8/15/23 Newsletter Article from Pastor Vance

Our “straw poll,” asking if the congregation supports becoming “reconciling” by affiliating with the United Methodist Reconciling Ministries Network, has ended. This was not an official, binding vote. This was just a survey, taking the current temperature of the congregation’s attitudes and desires.
 
311 persons participated in the “straw poll.” 80% support becoming reconciling, 15% oppose (for various reasons, including some who support First Church’s openness but do not want to affiliate with RMN), and 5% are undecided. Joining RMN requires 75% support, which is a higher requirement for approval than any other United Methodist business I can think of.
 
47 participants included a broad range of personal comments, questions, or concerns. As we think about next steps, our leaders will review those comments to see what additional information needs to be shared, and how we might do that. I’ve already responded to some of the comments on our new "Pastor's Blog" on our new and improved website.
 
One comment wondered if being an inclusive church includes “conservatives.” I’m not sure if they mean “conservative” politically, theologically, or fiscally, or some other way. Words like “conservative” or “liberal” are difficult because they mean different things to different people in different contexts. But, I can say without reservation, YES! If you are “conservative,” you are welcome and wanted at First Church, even if/when we become a reconciling church!
 
In fact, I’m confident that many of the affirming votes were cast by persons who vote Republican. Obviously, being a registered Republican does not require a person to be anti-LGBTQ+! That 80% of the congregation supports becoming reconciling does not automatically mean 80% of our congregation are Democrats. We have LGBTQ+ affirming conservatives at First Church! Maybe we have some non-affirming Democrats too!
 
Yes! “conservatives” and “progressives” of all kinds, are wanted, welcome and needed at First Church!
 
When I was in seminary, I often learned as much (or more) from questions and debate than from my professor’s lectures. And, often, my classmates had very different views than my own. In any class discussion, there were students who were more theologically progressive than me, as well as students who were more theologically conservative. Hearing their questions and comments, and the opposing views of others, helped me to clarify my own beliefs.
 
Though I believe the recent split in the United Methodist Church is necessary, I’m grieved by the loss of conservative-leaning churches and colleagues I’ve long loved and respected. And, I wonder – beyond our irreconcilable differences regarding human sexuality – how the loss of their “conservative” voices will affect the UMC in the future.
 
To be a “conservative” essentially means to “conserve”; to conserve time-honored values, to conserve meaningful traditions, to conserve valuable resources. We obviously need that! 
 
Whether we believe marriage is for everyone, or exclusively reserved for heterosexuals, all successful marriages are grounded in the same traditionally conservative values of trust, commitment, and fidelity.
 
Whether we believe homosexuality is a sin, or not, we can all agree with the conservative biblical teaching that we’re all sinners needing a Savior, and that we’re all, “Saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift.” (Ephesians 2:8)
 
And, neither liberals nor conservatives have exclusive claims on kindness, generosity or hospitality. In fact, some of the most gracious folk I know are politically and theologically more conservative than me. And, I can think of more than a few mean liberals! And, vice-a-versa! 
 
My point is this: even if/when First Church becomes “reconciling,” and known as a “progressive” church, we need “conservatives” to remind us of timeless values, to respect time-honored traditions and the authority of Scripture, and to be wise fiscal stewards. 
 
Mostly, First Church needs “conservatives,” because they’re people who also love God and the Church! 
 
Though this is a bigger topic – too big for this article – I do often wonder if we confuse conservative vs. progressive theology with conservative vs. progressive politics. On topics as broad-ranging as Covid vaccines, to immigration, to the climate, to “woke-ism,” to LGBTQ+ rights, we now divide into political camps over just about everything. But, what if being an affirming church is less about being political, and more about welcoming people - like Jesus did?
 
What if being an affirming church is more about the higher spiritual calling to love everyone – our neighbors, our enemies, strangers, and the whole world? What if being an affirming church is simply living out the Golden Rule, to simply treat others the same way we hope to be treated? Didn’t Jesus tell progressives, conservatives, and everyone else that the greatest commandment is simply to love? Didn’t Jesus demonstrate that love on the cross, sacrificing his life for all of humanity?
 
We don’t have to agree with each other to love each other. Can’t we all agree on that?