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I wrote this response to Maxie Dunnam on his Facebook
page in regards to the "Anonymous Eighty" and their insistence that
the United Methodist Church "must divide." I have great respect
for Maxie, but until the UMC and General Conference starts to
make generative discipleship and mission our priorities (as they are in
Scripture and in our own denomination's mission statement), a schism is
self-indulgent and an act of avoidance of the most sinful kind.
--
Until we make discipleship and mission our first priorities, the
United Methodist Church will continue to lose members, just as denominations
such as the Southern Baptists and Episcopalians - who, while having definitive
statements on the issue of homosexuality and same-sex marriages, continue to
lose members for the same reason: failure of generative discipleship and
missional focus. You would think we would learn from our sister communions -
but we seem hell bent to repeat their mistakes.
Generative discipleship and mission SHOULD BE the future for
United Methodists - and was at the heart of the BIRTH of Methodism. Schism at
this time and over this issue (homosexuality/same-sex marriage) is sinful,
self-indulgent, and shows unwillingness to be faithful to our primary task. We
are taking away energy, resources, and precious time away from what our Lord
commissioned us to do, first and foremost: make disciples of Jesus Christ who
go and make disciples of Jesus Christ.
I'd be more impressed by these 80 leaders if they shared their
best practices toward discipleship and growth. Say what you want about Adam Hamilton - but
he's been unselfish about sharing evangelistic tools and missional strategies
that WORK. And if you go to his church, you'll hear very little about this
issue, and more about THE issue we Christians should be worried about: making
disciples, transforming the world.
Our denomination looks like congressional infighting. I suspect
we'll end up with the same approval ratings.
Pax,
Sky+
4 comments:
Well said.
So, do you think there might be a connection between our dysfunction as a church and our church's constitution? Frankly, I do.
Perhaps this crisis is a good time to re-evaluate our basic set-up.
So, do you think the dysfunction in our church is related to our church's constitution? If so, perhaps we should view this crisis as an opportunity to revamp our constitution so that it is more suitable to a Christian community than to the American government. Perhaps it is time to think out of our constitutional box so that Wesleyanism may thrive again.
Very well put.
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