I am talking with congregation members with two goals: first, to provide information and second, to share assurance and hope. This is not a time to fear, but instead, to put our trust in God's will for the church and the resilience of the church.
After the first two gatherings, I am in awe of God's grace. We met at the Whitmore Lake Campus on Sunday, January 27
and at the Brighton Campus on Monday, February 4. While it was clear that those who attended shared different opinions and theological understandings, there was a spirit of kindness and respect. I believe that when believers gather, even if the conversations are challenging, God's grace abounds.
Some have suggested that the leaders of First United Methodist Church plan our response to the actions of General Conference. Of course, we cannot make any kind of plan until we know the outcome of the conference. I pray that decisions made by our denominational leaders are within God's will and will aid in offering Christ to the world. In the meantime, I continue to trust in God's grace and love for the church. Whatever decisions need to be made in the months ahead, our church will make them prayerfully, loving God and one another.Bishop David Bard, the United Methodist Bishop for Michigan cited Ephesians 4:1-3 as a call to unity of purpose in the name of Jesus Christ. "As a prisoner for the Lord the, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
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