CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Drawing on a historic hymn written in a time of crisis, Bishop Thomas Bickerton challenged delegates to the 2024 General Conference to cast off the trauma of past conflicts and move forward "under the power of the Holy Spirit" to create a new United Methodist Church.
Outgoing president of the Council of Bishops, Bickerton acknowledged that the worldwide denomination of more than 11 million members has endured multiple crises since the last General Conference, a special session called in 2019 that failed to resolve the church's conflict over human sexuality.
While clearly focused on raising delegates' spirits for a heavy workload, Bickerton also spoke of dissident forces that spearheaded the departure of some 7,600 local churches since 2019. He refuted false claims put forth by divisive forces that the UMC was abandoning its core theological beliefs such as Jesus Christ's divinity.
"Do not ever claim that the people in this room do not believe in the power of the Holy Spirit," Bickerton proclaimed to applause and approving shouts. "God is not through with this church."
Then he addressed divisive actors directly: "To those in this room who hold such beliefs, with integrity, just leave us alone to do our work!" Again, the crowd shouted its affirmation.
Confronting the daunting challenges facing the UMC because of declining membership, dwindling finances and perceived irrelevancy, Bickerton spoke of meeting United Methodist missionaries who "aren't waiting for legislation" to renew the church's ministry.
"They're deconstructing colonialism," the bishop said. "They're creating safe places for migrants, bringing them a sense of hope, meeting them with extravagant love.
"And they're motioning us to follow them!" he said.
Bickerton acknowledged that many United Methodists have been disillusioned over the challenges the church has faced in the past four years. He cited difficult conversations over the acceptance of LGBTQ persons; the coronavirus pandemic that stopped the world's activity; eruptions over racism in the wake of the deaths of Ahmaud Aubery, Breonna Taylor and especially George Floyd; and waves of disaffiliating churches spurred by misinformation.
"Adversity brings awareness," the bishop said. "It can fill us with a new resolve to be the people of God. Jesus breaks the cycle of trauma.
"I believe this is our seminal moment," Bickerton said. "It's time to say, 'Enough is enough!'"
Paul Jeffrey Paul Jeffrey/UM News
Remember Your Baptism
During the opening worship service of the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 23, 2024, Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey sprinkles water on participants, encouraging them to remember their baptism. Harvey is bishop of the Houston Episcopal Area.(Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News)
His remarks touched on what many see as the primary issues before this General Conference: regionalization, the Revised Social Principles, and the removal of the "harmful language" that holds homosexual practice "incompatible with Christian teaching." Renewal of the church won't come through legislation or from a business meeting, he said, but from a new commitment to overcome human tendencies and instead "be still and know God" in every moment.
He offered the gathering a "breath prayer" that he said he prays before each time he preaches: "Remove me from me; fill me with Thee."
Bickerton built his closing remarks around Harry Emerson Fosdick's famous hymn, "God of Grace and God of Glory," which Fosdick wrote during the Great Depression in 1930s United States. The bishop cited the UMC's history of actions that were racist, sexist, colonial and elitist, especially regarding ordained ministry as obstacles to reviving the church.
"We've been stuck in a tussle between where we were versus what we could be," the bishop said. "Somehow we've survived; we've made it.
"The world is racing past us, believing we are more irrelevant with every day. Are we through with us? God has the power to do more than we can imagine."
Using Fosdick's words, Bickerton called on God to "bring her bud to glorious flower" and "grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour."
Bickerton's closing words brought the gathering to its feet in a standing ovation, followed by singing of Fosdick's hymn.
Opening worship concluded with Holy Communion.
United Methodist Insight Editor Cynthia B. Astle has covered The United Methodist Church at all levels since 1988. This is her 10th General Conference.