Yesterday we the UMC General Conference voted to not divest themselves of companies doing business with Israel. We've also voted in a "Plan UMC" that has now gone to Judicial Council to judge its constitutionality. Today is a big day in that they will be discussion issues of human sexuality. Westboro Baptist may be there, just to add some spice into the mix.
I haven't been following like I would want because I have to attend to all the other details of life: hospital visits, nursing home visits, bulletins, phone calls, writing liturgy among others - and then the details of life like laundry and dinner.
In some ways, what is happening in Tampa seems so far removed from "real life" yet I know that what is decided will be a factor in the way that ministry will be done in the future. What's happening in Tampa is exciting and interesting and seems so urgent, until real life pulls me back in and its urgency and importance fades away.
We've had General Conferences before - we will have them in the future. But babies will continue to be born and people will continue to die. And somewhere in the middle they will live their lives. The Methodist church will continue on regardless, somehow in the midst. It may morph and change a bit over time. We may or may not get new hymnals - eventually. We may or may not be associated with certain churches in Sweden. We may or may not affirm certain type of ministry by certain types of people (I do believe it will happen sooner than later.) We will continue on. We will change.
But one think I do know will not change: God's love for us will continue. Of that I have complete faith. God's will WILL be done, even if we manage to get in God's way. This is something I know. God is already here regardless if we asked for God's presence or not. And God will continue to show up.
So give my regards to Tampa today. I'm praying for the delegates, the pages, the monitors, the Bishops, the observers - for them all.
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