St. Luke's United Methodist Church

Note: this is an article in a continuing series in which I share my own stories inspired by The Upper Room’s daily suggested Bible verse and devotional story. I present this series in the tradition of United Methodist Church Founder John Wesley’s “methodical” study of The Bible, and I encourage other St. Luke’s members to become a formal contributor to this site in order to share their own testimony similarly.

A Calm Fight
Inspired by The Upper Room’s suggested reading for January 23, 2012
James 1:18-25

Having witnessed many contentious public meetings in my days as a reporter, I instinctively thought of calling a media acquaintance or two last spring when thousands of passionate Methodists were about to have it out during the United Methodist Southwest Conference Annual Conference  in Corpus Christi.

The conference was about to vote on whether Methodists should be allowed to worship openly as homosexuals in the conference. At least two churches in the conference had already begun publicly welcoming homosexuals in their congregations, and members of at least one church wore rainbow colored scarves at the meeting in support of homosexuals. I had over heard plenty of plotting against these churches in the two days before the Bishop led the Conference’s contentious vote on the matter.

In journalism school they say that “conflict” is always a key element of news. This vote was sure to be a newsworthy event!

The Bishop announced the issue near the very end of the conference and called for questions from the attendees before the entire group would vote. The first speaker rose angrily and made an attempt under the United Methodist rules to prohibit the Bishop from even allowing the discussion to ensue. The Bishop called for a quick vote on this complaint, and the attendees overwhelmingly (and somewhat angrily) agreed to continue the debate (a word that the Bishop and all on the Conference staff were careful not to use, by the way).

As all of this was going on, I suddenly realized no reporters were in the hall. My journalist’s instinct told me to call one or two, but I didn’t. I shuddered at the thought of reporters barging into the proceedings mid-way through the discussion. The accuracy of their reports would fleeting, I knew.

Nevertheless, I wish reporters had been there. They would have seen something amazing, and it surely would have been a highlight of their stories.

The Bishop politely asked conference attendees to remain silent as the speakers asked their questions (most of which were pointed toward opinion) and as the vote results were read.

I’ve heard plenty of mayors, school board presidents, and other leaders of public meetings make such requests before, and their pleas have always been ignored. When a passionate topic is on an agenda, a simple, respectful request for silence will usually fail wildly.

But not this time.

Those on the side of allowing homosexuals to have a place in the church won their case on a very close vote.

And the room just went flat.

There were no cheers, nor jeers, and I heard not one clap or a single disgusted sigh.

Everyone seemed at peace with the vote — immediately.

I’ve never been to a large denominational meeting like this before. The calmness caught me well off guard.

When one man rose to comment after the vote, I remember thinking, okay, finally, here’s the trouble I’ve been waiting for.

But the man wanted to say, simply, that he was at peace with being on the losing side. “I came to this conference with several others prepared to push for one church in this conference to be expelled from the denomination over this very issue,” he said. “But, now, I will not be asking for that action, and I regret even having had the thought.”

I’ve never heard anyone on the losing side of a bitter debate be even half as accommodating to his opponents.

Clearly God was in charge during these proceedings, and verse 21 of today’s reading certainly received its due that day: “Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.”

Thanks be to God for Jesus’ lessons on staying calm in the midst of a rhetorical battle.