As a young clergy person in the old Louisville Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, I served for a time on the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
The board was charged with the responsibility of interviewing and recommending candidates for ordination and membership as clergy persons in the Louisville Annual Conference.
Jesus Communion
Photo Courtesy of Mercy Not Sacrifice
I vividly recall the day a handsome young man appeared before our board. He was single, an honors graduate of a Methodist College, and at the time was completing his seminary work at a prestigious Ivy League School on the East Coast. No female candidates appeared before our board. That was a major hurdle to be confronted and dealt with in the years to come.
That young man had all the makings of an outstanding Methodist clergy person. He had the dedication, spirit, education, poise and polish to eventually rise to senior pastor of any church in the annual conference. He received the unanimous approval of the board and happily left the meeting, no doubt to share the good news with family and friends.
Later that same day, a layperson at the church where the young ministerial candidate was a part-time staff member reported to the board chairman that the young man seeking ordination smoked cigarettes. Nonsmoking was church law.
The chairman reconvened the board and the young man was confronted about his smoking. He admitted that he did so, saying he was afflicted with seizures and his doctor advised him to smoke cigarettes because nicotine would reduce the possibility of a seizure. Some members of the board suggested the young man get a second medical opinion. His candidacy approval rescinded, he turned and left the room, heartsick, dejected, and dismayed. The board never heard of him again. Weeks later, we read his death notice in local papers. His body was found at the north end of Fourth Street in Louisville, floating face down in the muddy waters of the Ohio River. Was it all because of a cigarette?
I fear that over the years the United Methodist Church has allowed itself to become tripped up by such trivia.
For example, there was the issue of real wine served at communion. The temperance folks were sure that such a practice would make alcoholics out of all the communicants. Then a man by the name of Welch, a Methodist preacher, pharmacist and a grower of grapes, perfected a method of making non-fermented grape juice. He launched a grape juice company. Welch made a fortune. Now churches drink Welch's Grape Juice on Communion Sunday. I have a feeling that at the Last Supper Jesus used wine, the real thing. Welch was not around.
In the past, the Methodist Church has been caught up in the issue of alcohol consumption. At one time, a layperson, who drank, made, or sold alcoholic beverages could not serve on the Official Board of a local church. That law was eventually changed to save the church, because no one could qualify.
That brings up the old subject of Methodism's Total Abstinence Sunday. Once a year pledge cards were passed out on Sunday morning inviting members of the congregation to sign on the dotted line indicating that they would refrain from the consumption of alcohol for one year. After signing the card, they dropped the card in the offering plate or, humbly brought it and placed it on the altar.
I recall preaching a sermon entitled "Tripped Up by Trivia" when I was a young pastor. The United Methodist Church all too often has allowed itself to be tripped up by majoring on minors. There was the subject of wine at communion, clergy smoking, women in ministry, the consumption of alcohol, not to mention playing cards, the wearing of beautiful clothing, and costly jewelry, going to the movies on Sunday and an occasional use of profanity.
Now our church is being tripped up by the subject of homosexuality. I doubt if Jesus ever got his disciples together before sending them out and gave them the "third degree" about their sexual habits. Preaching Good News was their mission. Love, acceptance, and serving all the people was their goal.
The time has come for the United Methodist Church to refrain from entering the bedroom of its members and its clergy. If Jesus didn't, why the church? If I or someone I love faced a life or death surgery, I wouldn't pause to question the sexuality of the surgeon. I would just hope and pray that he or she was the best. The same with the captain on whose plane I was flying, and the very same with the person who could share with me the exciting and inspiring story of Jesus and what he came to do.
With life-changing issues occurring around the globe, wise people must step forward and speak out. Issues such as endless wars, a refugee crisis, a national government with small-minded and ineffectual leaders at the helm, plus global warming, a renewed threat of atomic war head the list. Such threats of a war to end all wars and the possible annihilation of humanity are frightening. Any time a worthy and benevolent organization, large or small, religious or secular permits its attention to be diverted away from the common interest, the decline is inevitable. Collapse may just be around the corner.
Many are familiar with the legend that Nero, Emperor of the once mighty Roman Empire, played on his fiddle while Rome burned. The Empire did collapse, bringing an end to a once proud thousand-year reign, the longest reigning civilization in human history. The question is: "Is the United Methodist Church playing on its fiddle while the Church and the world around is ablaze with discontent, disharmony, and ineffectiveness?"
Surely, we dedicated United Methodists are better than this.
The Rev. Billy Cox of Louisville, Ky., is a former military chaplain and retired clergy member of the Kentucky Annual Conference.