Last Lay Speaker Post

Been a long while since I was here, but I have not been without service or voice.  I did not feel led to blog anymore.  I posted the following in the Lay Speaker Facebook Group and for full disclosure post this here, as I can no longer be considered an official Lay Speaker in the United Methodist Church. 

...

I am of a divided mind as I write this. I have had to move to a new conference due to my job, and have joined a new local church. I already face a challenge in that I need to have local church approval just to keep my previous credentials as a Certified Lay Speaker, yet alone show I could be a Local Lay Speaker. This would be the year I would renew my credentials as a Certified Lay Speaker had I not moved, but the new process is a burden I think I will choose not to bear.

The new rules:
"1. Pastor and charge conference approval
2. Complete the required courses for lay speaker
3. Interview with District Committee on LSM
4. Approved by annual conference Committee on Lay Servant Ministries
5. File annual report
6. Every 3 years complete 1 advanced course and interview with District Committee on LSM."

Well I have done the advanced course three times now, but I no longer feel led to do it for a fourth. The new rules say I am no longer qualified since I do not have the "...Required Courses:
Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts, Leading Prayer, Preaching, Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (UM Heritage), Leading Worship, Life Together in the United
Methodist Connection (UM Polity)"

I've only had one of them, maybe two. I've done 1, 5 and half of 6 for a while. I think I have done enough personal study to pass the others, but I have no "certificates".

I fear this is not a good thing for our church. I feel this is more control over laity who feel led to stand up and lead. I am not really sure it is required for Christian growth and education as much as to silence voices or an attempt to create more "Lay Ministers". I fear this will weaken the voice of laity. I pray I am wrong. I am and always will be a Lay Servant for Christ and His church, even without a title. I do not feel I need the courses for that, although they were great experience for my Christian education and growth. I am not sure I feel led to speak from the pulpit any longer given the new rules. So I no longer feel qualified to be included as a group member here. I pray the Lord lead me to the next path in our walk together.

Grace and Peace to all.

Book of Reso-what?

General thoughts crossed my mind recently in reading a post at another site I visit. The thread mentioned the Book of Resolutions created by the United Methodist Church General Conference. For any who do not know, it includes the stuff we Methodists are “resolved” about, and it appears we are resolved as a denomination about a lot of stuff. It’s not church law, but it does provide official position guidance for any agency that carries the United Methodist Church label. You can find the topics we Methodists are officially resolved about in the Table of Contents provided here at Cokesury’s website in only 18 PAGES! Eighteen pages of just Table of Contents!

It seems we are resolved to the tune of over 1000 pages of topics involving the Natural World, The Nurturing Community, The Social Community, The Economic Community, The Political Community, The World Community and ubiquitous "Other Resolutions".

Let's see... Should I read War and Peace ... or ... Book of Resolutions. Hmmm. Somehow, our General Conference is able to adequately discern the Spirit's message in over 1000 pages of resolutions? Perhaps our church bureaucracy has reached a point of diminishing return, to quote an Economic Community phrase. Is the only way to adequately express the Lord's work in our denomination by having to write down over 1000 pages of resolutions???? Really??? Are lawyers running the denomination?

So anyway...what follows is some of the questions that pour through my mind about the BoR .... and by no means am I an authority on the matter. In fact, I question whether any ONE person can be an authority. It would take 4 years to learn it, and then we change it again anyway!

thoughts....

How many United Methodists sitting in the pews throughout the world know that this thing called a Book of Resolutions exists?

How many know what is in it?

How many know what weight it carries in our denomination?

How many would join the United Methodist Church if they read it before joining?

How many would laugh at reading a 3+ inch thick book (at my last glance) of fine print?

How many members would leave if they knew what was in it?

How many would knock down the doors to join if they knew what was in it?

What does it do to make disciples?

Does it help disciples transform the world?

Does it cure insomnia, light a fire, or light THE Fire?

How much does it cost to purchase and if it does cost money to purchase, how do lower income people afford it? (Same goes for the BoD, as far as that goes).

Article...

Put it in the light! Truth usually finds a way to be in the light!

"Out of ignorance and certain outmoded cultures and traditions, many people have died....I will do everything humanly possible to rectify those anomalies because the saying goes that 'he who conceals his sickness should not expect to be healed.'"

