Paul Jeffrey Paul Jeffrey/United Methodist Ne
Complainant Greets Bishop
United Methodist Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño (right) is greeted by the Rev. Kristin Stoneking following the announcement of the jury verdict on September 22, 2023, the fourth day of her church trial in Glenview, Illinois. Behind them is the Rev. Staci Current, a former district superintedent in the California-Nevada Annual Conference, who testified in support of the bishop. Carcaño was found not guilty on all four charges against her. Stoneking was one of several people who filed complaints against Carcaño. (Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.)
I know some of my friends had a big stake in the recent church trial of Bishop Minerva Carcano. My heart is heavy for all who were a part of this long, drawn-out process. Nearly all who were involved in the process were leaders in one way or another.
I have long puzzled about the function and methods of leadership. How does one use one's leadership position? How does one who is part of the team being led respond to the leader? How does the team deal with disagreements, differences of understanding and perspective, even severe differences of opinion? How does the leader and each member of the team deal with the power issues: their own and those of the other team members? Can these be talked about plainly and honestly?
A friend of mine mused recently about whether the leader should insist on using their title (Dr. Rev. Pastor, Bishop, etc.), and whether that has or should have an impact on how one is responded to. My preference my whole life has been to stick with my first name, though I could be called "Dr." or could have been called "Rev." or "Pastor." My rationale for this has been to act in such a way that respect which is given me is based on my behavior, my way of interacting, even how I present my personhood, rather than any position I hold.
My prayers are to all in the United Methodist Church (to say nothing about the surrounding cultures) that we be honest, forthright, sensitive, truthful and honoring of truth, honoring the viewpoint and experience of those different from us...
My definition of "sin" is "missing the mark" (the literal translation of ἁμαρτία/hamartia, the word usually translated as sin) of the good life God has for each person uniquely, based on our gifts and graces as given by God in the first place. Luther remarked, I believe, that the church is a "hospital for sinners" and "simul justis et peccator" (at the same time, sinner and saint). I've made mistakes, missed the mark, yes, and I've been held accountable, and hopefully forgiven. That's the way we human beings live in community. So I pray we can live together as a human community with the humility of being blessed by Creation and the Creator.
The Rev. Ben Roe, D.Min., of Arvada, Colorado, is a former media and communications staff member at the former Rocky Mountain Annual Conference, now the Mountain Sky Annual Conference. This post is republished with permission from his Facebook page. His personal website is https://jbenjaminroe.com/