Unafraid and Unashamed: Facing the Future of United Methodism

About a month ago I wrote a post after a clergy district meeting, sharing resources and links for folks to help sort through things that are currently being discussed in the United Methodist denomination.  I realized that I had not yet read Will Cantrell's book, Unafraid and Unashamed: Facing the Future of United Methodism, so I ordered it and read it.

I recently finished it and wanted to share some of my notes, thoughts, and reflections.

From a practical view, this is a very timely and helpful resource to add to the reading and discussion.  The book came out in 2017, contains eight chapters that are relevant without being too lengthy, and Wil himself has first hand experience as a delegate to General Conference.  Another positive about the book is that it isn't divisive, but rather allows you to look at the topic, to consider the topic, to open yourself up to and for discussion.  This is truly what is needed.  As mentioned in my previous post, courageous conversations and spaces in which we can have those conversations is a big piece of what is missing currently, from my perspective.

The book's eight chapters are:

Chapter 1-- Removing the Rose Colored Glasses
Chapter 2-- Paying the Cover Charge
Chapter 3-- Looking in the Mirror
Chapter 4-- Embracing Diversity
Chapter 5-- Getting Serious about Connectionalism
Chapter 6-- What's Your Agenda
Chapter 7-- Becoming the Loyal Opposition
Chapter 8-- Church Unity

In addition, there is a foreword by Rev. David Graves, the Bishop in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, an Introduction (Option: Fear of Faith), and a Conclusion (My Prayer for You, Me, and the UMC).

All total, there are 149 pages, with the Acknowledgements at the end of the book.

Though there isn't a study guide within this book, you can give your email at this link here and they will send you a leader's guide to help with discussions.

When the book came and I saw that the forward was written by Bishop David Graves, I was glad.  I know David from days gone by in the local Emmaus community and looked forward to what he said about the book in the introduction.

Before you get to the forward (and even before the title and content pages), there is a page that has the two words "fear" and "faith" prominently in the middle of the page with an explanation for each: "Fear tells us to keep doing what we have always done, hoping that the outside world will go back to the way it used to be.  Faith tells a different story."  This is a 'cause for a pause', giving us something to reflect upon before we even begin the book.

In the forward by Bishop David Graves, there are two quotes that I had underlined in my initial reading:

"In these days, we need to guard our hearts, to focus more on what we have in common, rather than focusing on our differences." (VII)

"This book can serve as a guide to respect viewpoints that differ from our own." (VII)

The Introduction goes into more detail about the option between fear and faith.

On page 7, this paragraph speaks truth: "Often life teaches us hard lessons.  Sometimes we can pick our battles.  Other times, our battles pick us, and our only option is to determine the methods we will use."

Wil asks an important question as to how we will respond to this current crisis that is going on in the United Methodist Church.  He asks: "Will we respond out of fear or out of faith?" (12)

Scriptural holiness is discussed on page 14 and how that was central to John Wesley and the life of Christ.  "Jesus was quite controversial in his day because he did not make his ministry simply about correct theology.  The Pharisees did that." (14)  "Instead, Jesus lifted up two values above theology and correct social policies: Loving God and loving your neighbor: It was these overarching values John Wesley referred to as "scriptural holiness"." (14)

Wil writes, "I pray we find the courage to look fully at our differences through the lens of our shared beliefs, our beloved means of grace, and our desire to love others as God first loved us." (15)

Amen.  What a great prayer.  Imagine if we were to come together in such a way.  What would that look like?  What could that look like?

Wil ends the introduction with these words: "If we find within ourselves the courage to set aside our fears and embark on this journey, then perhaps the people called United Methodists will discover a miraculous capacity to share hope, healing, and joy with a hurting and divided world.  As John Wesley would say, we will find ourselves spreading "scriptural holiness over the land."" (16)

If I shared all of my notes from Wil's book, you would only be getting his book through my eyes.  I encourage you to check it out for yourself and to order the leader's guide too.  Check out other resources available as well, from books to guidelines to articles to personal testimonies.  Start a group or class in which folks can come together, read and share.

It is my hope that we would find the courage to set aside our fears and embark on the journey to have courageous dialogues with one another, to find ways to love one another, to allow faith to overcome fear.

Whether you pick up this book or another one to begin the conversation, I just encourage the conversation.  In my previous blog posts on this topic (The Way Forward-- 4/13/18 and Another resource for Courageous Conversations in The Way Forward--4/15/18), I listed some resources that offer guides to courageous conversations with questions and outlines.

That might be the starting point for you.  Wherever the beginning point is, as John Wesley has said, "O begin!"

Blessings on your journey,

Debra

Article on Wil's book:

'Way Forward' Leads Pastor to Write Book about UMC Future (by Annette Spence, September 25, 2017)

The Way Forward

Last night I heard one of the best and most encouraging talks I have heard on the United Methodist Church's "The Way Forward" and how we, as United Methodists, can be engaged at this time.

Truthfully, outside of colleague discussions and reading some things in the news, this is the first talk I've heard from our Conference and District, in an official way.  It was a breath of fresh air to get the conversation going.  Reverend Al Bowles did an excellent job.

