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For it’s by God’s grace that you have been saved. You receive it through faith. It was not our plan or our effort. It is God’s gift, pure and simple. You didn’t earn it, not one of us did, so don’t go around bragging that you must have done something amazing (Ephesians 2:8-9). |
North Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church met in Ft. Wayne, IN to worship, pass a budget, vote on resolutions, and, oh yes, elect three new bishops from ten candidates for our jurisdiction, one of whom might be the new bishop for our Minnesota Annual Conference.
Tuesday,
1 November: Meeting the Candidates, Breathing in the Spirit
The
evening of my first day in Ft. Wayne, Black Methodists for Church Renewal sponsored
a forum where all of the episcopal candidates were interviewed. The forum’s
purpose was to interview episcopal candidates, one at a time, and gain insight
into who or what shapes their understanding of racism in the church and how
they will continue the work of dismantling and eradicating racism in their role
as bishop.
Although
each Annual Conference’s delegations had an opportunity in September to do zoom
interviews with each of the ten candidates, seeing them in person we could also
read body language and get fresh impressions of each one.
Wednesday,
2 November: Entering
the Valley of Dry Bones
We were called back to the conference hall
at 9 am for the first worship service of the Conference with Bishop Bruce Ough
offering a message titled “God Has Us Right Where God Wants Us." Exploring Ezekiel
37:1-14, known as “The Valley of Dry Bones.”
Prior to Bishop Ough’s message, I learned a new song that not
only spoke to the message, but also lifted my spirit and fed my soul. I can
hardly wait to hear this song in an Epworth worship service.
“Rattle!” by Elevation Worship
Songwriters: Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, and Steven Furtick
© Bethel Music Publishing, Essential Music Publishing
Saturday was silent; surely it was through
But since when has impossible ever stopped You
Friday's disappointment is Sunday's empty tomb
Since when has impossible ever stopped You
This is the sound of dry bones rattling
This is the praise, makes a dead man walk again
Open the grave, I'm coming out
I'm gonna live, gonna live again
This is the sound of dry bones rattling,
Pentecostal fire stirring something new
You're not gonna run out of miracles anytime soon
Resurrection power runs in my veins too and
I believe there's another miracle here in this room
You can read more about the worship service by clicking this link “Can these dry bones live? Opening worship at NCJ” which also includes links to a video and a transcript of Bishop Ough’s message.
After worship and a lunch break, we moved on to the business of electing bishops. Prior to balloting, all ten of the episcopal candidates addressed the body in a shared statement of prayer and unity.
Kennetha Bigham-Tsai (left) from Illinois was elected on the first ballot. NCJ not only elected the first bishop across the five U.S. jurisdictions, all meeting over the same days in their jurisdictions. We also made NCJ history by electing a bishop on the first ballot.
It took several more ballots before a majority was achieved, but by the end of the evening NCJ elected Lanette Plambeck (right) from the Ohio Conference as bishop.
Thursday, 3 November: Dry Bones DancingThursday’s worship service featured a sermon by Bishop Tracey Malone on 2 Corinthians 4:7-18. The service started with prayer offered by Pastor Danie Parra of Dayspring Native American UMC in Illinois.
The Spirit drum invited everyone to join in a “Friendship Dance” in circles where they were. If you click this link ”Mercy Sustains,” you can read more about this day’s worship.
After worship, Bishop David Bard delivered the Episcopal Address. After opening with the song “Space Oddity,” he spoke about the “Odd Space” that we -- our UMC, our nation, and our world – occupy. By clicking this link, “We are in Odd Space,” you can read more of the Episcopal Address.
After lunch, we returned to the business of electing one more bishop. After seven ballots, the eight candidates became two – Aleze Fulbright and Dan Schwerin.
Some candidates had not received enough votes to continue on the ballots and other candidates withdrew their candidacy. On the 6th ballot, Don Schwerin from Wisconsin was elected NCJ's third bishop.
After the election, Bishop Bard led us into a conversation about Christian nationalism, racism, and white supremacy. We met in small groups to discuss how to help our local churches engage in this conversation. Bishop Trimble asked us to consider who we are as followers of Jesus in this dangerous space where nationalism is confused with patriotism and where theology and politics are conflated. Is Epworth ready to have this conversation?
Friday,
4 November: Rattling, Resolving, Resurrecting
I had a front row seat for this day’s
worship service when Bishop Julius Trimble delivered the sermon “Stand Up with
the Good News” explaining why to stand up for the
gospel, why to proclaim the good news to everybody, and why to press on. You
can read more about Bishop Trimble’s sermon at this link “Stand
up with the good news” and you can find a link to the video there also.
After worship, we attended to other NCJ
business. Among other things, we were asked to consider how we want to live
as a church amid struggles with gun violence and homophobia. Rev. Angelo Monte gave testimony about a
ministry he started after losing a cousin in 2016 to gun violence. Alive Community Outreach focuses on walking
with victims, educating and empowering young persons to build peace in their
schools and communities, and developing intervention.
Later in the day, Rev. Angie Cox, Kiri Anne Ryan Bereznai, and Rev. Mary Ann Moman gave powerful witness of harm within the church because of homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism. Bishops joined delegates and visitors in small group conversations about how we the church can live into our baptismal covenant. Part of the covenant is our vow to "resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves." We ended the conversation with prayer and confession.
T
he 2023-24 Jurisdictional Budget was approved as well as resolutions regarding a “Code of Ethics” and “Leading with Integrity.” Both resolutions spoke to how delegates and leaders in the church need to make decisions in the best interests of the future of the United Methodist Church, and if planning to disaffiliate, to recuse themselves from leadership roles. Minnesota delegate Walter Brault (above left) made
the motion to approve the resolution entitled “Queer Delegates’ Call to Center
Justice and Empowerment for LGBTQIA+ People in the UMC.” This resolution commits us to a future of The United Methodist Church
where LGBTQIA+ people will be “protected, affirmed, and empowered in the life
and ministry of the church in our jurisdiction.”
With about 85% or
more of the votes, this resolution and the other two resolutions above were
approved. Affirmation was also given to the formation of a U.S Regional
Conference through support of the Christmas Covenant and Connectional Table
legislation proposing the establishment of regional conferences.
These
announcements were made on this day: General Conference 2024 will be in
Charlotte, NC April 23-May 4 and the next Jurisdictional Conference will follow it July
10-13 in Sioux Falls, SD.
Some relief from the seriousness of business was provided by creative
movement and spoken word from Ft. Wayne’s Arts Leadership Academy.
Saturday, 5 November: Consecrating, Celebrating, Pressing on
The only NCJ business on this last day was to consecrate the new bishops and learn where bishops will be assigned. But, as always, we began with worship and Bishop Sally Dyck delivered the sermon, “Three Temptations in Ministry” based on Luke 4:1-13.
The Service of Consecration included a “Laying on of Hands” by the veteran bishops for the new bishops, and a presentation of stoles symbolizing the bishops’ servant ministry, staffs symbolizing their role as shepherds, and bibles symbolizing their call to feed the flock and faithfully nourish with Word and Sacraments. Communion followed Consecration.Then we learned to which Annual Conference each bishop would be assigned.
As soon as the Minnesota and Dakotas Delegations finished posing for selfies and official photos with our new Bishop, we went our separate ways to faithfully press on toward home.
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