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in Prayer

Bishop Dyck's Prayer Request for Chicago

In worship this past Sunday, we shared part of a prayer request from our Bishop, the Rev. Sally Dyck, for Chicago as police officer Jason Van Dyke is on trial for the murder of Laquan McDonald. But I want you to have the full text of the Bishop's request, so it is below.

If you prefer to read the request in its original form, click here.

 

"I am asking all United Methodist churches in Northern Illinois to pray for the city of Chicago!

In October 2014, Laquan McDonald, a 17-year-old African American, was shot 16 times by Officer Jason Van Dyke as the officer arrived on the scene. Police dash cam video caught the shooting, showing McDonald with a knife in hand walking away from Officer Van Dyke. The video was withheld from the public for about a year during the election campaign for Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Upon seeing the video, discrepancies arose about the police reports, resulting in charges being brought against Officer Van Dyke. Now almost four years later, the trial has begun. The city is on edge as it awaits the outcome of this trial; a city that already reels from multiple gun shootings each week.

I urge prayers for the city of Chicago during and after the trial. This is a defining moment for Chicago. This is an effort to address what we're for as United Methodists, not what we're against. We're not against police officers; like all professions, including clergy, there are moments of accountability for those who abuse their office. We don't wish revenge on Officer Van Dyke; we pray for a fair and just trial and outcome.

While this is a trial about one individual who is being held accountable for his actions, it is also about accountability in all police shootings. Our concern is underscored by the 2016 U.S. Justice Department's 14-point report calling for the need for reform of the Chicago Police Department.

I call upon United Methodists to pray, to become aware of the particulars regarding this case and as you are able to take an active role in peaceful public actions to restore the shalom of God to the city. A good resource is the WBEZ podcast: 16 Shots (click here to listen). It gives the backstory and the day-by-day report of what is happening in the trial, examining all the parties involved in the courtroom. Also, the podcast makes Laquan a real human being, not just a name in the news, as his friends and family talk about him.

And as we pray, yard signs will be made available to churches (and members) to display. The signs will read:

PRAYING FOR OUR CITY

#JUSTICE4LAQUAN

Other displayed messages that read "we are praying for the city of Chicago and justice" are also encouraged. You can request a yard sign via an email to Include your church name, church address, contact phone number and contact person.

Every day during the trial there will be gatherings in front of the courthouse (2650 S. California, Chicago). On September 24 at 10 a.m. United Methodists will be leading a worship service of prayer, singing, scripture, and sign-acts. All United Methodists and friends are invited to join me and others as we share our message and practice our open table of communion.

For those in the suburbs of Chicago and beyond, I would also encourage you to hold the city of Chicago up in your prayers throughout this trial and the announcement of its verdict. As the scriptures say, the welfare of the city is everyone's welfare or future well-being. This trial in Chicago will impact people far beyond the city limits. Furthermore, where one suffers, we all suffer. Let us pray together as one body.

For churches within Chicago, the trial is a significant moment for Chicago and will have national implications. As one of our clergy said, "We're irrelevant in Chicago if we have nothing to say or do about this trial."

Thank you for your prayers in advance. ~Sally Dyck"

Posted by Pastor Dave Buerstetta with
Tags: chicago, prayer request, bishop dyck
in Faith

What's Going On?

Over the last four weeks or so, we've talked with some frequency about the deliberations, statements, and counter-statements stemming from the United Methodist Church's 2016 General Conference. That General Conference appointed a Commission on the Way Forward. After two years of work, that Commission sent proposals to the Council of Bishops. That Council made a statement about its report. Then came the counter-statements, clarifying statements, and a Judicial Council ruling. 

If you're not even a little confused by all that...I applaud you. Because I have trouble following it all. In case you do too, I'm attempting to put the original documents here for you.

Here's part of that first statement after the Council of Bishops concluded their work on the proposals:

"Having received and considered the extensive work of the Commission on a Way Forward, the Council of Bishops will submit a report to the Special Session of the General Conference in 2019 that includes:

  • All three plans (The Traditionalist Plan, The One Church Plan and the Connectional Conference Plan) for a way forward considered by the Commission and the Council.
  • The Council’s recommendation of the One Church Plan.
  • An historical narrative of the Council’s discernment process regarding all three plans.

 Rationale:  In order to invite the church to go deeper into the journey the Council and Commission have been on, the Council will make all the information considered by the Commission and the Council of Bishops available to the delegates of the General Conference and acknowledges there is support for each of the three plans within the Council.  The values of our global church are reflected in all three plans.  The majority of the Council recommends the One Church Plan as the best way forward for The United Methodist Church."

In summary: the bishops agreed to recommend the One Church Plan. Read the full statement here. 

Here's the United Methodist News Service article on that statement.

A couple days later, our Northern Illinois Conference Bishop, the Rev. Dr. Sally Dyck, released a statement:

"The Council received the report from the Commission on the Way Forward (COTWF) and discerned our recommendation to the called session of the General Conference in February 2019 (GC19). For 4 days we discerned what our recommendation would be. We reviewed all three plans given to us by the COTWF, discussed them, provided pros and cons to each of them, and finally discerned our decision.

We recommended to the GC19 one plan: The One Church Plan. There was substantial support for it" (emphasis hers).

Read Bishop Dyck's full statement here.

 

But, as Bishop Dyck wrote, "some have been confused by the [Council of Bishop's] press release." So the Council offered this clarifying statement. 

Finally, about a week later, Judicial Council released its ruling on whether or not petitions other than that from the Council of Bishops will be allowed: "The United Methodist Church’s top court has ruled that other petitions — in addition to legislation from the Council of Bishops — can be submitted for the 2019 special session of General Conference."

Read that statement here.

So, all caught up?

What questions do you have about all this?

Leave them in the comments below and I'll do my best to answer them. Or find someone else who can.

In a future post, we'll look at some of the reactions to all this from around the denomination. 

Posted by Pastor Dave Buerstetta with
Tags: denomination, united methodist, one church plan

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