Human sin, and humble love... The latter must always win over the former.

This is the end of the second day of the 118th Conference of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. Today most of our time was spent working in the 5 commissions to which the resolutions and debates were forwarded for discussion, amendment, and for recommendations to be returned to the main gathering in tomorrow's meeting.

I spent my time between two groups - I was allocated to the 'Ministry and Mission' group (I believe that was because there were some resolutions related to Theological Education and Candidates for the Ordained ministry in that group), however, most of my time ended up being spent in the 'Policy and Doctrine' group since I was the proposer of a resolution on the same sex issue, but also acted as an advocate on behalf of the Order of Deacons in relation to special dispensation to administer the sacraments.

I, like others, have felt some personal uneasiness about the new process that this Conference has taken in dealing with resolutions and discussions. Basically, the valid intention of the General Secretary (Rev Vido Nyobole) and the Presiding Bishop (Rev Ivan Abrahams) was to create a more equitable place of discussion and access to decision making for the Church. The previous system of open debate and voting, called the Westminster System, meant that the more vocal, articulate, and brave, persons were heard - whereas those who are less articulate in English, perhaps not quite so vocal or brave, would often be left silent. Moreover, votes can easily adopt policy into the life of the Church by a mere 1 person majority (leaving stark division, hurt, and a lack of ownership of important policies for the mission and ministry of the Church). So I have come to value the system of greater access, and the notion of decision making by reaching consensus, that was adopted.

Of course, it does mean that not every person gets to debate every issue (thank God!) However, I have worried that important contributors have not been heard yet - perhaps tomorrow will allow some space for other voices, and ideas, to find a place within the debates? There were certainly some matters into which I would have loved to have had some input but was not able to do so because I was allocated to different groups. However, there is also a valuable sense of having to trust my sisters and brothers to deal with matters responsibly and prayerfully! That value of trust is of course a cornerstone to the Christian faith, and to the operation of the Church.

One other great value of this decentralized, but uncomfortable, system, is that it not only allowed quieter persons to be heard, it also allowed some of the less 'glamorous issues' in the Church to find a loud and clear expression. So, today HIV / AIDS, poverty, Zimbabwe, economic issues, the use of scripture, the training of ministers, the role of women, youth, and the elderly, and many other worthy (but often neglected) ministries and issues got an equal exposure and consideration from Conference. This bodes well for our Church, and is worth remembering in the light of the warning that Dr Robert gave us on Wednesday night, that we must not allow the peripheral, but glamorous, issues to take the centre stage from the difficult, yet less glamorous, issues that demand ourÊenergy and attention.

Within the discussions that I was party to, though, there was the usual strong emotion (from varying perspectives), and at times even conflict. Here I was reminded that the Church is called to be different! And, those who are in the Church are called to live by Kingdom values, the kind of values that Christ himself would hold. The following quote has lived within me today:

"At some thoughts [one] stands perplexed, above all at the sight of human sin, and... wonders whether to combat it by force or by humble love. Always decide: "I will combat it by humble love." If you resolve on that once for all, you can conquer the whole world. Loving humility is a terrible force: it is the strongest of all things, and there is nothing else like it.' - From 'The Orthodox Way' by Kallistos Ware.

Well midnight has passed once again, and I need to be up at 6, so I'm off to bed. please continue to keep us in your prayers!

Dion, Cape Town

Comments

[Jenny Hillebrand]

Hi Dion

Thanks for putting stuff like this on your blog. For those of us too far down the 'pecking order' to be really involved it is good to have the opportunity to know what is happening! Bless you!

[trevor hudson]

I appreciate your"ministry of blogging"--especially as it helps me to keep in touch with those events/experiences in the wider life of the church in which i dont personally participate.

[digitaldion]

Thanks Jenny and Trevor. I jokingly call my blog 'personality spam'! ha ha! I appreciate you reading my gumph!

Blessings,

D