Bible Text:

“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you…”                              (Ephesians 1:17-18)

I doubt very much that we have ever sung that last hymn before in this church. It’s a hymn by Charles Wesley. (All of the hymns today are by Charles Wesley.) This one was designated for the gathering of Methodists every year for an annual conference. I think it’s also appropriate for the closing down of our every four year General Conference. “And are we yet alive, and see each other’s face?” (Hymnal no. 553) 

I did not know how General Conference would end. Would there be a split? Would we divide into two or three different denominations? I am reminded of the story of the ship that discovered a man alone on a deserted island. There were 3 huts on the island. He explained; “This hut is my house. This hut over here is my church.” Someone asked, “What’s the other hut? What’s the third hut for?” He replied, “Oh, that’s the church I used to belong to.” 

I did not expect a split of any kind. I think some of my closest friends expected a separation. It’s a little like the story about the man who was awakened by his wife, saying she heard a noise downstairs. He wearily got up, put on his robe and went down the steps. Suddenly he found himself staring into the barrel of a gun. The burglar demanded all the household valuables. Just as the burglar turned to leave, the man stopped him. “Before you go,” he said, “I’d like you to come upstairs and meet my wife. She’s been expecting you every night for 30 years.” Some people thought a split in the Methodist Church would happen. 

Factional church splitting dots the landscape of church history. Even the Methodist Church divided at times—once over the slavery issues in the 19^th century and then a little later over the authority of the bishops. Some delegates see prophecy in a familiar typo for our denomination. Instead of saying we are the United Methodist Church, they call us the Untied Methodist Church. 

But there was no split. There was no serious talk of split or separation. It wasn’t even close. 

Yes, there are some factions among us. There is a right-wing element—in many cases a rigid right. And there is a left-wing element—sometimes an angry left. The right wing wants Biblical literalism and doctrinal purity. The left wants justice to be the primary issue before the church. These two ends challenged each other. Sometimes they did so loudly and articulately. Occasionally I found myself a bit embarrassed by both sides. Each side won some and lost some. 

But there is a solid, sensible middle in the United Methodist Church as well. Most of you are a part of that middle. And the stable, creative middle held. The middle is strong in the United Methodist Church. 

I am a part of that middle. I suppose you could say I am a little left of the center. (Surprise, surprise!) I’ll have more to say about that in two weeks when I mark 40 years since my ordination. But I am grateful for the spirit in which the General Conference ended, and I am encouraged about the outlook for the next four years. 

Am I pleased with some of the decisions made? Yes, I am. Am I disappointed in some? Yes, that too. But I still love the United Methodist Church. It’s the best option for me by far. 

Let me tell you why. Why do I remain a United Methodist? 

I WAS BORN A METHODIST 

First, I was born a Methodist. I was born, baptized, raised, nurtured and loved in the Methodist Church. This is my family. One does not abandon his family when the going gets rough. Will I die a United Methodist? I am reminded of the story of an Anglican priest who announced to his Presbyterian colleague, “I was born an Anglican, I have lived as an Anglican, and I shall die as an Anglican.” To which his comrade replied, “Good Lord, man, have you no ambition at all?” 

I see no reason why I would not continue as a Methodist to the end of my days. I am a fully committed United Methodist, and gladly so. I was born a Methodist. Today I am one by conviction. This leads me to two other reasons for my affirmation. 

I APPRECIATE DIVERSITY

One of these is that I appreciate diversity. I thrive on it. On the last day of General Conference, 95% of our delegates voted “yes” on this motion:  

As United Methodists we remain in covenant with one another, even in the midst of disagreement, and reaffirm our commitment to work together for our common mission to make disciples. 

We can be in ministry together, even in disagreement—even in diversity. The Post-Gazette had one of the best editorials ever on this subject in their issue of Wednesday, May 12^th. This is what they wrote. 

United Methodists voted emphatically—869 to 41—to go on record as saying that the church stands as one. This was not a glossing over of differences, but an effort to keep love and fellowship alive despite differences… What was done at the United Methodist Church General Conference in Pittsburgh was encouraging. It illustrated—as in a marriage troubled by a recurring argument—that a divorce is not the only remedy in a church whose members disagree. 

I celebrate diversity. Some do not. I do. 

Within that diversity, I affirm the newest slogan of our church: “Open hearts, open minds, open doors.” I know that this is both who we are and who we are becoming, and I know we have some more “becoming” ahead of us. 