He began with a quote from Bishop Ough who is on the committee for the way forward.  In that quote, the Bishop's focus was that we have a commitment to stay at the table.  That resonates with me.  It is easier to leave the table when we are frustrated and discouraged.  It is much more difficult to do the work of listening to those with whom we disagree at the table.  It reminds me of John Pavlovitz's book A Bigger Table, in that there is always room for others at the table and when we make room to listen to one another, we may often be surprised that we have more in common than we first thought.  I recommend Pavlovitz's book as part of this discussion and as part of what it means to enlarge the table.  But that wasn't part of last night's discussion.

Rev. Al Bowles posed this question, but I don't remember if it was his or from Bishop Ough: "Are we doing enough at our local churches to stay at the table and own the struggle?"

Let that question sink in.  It's a good one.

He spoke to us about a "courageous conversation project" that was being done in another conference.  It sounded like something I had read on the South Georgia Conference when I was looking for a "spring forward" meme a few weeks back and ran across the South Georgia Conference website that was full of resources for the way forward for their people.  I asked after the meeting. It wasn't that conference.

For your perusal, here is the link to the South Georgia Conference and their resources: South Georgia Conference-- Commission on a Way Forward

Rev. Al Bowles share with us that the conference he referred to was using courageous conversations to engage folks.  There were 27 conversations in all throughout the conference where folks could come out and learn from one another, grow in their own view, and yet not attempt to change others.  This is about respectfully listening to one another, regardless of views.

Today, I looked up these Courageous Conversations and found that it is a "thing".  It caught my attention when Rev. Bowles mentioned that part of the conversations' goals were to share the facts and help people move from skepticism to curiosity to openness.  We need less skepticism and more curiosity and openness.

On the link for Courageous Conversations, I saw those words and information about how to get those types of conversations going.  There is even a booklet in PDF form that is there for downloading.

Here is the link for the Courageous Conversations information on Discipleship Ministries.

Here is the link for the booklet for the Courageous Conversations.

Rev. Bowles shared that these conversations are not a time for debate because debate has winners and losers, but rather they are grace filled conversations that offer a space of safe grace.

It is a tool for folks to be able to stay at the table.

He shared the opening questions from a meeting included ice breakers such as "What brought you here?", "Do you prefer small groups or Sunday School?", "Do you attend a traditional worship service or contemporary?"  Then, as people began to get to know one another, the questions began to include the LGBTQ conversation.

It would be great to see the questions and to offer these courageous conversations locally.

There is a link that has Courageous Conversation sample outlines for Gun Violence, Climate Change, Human Sexuality, etc.  Since the focus of the way forward is the latter, I'm including that below.  The general link can be found here.

Here is the sample outline for Courageous Conversations on Human Sexuality.  On this link you will find other resources needed, such as a prayer guide.

I found the conference in the Southeastern Jurisdiction that has initiated these conversations.  It is the Alabama-West Florida Conference.  That's cool.  Here is a link to a news article about their Courageous Conversations. All laity and clergy are encouraged to attend one of these sessions.  The cabinet met to do one as well.  What also made me happy is to see that they offered on in Spanish.  Thank you, Alabama-West Florida for doing this!  I hope and pray that we will learn from this example.

The Western North Carolina Conference has Healthy Conversation resources, along with a timeline, videos, reading resources.  Their main link can be found here. On their "A Way Forward" resource list, they include conservative and progressive resources.  You can find it on the previous link or click here for direct access.

There were two handouts last night.

One was a list of books, "Way Forward Resources for the Local Church" and also a link for "Finding the Way Forward".

The list of books can be found on some of the other sites I've mentioned, but I will list them here.

• Unafraid and Unashamed: Facing the Future of United Methodism by Wil Cantrell (leader's guide at unafraidandunashamed.com/leadersguide)
• God Unbound by Elaine Heath
• Bid Our Jarring Conflicts Cease: A Wesleyan Theology and Praxis of Church Unity by David Field
• Unity of the Church and Human Sexuality (Study Guide) by GBHEM
• Unity of the Church and Human Sexuality by GBHEM
• Living Faith: Human Sexuality and the United Methodist Church by David Barnhart and Rebekah Jordan
• Is It Time?: Helping Laity and Clergy Discuss Homosexuality One Question at a Time by Adolf Hansen
• Finding Our Way by Neil Alexander (etc.)

Click here to go to the link for "Finding the Way Forward".  From there you can see resource links and a document.

I haven't read any of the books listed on the handout we got last night.  I have read some of the books I saw on the Western North Carolina list and have seen a couple of movies.  I have read other books as well.

I will keep reading.  I will keep studying Scripture.  I will keep praying.  I will keep listening to the Holy Spirit.

I want to sit at the table and listen and converse with others.

Ultimately, I want to stay at the table.  The table may change how it looks.  I hope it gets bigger, like the dining room table at a big holiday.

Regardless, my heart's desire is to continue loving God, loving others, and loving self.

That was the second message from last night.  Bishop Looney gave a wonderful message too.  He spoke on the question of "how is it with your soul?" and answering with 'do I love God?', 'do I love neighbor?', 'do I love self?'  Bishop Looney shared of himself and it dove-tailed perfectly with the previous message, at least for me. What a blessing last night to hear from both those guys.

As I went forward for communion, tears filled my eyes.  I truly believe there is going to be a way forward.

May it be so.

Blessings on your journey,

Debra