in my prayers. As is the church which continues to struggle with this divisive issue. What is it that makes us so uncomfortable? Marriage isn't just about creating the next generation...is it?

So much has changed...women are no longer "property" first of their fathers and later their husbands. Women no longer have to belong to anyone. So much has changed and yet I know many of our hearts are still closed. Why are we uncomfortable with two women... or two men living in a long-term committed covenant relationship? Are they not simply being who God created them to be? Shouldn't we honor their love and commitment to one another?

Do join me in prayer for wisdom and acceptance of that which is feels different.
Perhaps God is doing a new thing...even now.

Loving Even Them

I don't know who your "thems" are. Some days I am not sure about mine.
What does seem clear to me is that we all struggle with individuals or groups that we perceive to be hurtful or hateful. And yet, we are challenged to love one another. Repeatedly. Jesus taught to love enemies...even those crucifying him.
I need to continue to work on this. Loving those who don't love me or even like me is tough. Deep within my soul is a little girl voice screaming, "I don't want to and you can't make me."
We love because we God first loved us. We love because God empowers us to...not because we are martyrs or because we have totally forgiven or because we will earn God's love. We love because we are loved.
Take action...do something tangible out of love.

Behind Locked Doors

I have been pondering that phrase for over a week and have deleated the start of two blogs. John 20 places the remaining disciples, and likely many others including women and children, gathered together behind a locked door. What did a first century locked door look like? Was it a big chunk of wood slid into place? Surely there were not locks and keys as we think of them...and certainly not computer chip scanning locks. Much has changed. Yet, much remains the same. When we are afraid our instincts tell us to either fight back or run away. It is the old "fight or flight" response. So, at a time of persecution...just days after Jesus was executed...his followers choose "flight."
It doesn't work. Jesus comes to them, behind their locked door and says, "Peace be with you." Even more interesting is Jesus sends them out. He continues saying "Just as the Father sent me so I send you." Dang...just when they were feeling safe and catching their breath.
I cannot help but think of the locks we are hiding behind. I cannot help but wonder into what and for whom are we all being sent out to serve. Isn't it time we truly open our doors and hearts to the needs of the world. If churches were doing their job we would be wearing out our flooring and our buildings would be in constant use. Oh, I understand the need to be safe and secure and protect property...but how do we open the doors to a new reality and a new possibility that Christ really is alive and dwells with all of us.
Peace be with you. We do need to remember it is about "shalom" ....right relationship and wholeness and healing. Peace is not about comfort and contentedness. Peace is not peace without justice.
I will be working on unlocking my doors. I will be working on forgiving those who have hurt me in the past and those of whom I am still afraid. I will be working on listening to God's call and responding to where I am to go...being sent out.
How 'bout you?