Jesus drew the widest possible circle to include as many people as possible. He included at least 2 greedy tax collectors whom others hated. He included a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. He included a man who was caught up in his own wealth. He included a religious legalist who sought Jesus by night to get some answers. And he included a whole boatload of fishermen. (And fishermen are always notorious liars!) Jesus drew a huge circle. And then he said, “Anyone who comes to me, I will not cast out.” Or in another translation, “Anyone who comes to me, I will never drive away.” (John 6:37) 

Some Methodists want to exclude some persons from the circle. They want to especially exclude them from the ministry. But remember how Jesus said, “Anyone who comes to me, I will never drive out.” Diversity opens us to what this means. I affirm the spirit of diversity in my church. 

Fifty years ago, women could not be ordained in the United Methodist Church. They couldn’t be ordained because people believed the Bible said that women should be silent in church, and never instruct a man. Today we have hundreds of able, committed, and called women in the ministry of the United Methodist Church.  

I have learned immensely from the women on the staff here at this church. Often when asked how to build a staff in a large membership church, I reply, “Hire a bunch of bright, pushy women and then get out of the way.” The United Methodist Church lives and thrives on diversity. 

We are doing more and more with spiritual gifts here. Nothing is more diverse than spiritual gifts. We are diversely gifted. Spiritual gifts is the way the church ought to be organized. We are trying to do it. We don’t have it perfected, but we’re moving on toward perfection. We try to put the right people in the right place at the right time for the right reason.  

I like diversity. It is a rich and powerful force for good. 

And then there is one more reason why I love this United Methodist tradition. 

WE EMBRACE DISCIPLESHIP 

We embrace discipleship as our mission. Our mission is to form disciples. 

In our diversity, some would say doctrine is central. You must believe certain things to be a United Methodist. Ministers should take doctrinal tests before ordination. Ministers should subscribe to the ancient creeds of the church.  

However, since 1996 we have said that discipleship is the central issue. We take our cue, not from the world, but from Jesus. It was Jesus who said, “Go and make disciples” as his final word. It was Jesus who said; “By this shall all persons know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” Jesus said, “Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord’ will enter the Kingdom, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Jesus said, “Every person who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise person who built a house upon a rock.” And then a very powerful passage in Matthew 25: Jesus reminds us that God welcomes into God’s Kingdom those who feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, and visit the sick and the prisoner. 

I think we read Jesus correctly. Forming disciples is our first priority. Doctrines of classical Christianity are important, but they are of human construct and thus fallible. There should be a small, dependable, flexible center. But even then, the doctrines are not as important as Jesus himself. 

A few years ago I was teaching in a summer United Methodist community. I was teaching on the book of Exodus about Moses, and how Moses trained disciples in the desert. I guess I used the word so many times that one member of the class raised his hand on the last day and said, “What is this ‘discipleship’ issue you keep talking about?” His question gave me the opportunity to speak to the issue. 

Adam Hamilton is the pastor of one of the largest and fastest growing Methodist churches in the country. Last year he said this: “I believe that United Methodists have an approach to the gospel that 21^st century people will respond to and are, in fact, hungry for, if only they could be clear about what this is.” I believe we are clear. 

I doubt that Jesus cares a whole lot about how literally you read the books of the Bible. I doubt that Jesus cares what you believe exactly about the virgin birth. I doubt that Jesus cares to what theory of atonement you subscribe. But I do believe that Jesus wants to be the master of your soul. 

First Christians were called “followers of the way.” Jesus calls you and me to God’s way of living. Jesus came to show us what that way is like. That’s discipleship. 

Why do I remain a United Methodist? First and foremost, this has been and remains my family. But also I appreciate the possibility of diversity, and I applaud the fact that we embrace discipleship as our vision. I believe that these last two pieces are powerful communicative tools for the 21^st century. 

Let me close with a quotation from Nathan Hatch at Notre Dame University. Hatch has been a Professor of American Church History at the university since 1975. In 1996 he was elected Provost of the university. He is one of the most influential scholars on the history of religion in America. Nathan Hatch wrote: 

Quite simply, Methodism remains the most powerful religious movement in American history. It appeared at the most crucial juncture of our history and remains the most dramatic movement between the American Revolution and the Civil War.[i] 

And are we yet alive? You bet we are! Thanks be to God.