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| Hopeful Signs"Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering... And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and do good deeds, not neglecting to meet together." - Hebrews 10:23-25 Dear Friends: During August, I went to Chicago and spent five days celebrating the 50th anniversary of full clergy rights for women in the Methodist tradition. When the International United Methodist Clergywomen's Consultation came to an end, I made a list of things that make me feel hopeful about the future of the United Methodist Church. In case YOU are looking for some reasons to be hopeful, here's my list: 1. Women have been in ministry for generations, acknowledged (or not) in various degrees. Women preached, taught, and organized with or without a license, title, credential, or salary until the church as an institution finally caught up. With this long-range perspective I can find hope that the institution will some day be able to fully acknowledge and celebrate the gifts and ministries of its gay and lesbian members. 2. United Methodism must be some kind of positive force or attractive movement, because eager and idealistic young people were present at the consultation, expressing gladness and gratitude for the United Methodist Church. 3. The United Methodist Church has some incredibly capable and inspiring women serving as bishops. (It probably has some incredibly capable and inspiring men serving as bishops too, but they did not happen to be present.) 4. Brave women spoke up on subjects that were generally supposed to be "taboo." Women nurtured in the church and invited by the church to positions of leadership did not bow to pressure to keep silent on matters they felt to be important. They said what they believe to be true, even when they knew they might pay a price. God's grace is still at work in the United Methodist Church! 5. Multiculturalism can widen and deepen our understanding of God and our experience of worship. The consultation did an excellent job of including women of many different backgrounds, traditions, languages, and circumstances. It made for an exciting time together and gave me hope that the whole church can learn to honor and welcome a multitude of differing pathways to God. Thank you for the opportunity to attend this gathering of 1500 United Methodist clergy women and to gain a broader perspective on our church's history and its future. Now that all three phases are complete, my sabbatical has officially come to an end. I feel that it has been very successful and that my experiences will continue to influence and inform my work and my spiritual journey in the months to come. I pray that the sabbatical experience will also enrich and strengthen our shared ministry. God guide us as we go together into the future! In God's peace, Pastor April |
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