I Corinthians 1: 3 – 9              God’s Grace Makes Possible....

Serving on the staff of the last three General Conferences has provided me an intimate view of what goes on both publicly and behind-the-scenes.  This quadrennial gathering of leaders elected and sent by their annual conferences is United Methodism at its best, and worst, for a concentrated two weeks of worship, committee work, legislating and fellowship. Those serving in various servant roles during the Conference have no vote or an official, public opinion on anything as we go about our tasks on behalf of all present.  Personal commitments and feelings about many of the issues surface, of course, but are kept private.

Serving in that context, GC 2004 was a particularly challenging personal experience.  I left Pittsburgh with several painful memories that could have outweighed the many affirmative recollections from the two weeks of conferencing if I would let the negative hold the positive hostage.  By God's grace, I didn't.

Following one of the particularly hurtful series of exchanges during plenary, when many delegates and observers began questioning what the denomination we loved was becoming, I found myself sitting with a friend who was also a life-long Methodist.  The two of us shared our pain and tears about how the Church that had taught us both, one in the north and one in the south, that we were to welcome all God's children into the Body of Christ. 

Now some vocal United Methodists were contending that only those who had a particular understanding about scriptural teachings could be full participants in the life and fellowship of the Church.  And some of those same voices were starting to say around the edges 'since we can't agree on these issues, its time for us to set in place a plan to separate.'  Neither my friend nor I were of the mind to repeat Methodist history reminiscent of the pre-Civil War division into the northern and southern churches.

The Spirit was present for the two of us that day.  I realized that after some words that came across hateful to me had broken the depths of my spiritual heart, other words were immediately offering healing. My friend received back from me the assurance that there were many of us across the church that remained committed to teaching and practicing a faith that was about inclusion rather than exclusion.  The Word prevailed against words that were alien to my experience of the Church over the years.

"God will also strengthen you to the end."  In the midst of feeling abandoned by my church, God's reassurance became present for me through another sojourner on the way. God's grace made it possible to continue on for another day.