Walking Prayer for North Alabama Conference of the UMC

With a little help from Chat GPT, I created this "walking prayer" liturgy for gathering leadership the day before Annual Conference. We will pray on Wednesday, May 28, at 3:00 pm. Join us in the spirit of prayer, even if you are not physically present.

GATHERING

Leader: Let us begin in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

All: Come, Holy Spirit. Fill this place. Prepare every room to be a space of grace.

Song: “Spirit of the living God”

Scripture: “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints, for the courts of the Lord.”—Psalm 84:1–2a

Prayer: Gracious God, we dedicate this space and the time we spend here to You. As we walk and pray, let our steps be guided by your Spirit. Prepare each area to be a sanctuary of your presence. Open hearts, renew minds, and ignite faith in all who will gather here. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

WALK TO THE MAIN ENTRANCE

Scripture: “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” —Romans 15:7

Prayer: God of welcome, may all who enter this place feel received, known, and safe.

Let the hospitality shown here reflect your gracious invitation to all.

Prepare hearts from the moment they step through the door. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

WALK TO THE LABYRINTH

Scripture: "Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls." — Jeremiah 6:16

Prayer: God of the journey, In this winding path, remind us that every step with You is holy. Still our anxious thoughts, open our hearts, and lead us in the way that brings peace. Let this walk draw us nearer to Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

WALK TO THE MISSION DISPLAYS

Scripture: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."— Luke 4:18–19

Prayer: God of mercy and mission, You call us beyond our walls and beyond ourselves. As we give witness to stories of service and justice, ignite in us a holy urgency to love boldly, give freely, and serve faithfully. Let our hands become Your hands. Amen.

 

WALK TO THE PRAYER ROOM

Scripture: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” —Isaiah 30:15

Prayer: Prince of Peace, may this room be a refuge for the weary and a wellspring for the seeking. Let burdens be lifted and hearts be still. Meet each person here in sacred silence and prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

WALK TO THE DINING AREA

Scripture: “They broke bread… and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” —Acts 2:46

Prayer: Lord of abundance, bless this space where people will share meals and stories. Let every table become a table of connection, joy, and spiritual nourishment. Feed us in body and soul. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

WALK TO THE SANCTUARY

Scripture: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” —Matthew 18:20

Prayer: Holy God, let this be a place of Spirit-filled worship and conferencing.

Open every ear to hear your voice, every heart to receive your Word. Pour out your power through music, preaching, prayer, deliberation, celebration, and silence.

Song: “Surely the Presence”

 

CONCLUSION IN THE NARTHEX

 

Leader: We have walked these rooms and halls with prayerful hearts. We now entrust this space, this Annual Conference, and all who will come here to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: God of the journey, bless every step taken in this place. As people move between sessions and rooms, may they carry your peace. Let even the in-between moments be filled with your presence. Use this entire place for your glory. Let lives be changed, souls refreshed, and faith renewed. Make this house a holy ground, a meeting place between heaven and earth.

Leader: May the God who walks before us, beside us, and within us bless every gathering, every word spoken, every heart that draws near. Go now in peace. Amen.

What United Methodists Believe

The local church I’m departing from next month will be revamping its website soon after I start my new adventure as a chaplain in Birmingham. I thought I’d capture the article I wrote for the church's website on basic Methodist beliefs and post it here. I’ve worked on this wording for years, and I’d love to share it with you!

What Do United Methodists Believe?

The United Methodist Church is a 10 million member world-wide denomination, the largest of many denominations in the Methodist faith family that total approximately 80 million people in the world. The United Methodist Church is the second largest protestant denomination in the United States, and the most evenly wide spread. We love our denomination, but we live for Jesus Christ. We follow the passionate, heart-warming spirituality of the English reformers John and Charles Wesley.

We do not believe that we are “right” and everyone else is “wrong.” But we have a unique flavor. Methodists believe that while we are sinners in need of grace, our most essential identity is that we are beautifully created in the image of God. We trust in the expansive nature of God’s grace, which reaches to us before we even know it and continues to transform us long after we embrace it. We believe that God gives us the free will to respond, and we cooperate with God through spiritual practices such as scripture, prayer, worship and sacraments, sacrificing for God, and developing Christian relationships to hold us accountable. These are the “methods” of Methodism, the ways we open ourselves to God’s incredible grace.