1 John 1:5-10

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

"After watching the stories of some people with AIDS and learning that the disease could infect anybody, no matter how sinful or holy one might be, he became an activist so that people would not be blindfolded, but educated and well-informed."

I refer you to an article in the UMC news feed.

When I was a youth, I would have loved this event. It's a camp out with friends. It is a wonderful way to provide food/funds for those trapped in homelessness.

As an adult, I am pleased "The youth paid $5 each as “rent” for their boxes and brought more than 300 cans of food" for community missions. It is also pleasing to learn "The youth also heard from speakers involved in agencies that assist the homeless". I am uplifted by the fact that youth are helping provide for "the least of these" as Christ taught.

Yet, something is unsettling about events like this. What is bothering me? Is it that I feel guilt that I have I have a warm bed? Is it that something like this seems almost "condecending" to the homeless who do not own sleeping bags. Who can not trust the guy in the next box over to not take whatever comfort they may have, not to say their life to get at shoes?

I am not trying to say I am opposed to such things, or that I do not support youth doing these type of things. Yet, why am I unsettled?

Rethink Church!...(?)

Rethink Church was announced back in October with the goals as stated in the link. Since the new 10KDoors opened for business now, I guess the question on my mind is, will it work?

quote from the article...

Challenging the church

The Commission on Communication was “very enthusiastic” about the general concept for “Rethink Church,” said Bishop Sally Dyck, commission president, …

... Rethink Church is going to challenge every local church to think about what the meaning and purpose of church is.”

So I am wondering, are our local churches ready to accept the coming tide of those influenced by the new campaign to give the ole' local Methodist Church they drive by every now and then a try? Will they find the "Church is a verb" or "Church is a state of mind" concept or will they find the traditional "Church is a building for Sunday where we collect money"?

I have heard little passed on through our church except what I have read about myself. How can these large campaigns start at the top if the bottom is not ready for it? Training for the local churches is absolutely mandatory for these campaigns to work. Are we ready to recieve the people this might attract? Do we know what to expect at our local Churches?

You might say as good Christians and Methodists we already know how to treat newcomers and how to provide welcoming hospitality. Hopefully, this is the case. But still, are we ready for the different attitude? Are we ready to dig in and get hands dirty for the people who want to do Church as a verb? Are we ready "to Church" instead of just attending? Is your congregation set up to support those who want "to Church" or are you set up to have people attend events? Are you "Churching" outside of the walls of a building?

Thoughts, anyone?

Leaving Covenant

Some time ago, I mentioned in a post comment I was going to go do some reading about Christian Ethics. I acquired three books but have not been able to read adequately. I started with Hauerwas’s Peaceable Kingdom. Alas, I may have reached too soon for this tome. I found myself having to re-read portions on a daily basis, and my current ability to sit and take notes while reading is limited. I put it down for another time when I could spend the quality time to give it a better reading and reached for something more digestible given my current reading habits.

I reached for the following book, a portion of which I quote below:
Lovin, Robert W. Christian Ethics An Essential Guide. Nashville: Abington Press, 200, pp 53-54.

I came across the following paragraph on a page that I dog-eared immediately, as it seems to apply to some situations with which I have observed in a number of situations. I believe it applies at many levels and in many situations. I believe the paragraph sums up something that I have been living, but not been able to adequately express.

"Covenant does not preclude interpretations of ancient rules that help us to understand what they mean in new circumstances. What covenant precludes is an individualistic approach to this interpretative task that examines the rules and decides what to keep and what to discard according to ones own set of values and then acts on those decisions without regard for others. Interpretation in a covenant community always involves a great deal of listening, and the decision to act must involve choice; not only about what is right and what is wrong, but also about what course of action will sustain this process of communication for the future. The decision to leave a covenant is not made by deciding to do this thing rather than that. It is made by deciding to not try anymore to understand or to persuade."

I feel I may need to laminate this on a card for my wallet. I am wondering if I will need to read this paragraph quite a bit in the coming years.

The Cost of Easter

The Lord blessed me with another opportunity to provide a message. This time for our Easter Sunrise service....

During the time I was thinking about the Sunrise Service message I was to deliver, someone pointed out to me an advertising campaign from Wal-Mart – “Easter Costs Less at Wal-Mart”. For some reason, I immediately knew where my message would come from. Was not sure what it was yet, but it was going to be based on this ad from Wal-Mart.

