Announcing Soul Studio on Earth Day

April 22 is “Earth Day,” so as always, the whole world celebrates my birthday.

But this year I turned the big “6.0.” So I’m reflecting on life more than usual.  I’m grateful for your birthday wishes, but what I’m most grateful for is life itself.

I was born on a Tuesday, four weeks (to the day) after the March on Montgomery arrived on the capital steps led by Martin Luther King, Jr. I once went to visit that spot where MLK made his speech, “How Long? Not Long,” exactly 60 years (and 4 weeks) ago. I went just after Obama became president, pondering how far we’ve come in one lifetime. Of course, in some ways we’ve regressed since then, but I am still hopeful.

Soon I will be finishing 36 years of pastoral ministry, having served 8 churches (all of whom grew spiritually and 6 of whom grew numerically while I was there, and 5 of whom are still “United,” I’m happy to say). I’ve done 86 weddings, 168 funerals,  364 baptisms, and exactly 500 professions of faith. I kept record of each and every name.

But I’m not retiring. I’m redirecting my ministry because I really need to be more available to attend to my elderly Dad, help my daughter raise our new grandchild, and care for my wife in this new season. I look forward to the adventure of being a chaplain at Fair Haven and, on the side, launching “Soul Studio,” a ministry of writing, music, and spiritual formation.

The Holy Spirit never quits, I love to say. I am being called to a new adventure, for a new season of life, and for a new period of history.

The best is yet to come.

Holiness or Methodist?

I recently listened with an open heart to the sermon of a pastor who is one of the separatists who recently left the UMC. He articulated (very well) how their movement falls solidly into the tradition of “holiness” movements. From a historical and theological standpoint, I couldn’t agree more. Even Asbury seminary, which fuels the movement, has always been a Wesleyan holiness seminary and has never been United Methodist.

The only difference this pastor and I have is that he considers this holiness movement as the original Methodism, when I believe it is actually a derivative of early Methodism which appeared about a hundred years later.

Wikipedia describes holiness movements pretty well. See below. I agree they emerged out of the Wesleyan concept of Christian perfection. For the UMC, though, Wesley’s call to perfection has always been holiness in love, not some sort of concept of sinlessness. Striving to be free of sin is, in my theology, a vain effort. I choose to be overwhelmed and formed by the grace of God.

For more on the distinction, this Wikipedia article describes it well. You can read it HERE:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiness_movement?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0GsSA4lTjHeePVHUgOWgpHUz6KAsBYha6il5Z67B4AM-pa_vr2P-gLSD8_aem_DFuhXq1-eB6w7wqPcOMxgQ

I actually detected the holiness strain when I read through the GMC provisional book of doctrines and disciplines (to knowledgeably refute what they were doing). Specifically, it follows some holiness teacher at Asbury seminary that teaches that there are four (not three) “scripture ways of salvation” … prevenient, justifying, sanctifying, and glorifying grace. That last one is purely an additive, Wesley never said that. Also, I detected in there a call to “entire sanctification”, I can’t remember the reference exactly but it was there.

Yes, the language of glorifying grace does come out of Asbury seminary, as far as I can tell, and is not taught in UMC seminaries or included in the doctrinal section of our Book of Discipline because Wesley did not use the language himself (the matter of Eastern theosis which Wesley found attractive is considered in UMC theology a feature of sanctifying grace, as in the Eastern thought he read and adopted like that of Macarius the Egyptian). I interpret “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” in terms of sanctifying grace. I know this might be kind of “deep in the theological weeds” for some. All that’s to say when I say holiness theology is derived from Wesleyan theology and came later, that’s not a bad thing.

I love 2 Cor 3:18, which speaks of the veil on the face of Moses when in the tabernacle … “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” This is Eastern theosis indeed, which Wesley embraced. We are always being transformed (it is never past tense).

I believe the reason Wesley used the language of the doctrine of sanctification, as did the Eastern fathers, and did not add a separate category of glorification, is because for him sanctification is a continual process and experienced as a gradient, not an instantaneous experience. He did believe entire sanctification was possible, but very unlikely … and he openly said he did not know anyone who had attained it. The belief that there is a “second blessing,” a second regeneration experience that makes you free from sin, was not really Wesley’s theology … though you can certainly find strands of holiness in Wesley that could lend itself to that (he was not a systematic theologian).