Jesus calls us to be followers, not just fans, and personal relationship with Christ nourishes us for that great adventure. We believe in the essential nature of God as Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). We affirm that the scripture is the inspired revelation of God, and we believe that Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh to dwell among us. We assume that faith is informed by a healthy balance of scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. We believe that faith in Christ warms the heart and changes the world around us.

There is an excellent website on United Methodist beliefs which includes sections on basics of faith, sacraments, and spiritual living. Check out What We Believe.

Interested in more?

Here are some thoughts and reflections for those who would like to know more about Methodist beliefs.

The Christian church is like a river, with Jesus Christ as its source. In time the river has divided into smaller rivers and tributaries. But like a river, as travelers move upstream, they will find their way back to the source, Jesus Christ.

Traditionally, Wesleyan Christians have emphasized the following:

• - God reaches us with immeasurable grace. Grace is active in our lives long before we respond, transforms us in faith, and makes us more complete through a lifelong journey. Wesley called these ways of grace prevenient grace, justifying grace, and sanctifying grace.

• - God gave us the gift of free will. We are called to respond to the graceful initiative of God in our lives.

• - God will comfort, guide, and forgive every person, no matter who they are or what they’ve done.

• - Our faith is one of the head, the heart, and the hands. We are called to serve.

• - We find spiritual fulfillment in the balance of solitary moments of reflection and the activities of a community of faith.

• - Faith is about love, not about being “right.” In essentials, we have unity. In non-essentials, we value diversity. In all things, we are called to be people of self-giving love.

• - We are a global movement that’s making a difference in the world. The Church is bigger than we are. We are part of the Body of Christ.

In practice, we are similar to other Protestant denominations, affirming our beliefs through the sacred acts of baptism and communion. For us, these are sacraments, the outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace. They aren’t just object lessons. Something happens here.

Through baptism, we accept God’s gift of grace. People of any age may be baptized, including infants who receive the prevenient grace of God. We recognize the baptisms of any Christian faith tradition, and we do not rebaptize those who come into the Methodist faith. There is no requirement among United Methodists about how baptism must be performed, although sprinkling is most common.

Everyone is accepted at the communion table, whether members of the Church or not, whether children or adults. This table is a table of grace and all are welcome. Communion is both a sacred experience with God and a celebration of our community life together. We are always becoming the Body of Christ in the mystery of God’s grace.

The history of United Methodism can be traced back to John Wesley, an Anglican priest who felt his own heart “strangely warmed” with an assurance of God’s love nearly three centuries ago. After this experience, he began a movement of “religion of the heart” along with his brother Charles, a musician and pastor in his own right. The early Methodist movement was based on the expansion of small groups within societies, holding each other gently accountable for their discipleship. It spread like fire through circuit riding preachers on horseback. Their work launched a movement that spread rapidly in the American colonies and took hold with a fervor that still exists almost 300 years later.

During that time, our hearts have led us to build many schools as well as churches. Methodists were among the first to create institutions of learning for settlers, women, and newly freed slaves. There are now 120 United Methodist educational institutions, including schools outside the U.S., most notably Africa University in Zimbabwe. But countless other schools, as large as Auburn University, were Methodist schools at one time.

Today, United Methodists comprise the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States. Our churches are connected by a system to guide our work and govern our policies. We continue to take the lead in social, spiritual, and moral concerns. In the tradition of John and Charles Wesley, our members study scripture, encourage thoughtful debate, and confront the tough issues of the day. We still lead with our hearts, keep our minds open, and welcome everyone through our doors.

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.

Celebrating “Stay UMC”

I’m celebrating the new home of a very special prayer kneeler in a new UMC! 

It was originally placed in memory of my grandmother. It was for the UMC I served as founding pastor many years ago. 

Later in history, the church renovated and no longer needed it. Eventually, they gave it back to me. I’m so incredibly grateful.

In celebration of the Stay UMC movement, I have “regifted” it to another United Methodist Church. May it bring a prayerful spirit to the people of the newly formed All Saints UMC in Trussville, Alabama! May it strengthen them and give them good courage. We are praying for you!

Future Plans

For those of you who do not attend the church I serve, let me take this opportunity to share some important news about our future.

Sandy and I have thoroughly enjoyed our five years at this amazing church! Jacksonville First UMC is a thriving congregation, with outstanding music and missions and a tradition of quality ministries for all ages. We made it through unprecedented challenges together. First there was Covid, then mold remediation requiring a complete renovation of the children's wing and shutting down Kids 1st, then after construction was complete giving birth to the daycare all over again. Then there was the schism in the UMC. We lost some folks, but we gained others, and the church is stable, happy and healthy! We just finished an outstanding visioning process and set several forward-looking goals.

