Finding Space for New Growth

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Recently, I went with my six-year-old granddaughter on a field trip to a regional park. We were guided through the park learning all about the natural habitat of the plants and animals that live there. One guide said that plants need five things to thrive – light, air, water, nutrients, and space. The space piece was new to me, and I have been pondering the importance of space ever since.

I think one good thing about the ongoing departures of “traditionalist” congregations from the United Methodist Church is that it provides those of us who remain United Methodist an opportunity to grow anew in a positive way. Rather than being defined by conflict, we can be defined by our God-given mission of making “disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” As one pastor friend, the Rev. Susan Leonard, pointed out, “slimming down does not have to be a negative thing”! (check out her excellent message from the SC Reconciling Ministries Breakfast

I was greatly encouraged reading reflections of members of the North Texas Annual Conference. Many said they had felt a new spirit in the conference, a positive spirit grounded in hope and harmony rather than negativity and tension. I witnessed this somewhat in my home conference as well. The South Carolina Conference experienced 113 congregations choosing to depart the conference but as they did, we bid them farewell with a prayer and grief but also a renewal of commitment to the ministries that define us. We were also able to discuss two resolutions – one opposing the death penalty and one standing against gun violence and AR15-style weapons. We debated respectfully and passed each of them handily. It was refreshing to see the conference move forward in a positive way, to own our identity as United Methodist Christians committed to non-violence and peace.  

One thing I remember from my family systems theory class is that a family can become caught in a system in which a particular member is categorized as the "identified patient" – they are the problem. Healing comes not by doubling down but by drawing back, creating space for each member to be fully themselves, apart from the others. Everyone benefits and the system becomes less stuck. It feels to me like our United Methodist Church has been stuck for a long time, caught in a web of negativity that is dragging us down. Perhaps now we will be able to find room to breathe again. To become the church of Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors we were once promised.

At our house we have a small section of the backyard that is covered in hosta plants. There are just way too many in a too little space. In recent days I have been clearing them out by transplanting hostas to other parts of the yard. Two things have struck me - 1) How hard is to kill a hosta 2) how happy they seem to be in a new home where they can get the full sun and spread their branches wide.

Sometimes, all it takes to flourish is having space to be the creatures God created us to be and to return, with joy and hope, to the work God created us to do. 

The Rev. Clayton Childers is a retired United Methodist clergyman living in Manassas VA. For 19 years he served with the Board of Church and Society, for a while Director of Advocacy for the Imagine No Malaria campaign. This post may be reproduced elsewhere with credit to the author and a link to the original posting on United Methodist Insight.