If the word additive seems too strong, perhaps derivative is a better word. The doctrine of glorification is a holiness derivative of Wesley’s theology. Not only does he never say it, in my studies I don’t think he believed it, at least not in the sense of arriving in that state due to a second regeneration experience. The Christian perfection he longed for was perfection in love, the love of God and neighbor. We strive but never arrive. That love was his definition of holiness.

The GMC has embraced the doctrine of glorification that is from holiness tradition, or arguably from reformed tradition outside of Wesley, as stated in their online material. The pastor I heard is correct. One can argue that it’s derived from Wesley’s theology, sure. But I maintain that it’s not language actually from Wesley’s writings, and it’s not part of UMC doctrine or taught in any UMC seminary. Our language is here:

https://www.umc.org/en/content/distinctive-wesleyan-emphases

I want everybody to know as we wade through these theological weeds that I do not think the separatists split off BECAUSE they believe in holiness theology.

But I do believe it makes sense that they would more fully embrace holiness theology, as movements in the past which have split off from the main body have done. This is more sociological than theological. While the symptomatic issue was culture wars over the latest thing, as it always has been in the past (slavery, temperance, evolution, racial segregation, etc.), holiness theology tends to be a more convenient fit of separatist views.

All that is to say the holiness tradition is a beautiful theological tradition. There is nothing wrong with it and many United Methodists believe some aspects of it, though it is a derivative of Wesley’s original language.

Uganda Mission Trip

Celebrate with us on the return of a wonderful Uganda mission trip. 18 of us (9 from our church, 5 relatives, and 4 joining us through Africa Children’s Mission, or ACM) enjoyed an amazing journey, led by teams leaders Bruce and Evonne Cunningham. We were registered with UMVIM (United Methodist Volunteers in Mission) and hosted by the ecumenical organization of ACM.

We had many projects, all while the people of Uganda shared Christian faith so openly and passionately with us. We opened the dental clinic we sponsor for several days, visited dozens of children on behalf of their sponsors in our church at home, “mudded” a new outdoor kitchen for an elderly lady, built a well for a village that had not had fresh water for 8 months, and led “Activity Day” (think Vacation Bible School) at a local school. We visited other ministries connected to ACM, the Proverbs 31 Women and the Cornerstone Leadership Academy. I taught pastor’s school for two days with 50 African pastors (half of whom were women clergy), and we worshipped and had “dinner on the grounds” at a church where I was invited to preach. We also made various little visits to local schools near the ranch.

After the ministry work, we enjoyed a day and a half on safari before heading home. We saw the most powerful waterfall near the very beginning of the Nile River, the body of water around which the park was designed.  

We are so blessed to have had this experience. If you’ve never been in a mission trip, I encourage you to go on one. It changes your life.

"One Three Nine" by Aubrey Logan

To have a listen, click ONE THREE NINE.

I was excited that Psalm 139 came up in the lectionary. During the early days of the pandemic, I fell in love with the jazz of Aubrey Logan. She does trombone and vocals with a rhythmic fusion of jazz, pop, and rock, and sometimes her music has religious overtones (in addition to generally wholesome themes). I suspect she has a United Methodist background, because she has a number of times quoted things found in our hymnal. This selection is a good example.

I presented Aubrey Logan's "One Three Nine" in worship in June of 2024. I share it here in hopes that it helps you get in touch with the inescapable love of God through the words of Psalm 139.

Notice that she quotes "Oh, How I Love Jesus" at the beginning and the end. She didn't just do that because it's a pretty tune, she did it because it's a theological statement. She wraps the love of our Creator, who searches and knows us intricately, together with Christ in the last verse, in fact.

To have a listen, click ONE THREE NINE.

John 17

The lectionary gospel for this past Sunday was from John 17. In my sermon, I said something I've often said in the past couple of years.

“Jesus never even mentions some of things people get so uptight about that they decide to split off from their own denomination. But he most definitely did talk about unity. That’s what he prayed for. We find our life together not by agreeing on everything, especially things that are secondary to the gospel and creeds and confessions of faith … but by abiding in HIM."

Why Grandpa Hamby loved the Church

Here’s an inspiring word from the preaching Bible that belonged to my Grandpa C. P. Hamby. This is probably the very Bible he laid on the pulpit with two pistols nearby to ward off the bootleggers who were trying to shut down the Church in the 1920’s.