As I thought about it, my first thoughts were ughhh…now we are equating Easter with commercialism and spending money. It’s that way with Christmas and now Easter is under commercial attack! The most I remembered seeing before was the cute Cadbury bunny ads with the bunny clucking like a chicken and laying chocolate eggs or the newsprint ads displaying bargains on your new Easter outfit for Easter Sunday or the coming springtime fashions. But this seems different, flashier. The highest, most holy celebration of Christianity is now being sold as another reason to run to the store and buy stuff to save money? Is this a sign of our times?

There’s a message there, yes, but I was unsettled. That’s not a message for an Easter Sunrise Service.

Once over the commercialism aspect, I then was struck with the “cost” statement. Easter costs less at Wal-Mart? What of the cost of Jesus dying on the cross? Was this ad poking at that? A Wal-Mart Easter costs less than the cost of Jesus dying on the cross? Now I am feeling offended! How could someone dream up this kind of slogan for Easter knowing that the cost of Easter was the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross! How dare they! I feel like writing a letter! Boycott! Boycott!

That’s a message, but I was still unsettled. That’s not a message for an Easter Sunrise.

The cost thing…keeps tugging at me. Hmmm… I’m thinking Easter doesn’t cost anything. I’m distracted from what is really important. There is a story I read of Leonardo da Vinci, I don’t know if it’s true or not, but it is said that after he completed his masterpiece of the "Last Supper", he took a friend of his to see his just completed work. The friend's first comment was, "Look at that cup! It’s beautiful. My eyes are drawn to it. It’s wonderful! It’s striking!" Without batting an eye, Leonardo took a brush and painted over the cup. "Nothing in my painting should attract more attention than the face of Jesus."

I was distracted by this Wal-Mart ad talking about the cost of Easter and it was drawing my eyes away from the face of Jesus! Jesus gives the free gift of new life! Jesus paid the price from Alpha to Omega, once and for all, so that we have NO cost at Easter. He will wipe every tear from the eye. The sting of death is gone and the old order of things is passed away. He paid with a cost that filled a tomb and then emptied it with a mark down that says “free for the asking”! To all who are thirsty He will give drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

The One seated on the throne says “those who overcome the spiritual distractions of the world will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”

By worldly standards, "At Wal-Mart Easter Costs Less", but in the Kingdom of God, Easter is free for the asking!

Stand or Deny!

I love IT!

In my home town!

Stand or deny!

I think more billboards like this are necessary!

For the Story...

Numbers Games

I’m no statistician, but I like to play with the data and plot it different ways. So when I learned that a recent study was completed in 2008 that has similar data back to 1990 about religion, I wanted to play with the data. The percent of population numbers, while interesting, do not necessarily show the story of how rapidly a particular group is growing. I found the “Estimated” numbers from each sub header, both in totals and percentage of population and wanted to see what the growth rate per year changes looked like. So made a rate of change in members(self declared) per year for each of the categories and plotted it as shown in the graph.

It tells a story that is perhaps not unknown to United Methodists (as evidenced by the recent events in Kansas West), as the Mainline membership growth rate has taken a nose dive since 2001 to the tune of losing over 900,000 members per year, and a very large chunk of that is the Wesleyans/Methodists, although all are dropping. Others that have a declining growth rate who are now losing members are Jewish and Eastern Religions. While still having a positive growth rate, Pentecostals and Atheists/Agnostics are not growing as rapidly as in the 1990s.

So who is growing at the highest rates? “Generic” Christians take the prize followed by Catholics, Baptists, “Other Protestant” and “Other Religions”.

So it appears that the mainlines are losing members to generic churches and perhaps some to the other categories. I have very mixed feeling about this. I like the connectional system for it’s ability to provide relief and care for the hungry, hopeless and helpless and yet, I am uncomfortable with some directions the connectional system has been taking that seem to me are giving up the tenets of scripture and tradition in favor of reason and experiences (and not necessarily the heart warming type experience of Wesley at Aldersgate).

While on one hand, a church shrinking could be a message to the church that perhaps you are becoming “lukewarm”, neither hot nor cold, and God is providing a message. Perhaps our Doctrines and Rules have become like the Church of England telling Wesley not to preach out in the town squares with raucous singing of tavern melodies (albeit with Christian words and meaning).