We came through all this with flying colors, and still continue to grow! I'm amazed at how wonderfully things are going. This is a great church. I have hoped for years that we could stay here until I retire. I've been in church work 42 years (36 as a pastor), and I love church ... especially this church!

But I've had a series of personal needs emerge in my family in recent months. These have forced me to consider retiring from itinerant ministry a little earlier than anticipated (the word itinerant means "traveling," or being sent by the bishop).

My father, who preached his last sermon with us a few years ago, has gone blind and recently became an assisted living resident of Fair Haven, our Methodist Home for the Aging in the Irondale area of Birmingham. He is 92, and I'm a primary caregiver. In addition, our daughter Deborah, a nurse at UAB, gave birth to a beautiful little girl four months ago. They live in the same vicinity as Dad does now, and she has arrived at a place where she needs some help raising Charlie.

So after much prayer, I recently submitted plans to the North Alabama Conference to retire from itinerant ministry, effective by the end of June. I will still serve the UMC ... I love the UMC! But to use a term from deep Methodist history, when circuit riders who traveled by horseback would eventually settle in one place, I need to serve "on location" in Irondale.

Our new home in Irondale will be minutes from Dad, Deborah, and sweet little Charlie. As if to show how much God was in it, in the midst of discerning this, I was serendipitously approached by Fair Haven (the United Methodist home where my dad lives), to discuss a chaplaincy position with me. Assuming this works out, being Fair Haven's chaplain will be a whole new ministry adventure, while giving me ample time to take care of family.

It's way too early for goodbyes. But I want our church to know, from the bottom of my heart, how much Sandy and I love them, and how hard of a decision it was. JFUMC’s next pastor, who will be announced in late March and begins his or her journey on July 1, is going to be so lucky to be here.

The Church Being the Church

Here is a letter from the United Methodist Council of Bishops to President Trump regarding foreign aid. We are the church bring the church.

Read the letter HERE.

The GMC Incites Deaths in Nigeria

Really? I guess this constitutes the first set of “GMC incited” deaths. Three United Methodists were killed in Nigeria as a result of GMC violence.

“We further urge GMC members, at all levels, to put an immediate end to the violence and refrain from disseminating misinformation that fuels fear and disdain that can lead to violence. Likewise, we call our United Methodist members to be guided by integrity and respectful while working towards maintaining peace.”

“The Global Methodist Church leaders are concerned about their future as The United Methodist Church in Nigeria continues to make steady progress. He noted that the majority of United Methodist laity and clergy stayed with the denomination.”

To read about it, see this ARTICLE.

I have always, I remain, and I will always STAY UMC.

My Twelve Convictions as the UMC Moves Forward

As I pray and continue to find healing and perspective after last year's season of church disaffiliations from the main body of the UMC, on a recent retreat I wrote down these twelve convictions. What would yours be?

My Twelve Convictions

1. Ministry is messy because relationships are messy. It’s by grace that we are saved! I love church because it’s the gift God gave us to bring people to Christ. So I embrace the messiness with joy. I choose the Jesus way and work things out in love.

2. As I said in my book, “the arc of Christian history bends toward inclusion.” Christianity, since the early church, has reformed itself over and over to come back to this gospel value. Here we are again. Reform is painful but it’s necessary to meet the times.

3. My personal views were changed by decades of ministry with LGBTQ+ Christians, in and beyond my local church. The idea that you can’t be gay and be Christian is bogus. I know too many that are. Their witness formed me over time. I have experienced the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 in slow motion.

4. I don’t worship Wesley. But I find the Wesleyan way an unparalleled, balanced, and passionate expression of biblical Christianity. Wesley’s sermon “The Scripture Way of Salvation” and our core doctrines in the Discipline spell it out. I just love being a mainline United Methodist. I believe the holiness tradition the separatists claim is a derivative of Wesleyan spirituality. I don’t believe we can arrive at a sinless life. I choose to be overwhelmed by grace!

5. It’s clear from Wesley’s writings, especially “On Schism” and “The Catholic Spirit,” that he would be mortified by how the separatist leadership has functioned over the last ten years. The secessionists caused the schism, not the people they demonized.

6. The initial concerns were valid … how do we move forward in light of dramatic changes in our culture? But the WCA formed in 2016 to openly plan schism. They overturned the One Church Plan presented by the Commission on a Way Forward in 2019, though they knew they would probably leave anyway. They also knew full and well that the Traditional Plan was not sustainable, so I have concluded that it was never intended for unity. It was to say “either they’re leaving, or we’re leaving.” I saw this from the beginning and protested. It turns out they followed through with their end game.