I wonder if this is the very sermon he was preaching. The sermon is entitled “Why I Love the Church.” Grandpa wrote:

“With all its admitted frailties and human weaknesses, we dare to join with David. Why did David so love the house of God? …

“We love the Church because of what it cost.  The Church is a costly institution. Its history is a story of divine and human sacrifice. Divine. Human.

“Last of all, we love the Church because of its future. We are not manning a sinking ship. We are not fighting a losing battle.”

#StayUMC

#BeUMC

Presentation on Staying in the UMC

I have been a spokesperson for staying UMC in this season when some have been discerning whether to secede from our denomination or remain in the main body. Each presentation has been tailored to a local situation.

Now that I have finished the last speaking engagement on my calendar, I feel compelled to share my most recent presentation with you here.

I’m passionate about the future of the UMC and believe we have great days ahead, pulling together and focusing on making disciples of Christ after this schism. I stand firmly against the wealth of misinformation that has been spread by separatists, and this presentation includes some of my  “Methodist mythbusting.”

If all you’ve heard is a separatist presentation, you have not opened yourself to a complete picture. Factual information from your pastor, conference, and bishop isn’t the “other side” but the common ground from which multiple sides should be considered.

I hope this offers a clear, compelling alternative to the separatist point of view. Some highlights are:

• The distinction between traditional “compatibalists” and “incompatibalists”
• Essential Wesleyan spirituality
• Addressing MYTHS such as the ideas that UMC beliefs are going to dramatically change, extreme examples represent the whole,  we are all going to take a “hard left,” and that leaving is a “good business deal.”
• A vision for being a traditional church in a diverse denomination
• Choosing unity over conformity and uniformity

Feel free to share it.

Letter Responding to my Stay UMC Presentation

This is a letter I was honored to receive after a recent presentation. I share it with you (edited to remove identifying information) because it beautifully and succinctly states, from a layperson’s point of view, why the vast majority of traditional United Methodists feel compelled to stay UMC.

—

Dr. West, 

I hope this isn't an imposition.  I was in the audience at {my local UMC}on Wednesday night. I wanted to speak to you after, not least to ask how you're enjoying "Strange New Worlds," but you had a number of folks waiting and we knew you had a long drive home ahead of you. 

First, I want to thank you.  It's obvious that this is a subject you're passionate about, and I truly appreciate you giving of your time.   I also have something that I simply can't get my head around.  My brilliant wife and I have talked about the matter extensively. I've spoken with {our pastor} at length, done a lot of reading, and watched what feels like hours of video (including more than one iteration of Rev. Stafford's informational session).  We have a 10-year-old son, and as I helped him with his Reading Fair project on Sherlock Holmes this past school year, we talked about the idea of "Qui bene?" that Holmes comes back to when he's stuck on a problem.  Believe it or not, that's what is really confusing to me about the present situation.  It may be that I'm not sophisticated enough or just not well-versed enough in the complexities of the thing, but I'm having a really hard time understanding how the traditionalists benefit from this.  I understand that they want a church that more closely reflects their social ideology, and that may be the answer, but I don't understand why the UMC has to be shattered to accomplish that.    

Beyond that, I find the GMC's references to Paul and Barnabas as a touchstone somewhat disingenuous.  Those two parted ways over a personal disagreement as far as I can tell, not any theological divide. It also bugs me that the whole premise of Rev. Stafford's presentation appears to be internally inconsistent, first stating that declaring Jesus as Savior is all that is required for salvation, regardless of doctrine or rules (emphasis mine), and then lamenting breaches of the Book of Discipline in nearly the next breath.  His appeal to probability, saying that because there are more and more "liberal" pastors being ordained in the UMC that even if you're a predominantly "traditional" UMC congregation, you're probably going to get a liberal pastor that doesn't align with your views, strikes me as a shabby trick more appropriate to Harold Hill.  Those, however, are my own gripes and not likely to have much of an impact on anyone else.

Sir, I know you're incredibly busy, and I understand completely if you're not able to respond.  Part of writing this was just to sort out what's been banging around in my head on this for a long while.  I'm going to vote to stay, if it comes to a vote at {my church}.  Like you, I'm sure, people I love and respect are on the other side.  If our church disaffiliates, I have no doubt we'll be able to find another church home.  What it comes down to for me, really, is that I can't see myself being part of a church that says to anyone, "You can attend worship here.  You can sit in the pew if you want. But you can't fully be part of this church because of who you are."  It seems to me it's the same as saying, "Jesus does not want you here."

