Delegates listen
Delegates consider legislation at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.)
Special to United Methodist Insight | Aug. 25, 2025
Just like a matchstick though small can be helpful in some instances yet very dangerous and life-threatening if misused.
What started like a joke full of progressive ideas for the betterment of tomorrow ended up being like the raging wildfire. I mean the petitions like One Church Plan, Protocol of Separation and Reconciliation as well as the disaffiliation process were sounding so innocent and fruitful. Alas, they were time bombs waiting to explode like wildfire in noonday.
We all have witnessed the sad reality, the pain, confusion and souring of friendships.
It’s against this background I write to urge all the people called United Methodists especially in the U.S. jurisdictions to pause for a while, reflect and concentrate on rebuilding our UMC.
It’s time to examine thoroughly which petitions should be submitted to the General Conference in 2028. The Bible always reminds us in Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 7 that to everything there’s a season. A time for every purpose under heaven… a time to tear and a time sew; A time to keep silence and a time to speak.
Beloved family of God, may we take this time to pause a bit, keep quiet absorbed in silence and reflect on previous petitions we laid on the table which latter turned to be chaotic and dramatic.
It's obvious that as human beings, at times we tend to be dramatic and controversial but let’s pause from drama and concentrate on rebuilding.
Please let’s not bring drama to our cross-and-flame logo and our name United Methodist Church. Should there be anyone or any team thinking in those lines by the mercies of the Lord, let’s refrain, pause and reflect. That’s our heritage, that’s our pride and identity. The words of wisdom in Proverbs 16: 24 says pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. Let’s be selective of
words and importantly dwell more on pleasant words that builds and smoothens the soul.
Who would want to rekindle another fire? No way! Disaffiliation chaos was enough!
Please let’s pause, reflect and concentrate on rebuilding.
The 2028 General Conference shouldn’t be a place to score our political goals but a place to lament for past loss, heal and carry on with hopeful hearts knowing that victory is certainty in Jesus’ name.
Let’s remember yesterday as Florence Hamilton said during the commemoration of her late husband at Pasadena Community Church St. Petersburg, Florida 1960, she asked; “Why do we remember yesterday? It’s to give thanks for a chain of human hearts whose hands have been on this church,” for the goodness of God, and for the tender grace of a day is done. It’s out of the inspiration of yesterday and through the inspired witness of today, God’s truth marches triumphantly on in the unfinished story of tomorrow.
Let’s therefore leave room for the Holy Spirit to guide us, hence it’s imperative to pause, reflect and soldier on in a rebuilding spirit.
NB: 2028 General Conference should be held in one of our Central Conferences.
The Rev. Gabriel Banga Mususwa
Courtesy Photo
The Rev. Gabriel Banga Mususwa of the Zambia Annual Conference is general secretary of the United Methodist Africa Forum and a Regionalization Strategic Communicator.