On the other hand, it could be an indication that the church is challenging the “lukewarm” life of a people who do not want to hear about it, so they go and find a message that satisfies their ears and sensibilities or their particular fellowship needs. Are they challenged to grow in their faith? Are they still members after 5-10 years? Do their ears lead to some other style after tiring of the one that led them to the last “generic”?

Perhaps there is a road in between? Perhaps the Mainlines and the other Traditional Christian denominations become the home of the mature in faith, while the Generics become the faith initiators.

I don’t know the answers. I know God is at work. Lord, I pray you show us the way. Amen.

Do you see the Geodes?

I already made a comment at the “The New 12th Gate” about this on 7villages, but I also feel I need to make a post. I must say that I did not listen to the items presented there, but I did search out and find some lyrics by the contemporary folk singer, Carrie Newcomer. The liner notes about the song “Geode” (see page 3) spoke to me. I repeat them here…

“My home in Southern Indiana is a rolling green land abundant in limestone and the mysterious rocks called geodes. Geodes are so copious in this part of the state that we pile them in our gardens and think of them as commonplace. I am fascinated with these unassuming brown and grey stones that contain inside them a sparkling center of quartz crystals. They are surprising beautiful and a wonderful metaphor. They remind me to look deeper, because often within what may appear quite ordinary is a core of beauty and mystery. Sometimes I will take visiting friends on muddy walks along the hills and hollows of my home pointing out the creek beds full of geodes. Often they confess that if I hadn’t pointed out these unadorned stones their presence would have been missed entirely. But once familiar with the signature lumpy look of geodes these friends begin to see the stones everywhere. This is how paying attention works. At first I have to look quite deliberately to find the sparkling center of things, but eventually I begin to notice the patterns and come to expect the unexpected.”

How often to we look for the “geodes”? Geodes can be people. They can be Bible passages. They can be the sermon you heard Sunday. These plain, vanilla looking things can be a wonderful delight if one takes the time to see what is hiding under the surface. Do you see the Geodes?

You can't mean me!

I had an opportunity to fill a pulpit this past Sunday at church. Here is my short summary.

(for more Strange Breed cartoons, visit www.strangebreedcartoons.com)

We start with Jonah, a prophet of Israel, given a task by God to call the ruthless, warmongering, heathen Assyrians of Nineveh to repentance. That’s the enemy!

We continue with a prophet and probably a patriot of Israel, attempting to flee in the other direction on a slow boat to Spain, manned by heathen captain and crew. Now, add a raging storm and prayers from heathens to their idol gods. Add the heathen captain preaching to a sleeping Jonah, “pray to your god!” says the captain to Jonah.

Who is the prophet in this book?

The heathen sailors try to save Jonah’s life. The heathen crew pray to God and make vows to continue. The heathen of Nineveh, including the King, turn to God. Everyone turns to God. But where is Jonah, the prophet of Israel? Jonah remains angry. Jonah is sitting on a hill outside of Nineveh. Jonah, a prophet of Israel, remains sitting on a hill in the dry wind, angry.

What I learned?
1. I am Jonah at times.
2. The Word of God might speak to me from anyone.
3. I do not want to stay Jonah sitting in a dry wind.
4. I pray I recognize “Nineveh”s when God gives them.

An Arm Waving Moment

During our annual charge conference, I was given an opportunity to give a report as Lay Leader about our congregation over the past year. I somehow forgot that I might be called upon to provide a report and did not “prepare” anything. Low and behold, I was called to provide a report. I reported how over the time as a member of this wonderful community of believers, I have seen growth in trying to reach out beyond our walls into the world. Our stewardship was improved. We were able to change events from budget meeting to needs meeting. Our fund raising events changed from budget crisis to raising funds for the Advance, UMCOR, Habitat for Humanity, our local Methodist agency (Open Door), and others.

We also started a building project to increase the size of our fellowship hall. I related that I do not “know” what mission (beyond our church fellowship needs) this new building project will bring, but I was sure that there was a mission coming. I could see it and feel it in our congregation. While I said this, I started waving my arms around (unconscientiously) as if to emphasize the spirit flowing among our congregation. Well our rather observant DS took note of my arm movements and continued to use this as an example a number of times after this!