Thank you, sir, again, for your time and your passion and for letting me get all this out.  I'm not sure if any of it makes sense.  If I can be of any help to you, please don't hesitate to ask.

Very Respectfully,

{name}

A Meditation on Sauty Falls

“A Meditation on Sauty Falls”

by Steve West

The water keeps coming.

It keeps coming, coming, coming.

Across the span of history in a way that’s timeless ... from my limited perspective, anyway ... it keeps coming.

Sometimes it’s bigger, louder, and faster. Sometimes it’s smaller, quieter, and slower.

But it keeps coming.

It’s not only the seasons that affect the flow. Year by year, there are changes. They are so subtle you can’t see it. But I trust it.

Sometimes a stone or tree falls in, and the water finds a new way to flow. Sometimes it carves out something entirely new as a result. Sometimes it takes a really long time.

Then sometimes it’s own creative tendency to make crevices of natural flow is reason enough to find new paths. Sometimes, part of the water ventures away from the central flow. That’s okay too. It’s just another part of the beauty.

When people like me come along to have a look, or take a picture, it’s stunningly breathtaking. But the flow is always secretly, subtly changing.

The water keeps coming. It never stops. That’s how it blesses the world.

Why? Because it’s living water.

It’s Living Water.

That’s what it means to me to be part of God’s Church.

This is a picture I took during meditation time after hiking to the falls in Buck’s Pocket State Park.

Invocation for Installation of President Don Killingsworth

Today, I had the privilege of leading a Blessing Service for Don Killingsworth at First United Methodist Church prior to his inauguration. Joining together with three other pastors from the community, we prayed for his leadership, for his faculty and staff, for his students, and for his family.

I also had the honor of praying the invocation at his installation ceremony in the colosseum and joining Governor Kay Ivey and other dignitaries on the platform.

I am sharing my prayer of invocation with you in hopes that you will join the church I serve, the Jacksonville community, and this fine university in support of Dr. Killingsworth as they enter into a new chapter in history together.

Some of the language from my invocation is modeled after the prayer presented at the inauguration of George Washington. I enjoyed studying it as I prepared for this special moment.

--

PRAYER FOR THE INSTALLATION OF DON KILLINGSWORTH

Gracious and Loving God, We acknowledge today that you are both creator of beauty in the universe and author of wisdom in the university. You have revealed your glory to the nations, and you have sustained this earth with life. You are both magnificent and benevolent, and so we pause during this important ceremony of installation to give you thanks and praise.

On this day of new beginnings for Jacksonville State University, we pray for this fine institution. We humbly ask that you assist with your spirit of counsel and fortitude the president of this establishment. May his administration be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to the faculty, staff, and students whom he serves. May he encourage due respect for virtue and build character in countless young women and men. May he warm hearts as well as enlighten minds.

Let the light of your divine wisdom direct the deliberations of the leadership of Jacksonville State University, and most especially of President Don Killingsworth. May he seek to preserve its legacy and promote its welfare. May he be enabled, by your powerful protection, to discharge his duties with honesty and compassion.

For we know, oh God, that if you have integrity, nothing else matters. And if you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters. So give him, Lord, what matters, what matters the most.

We likewise commend to your unbounded mercy all the present and future students of Jacksonville State University, that they be blessed with the pursuit of knowledge and sanctified in the practice of good citizenship. May the university be preserved in that peace which the world cannot give; and may we, after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

We pray to you, who are Lord and God, for ever and ever.

And now, with deep respect to the many diverse people of faith that might be represented here, I offer this prayer in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen.

Beth Moore Speaks Out

I’m a United Methodist, and I respect the faith of my brothers and sisters of other denominations.

But I agree with Beth Moore. I am glad to be part of a denomination that ordains women who are called by God and equipped by the Spirit, and that supports female leadership at all levels of local church life. In fact, the local church I presently serve has been greatly blessed by female clergy on the ministry staff in the past.

I believe the Bible is can be used to reinforce certain attitudes (against women, minorities, Jews, Catholics, the LGBTQ community, etc.) that go past the Bible’s original intent, instead of interpreting all scripture through the lens of Christ, the divine logos (Word of God).

