I hope to see you this Sunday for Part 2 in my sermon series “Overwhelmed.” This week’s focus is “Hurt and Hope.” Have you ever been unfairly criticized, misunderstood or wrongly attacked? If so you’ll resonate with this week’s reading from Psalm 69. There we will hear the cry of one who feels like he is drowning in emotional pain and anguish. We will also listen to his voice as he prays for help. In his prayer we will find hope for facing our personal hurts and insults. I’ll look for many of you at 9:00, 10:00 or 11:00 a.m. this Sunday morning.
John Clemmer, our Church Business Administrator, shared great news this week. We have finished the 2012-2013 church year with a surplus of approximately $25,000! This is due to your generosity and the hard work of lay leaders and staff to keep expenditures down while continuing to provide creative and caring ministry. John also noted that he and the Finance Committee are hard at work completing the budget for the new year. If you have not yet made a pledge for the upcoming year please do so as soon as possible so that this important work can be completed. We will have some challenges in this year’s budget. Because of the capital work taking place the Congregational Board voted to secure a line of credit. These funds may be utilized as soon as October, 2013. Interest payments will be paid by the operating budget. As I noted, the finance team is working hard to put forward a workable budget. Your generosity and ongoing willingness to support the church will help us complete this work.
The capital campaign is continuing. Although we have a long way to go we are continuing to receive gifts and pledges. A $60,000 gift recently came in to the campaign. Many members have extended their pledges by one, two or three years. We hope you have made a pledge or contribution to this effort. Remember, no gift is too small.
I hope you have noticed that the work on our campus has shifted from tearing down to building up. The new window covers on the chapel are wonderful and the light on the inside is incredible! A similar transformation is taking place in the sanctuary. The Practical Services Committee is hopeful that all of the work will be complete by the middle of November. The sanctuary organ should be ready for play by the beginning of the season of Advent.
The General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) concluded last week in Orlando, Florida. I left filled with hope for our denomination. There were many signs of renewal throughout the week. The Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, our General Minister and President, was hopeful too. After the assembly she wrote, “My heart is prayerful; my spirit hopeful; and my love for our church is strong. Surely, God has given Disciples a blessing and a mission for wholeness, welcoming all to the Lord’s Table of reconciliation and love.”
The most talked about aspect of the assembly was a resolution titled, “Becoming a People of Grace and Welcome to All, GA-1327.” This was a “sense of the assembly” resolution. This type of resolution speaks to the church and calls it to action. Adopting a sense of the assembly resolution does not create a change in policy for local congregations or regional offices. It is rather a word to all manifestations of the church, particularly in this instance, to consider what it means to be a people of grace and welcome.
The resolution specifically called on the church “to affirm the faith, baptism and spiritual gifts of all Christians regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and that neither is grounds for exclusion from fellowship or service within the church, but we celebrate that all are part of God’s good creation…” As you can imagine, this is the section which created the most discussion. Following what were many weeks of debate, including official time on the floor of the assembly, the resolution was adopted with an overwhelmingly clear majority.
I realize that not everyone in our congregation will agree with the intent of this resolution. I recognize that there has been spirited discussion in our hallways, classrooms and Bible study groups. I also know that we have many members of our congregation who also happen to be gay or lesbian. We have welcomed them into our membership just as we do any new member by asking if they trust in God as revealed in Jesus Christ. Anyone who is baptized and confesses their faith and trust in God is welcomed into the membership of our church.
I have noticed, especially in the last few years, that many who may have disagreed in the past with the full inclusion of lesbians and gays in our church have softened or even completely changed their views. This has come about, I believe, through the development of sincere and caring relationships. They have seen, as have I, that our LGBT sisters and brothers live in faithful, loving and caring relationships. I honestly believe that within my lifetime, maybe even within the next decade or so, this issue will begin to fade away as we see that all of God’s children are created in the loving image of the creator.
Does this mean if you disagree you are not welcome? No. When we say “All means all,” we mean it. When we invite everyone to the communion table we mean that everyone is invited. When we speak of the undying love of God for all of God’s children we mean that God truly loves all. Sharon Watkins can help us here. She notes that “this resolution … reminds us that our baptism into the living Christ continues to be our common ground.”
Sharon continues, “within the broad membership of Disciples, among the many congregations in covenant with each other, there have always been gay and straight, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender persons who participate fully in the life and leadership of the church. It urges us to treat each other with gospel hospitality as we seek to understand each other better.”
I do hope that if you have any questions about this resolution that you will feel free to share them with me. Please know there were many other business items and resolutions. You can find them on the denomination’s web page here..
Many of you have asked about watching the sermon I delivered on opening night at the assembly. You can find the entire worship service here, my sermon is about an hour into the service. I am very grateful for all of you who were praying for me prior to the sermon. I had a strong sense of the Spirit’s presence and I’m sure it was your prayers that helped make that happen!
Sharon’s final word to the General Church is a good one for all of us to note:
“United though not uniform, diverse but not divided, let us name our differences, then claim our common calling to be and to share the good news of Jesus Christ who came ‘that the world might be saved’. (John 3:17)”
With love and joy for the opportunity to be in ministry with all of you,
~Glen