I initially did not know what she meant, but realized after her reference, I had waved my arms around! How wonderful! Isn’t the Spirit like that? Flowing around, waving between believers, flowing in the community, moving, like the rushing of the wind and flames dancing even upon the unintentional movement of a lay leader's arms in an extemporaneous moment. Praise the flow of the Spirit!

Painting: “Women Waving”, by Sharon Hodgson.

What Me Worry?

So here it is....

Matthew 6:25–34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? …

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

I know these things. I trust in the Lord. But, my retirement accounts are looking like the big drop on the world’s largest roller coaster. But I see layoffs of my co-workers with hundreds more coming over the next year. But I see my project winding down to nothing early next year. But I see no new projects coming in the new year or next.

But...but…but…BUT WHY DO I STILL WORRY!

Sigh…Time for casting that anxiety with serious prayer and petition, starting with the thanks for what God has provided.

Image: Alfred E. Neuman by Norman Mingo

Why?

New definition for Black Friday? Is it now to be a day of mourning? Has the American pursuit of mammon gotten to the point now where common courtesy and civil interaction with people are less important than getting that deal? This is why I never shop on this day. No deal/gift/item is worth the hassle.

There is another reason. If my loved ones can not deal with missing that special thing I just HAD to get my hands on for them, perhaps I am not understanding what loved one really means? Perhaps I would be missing what the real gift is?

Painting: Woman With A Mourning Shawl, VanGogh

Shall we return to a time when...

I am wondering if it is time to return to a time of the class meeting. There is a bunch of talk of emerging church, etc., but do we really just need a good old fashion re-emergenace? So here is the first part and 5 of the "such as" of the General Rules of the "United Societies" organized by Mr. Wesley. Do we need to update any of the language for our time? Do you think you could survive an accountability class meeting? What do you think? Shall we start them up again?

...



There is only one condition previously required of those who desire admission into these societies, a "desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins." But wherever this is really fixed in the soul, it will be shown by its fruits. It is therefore, expected of all who continue therein that they shall continue to evidence their desire of salvation,


First, by doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced, such as:

• The taking of the Name of God in vain,


• The profaning [of] the day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary work therein, or by buying or selling.


• Drunkenness, or drinking spirituous liquors unless in cases of necessity.


• Fighting, quarreling, brawling; brother going to law with brother; returning evil for evil, or railing for railing.


• The use of many words in buying or selling.

Broken.

I’ve experienced a rash of brokenness within one week!

1. One car driven by son meets deer in road at 40mph.
2. Second car driven by other son meets rear end of another vehicle.
3. Fancy glass faux alabaster touchier lamp shade meets wall.
4. Rug cleaner stops working on the weekend I finally have available to use it (this is related to number 3).
5. Newly purchased low price old replacement car rear window meets disconnected pressure washer hose end (a smashing experience).
6. My normally mild temperament broken with lashing out at my loved ones.

Thankfully, there were no personal physical injuries involved in these. Some money for repairs and a new vehicle (well, a lot of money), some money for a new shade, some money for auto insurance, some money for a little Plexiglas/weather strips and some money for a new rug cleaner. 1 through 5 solved.

For number 6, some apologies and forgiveness and understanding from the family and some grace from above given to me for the asking…. priceless.

Lord, you are surely worthy to be praised!

Simple Church

In my first blog post, I mentioned I would talk about it later. It’s later. On that camping trip, I did finish reading Simple Church: Returning to God's Process for Making Disciples by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger. The target audience, it seems, is the every busy, program loaded, church leading, non-itinerant ministry pastor or church leader. (How’s that for a mouthful!) That is not to say I did not learn some things from the book, though.

The subtitle reveals the theme of the book, process. Process is not something new to me. I live and breathe all kinds of processes at work and have even help develop quite a few. I get process. The authors are introducing process to pastors and church leaders who have not had the opportunity to experience “process”.

Their process for making Disciples is Clarity-Movement-Alignment-Focus. In a nutshell, it is to be clear about your Church’s discipleship making goals, define a simple process to explain your church’s discipleship process, and implement it (Clarity). Keep people moving through the steps in the process (Movement). Align all your church ministries to the process (Alignment). Don’t be sidetracked by anything that is not the process and learn to say NO (Focus). Of course, the idea here is to create a unity to the discipleship process among the church members at every level, worship, small group, service ministry, building policy, generational, etc.