Paul, in his New Testament writings, was simply pastoral and cautious at times, when in actuality the early church’s full inclusion of women was quite progressive for the times, following what was clearly the way of Jesus. His writings should be read in light of other things he wrote in scripture as well as interpreted through Christ.

You can find Beth Moore’s apology for supporting a theology of male dominance here.

Every Morning is Easter Morning!

I woke up with this song on my mind from Sumatanga days! May Easter go with you in the coming days!

Ev'ry morning is Easter morning

       from now on!

Ev'ry day's resurrection day,

       the past is over and gone!

Goodbye guilt, goodbye fear, good riddance!

       Hello Lord, Hello sun!

I am one of the Easter People!

       My new life has begun!

Daily news is so bad it seems the

       Good News seldom gets heard.

Get it straight from the Easter People:

       God's in charge! Spread the word!

Yesterday I was bored and lonely;

       but today look and see!

I belong to the Easter People!

       Life's exciting to me!

Ev'ry morning is Easter morning

       from now on!

Ev'ry day's resurrection day,

       the past is over and gone!

Ev'ry morning is Easter morning,

Ev'ry morning is Easter morning,

Ev'ry morning is Easter morning

       from now on!

Richard Avery and Donald Marsh, Words © 1972 Hope Publishing Company, 380 S Main Pl, Carol Stream, IL 60188

Praying the Psalms

I am so delighted to be part of a church that really believes in prayer.

I love the spirituality of diligently keeping up with a prayer list as a community and lifting those names not only in the newsletter, but as part of heartfelt Sunday morning prayers led by staff. I love the warmth and close proximity of the prayer room which focuses my prayerfulness before and after services, when I’m recording midweek devotions, and whenever I just need to go there to be still and know.

I also love the way this church is accustomed to making the psalms part of morning worship, as well as psalms being embedded in the lyrics of worship songs at Thrive. The psalms call our community to prayer. The psalms are the prayer book of the Church as well as of our ancestors in faith. Jesus had these prayers on his lips and in his heart. Christians keep praying the psalms, and will do so for the expanse of time, in ways that take prayer beyond words.

Whether our personal feelings at any given moment are articulated in a particular phrase, the psalms express the prayers and honest feelings of the whole Church across the world and across time. They give our prayers language and context. They connect us with the ongoing praise and prayer of all creation.

I ran across this good word in my morning devotions, from the martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer whose deep and biblical spirituality led him to stand firmly against the realities of political evil. I share this with you today from his book Life Together.

“The Psalter is the vicarious prayer of Christ for his congregation. Now that Christ is with the Father, the new humanity of Christ - the body of Christ - on earth continues to pray his prayer to the end of time. This prayer belongs not only to the individual member, but to the whole body of Christ. All the things of which the Psalter speaks, which individuals can never fully comprehend and call their own, live only in the whole Christ. That is why the prayer of the Psalms belongs in the community in a special way. Even if a verse or a psalm is not my own prayer, it is nevertheless the prayer of another member of the community; and it is quite certainly the prayer of the truly human Jesus Christ and his body on earth.”

If you are new to praying the Psalms, spend time every morning for a few days praying Psalm 63. That’s a good place to start. Let the words sink in to the very depths of your soul and articulate your thirst for God.

A Vision for Those of Us Who Wish to Stay in the UMC

There is a good article that recently came out by denominational leader Adam Hamilton on the future of the United Methodist Church. It's a centrist response to those among us who are planning to leave our denomination and form a new one. You can find the article here.

Hamilton's article articulates a vision that connects with the coalition of traditionalists, centrists, and progressives in the Stay UMC movement in North Alabama. Hamilton responds to the misleading statements of those who plan to leave our faith family to be part of a new Methodist movement.

I consider myself a centrist who believes in the Bible and focuses on the person of Jesus Christ as the “determining source” of my faith. I plan to continue to be part of a diverse UMC with traditionalists, centrists, and progressives working together in love to spread both grace and holiness.

To learn more about the Stay UMC movement in North Alabama, go here.

#stayumc

A Few Basic Facts for North Alabama Laity

Are you confused about all this? 

1. The “New Methodist Movement” is curated by a few clergy in the North Alabama Conference of the UMC that plan to leave our denomination and start a new one.

2. The post-separation UMC will not force or compel pastors or churches to change any policies concerning wedding ceremonies.

