Be Bold...Despite the Renewed Fear Tactics
Bishop Mike Lowry, Central Texas Conference of the U.M. Church: “It has been erroneously reported that this involves a moratorium on complaints and charges related to the presiding over same gender wedding. This is not so. Please carefully understand the operative sentence. “WE [the Bishops of the United Methodist Church] will uphold the Discipline.” Should you choose to violate the Disciplinary provisions on same gender weddings, a complaint will be brought against you and if necessary charges will be filed. Church law in The Discipline of the United Methodist Church has not been suspended. I will seek to live in grace pursuing meaningful just resolutions, but such just resolutions will be significant and have consequences. I will up hold The Discipline of the United Methodist Church.” (http://www.bishopmikelowry.com/)
I had the privilege to speak (together with my son Tim) at the Love Your Neighbor Coalition Dinner during the Central Texas Annual Conference this week. It just so happened on that day (Monday, June 6th) that Bishop Lowry came out with a statement that send ripples through the reconciling community of CTX.
Bishop Lowry’s statement is a perfect illustration to my point (which was part of our talk) that a culture of fear exists in our U.M. Church that is rooted in the homophobic laws and language of our Book of Discipline. This fear is not just about ministers risking their career and livelihoods as they decide to faithfully provide an inclusive church ministry, but it’s also about bitter divisions that may ensue in our local church ministry when and if complaints are filed.
It’s interesting that in my own experience of performing my son’s same-sex wedding, my local church ministry was nearly unaffected for almost 6 years afterwards with many parishioners being aware of the fact that I presided over the wedding. It was only after a complaint was filed that this issue became a divisive factor. In fact, originally there was a lot of support for me even in my local congregation; it was only after I honestly answered questions about my pro-queer rights theology that it became a real issue. (As many pastors do, especially in conservative settings, I had been a silent supporter of LGBTQ rights up to that point in time).
For bishop Lowry to make such a statement is divisive and comes across as threatening toward the LGBTQ community and their allies, especially given the fact that the council of bishops was just entrusted by General Conference to form a special commission to look into solutions to our denomination;s divided state on LGBTQ issues. It is a further example of the kind of fear mongering and bullying that has done so much harm to our Church’s LGBTQ community. I personally refuse to be fearful. After my trial experience, I promised never to be silent again about our church’s discrimination against the LGBTQ community and to always boldly minister in biblical obedience standing on my convictions. I pray for my reconciling colleagues and lay people in the Central TX conference to continue strong and without fear. God has decided this matter already, and you are standing on the right side of history in your bold efforts and ministry.