'Gee gas!' [go for it!] Liam the great, today and the Rugby!

Thanks so much for all the prayers for little Liam! He is doing so much better. As you may recall, Liam was born very early (premature at just over 6 months of gestation). That has left him with a few little health challenges, one of which is his lungs. Megan and Liam were to fly to Argentina with me, but sasly he fell ill and so they could not come along. When I got back he was much better for about a week, but then his lungs started giving some trouble again - earlier this week the doctors wanted to admit him to hospital, but thankfully we were able to care for him at home with a few doses of antibiotics, some other meds, and 'the mask'! He's such a good little guy.

In this picture he is playing the piano while Megie 'gee hom gas' (an Afrikaans saying that can be roughly translated as 'go for it!') He's such a good little guy. He sits so still until it's done, then he runs off again to play with the dog!

Today I'm leading a leaders 'advance' (i.e., not a retreat!) We'll be looking at how this particular Church can become more fully inclusive (since they are already an inclusive Church, which my friends Steve Lottering and Phil Buckland Pastor), and also how they can work for the total transformation of their community by addressing systemic poverty and establishing Goid's Kingdom in all spheres of society.

Later on I shall watch the rugby. My team, Western Province, are not in the final. However, I have enough conviction to support any team that IS NOT the Bulls! So I'll be screaming for the Sharks!

Have a blessed weekend!
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What matters most, but that's a matter of time

The last three days at the Methodist Church of Southern Africa's conference on same relationships and the blessing of same sex civil unions has been most enlightening.

The reality is that we have discovered, what is in fact the only possible position of integrity that we can hold (in my opinion), that we have a variety of perspectives and positions on this matter. While there are two broad perspectives, those in favour of blessing such unions and accepting persons with a same sex orientation within all spheres of the Church, and those who do not - there were just as many subtle variations within these two broad perspectives as there were members (33 persons in attendance).

Some lamented the fact that we did not adopt one position over the other (i.e., an inclusive or an exclusive position). My own understanding is that I am grateful that we have not done so! If my position was taken at the exclusion of other positions we may well have found that the Church would split, since any difinitive position would include some and exclude others.

Here's what I've discovered:

1. That the persons who hold the various positions generally do so not with malice, but with deep conviction, faith and sincerity.
2. That one cannot even hold with certainty that there are two clear positions on this matter. The truth is that there are many positions, each one held with the same sincerity, love, and faith. So, to adopt one position would ALWAYS be a compromise for the majority of persons.
3. The third thing that I have realised is that even the firmest held positions tend to change through encounter and relationship. One of the ministers at the gathering shared the testimony of his gay daughter, this has clearly softened the hearts of many here. This is the thing that has struck me most! Here's a picture of me with my son. I love him desperately, as I love my daughter. As a father, and a Christian, I know that God would honour my love for my son, and that God would want me not only to be a good father to him, but also to do everything in my power to find a place for him within the community of the Church! Let's just say that my son ever came to me and said that his sexual preference is different from mine, i.e., he came to realise that he has a same sex orientation. Yet, the Church that I serve cannot offer him either blessing of space. That would present me with a HUGE problem! I should have to seriously consider whether I could belong to a Church that does not accept and love my Christian son, simply because of a sexual preference.

Do you see what I am getting at?

So here's the final thing I would like to add at this point.

4. The only possible position that the Church can hold with integrity is a position that recognises the truth that we have varying AND evolving positions on this matter - as such the only true position is not one on human sexuality, but rather one that makes a clear statement on the nature of the Christian Church. If the Church is loving, if it is the Church of Christ who loves and created the whole universe, then this Church needs to be careful to create space for everyone who Jesus loves! So, the only responsible way forward is a statement on the mininstry and mission of the Church. The Church is the Church of Jesus who loves all people and that we shall bear the pain and struggle of living together in love with those with whom we may not agree. Furthermore, my prayer is that we shall allow the grace of Jesus to so penetrate our hearts that we will not only feel love towards all persons, but that we shall find practical ways of allowing that love to find expression in diverse and varied manners within the Church.

