Brighton First and the Michigan Area of the United Methodist Church on a Common Journey

Bishop Deborah Kiesey, episcopal leader of the Michigan
Area of the United Methodist Church, speaks with clergy.

On Wednesday, August 26, I had the opportunity to sit in on a Q & A session with Bishop Deborah Kiesey, the bishop of the Michigan Area of the United Methodist Church. Most of the questions she fielded were about the process of creating one new conference from two separate conferences in Michigan, the West Michigan Annual Conference and the Detroit Annual Conference. (The United Methodist Church is separated into regional conferences that are led and administred by a bishop and a conference staff. Like the local church, each conference sets up its own systems for effective ministry  and has its own culture and personality.)

The Detroit Annual Conference and the West Michigan Annual Conference have existed separately for decades. I was struck by Bishop Keisey's statement that the practices and ministries of the conferences will be assessed based on the central mission that we are to make disciples for Jesus Christ. As the new Michigan Area is formed, every committee, board and agency will exist to intentionally equip United Methodists to make disciples. This means that some existing programs and practices will be enhanced by the coming together of the conferences and others, that do not help the mission will come to an end.

In addition to answering questions about the merger of the conferences, Bishop Kiesey also addressed a question about the diverse United Methodist views on homosexuality, especially in regards to the recent Supreme Court decision which legalized same-sex marriage across the United States. She said that we are in a very confusing, unsettled time in the life of the church.

This is an anxious time for Michigan United Methodist clergy and lay people. We are anxious because of our diverse views on social issues. We ask, "Will our church hold together?" We are anxious because of the coming changes to our conference. We ask, "What will conference leadership look like? Will the things we expect from the Annual Conference be the same? How will this change affect our church?"

In  a sense, United Methodists in Michigan are in the wilderness, between endings and waiting for beginnings.

I listened to the bishop answer questions and I thought about the similarities with our church's current journey through Vital Church Initiative. As we move to bring our ministry in line with our purpose as a church and our vision for the future, we are anxious. As we ask how each of our programs and ministries further our goal of making disciples, we wonder what changes are in store. We ask, "What does the future hold for the roles of staff members and church leaders? What will stay the same and what about this church might change?"

As the discussion ended, Bishop Kiesey urged that clergy around her to find grace in the discussions, even with people with whom they do not agree. Clergy were also encouraged to keep to the goal of pleasing God, making disciples.

I am convinced that the Brighton First VCI journey will bear fruit for God. I am also convinced that the journey is not easy and we are, at different stages, experiencing wilderness. I encourage all of us to keep the hope of God before us. Brighton First is a place where lives are changed, people come to faith and disciples are strengthened.