7. The separatists did not leave the UMC for theological or biblical reasons. They left for sociological reasons, rooted in American culture wars and ideological politics. They simply made justification for it using the Bible and theology. This exposed the underbelly of American religious history, as such movements have done in the past. I love our religious freedom because it leads more people to Christ, but this experience has shown me this is the biggest pitfall.

8. Diversity, not division, is a sign of the Holy Spirit. Unity has never been the same thing as uniformity. Wesley coined the phrase “agree to disagree” because he strove for perfection in love. Love is what matters. Love wins.

9. The gospels never even mention the hot button topics that separatists left over. But the gospels definitely teach about unity. Jesus prays for it for a whole chapter in John, noting that our unity comes from abiding in him (not agreeing on everything).

10. Yet here we are, and those who left us are our siblings in Christ who we must now love, just as we love people of other denominations. This will involve forgiveness and healing. I am on a journey of opening my heart.

11. The communion table is the gift Christ gave us to bring unity in our diversity. It’s not just about me and Jesus. It’s about the kingdom of God. We need to come back to the table in order to move forward. This message is the gift I brought to the larger discussion, for such a time as this.

12. The UMC can now robustly stand for the positive biblical value of unity in diversity, over against the divisiveness of our culture. We are unhindered by the divisions of the past and can truly embrace the vision of open minds, open hearts, and open doors. We can grow by bringing all kinds of people into vibrant relationship with Christ and a life of being immersed in grace. I’m excited about our future.

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.

Making My Book Available for Discount

To celebrate a historic General Conference and uplifting Annual Conference, I’ve made my book available for a discount. Amazon and Wipf & Stock have it for $21. I’ll send you a copy for only $15 (with free shipping).

Just EMAIL ME or PRIVATE MESSAGE ME on Facebook with your address! I’ll send it with an invoice and you can pay me later.

If you really want to know why I was active in creating the “Stay UMC” movement, this book is about why.

Adam Ployd, professor and theologian at Wesley House in Cambridge, said, “This book is not so much a work of pure scholarship—though the author has clearly done his homework on the topic of Wesley and communion—as it is an exhortative reflection on the ways in which a robust Wesleyan vision of communion should shape the future of United Methodism. West sees a central problem at the heart of the crisis facing The United Methodist Church: it is being divided by political culture wars that threaten the integrity of the Body of Christ and the radical community it is called to be. The sacrament of Holy Communion, he believes, holds the theological and practical key to renewing the Body and cultivating community in a way that can allow the church to move forward in pious, charitable unity …

“Although West is writing for a popular audience— educated laity and clergy alike—this is an erudite book. West incorporates historical voices, from the earliest generations of Christians to the English Nonjurors and, of course, the Wesleys themselves, in order to educate his reader in some fairly nuanced theological ideas. He does so nimbly, demonstrating both his knowledge of the subject matter and his ability to communicate that knowledge with unusual clarity. Indeed, this is a book to be recommended to all United Methodists struggling with the current crisis who desire a rich, reliable theological resource for thinking about things in a way that transcends the surface-level issues.”

See the link Something Happens Here for more information.

The Word of God

I believe this wholeheartedly. The Bible calls Jesus Christ the Word of God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

There is a custom of referring to the Bible as the Word, but that’s not because it is the “words of God,” chiseled in stone and handed to us. It’s because scripture reveals to us the true Word, which is Christ. We don’t read it “flat” as if it’s all the same. No, it all points to Christ and we interpret it through Christ, the “exact imprint of God’s very being.”

I have been deeply disappointed in how the Bible has been cherry-picked with little context for justification of political opinions and separatism. God gave it to us as a “means of grace.”

Thank you, C.S. Lewis, for reminding me this is not new. May we come back to Christ through our adventures in the Bible. May the Holy Spirit lead us in our theological task of interpreting it through tradition, reason, and experience.

"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.

Why Nigerian United Methodists are Staying UMC

Here’s a statement from the Nigerian United Methodist Church on why they are STAYING UMC!

“Our church has obeyed the prayer of Jesus in John 17:6-19 to be one. We have chosen love over hatred, peace over rancor, and unity over division.”

