It’s Still All About Jesus, Isn’t It?!!
When things get confusing or tedious here at General Conference, I will occasionally turn to someone sitting next to me and whisper with a smile, “Remind me of something: It’s still all about Jesus, isn’t it?!”
Thus far, I have been assured that it is.
Most of my time during the last couple of days has been spent in my legislative section (Church and Society #1). In fact, it’s about 1:00 AM and I just arrived back at the hotel from our evening session. (By the way, the lack of sleep may impact my coherence and spelling at anny tiime!!)
The most substantive piece of legislation to come before my legislative section had to do with the recommendation of a new Social Creed for our denomination. In case some of you didn’t know that we have a Social Creed as United Methodists…well…we do! It was approved way back in 1908 and appears in our Book of Discipline (at the end of the Social Principles). The existing social creed is this:
We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of creation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom we acknowledge God’s gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends.
We affirm the natural world as God’s handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind.
We joyfully receive for ourselves and others the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage, and the family.
We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging, and people with disabilities; to improvement of the quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.
We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the glory of God and the good of themselves and others and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress.
We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to the rule of justice and law among nations, and to individual freedom for all people of the world.
We believe in the present and final triumph of God’s Word in human affairs and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the gospel in the world. Amen.
Now, here is the proposed new social creed upon which my legislative section voted today:
Today is the day we accept that
God embraces all hues of humanity,
cares for the plight of the world’s children, and
weeps as we undo earth’s goodness,
And so shall we.Today is the day we accept that
God values the health, healing, and wholeness of all life,
delights in difference and diversity, and
favors hospitality turning strangers into friends,
And so shall we.Today is the day we accept that
God cries at the flood of starving people,
abhors the rapidly increasing disparity between rich and poor, and
yearns for the just treatment of workers in the marketplace.
And so shall we.Today is the day we accept that
God deplores the violence in our homes and streets,
rebukes the world’s warring madness, and
humbles the powerful on behalf of the powerless,
And so shall we.
This proposed new social creed was overwhelmingly supported by my section (41-14). I was one of the ones who spoke against it. In the first place, it is written in litany form as a liturgical poem, and I am convinced that our social creed needs the precision of prose in this complicated and fragmented world. Furthermore, the theological claims in the proposed creed are much more vague (and we can ill afford such vagueness these days).
I won’t bore you with the rest of my arguments. Suffice it to say that, with all due respect to the beautiful giftedness of the new creed’s writers, I think the 1908 version is far more theologically holistic. We’ll see what the entire General Conference has to say about it as the days unfold.
OK, bedtime now. Worship is at 8:00 AM, followed by a day of work.
Pray for the soul (and body) of this weary pewboy!
Amen Eric…I’m praying for ya.
Eric,
First of all: YES…it really is still all about Jesus!
Secondly: I thank God that you’re there making sure that at least somebody still thinks theologically and cares about the craft of words. I’m praying for you!
I have to agree with you, Eric. The new creed is very vague. I sure hope we don’t become such a vague church. I feel us heading in that direction, and frankly that scares me. I continue to pray for you and all the folks at GC. At this time in our world we need solid foundations on which to build and not vague, sandy ones that will cause us to crumble.
Grace and peace, my friend…
Charlotte
Eric,
I concur with your nonconcurrence.
I’m sorry you are so tired already, but I believe it is because the battle is so strong and you are standing in the Lord’s will strongly; thus the draining of strength. Take joy in knowing you are doing the will of the Lord! We prayed for you at CHCUMC last night
Eric,
Your are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. Sounds like you are doing good work for the cause of Christ. That litany sounds very poetic, but not the stuff a social creed for the UMC is made of. It may reflect the situation TODAY, but theologically, how will it speak to the church in 10 or 20 years. Keep on standing in the gap for the rest of us, my friend.
Eric,
I agree with your comments about the proposed social creed.
You are in my prayers
Jim
I agree with you Eric. You gonna argue that on the floor? You should!
FYI to all of blog land…while I hadn’t blogged in 6 months I am blogging at GC in case anyone cares about my thoughts.
Dear Eric,
You are not alone in your thoughts…14 others and more share your wisdom. Please stand firm with your wisdom on this. We know that a minority can impact change. Sometimes that minority may impact change for good or bad, but I believe that your voice as a minority on this issue would weigh greatly for the Kingdom. May God grant you boldness and strength when you grow weary. Louise’s words speak such truth…
“That litany sounds very poetic, but not the stuff a social creed for the UMC is made of. It may reflect the situation TODAY, but theologically, how will it speak to the church in 10 or 20 years.”
YES, it is all about Jesus!
Colossians 2:8-10
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.
Grace and Peace friend,
Sherri
Eric,
I agree with you Eric, in that the new Social Decree is too vague! I thank God that you are there to speak from your heart with words of wisdom!
Just know that you are in my daily thoughts and prayers. May the Lord replenish your energy and keep you centered.
God Bless!
Denise Vacco
WOW! Reading it, i was hoping you were against the new one! I am with you and hope that they do not change it! Maybe I should check my spellling tooo as I can not believe 41 people would vote to change that! My prayers are with you and them!
Eric-
Even as I was reading the new creed thinking it sounded nice, I was questioning it in my spirit. Yes, it is still about Jesus and His ways. Thank you for standing in for those of us who agree with you.
Sue
My dear pastor and friend –
Isn’t it ALWAYS about Jesus?? I, too, concur that the new creed is not best for our fellowship of believers. It is too …. hmmm … comfortable. We need to be held to a standard; I am having trouble finding that standard in the new creed.
Your prayer partner,
“Princess” Sharon
Hi Eric!
Wow, as I read the second creed, I was afraid I might be the only one not to like it. It truely doesn’t sound right to me. It lacks care and concern, and feels empty. Maybe those who voted for it, were too tired to really appreciate the old creed.
Always in my prayers!
Love ya, Debbie
P.S. Thank goodness, it is always about Jesus!
Eric,
God bless you, brother. I agree with you wholeheartedly re: the Creed, which I make sure we use at least quarterly in worship. Your rationale is entirely solid, and I pray you’re not alone in Fort Worth!
We are lifting you up daily, and prayed for each member of our delegation by name in worship on Sunday. May you have the wisdom, good spirits, and especially the STAMINA to get through these long but important days.
The Creed that was written and excepted back in 1908 seems on the money to me, why waste time changing something, that doesnt seem broken? I was actually amazed at the language used 100 years ago. Continued prayers for you, stay strong and focused!
B~
Vagueness is a great strategy when you believe peace and harmony in the church is the greatest good. Why be specific and offend people?
Just taking one of the “bad things” the new creed is against: “warring madness.” Some UMs are hardcore pacifists. Some UMs are hardcore Just War people. Some are hard core Americanists (”Whatever America does must be right”). All of them could agree with being against “warring madness” since there is no need to identify any particular war as an instance of warring madness. ‘Our war is very sane and rational, thank you!’
Eric,
Wow! I actually saw you speak concerning this issue on the floor at GC today online. I just happened to log on at the right time! I am rejoicing in your boldness and courage!
May the Holy Spirit continue to sustain and guide you through the next few days. I am grateful that you were chosen to represent the Western PA Annual Conference at GC! GC is indeed important work! You are being prayed for!
+ Sherri