3. Forcing all clergy, churches, and parishioners of our Conference to leave our own denomination with a 57% vote would be an injustice. Those who wish to leave will be able to do so without requiring others to leave against their will.

4. A proposed new traditionalist denomination has not yet formed, so the Conference would be voting to become part of something that doesn’t exist. The uncertainties are endless.

5. If we leave our own denomination, we will no longer receive any benefits that come from it.

6. Churches in a proposed new denomination may or may not have a pastor at a given time, because there will no longer be an appointment system.

To learn more, see www.stayumc.com.

Stay UMC

Dear Methodist friends,

These are difficult times, and there are many more pressing things on our plate.

However, a group of North Alabama Methodists are advocating that the North Alabama Conference "Stay UMC," should there be a vote called for on the Annual Conference level to secede from the United Methodist Church and form a new "traditionalist" denomination. This vote could take place in 2021 or 2022 if the Protocol passes at General Conference in 2021, as many expect. There are some clergy and laity in the North Alabama Conference who are actively working toward the goal of leaving the UMC.

"Stay UMC" released www.stayumc.com today. This was to be unrolled in early March and the pandemic caused a heavy pause. General Conference has now been postponed to August/September of 2021, so it is still something in front of us.

I wholeheartedly support “Stay UMC!” I invite you to explore www.stayumc.com and join the movement.

I hope that discussions around the “Stay UMC” movement will lead to greater transparency so we can be a better Church.

I have nothing against clergy and churches who wish to leave the UMC in the present impasse. They are brothers and sisters in Christ. Some are very traditionalist, others are very progressive, but on both edges there are those that would choose to no longer stay in communion with the traditionalists, centrists, and progressives that believe we are called to be one diverse Church. The denomination is making withdrawal possible now, and churches may keep church properties if they follow the appropriate requirements. I just don't believe those who wish to form a new denomination should attempt to force the entire Annual Conference to go with them.

Please check out www.stayumc.com to understand what the Protocol is, why we wish to "Stay UMC," and what's at stake if we don't.

Palm Sunday Online!

This is the "Palm Sunday Online" worship experience of Arab First UMC on April 5, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic.

Participants were invited in advance to place palm or greenery arrangements on their doors and send in pictures, as well as have palms for their kids to wave during children's time in the service. Children had received a delivery from the church on their front porch the day before with special Holy Week toys, books, and activities. During Holy Week, they will be invited to bedtime stories each night on Facebook Live.

Included is a sermon on TRUST during uncertain times.

There is a three-minute countdown at the beginning and you may want to fast forward through that.

Why I'm Not Leaving the UMC

This blog post went viral and got 37,000 hits in the first month, plus it was picked up by Al.com and UMNews.

A few weeks ago, hundreds of North Alabama Methodists that consider themselves traditional, orthodox, and conservative met at Clearbranch UMC to talk about splitting from the United Methodist Church. I have had good interactions with the pastors who organized the meeting. They are my colleagues. They are part of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, an organization of 1,500 churches nation-wide and about 60 clergy here in North Alabama planning to launch a new denomination a few months from now, once the General Conference in May allows for their gracious exit.

I respect their convictions. But I won’t be joining them. Here’s why.

1. I made a promise. My Dad is a retired pastor, and he and I agree neither of us will leave the UMC (until recently, it was beyond my imagination that any of us would consider it). It would dishonor our family history, but there's something even more important at stake. I feel it would disregard the vows I made at ordination. I promised I would be faithful to the UMC and uphold its discipline. I have done so even if others haven't, and I am only responsible for my own vows. I follow the Discipline of the UMC even when I get heat for it, gently insisting that all people may participate fully in the ministries, sacraments, and programs of the church (yes, that’s in there). I would not perform a same sex marriage, but I’m passionate about inclusiveness in the church. For me, it’s the way of Jesus but it's also about the vows I took. Speaking of vows, I feel leaving the UMC would be hypocritical when for over 30 years, I have welcomed members into God's Church by asking them to take a vow to be loyal to the UMC and support it.

