i heart wesleyans
Last week I hitched a ride (13 hours through the night) to attend the General Conference of The Wesleyan Church in Orlando. (Nerd Alert!) The trip reminded me of why I love Wesleyans, and why I'm proud to call this my Church.
Most significant for me was the historic election of our first woman General Superintendent, Dr. JoAnne Lyon. Dr. Lyon is the founder of World Hope, which for the past 12 years has thrust itself into the fight against human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, and other worldwide issues of social and spiritual injustice. I have a pretty good feeling we're about to be pulled in right behind her.
I was also moved by the passing of a bold statement on immigration. The strength of this statement (and the strength of the vote to pass it) were especially surprising for a few reasons: 1) We are in the throes of a heated Presidential election. 2) We are a Church that trends heavily toward conservatism. 3) The loudest voices of conservative thought would not be very happy with our stance on this. But these are not our theologians. As a Church, we now publicly declare that we are 'for' the outcast and oppressed, that we are 'for' the stranger, that we are 'for' those seeking refuge and hope, regardless of the political climate. Guided by the Biblical mandate of self-emptying love, we take a stand. Read the statement here on Keith Drury's blog (aka, the man who invented blogging).
I am proud of our history. The roots of the Wesleyan Church reach back to a small collection of courageous activists and abolitionists. They were 'for' freedom from slavery. They were 'for' equal rights for women (rights that stretch from the voting booth to the pulpit). They were 'for' the kind of heart holiness that wells up and runs over into the most mundane and magnificent expressions of mercy and grace. A movement born out of a great moment.
But here is the question. What is the next fight? What is our next great moment?
Maybe we are living in it now.
"May we see God's future Kingdom invading the present." -JoAnne Lyon
posted by The LeRoys @ 1:34 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Sounds like an awesome agenda...
People do all of this bickering and backbiting, when in reality, we are all immigrants... LOL I don't recall in all of my traveling coming across the Biblical Eden..... hmmm where'd you say you were from???? England? Germany? France? yada yada yada...
anyhow... so proud of your dad.. on the General Board... what a priviledge... love you guys...
a very nice and well said post. i think i want to be a wesleyan. ;-)
jd
you are on the hit-list, jd!
Very intriguing entry for the discipline. I like where this is heading.
hey, Matt. I found my way here randomly. Hello from Chapel Hill! I am not surprised by your news...so very right on. I'd love to hear more. I sent you a note on first class, but don't know if that is how to catch you.
check out www.greenchapel.wordpress.com to see what I'm up to in Chapel Hill this summer. Very Wesley.
Peace!
Maggie
Shibboleth
Just read an interesting article in the paper on this issue... "Was Jesus an illegal immigrant?"
"How ironic is it that Jesus was illegally whisked from one country to another as a child? He then roamed among many countries during his lifetime preaching love, especially to the least of us.....I wonder what Jesus would do, assuming he had not already been swept up, held in a cell without bail until he voluntarily deported himself leaving all his family and worldly possessions behind? I wonder what his church would do?"--E.J. Montini (columunist for the Arizona Republic newspaper)
Look at Moses....Joseph....and any and all of the desciples that traveled all over to spread the gospel.... look at our own missionaries.... how upset would we be if the country they are in decided to rip them away from their homes and family and livelihood.... hmmmm really things to think about....
Post a Comment
<< Home