Currently there is not an equal balance of power between those who reject persons of a same sex orientation and those who accept and affirm them - for this balance to become a reality the Church will need to make some space (carefully regulated, and carefully scrutinized and managed) where some clergy and Churches can be allowed to bless persons of a same sex orientation who love Jesus completely and have same sex relationships that meet the standards of Christian sexual ethics.

This may seem controversial, but I hold this position because of the Lord that I know, the Church that I love, and the knowledge that I have of the Lord who loves both the world and the Church in all of its forms!

As for the meetings, Gus and I shall need to edit the audio recordings and make them available. The meetings have prepared a statement that will be made public once it has been sent to the Presiding Bishop. It is not the same as my statement above, but I can also say with certainty that the statement does not openly favour either an inclusive or an exclusive point of view.

Let me know what your thoughts are!

All for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom!
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The Concord outside of my Hotel Window!

I was looking through the photos on my phone in the meetings today and found this picture I took from the Jury's Inn hotel near Heathrow terminal 4 about a month ago. Just outside my windows was a Concord commercial jet plane! I could hardly believe it!

I spoke to some of the staff at the Hotel who indicated that it was being decomissioned to be put on display somewhere. The jet is quite small. I was surprised!
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Another thought on mystery, faith, and certainty...

My friend Neville Richardson, in speaking on the 'post foundationalist' perspective on Christian ethics (ala. Stanley Grenz) made the following incredible statement...  Our foundation is not reason, nor is it, knowledge or even a secure system.  Rather, it is faith in a transcendent God who carefully shapes us, and courageously trusts us to get some things right, and other things wrong - but in the end the faithful and loving person is close to God than the 'informed' knowledgeable, and certain!

The opposite of faith is not doubt... It is certainty!

At the end of the day we can point towards truth, work towards it, and strive to make it real and tangible, but there will always be a sense of mystery in which we meet an all powerful and ever loving God.  In the end, however, we can look back and we have 'fruit' to show, lives that have been changed, systems that have been restored and changed for good.

For anyone who's interested in reading something thought provoking and challenging in this regard you can go here Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology in a Postmodern Context (by Stanley Grenz)t:  http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Foundationalism-Shaping-Theology-Postmodern/dp/0664257690

God and mystery... There is comfort in NOT knowing everything!

From time to time I feel a little uneasy when I can't quite 'get my head' around the nature, person and will, of God!  God is sometimes mysterious, always powerful and loving.  At times I struggle to understand why bad things happen to good people, and why bad things go unpunished!

In recent months I have met many people who present such a certain and authoritative perspective on the person and will of God.  At times I have found such certainty comforting - it is great to know that there are people who feel so sure about the God whom we love, and whom we know loves us...  But more frequently it unsettles me since I am not always that sure and certain about this incredible God!

As a thinking with that strange mix of the empirical (science) and the phenomenological (faith) I frequently find that one has to critique and enrich the other.  So, when I found this quote below it encouraged me to realise that sometimes it is OK not to have everything 'buttoned up'... God is ultimately God, and I am only human!  

We are talking about God. What wonder is it that you do not understand? If you do understand, then it is not God. 

- St. Augustine

Indeed, if one is able to fully understand God, then God would be contained within one's mind - then God would be limited by the size and capacity of one's intellect.  So, there is comfort in knowing that God is bigger than my limited mind and understanding!

DEWCOM same sex and civil union conference.

It has been some time since I have had the opportunity to devote more than a few hours to researching, debating, and praying about the important issue of the Christian faith and persons with a same sex orientation.

I still serve on the Methodist Church of Southern Africa's (MCSA) Doctrine Ethics and Worship Commission (DEWCOM), and so I was invited, together with a host of colleauges, to participate in a two day conference on civil unions and the Church's response to the same sex debate. The Conference of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa asked that the DEWCOM reconsider our stance of 'radical' unity on this matter.

