3 May 2008
Reports from GC - Day 10: May 2
3 May 2008
The last day! I had lunch with my seminary roommate, Owen Ross, who pastors an Hispanic new-church-start in Dallas, and two pastors from Africa whom he knew from his studies at Africa University. It is fascinating to learn about the diverse ways ministry is practiced around the world. Michel and Mateus were astounded to learn about the labyrinth and lengthy process of ordination in the US. Apparently, a candidate in their conference can be ordained upon completing a Bachelor of Divinity with concurrent local pastoring experience. Not the 8-10 year process enforced here in the US.
We voted to maintain our ties to the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice by a narrow margin. RCRC better wake up and moderate its advocacy or the UMC may very well pull out in 2012. RCRC goes well beyond the Social Principles in its promotion of choice for legalized abortions under almost any circumstances (as I have been told). I need to do some research on this myself.
Also today, just an hour ago, we voted to allow deacons sacramental authority in special circumstances with the approval of the bishop. As a deacon, I was not in favor of this. It confuses the orders of elders and deacons and is inconsistent with ecumenical practice. But this is the Methodist way: exceptions become rules and novel practices are invented, all in the name of missional efficacy. John Simmons (of NGA) made a last minute attempt to avert the blunder by referring the matter to the next ministry study commission but to no avail. My own order of deacons in the Texas Conference invited us last year to share thoughts about this matter, but when I voiced a contrary opinion, it was clear that our leadership was not interested in a discussion. They were merely trying to amass arguments in favor of the proposal. And so goes much of our church’s legislative machinery.
Time to go home!
