What is the most sad and deeply disheartening about this whole impasse / separation action being considered by the United Methodist Church is that we truly need both "sides" as well as the "middle" in order to deeply and profoundly explore the gospel message for our sexualized society today.
We made a grievous error in forcing African Americans out of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1816. What we gained in "comfort with society" we lost in opportunity to address the slavery, bigotry and xenophobia wounds that continues to disable our society today.
Likewise, by splitting now over Homosexuality, with hardened positions on both sides and after decades of the "proof text wars", we are not just going to our corners to glare at each other, perhaps to engage again (probably not), but we are quitting the presence of each other all together.
When in the last 20 years have we honestly brought a consideration of the whole gospel (Mk 1:14-15) along with the recognition that we are all citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20) into a deep and profound struggle not just with tradition, but with the advances of not only of the biological sciences, but also sociology, psychology and anthropology?
We know our experience all too well, and the hurt caused by each other, but what of the forgiveness and healing presence of the Holy Spirit? And the depth of Agapé & Phileo love over all other kinds of love?
Without a church wide focus on human sexuality and a study/discussion of all the effects of the hyper-sexualized society we current inhabit (and often ignore), we are reduced to name calling, prejudices and an exchange of words that hurt beyond expression.
Our local churches are left to partial truths and countless emotional pleas to make their go/no go decisions.
We are not only breaking the church, we are breaking our hearts, and in the process, breaking God's heart. What would it take for all of us to go an extra mile and try with all our prayers, wisdom, tools and insights seek a Christian conferencing one last time.
Can we, now in the 21st century, seriously and lovingly address and respond to this 20th century tectonic change in human sexuality and sexual identity that has been ravaging. our souls so long?
Are we not throwing away our chance to help the whole Christian movement be relevant to the increasingly lonely world and its struggles with sexuality and identity?
May God help us!
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