The MCSA adopted a courageous stance in 2005 when we affirmed that we would remain one and unidivided as a Church, even if members of the Church did not fully agree with one another on all matters. Wessel Bentley and I wrote that statement, together with Rev. Prof. Neville Richardson - you can follow some of the documents here.

It was wonderful to pray together, to study the scriptures, and to seek to find a position that is both Christ honouring, just, and that can be held with integrity by persons from various sides of this debate.

Tomorrow we'll continue with our work. By Thursday we hope to have something constructive to forward to our Bishops for consideration. Please pray for us as we engage in this critical work.

Angus Kelly and I have been recording the Audio, we will make it available for download in MP3 format for anyone who is interested in listening to the Bible studies, debates, and discussions.

By the way, I have also just submitted a chapter I was asked to write for a UNISA ethics textbook on the subject of the the Bible, ethics and the same sex debate. As soon as it is published I'll let you know!

Beating London's congestion charge!

I was going through the photos on my Nokia E90 this morning and saw this one that I took on SOHO common (or is it called SOHO square!? You know, just off Oxford street).

Here's a great way to beat London's congestion charge! Get a car that looks like kids toy! These two little cars were parked in a single parking bay! Amazing! Does anybody know what make this is? It wouldn't stand a chance on the wide open motorways of South Africa!
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It's such a perefect day!

It is my first Saturday home in more than a month, in fact it is my first Saturday home since we've moved into our new home! And, it's a PERFECT day for a swim!

Here's Liam at our lovely blue (ish) pool!

Morality and justice - tolerance, courage and wisdom

The following quote moved me:

Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. 

- Martin Luther King Jr.

There is some necessity within our 'moral universe' to apply both restraint and generosity when it comes to persons, institutions, and systems with which we differ.  However, two important friends, Kevin Light and Pete Grassow, have taught me that this tolerance must come to an end when it impinges upon justice.

I frequently pray that I would have the grace to give enough space for others to 'be', and the courage to act when the choices of others need to be engaged and challenged because they are the cause of abuse and injustice.  And, of course, I also pray that I shall have the wisdom to know the difference between these two...

Meeting with the Lausanne central committee on world evangelization

Today we're meeting with the Lausanne central committee on world evangelization at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. We're preparing for the 2010 conference in Cape Town in 2010. It was wonderful to meet up with friends such as Bishop Hwa Yung (whom I met in Malaysia two years ago) and Blair Carlson who I got to know earlier this year. There were many new faces as well.

I have the joy of serving on the hosting committee, and also serve on the world Theological committee. It is such a joy to see things fitting together for this wonderful event. My particular inputs relate to the logistics and arrangements (of course). However, on the theological committe I have input on the African and two-thirds world perspective, African theologies, liberation theologies and also the 'emerging' movement conversation.

New Apple Macbooks have landed! They're a strange mix!

So, the new Macbooks have landed indeed! They're something of a strange mix between the stylings of the new iMac (metal finish with black plastic) and the Macbook Air (thin screen, LED backlit, same black keyboard... Just a thicker base that can accomodate an internal optical drive and all the ports and hard drive space your heart desires!)

All in all I like the new look! I won't be giving up my Macbook Air anytime soon - it is thinner, lighter, has better battery life (and I still owe money on it!) - but for those who've been holding out for a new Mac (or a new notebook for that matter) these are sure to be a hit!

Just a word of caution, I would suggest that you hold of buying the firt generations, Apple has not been all that good with 1st generation products of late... Also, some advice, you may be able to pick up a superb Macbook Pro or Macbook (both 'old style of course') for next to nothing in the weeks to come as the shops try to dump their stock! So, keep your eyes and ears open!

Follow this link for a great, succint, review of the new Macbooks.

It's unbelieveable! I've been nominated as the US President, and I may just win!

How incredible is this!? A friend told me that I had been nominated as the US President, and that I may just win the race!!

Click HERE to watch the video...

Heck, I don't stand a chance ;-)