2. This has evolved past social issues to schism. I am a centrist and have varied opinions on issues. The UMC is not perfect, but diversity of thought is one reason I love it. Wesley taught Christianity was essentially about love for God and neighbor, growing through the means of grace, and staying connected even when we "agree to disagree" (yes, he coined that phrase). We have made it through divisive issues such as slavery, voting rights, temperance, civil rights, and ordaining women. It is the most evenly widespread denomination in the United States, so there will always be cultural issues. But this is a moment where I must decide whether to stay at the table and work it out or not, and to me, that’s the very definition of Church. There is no plan on the table that involves telling pastors they have to perform weddings they’re not comfortable with, telling local churches they have to do something inappropriate for their context, or telling conferences that they can’t set standards for ministry. I respect that others may leave the UMC because of their convictions, but I am staying precisely because of mine. Wesley said that separating "from a body of living Christians with whom we were before united is a grievous breach of the law of love" and hence it "is only when our love grows cold that we can consider separation."

3. There is too much to be lost. The UMC is not perfect, but it's my home. In a romanticized view of starting a new Methodist denomination, one can forget there are so many positive things to be lost by leaving. Together we have created UMCOR, the Upper Room, the Walk to Emmaus, the Academy for Spiritual Formation, Africa University, and all sorts of regional treasures like Sumatanga and the Children’s Home. In America, we have started more colleges and universities than any other faith group, and we charter more Scouts than any other denomination. No Church is perfect, but there is much to be lost by leaving. I respect those who can't live with differing practices across the country, but our DNA is connectional, not congregational. Small churches will be the biggest losers if they suddenly have responsibility to recruit their pastor (this is in the proposed Discipline of the new denomination). Promises are being made, of course, but I believe that the DNA of a new denomination that forms over cultural disagreements will end up splitting again over the next one. I honor their decision, and perhaps we will all be able to move forward more freely with bringing people to Christ. But I can't be a part of leaving.

4. I believe in the authority of the Bible. The debate is incorrectly framed as being about Biblical authority when it is really about culture wars. I hold the Bible in high authority under the lordship of Christ. It was inspired by the Holy Spirit, written by human hands, and codified by holy councils. God was in all of it. Wesley didn’t teach fundamentalist ideas such as inerrancy and infallibility. Instead, he taught the importance of interpreting it faithfully through tradition, reason, and experience. He said in our Articles of Religion that the Bible contains everything necessary for salvation, but he didn’t say it spells out everything. How do I interpret the Bible over complex issues like acceptance of LGBTQ Christians? The reason we call it the Word of God is because it reveals Christ, who the Bible calls the Word. So I read the Bible through the lens of Christ, who fulfills the law and confounds the Pharisees. I don’t worship the Bible. I worship Jesus, so to make sense of the Bible, I read it through the person of Christ. He loved every broken person he encountered. The only people he criticized were the Pharisees who had lost sight of love because of religious rules based on their tight interpretation of scripture. The Bible says God is love, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, so I believe it.

5. I am traditional and orthodox. The schism is being planned over a set of social issues that are neither discussed in the gospels nor addressed in the ancient creeds. So it is odd for people of only one viewpoint to exclusively claim the terms “traditional” and “orthodox.” There are indeed moral issues addressed in scripture we must grapple with. But our Wesleyan tradition is, once again, to interpret scripture through tradition, reason, and experience. I believe in the virgin birth, the resurrection, the humanity and divinity of Christ, the Trinity, and the things addressed in orthodoxy. I also follow the tradition of Wesley, who loved to use the saying “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.” Jesus didn’t even mention the issues that divide us, but there’s something else that he most definitely did talk about - our unity, for that’s what Jesus prayed for in John 17. I have friends that say they are not leaving the Church; the Church has left them. I get that, but I honestly find it to be an echo of southern secessionism. The UMC agrees on what’s essential, and I’m going to stay at the table and work out what’s secondary.

6. I follow Jesus. I keep coming back to the way Jesus treated the woman at the well. He offered her living water, then after indicating he knew of her past, he took her seriously in discussing the religious issues on her mind. I have noticed what he did NOT say. He gently pointed out that she was committing adultery (that one’s in the ten commandments), but he didn’t say “oh, now I take back what I said about living water.” Christ’s offer was still good, and then they had a fascinating discussion about faith. So I choose to accept people for who they are and invite them to God’s table for relationship with Christ. God handles the rest.

7. I believe in grace. Do our churches rebuke people who are divorced and remarried, not allowing them to serve in ministry? I’m not saying we should hold remarried people in judgment, not at all. I’m saying that if we offer grace in one situation addressed in scripture and not in another, it's clearly not about Biblical authority but about culture wars. I can't be a part of a new movement that insists LGBTQ people can't be Christians. I know too many that are.