I did see some of Wesley’s Methodism concept in it, along the lines of Christianity is a life long process moving toward perfection, setting up the class meetings, etc. But I do not think Wesley had published process illustrations and alignment charts nor graphed the membership levels in the various process steps.

There was a lesson in making sure your church ministries are not busy using precious resources chasing after cherished pet projects that are not working. Nor should new projects be starting that are not supportable given your existing membership. After all, it does take a kernel of existing members to grow a ministry. If all your members are already producing fruit, can a new ministry succeed without another ministry wilting?

Beyond all that, I think discipleship is too messy to be defined in a simple process. The discipleship process seems to be an individual thing guided along by the Spirit. When the Spirit is leading Yes We Can is in order, even if the process says no. Bsides, God already defined the ultimate process.

Truth

It comes up all the time in my discussions with non-believers or doubters. Truth is relative. The Bible is myth. The Bible is mistaken. The Scriptures are culturally biased and therefore wrong. Barbarian men wrote it. etc. I'm sure you have heard it, too.

What is at the truth of it? Can't say I know for sure, but I will offer an opinion. I think it is an unwillingness to submit to God as the author of truth. It is really not different than the Garden of Eden sin, is it?

The thought of not "knowing" means "their" control is gone, when control was never theirs. It was given as a gift. For some, this drives the thought of God so far away, that a declaration of independence is issued. This is when you hear things like, "all truth is relative", for if truth is relative, then truth is not real.. It also takes the form of a never-ending search for truth in academia, or relentless attempts to acquire power, or the desire to control one another, or the pursuit of wealth at the expense of others. As those of us who believe already know, real Truth is not in these things. These are things of the world and many facts of life are evident in these things but real truth will never be found in these things. You may acquire facts or power or control or wealth, but the real Truth will elude you until you allow God to have it. Let God have the truth. This is the real Truth, the Truth that will set you free.

Painting: What Is Truth? By Nikolai Ge

I feel better now.

Now this makes me feel more like a real Unitied Methodist.

Thank you, Bishops!

Am I a Methodist?

I voted. I did not vote for Obama. Now I am wondering if I am a Methodist. I read the Bishops’ statement, this and other articles from the UMC news feed, and I wonder....am I really a United Methodist?

I fully understand and appreciate the significance and history of the election of a black person to the presidency of the USA. I am very proud that our country has reached one of many pinnacles that are there for this country and celebrate that my country reached the pinnacle of electing a black person as president! But to me, this election was never about electing a person of “race”. When I read these articles, it makes it seem like that is the important thing.

My political belief is one that supports personal responsibility. My first responsibility is to God, then to my country. As such, I did not think that Obama’s policies support that concept. In my opinion, Obama’s policies tended to have my county force the responsibility instead of allowing me to choose my responsibility. I am not bothered nor elated about who won. God is the center, and God was not on the ballot and God’s will be done.

This quote from the Bishops’ statement emphasized in the UMC news feed bothers me:

“We applaud your willingness to articulate a vision of change for the United States that is based on hope for all the people, especially those who are disinherited and disenfranchised.”

This implies, in my opinion, that my vote was not supporting the same thing. I do not think that this is what was intended by that statement, but it does trouble me. It makes it seem like the Bishops think if I did not vote for Obama, I believed otherwise. As a Lay Leader at my Church, one of my responsibilities is to teach about the connection aspects in the UMC. If I did not vote Obama, can I do that now? Perhaps if I read the entire statement, I might think otherwise? But I do not know the entire statement. Am I a proper United Methodist Lay Leader?

Another emphasized quote:

“Throughout his campaign, Obama refused to reject his ethnicity. At the same time, he refused to let it define him.”

Is the UMNS emphasizing that which we as Methodists already knew? The tone of the article is one that implies we Methodists who did not vote for Obama did not already know this. The article also seems to imply that if I did not vote for Obama, that I did not think that social justice issues are important. It even implies that because my uncertainty of Obama’s readiness to lead, I am acting in a racist manner. This is evident in the quote:

“Obama is "mysterious," "we know little about him" and on and on. So race in America is still an issue.”

Race was not the issue to me, but the quote troubled me.

Rev. Adam Hamilton’s article at least acknowledged the personal responsibility aspects of Obama’s policies, but I am still troubled by some of his other statements.

I am still left with the thought: Am I really a United Methodist?