2016-2020 Judicial Council
Members of the 2016-2020 Judicial Council. (From left) Front: Ruben T. Reyes, N. Oswald Tweh Sr., the Rev. Luan-Vu Tran. Back row: Deanell Reece Tacha, Lídia Romão Gulele, the Rev.Øyvind Helliesen, the Rev. Dennis Blackwell, and the Rev. J. Kabamba Kiboko. Not pictured, Beth Capen. (Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications)
“One Church Plan Largely Constitutional.”:The headline for the story about the decision of the Judicial Council.
The women and men of the multi-racial/international United Methodist Church Judicial Council in its appearance, deliberations, and decision-making revealed how God uses inclusive “community” to guide and lead the UMC in the present and into the future.
As I watched and listened via live streaming their meeting in Zurich, I recognized and remembered that there was a time in Methodism when neither persons of color nor women were decisive decision makers in the Methodist Church. White/American men were viewed as the decision makers and it was assumed that women and people of color would follow their lead. “The times (have) Changed”
I was attentive to the deep voice of the Chairperson of the Judicial Council. The accents of those for whom English was not their primary language made real the international reality of United Methodism. And as I listened to the questions and comments of the two persons I know on the Judicial Council; Rev. Dennis Blackwell and Attorney Beth Capen, I saw a male, black clergyperson and a female, white layperson, representing the rich diversity that would come alive when the “One Church Plan” is approved and implemented.
Unless they have changed, there are differences beyond the race and gender differences of Dennis and Beth. They could be described as living models of traditionalism and liberalism. They may differ in thelr emphases re: Scripture, Theology, and Christology. Yet, they represent the rich diversity of “Vegetable Soup United Methodism.” My dear longtime friend and colleague, Bishop Woodie White, as the General Secretary of Religion and Race when I was a staff member of the Commission, introduced to us the imagery of Vegetable Soup as a way to describe the rich racial and other diversity of the UMC.
When I was a student at Boston University of Theology I discovered white, New England clam chowder. I preferred it to red, Manhattan clam chowder. But the UMC that is in the process of becoming will be an Ecclesial “Vegetable Soup” unlike either New England or Manhattan clam chowder. Praise God Almighty!
The last two sentences of the Historical Statement in the Book of Discipline are these: “With other churches that are also members of the body of Christ, (The UMC) humbly and gratefully offers up its praise to God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit for creating and sustaining grace. It seeks further grace as it ministers to the world.” (2008 BOD)
“It seeks further grace as it ministers to the world.” May that be our mantra as we now know not "A,"but “The" Way Forward. Amen and Amen!
The Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell of Asbury Park, NJ, is a retired clergy member of the former Rocky Mountain Conference, now the Mountain Sky Annual Conference.