Photo Courtesy of Channels, Pacific Northwest Blog
Dana & Megan
Dana Lede (left) and Megan Ernst Kilpatrick model a cheerful example of holy conferencing at the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference's 2013 session.
Carter is one of the new friends I’ve made over the last year at Perkins School of Theology. Carter is a priest in a small Anglican denomination pursuing his Master’s of Theological Studies degree before moving on to Ph.D. work next year. Carter identifies as more conservative in his theological thinking and understanding, but wanted to challenge himself by attending a more moderately progressive school of theology. He is absolutely brilliant and well read, and can carry on an intelligent and engaging conversation with just about anyone. He would be well within his rights to distance himself from many of us on campus and keep to himself and his own theological understandings, but he doesn’t do this. He genuinely cares about the things we are studying, wanting to see all sides and all arguments and to understand them, even if he disagrees.
Among seminary students it is an everyday occurrence to engage in multiple theological conversations, even outside of assigned class times. These conversations extend across a broad range of topics, whether they are about hot-button issues or some of the most obscure and minute aspects of the Christian faith. There are times when all of us at the table are in agreement, and there are many more times when each of us has a different take or understanding. Some of my friends will have strong opinions and think those who disagree are ridiculous for doing so, but Carter, even when he disagrees, will always do so in a spirit of cooperation and compassion.
In one of my systematic theology classes a couple of weeks ago, we were on the topic of prolegomena, meaning “first things,” such as method and sources or ways that one will engage in doing the work of theology. The professor mentioned the historic questions Wesley and those who would gather with him in the first conferences: “What do we believe?” and “What do we teach?” and “What do we do?” The professor noted that we have lost our ability to ask these questions. However, he did note that our EUB sisters and brothers were in the habit of asking them up until the unification, which created the UMC in 1968.
I think these are questions we must begin to ask again. Instead of debating legislation, what would it look like if we entered into greater theological conversation with one another, specifically at General Conference, but also in the other times United Methodists gather for conferences?
Furthermore, what would it look like if, when we had these conversations, we did so in the same manner that my friend Carter approaches his theological education? What if we reclaimed “holy conferencing,” not just when talking about hot-button issues, but as a state of being?
I think this holy conferencing state of being would allow us to better live with one another, as we recognize each other’s baptism, and begin to live into the reality that God is calling us to—the kingdom of God reality, where cooperation and conversation are the norms, and all are welcome, respected, and invited to the table.
Ethan is a Master of Divinity student at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. He is also a certified candidate for ministry in the Central Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.