Special to United Methodist Insight
I am reading from their position that the Bishops are stating the issue of unity slated for the special General Conference in 2019 continues to be an important ongoing discussion about what it means to be the church. The Council of Bishops' considered response is correct in at least one point, that is that the solution to our relationship challenges can be guided but not dictated and imposed by them. Seeking consensus is a far better way for the church to move forward in areas of dispute than dictation by the majority or the minority which forces us to either accept or reject and break away. The Bishops are saying the hard work of finding a way forward to be the church together needs to come from all of us as we engage in dialogue with each other.
Lloyd Nyarota
The Rev. Lloyd Nyarota. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Dialogue requires that more face-to-face conversations take place across lines of differences. So far we are all talking to each other within our confined circles of opinion, only to meet at General Conference, which is the final negotiation table. We from Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular are learning from our experience of a highly polarized political history the importance of mediated dialogue – sharing stories and experiences, both listening and speaking – in order for formal negotiations to move forward and agreements to take place. I hope the Council of Bishops will consider how this can be done at the special session coming in February 2019.
Whenever such a large and diverse body as the global church seeks common ground it is important that we do not start by focusing on the legal issue that has caused dissension among us. Our starting point and our identity throughout the journey must be our identity as a body of Christ's disciples, so that we do not lose sight of the One we are all called to follow. Ultimately this is not about laws but about human lives and the core mission of the church, which is to make Christ known as personal Savior to all people. I am therefore hoping that by turning the conversation back to the church membership the Council of Bishops will offer some guiding questions for us to take up, shaped by our core calling and also shaped by whatever progress has been made in the conversation so far, so that the questions carry us forward and not back to where we were before the Commission on A Way Forward started its work.
I hope the different groups do not succumb to emotional arguments of self defense, but approach February 2019 with open minds and hearts to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The quality of our leadership at this important juncture in the history of The United Methodist Church depends on our capacity to take on the mind of Christ by emptying ourselves of power positions (Philippians 2:5-11) and becoming obedient to the moving of the Spirit.
A United Methodist pastor from Zimbabwe, the Rev. Lloyd T Nyarota of Sedgewick, Alberta, currently serves Sedgewick-Lougheed Pastoral Charge of The United Church of Canada.