See the full statement outlining their support for regionalization and moving forward in unity here:

https://peopleneedjesus.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/umc-nigeria-press-statement-may-2024.pdf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2JqjB5PXw_g3YC9KVohGJWNK-gY2AsWHMMkUmzGpH67O9y7LhpX2IX0-o_aem_AarHL1TKDqzrcFPXLvPQSLazTqPHEQQ1WSxPkKAiDTwJ36mCVVoewO8TwlKn_7RO5n-VvEweJZuVyqa4Xg6F_G79

Wesley wasn’t “converted” at Aldersgate

I have an Episcopalian friend who remarked that it bothered him that people call the Aldersgate experience Wesley’s “conversion”. He’s absolutely right. This is what I wrote in the comments and I want to share it here.

I always balk and correct people when they call the Aldersgate experience Wesley’s “conversion.” You are absolutely on target, that’s reading Wesley through revivalist eyes. That’s saying he wasn’t really a Christian before then, like he wasn’t really “saved.” 

He was in fact quite faithful, studied, and an Anglican missionary in Georgia.

He did not claim that he got “saved” at Aldersgate. His entire theology of the lifelong journey of experiencing prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace is in fact what Wesley called “the scripture way of salvation.”

It is far more accurate to say this was a very powerful experience of assurance. “An assurance was given me,” he said, a new peace that he did not have to work so hard. Christian life is about grace. I suppose for some revivalists, this assurance is their definition of “getting saved.” But it wasn’t Wesley’s.

It is important, though, and I would press you back (while completely agreeing about the ridiculous idea that this was his “conversion”) that this experience placed a fire in his belly that became the Methodist movement. It was indeed a turnaround from a perceived sense of failure. He was run off from Georgia, yes, by the family of Sophie Hopky and related legal troubles. But not because he was a general failure as a Christian.

But more fundamentally, it was a vivid personal experience of the “heart religion” he already admired and had seen in the Moravians, and which his brother Charles had experienced the year before.

To use his words, Aldersgate was not an experience of justifying grace (conversion). It was his most vivid experience of sanctifying grace. And that turned his inner light on, with the rest of his life committed to help other people grow in holiness.

The “Tax Collector Complex”

I have decided to call it the “tax collector complex.”

In Jesus’s time, the tax collector was like the “king of sinners,” the worst of the worst of the worst. Jews found them repulsive. They are even treated as their own special category (Jesus was asked “why do your followers eat with tax collectors and sinners?”).

Because of what it says in the Bible? No. Did some of them steal off the top? Of course, the Bible says they did. Did all of them? That’s highly unlikely.

They were repulsive to Pharisees but that’s absolutely and unequivocally about culture wars (the tax collectors collaborated with the Romans). That’s why Jesus told the story of the Pharisee who prayed “thank you that I’m not like that tax collector over there” … because that’s how repulsed they were.

Even if you believe homosexuality is a sin (which I do NOT, I believe homosexuality is an orientation you are born with, it is actions that can be sinful or not), why are people so hyper focused on it? The tax collector complex. That’s the only reasonable explanation.

Here’s a simple example. We offer plenty of grace regarding divorce and remarriage (which Jesus clearly called adultery, which by the way is in the 10 commandments), but there are folks who offer NO grace at all about being queer (which Jesus never mentions at all, EVER, and it’s NOT in the 10 commandments). I am not saying we should condemn divorce, not at all. I’m saying offering grace about divorce and remarriage, but not about being queer, can simply NOT be justified biblically. It’s culture wars, plain and simple.

I debated with Nigerian pastors over their views condemning the actions of General Conference. I kept asking, if they believed homosexuality is a sin and they also believe polygamy is a sin, then why were they so offended that we simply neutralized language in the Discipline about homosexuality, but they never, EVER insist on filling the Discipline with harmful language about polygamy?

They never could answer my question. Of course they can’t … because the only justification for the difference in attitude is the “tax collector complex.” I told them they were comfortable dealing with their own social issues regionally, but they were refusing to allow us to do the same.

John Wesley Addresses the Disaffiliators

My friend Dean McIntyre shared a quote from John Wesley that is very applicable for today:

"I dislike your speaking of yourselves as though you were the only [ones] who know and taught the Gospel; ...But what I most dislike is your littleness of love...your want [lack] of union...your want of meekness, gentleness, long suffering; your impatience of contradiction; your counting every [person] your enemy that reproves or admonishes you in love; your bigotry and narrowness of spirit, loving in a manner only those that love you...your censoriousness...  of all who do not agree with you; in a word, your divisive spirit.”