8. I believe in the Church. We are the body of Christ, and I don't have all answers about the future, but leaving the table is out of the question. Our divided culture needs a witness to love that transcends our differences, not giving in to the prevalent “us vs. them” and “either/or” mentality. The biggest criticism Jesus got was that he “ate with sinners.” Who am I to decide that I can’t be in communion with someone I don’t agree with? The only people Jesus didn’t tolerate were the religious elites who were intolerant. I’m not going to be one of them.

That’s why I’ll stay UMC. I agree with Pinson UMC pastor Joe DeWitte who said “The UMC continues to discover that our church is big enough (because our God is big enough) to include people who disagree on matters that are not creedal."

Here I stand, I can do no other.

Ghana Trip Made the Papers

I am blessed with the opportunity to write a column for The Arab Tribune. I was pleasantly surprised, however, that they were able to make room for the pictures. Celebrate with us a life-changing journey.

There's more than one way Christ comes to us

This is my column that appeared in “The Arab Tribune” on Wednesday, December 19, 2018.

Every year during the holidays, it seems that one story, one experience, or one conversation captures my imagination. It's not usually any of the gifts, or all the food (as much as there is of that to be impressed by), or the lights or the parties.

It's something unusual, something unexpected, and something a bit heart-warming. This year, it was a phone call.

Last Saturday, our church held our annual "Christmas and Beyond" party where we hosted most of the 150 children and their families that we help with Christmas. We had done all the shopping in advance, so we shared a Christmas program of songs and games, treated everyone to breakfast, and opened a Christmas thrift shop for their families to enjoy.

When it was all over, I got a phone call from one of my parishioners with a story I'll never forget. During the morning's activities, a grandmother who had brought her three grandchildren to Christmas and Beyond told a story to the volunteers who were fixing her coffee.

She said that the night before, her two nephews, who are ages 21 and 23, were at her house, and they asked her grandchildren what they were going to do on Saturday. The kids said they were going to a "Christmas party" at the Methodist church.

The nephews replied, "Oh, you will have a great time! We went there when we were your age, and they made us pancakes, and we heard the Christmas story, and everyone was so nice to us! You will love it!" One of the nephews said "It is my favorite Christmas memory!"

This brings a little mist to my eyes. As if that is not heart-warming enough, the grandmother continued, "You may not realize it but this party has a lasting impact and this is proof. Twenty years later, my nephews still remember your kindness." That's the best phone call I've gotten in a long time.

I love the Advent season. In my faith tradition, it's a four-Sunday season of expectation of the coming of Christ. The little Christmas surprises ... the serendipitous, heart-warming moments ... have grown to be something I expect.

I try to keep my spiritual antenna's up to see where God is going to show up. That's because there's more than one way Jesus comes.

I shared with my congregation that I have recently discovered the teachings of a 12th century French abbot named Bernard of Clairvaux, who said something to ponder during this holy season. He said there are really three "comings" of Christ.

The first was Christ's coming in the flesh. The second will be his coming again in glory. But there is one "coming" in between, his coming into our hearts.

Here are some words from his sermon: “We know that there are three comings of the Lord. The third lies between the other two. It is invisible, while the other two are visible. In the first coming he was seen on earth, dwelling among humans; he himself testifies that they saw him and hated him. In the final coming all flesh will see the salvation of our God, and they will look on him whom they pierced. The intermediate coming is a hidden one."

He continues, "In the first coming our Lord came in our flesh and in our weakness. In this middle coming he comes in spirit and in power, in the final coming he will be seen in glory and majesty. In case someone should think that what we say about this middle coming is sheer invention, listen to what our Lord himself says; ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him’.”

It is this "middle coming" that seems to show up again and again for me during this season, sometimes when I least expect it but I try to always be looking for it. Because it lies between the other two, it is like a road we travel on from Christ's first coming to his last.

As Bernard put it, "In the first, Christ was our redemption; in the last, he will appear as our life. In this middle coming, he is our rest and consolation.”

Let him come into your heart today.

Steve West is a husband, father, minister, musician, and writer who pastors Arab First United Methodist Church. His blog, “Musings of a Musical Preacher,” is found at www.stevewestsmusings.blogspot.com.