An arresting thought
"Some things are worth losing for."
I was driving, listening to a podcast (my current preferred in-car entertainment) when I heard that statement. It was arresting. Like, literally. I was so struck by that thought that I had to pull over to process it for a moment.
"Some things are worth losing for."
Ta-Nehisi Coates, one of my favorite authors, said that in a conversation with Chris Hayes. With the 2019 Special General Conference* just two months away, those words loom ever larger.
*What's the Special General Conference? We'll offer a series of posts on that very soon.
We believe LGBTQ+ people should have all the rights available to heterosexual, cisgender people both in civil life and in the United Methodist Church.
We might not get there in 2019. We may even lose some of the gains we've achieved toward inclusion. But if we do, it will be worth it to stand with marginalized people for justice.
This week the Reconciling Ministries Network offered an inspiring statement, "Called, Committed, and Faithful." I recommend you read the whole thing. Here's a taste:
We tirelessly dedicate ourselves to living the reality of our baptismal vows: resisting evil, injustice, and oppression. We do this by seeking justice for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities....
The Scriptures tell us that we love because God first loved us. We are grateful for that surprising, unexpected love that God has graciously offered and for the many ways we experience that love first-hand through the lives and stories of so many who have been part of the Reconciling family and movement within our beloved Church. Those stories have made The United Methodist Church stronger and more vibrant across our great connection...
We witness the lives of many of our friends who have not felt welcome inside the doors of United Methodist churches. Their calling, their ministry, and even their baptism have been questioned. But we still believe in the best of what The United Methodist Church can be: a movement where social and personal holiness blossom in a wide variety of contexts including in communities outside of the United States.
We have much to learn together.