Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Considering Others Better Than Myself at General Conference




Sunday night I had the chance to get away from General Conference and attend a church called Mosaic in Fort Worth. Although I didn’t hear them describing themselves as “emerging,” I would call them an emerging community. The scripture for the night was Philippians 2:1-11. The part I remember the most was verse 3 which is “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves” (NRSV). After the message time (which was interactive) there was a short break and then a meditation time. The meditation consisted of a series of slides with different individuals and groups inserted in Philippians 2:3. At Mosaic, each slide also contained a picture with it.

As I was driving home on Tuesday, I wondered what Philippians 2:3 would look like in the context of the United Methodist Church?


Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard the Council of Bishops as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard seminary professors as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard the Reconciling Ministries Network as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard the RENEW Women’s network as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard Catholic and Orthodox Christians as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard laity as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard the IRD as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard ordained elders as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard members of the Western Jurisdiction as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard ordained deacons as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard evangelicals as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard Transforming Congregations as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard older United Methodists as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard high-steeple churches as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard diaconal ministers as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard the general boards and agencies as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard students at non-UM seminaries as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard students at UM seminaries as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard United Methodist Men as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard the Methodist Federation for Social Action as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard Affirmation as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard MoSAIC as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard members of other mainline denominations as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard children as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard Pentecostals and charismatics as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard Baptists as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard members of the South Central Jurisdiction as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard the Good News movement as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard United Methodist Women as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard members of the Central conferences as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard members of the Southeastern Jurisdiction as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard Lifewatch as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard members of the Northeastern Jurisdiction as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard youth and young adults as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard the Confessing Movement as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard Reconciling Congregations as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard members of the North Central Jurisdiction as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard small membership churches as better than yourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.

Does the left have it right? (no pun intended) What about the right - do they get it?

Who in the UMC "gets it"? Here's one guy's take. Everyone should read this post.

Q. How is technology changing the world?

A. You can watch the live streaming of General Conference in Second Life. "It ain't your grandma's UMC!"

Sunday, April 27, 2008

General Conference Update

I've been at General Conference in Fort Worth since Tuesday. I've been campaigning for campus ministry and lobbying on behalf of UMCMA. We've been busy! It's been hard to blog from a personal viewpoint. But I have been keeping an official blog on behalf of UMCMA.

Several people are blogging about General Conference. It's interesting, I was on the escalator, and the woman in front of me looked at my name tag and asked if I blogged. She recognized me as someone who has left comments on the UM Reporter blog. It was Amy Forbus who is both a delegate to General Conference and a staff person with the Reporter. I was surprised she was able to identify me that quickly!

At one point, I recognized Beth Quick in the hallway outside the legislative committee rooms. She was talking to other people and I was in a hurry to get to my own room to monitor a sub-committee so I didn't stop to identify myself and say hi.

Becca Farnum, who is one of the young people who gave the new Young Persons Address this year, is blogging here.

Luke Wetzel
, a 20 year old from the Kansas East Conference, is the vice-chair for the Discipleship legislative committee.

Other bloggers include:
http://www.methoblog.com/
http://twoweeksintexas.wordpress.com/
http://generalconference2008.blogspot.com/
http://trinityunitedmethodist.wordpress.com/
http://cognitioetfide.blogspot.com/
http://nitrorev.blogspot.com/
http://mfsablog08.typepad.com/mfsa_at_general_conferenc/
http://conferenceimpressions.blogspot.com/
http://stephandjanatthegc.blogspot.com/
http://all-shall-be-well.blogspot.com/
http://www.genxrising.com/
http://www.umnexus.org/blog/
http://emergingumc.blogspot.com/
http://matthewlkelley.blogspot.com/
http://blog.hackingchristianity.net/
http://steverankin.blogspot.com/
http://www.generalconference2008.org/

If there are other blogs out there about General Conference, let us know. We'll be happy to list them.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

GC08 begins today in Fort Worth

Christianity Today has two articles (here and here)on United Methodist issues at General Conference.

General Conference
begins today in Fort Worth.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

John 10:1-10

“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.