John Wesley 

Letter to the perfectionists in London

November 2, 1762

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."

General Conference Reflections

I sat in as an alternate delegate and voted all morning on the last day on General Conference! It was a joy to participate more actively.

That afternoon, I was driving home from General Conference and reflecting. Just when I thought I might pull over because of a rainstorm to post a few pictures of my last day, I realized I was in Banks County, GA. This reminded me how much I’m UNITED Methodist, with every fiber of my being.

Why? My ancestors started a Methodist society RIGHT HERE in Banks County, GA where they are buried at Mt. Pleasant UMC. Their son (my Dad’s 3rd great grandfather) was ordained by Francis Asbury in 1800. Rev. Levi Garrison was a circuit rider for 7 years until he “located” and pastored local churches in nearby Anderson, SC.

And now here I am in Banks County, posting as the storm clears about how proud I am that the UMC has made it through the storm!

I’ve just left a historic General Conference, where it felt like Annual Conference felt last year. Yes of course there were healthy and normal debates, but all the rancor was gone. There was a sense of companionship, unity, healing, and connectedness.

Here are five huge takeaways for the UMC as we move forward: 

1) “Regionalization” legislation passed with flying colors and will be sent to annual conferences for ratification (it’s a constitutional change). This will give United Methodists in different parts of the world (Africa, the Phillipines, Europe, and the U. S.) a great deal of autonomy in sorting out the social issues of their region, all under one General Discipline with the core beliefs that bind us together. 

2) A fresh new set of social principles were passed which replace the archaic ones that have been amended and strung together countless times. Having a robust set of non-binding social principles (they aren’t church law) has been our tradition for over 100 years, since the church tackled issues such as temperance and child labor and made a big difference. One delegate, who happens to be a Supreme Court Justice in Zimbabwe, practiced true spiritual conferencing to find language to define marriage in a way that Africans, Americans, and everyone else in the room could support in unity. The idea that Africans and the US would never find a way to agree and move forward was a WCA/Good News/IRD “separatist narrative” that we just proved to be untrue. When you were committed to unity, you find a way.

3) The controversial and harmful language in the Discipline about human sexuality has been removed, including the punitive language and schismatic disaffiliation legislation inserted in 2019. We don’t have to agree to be together in unity. So we speak of what we agree on across the diverse world and give each other contextual space to go about the business of the gospel!

4) The denomination practiced good financial stewardship after Covid and the season of disafiliations and reduced budget dramatically. Included in this plan is that no new bishops will be elected this year … anywhere in the five US Jurisdictions … and a number will retire. There will be reassignments and transfers and conferences will creatively share bishops. At the same time, we will add 2 new bishops in Africa (we were originally planning on 5). Our denomination is perfectly sustainable moving forward!

5) As per the original "one church plan" that almost passed in 2019, the punitive bans were lifted, but there were also positive built-in protections for churches and pastors to be as traditional as they want to be. It’s sort of a “federated approach.” It’s always been the best way forward. We are a people of open minds, open hearts, and open doors!

So I am happy to “be UMC” in a new season! Thanks be to God.

Accurate information can be found in our bishop’s letter to the North Alabama Conference. You can find it here:

https://www.umcna.org/postdetail/18354109

More accurate information will be coming out from our annual conference soon. Look for that and talk to your pastor! Naturally, you can’t trust everything you’ll read ot hear, especially when it originates from sources with a separatist or proselytizing agenda.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer on real love and community

I honor the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who gave his life today (April 9) living the way of Christ in the face of evil.

Two of my favorite quotes are from “Life Together,” and very profound in these times of divisiveness, when those who have led the charge in leaving the UMC were, in my opinion, more interested in their vision of what community should be like than in actually being in genuine community, and more interested in what they thought love ought to be like than in giving themselves to Christ’s love. Lord, have mercy. It breaks my heart.

“Every human wish and dream that is injected into the Christian community is a hindrance to genuine community and must be banished if genuine community is to survive. He who loves his dream of a community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial.”

“What love is, only Christ tells in his Word. Contrary to all my own opinions and convictions, Jesus Christ will tell me what love toward the brethren really is. Therefore, spiritual love is bound solely to the Word of Jesus Christ.”

I still have the book of devotional excerpts my daughter Deborah gave me years ago, and I open it from time to time. It is dear because she gave it to me.

Unlike Shane Claiborne, I’m unwilling to say  his attempt on Hitler’s life was a mistake. Ethics are rather complex when it comes to extreme evil.