I know there are some people who are tired of the news coverage of Michael Jackson's death. "What's the big deal?" posted a 13 year old acquaintenance of mine on Facebook.
Here's where age has advantages. One of my most prized possessions is a Michael Jackson pin. It was given to me as a gift from a beautiful 5 year old in my first congregation in Indianola, Mississippi. The gift was breathtaking. Her Michael Jackson pin was, truly, her most prized possession.
I know it's hard for some people to grasp his impact after the strange--sometimes bizarre-- twists that Michael Jackson's life took. But, back in 1984, Michael Jackson had a remarkable impact on the black young people I loved and pastored in Indianola. He lifted their spirits and put a pride and energy into those young lives like nothing else. "Thriller" was big. His extraordinary dance moves set everyone's feet to tapping and hands to clapping... Every kid I knew could moonwalk or was trying to learn. There was no denying the powerful impact he had on their lives--an impact that was energizing and positive.
I'm no expert. But I put his lifting impact alongside Michael Jordan in sports and Barak Obama in politics. He was a singing, swirling hero at a time when breaking barriers was life-impacting, especially for black young people. That's what I remember. That's what I value. Although twists and torments developed in Michael Jackson's life through the years, I marveled at the way he made a difference to young lives that I loved. And, in that historical context, Michael Jackson's giftenedness was an invaluable contribution to them and to us all.
Life is intense, complicated and fragile. Some of the most gifted people are also the most tormented. We never know what will be next. His death is a chance to celebrate the good and learn lessons. That will take some time.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Things DO change--Thank God!
What a thrill it was to see my daughter, Christi, commissioned this Wednesday night in the North Carolina Conference! It was a thrill because she is (in my unbiased and correct opinion) such a beautiful, extraordinary, remarkable young woman. What rich gifts she brings to Christ and the church. Yes, it is a twist of irony that after all these years of being such a passionate Duke fan, my Christi would be appointed to a church in Chapel Hill for her first appointment. But every place needs missionaries...
Christi DeSha Dye on her commissioning day June 10, 2007 with her grandfather, Dr. JamesA. Shepherd who, in 2009, celebrates 66 years of service as a United Methodist pastor.
The joy of Christi's commissioning was enough to thrill me from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. But I have two other thoroughly joyful dimensions to complement the day. One is the rich sense of family heritage that met us in North Carolina. Christi was commissioned by Bishop Al Gwinn...who grew up in a church in the Kentucky Conference which was built by my grandfather. My 87 year old father was able to be present for Christi's commissioning -- witnessing the 4th generation preacher legacy from the Shepherd side of the family.
And I couldn't help but revel in the way things have changed in the church. When I was taking the equivalent step in my own journey of ministry -- in 1975--the attitude and practice in the church was very different. My bishop in Mississippi, Bishop Mack Stokes, spent the night before my deacon ordination with the head of the Board of Ordained Ministry asking how to get out of ordaining me as a deacon (which was, back then, the equivalent step to today's commissioning). My dear friend and mentor, Dr. Prentiss Gordon, told the bishop that he would have to go through with it. And he did. But everything about the atmosphere for women was so adversarial. When people were just uneasy about women preachers, we considered that to be a blessing! North Mississippi had two second career, very devoted clergywomen who had come through the Course of Study track. And what a blessing and inspiration and encouragement they were to me! Being a young woman coming through the seminary track was not a welcome prospect. Formal and informal discouragement and opposition met me at every turn.
What a wonderful change has taken place in the church! Women are carefully screened -- along with male colleagues--but gender is no longer an intractable barrier. Christi sailed through the ordination track credentialing with not even a word of hesitation based on gender. That's a thrill for me that she and other young women have no way to measure. Of course I am proud that she is so theologically astute, wise and articulate. But I also rejoiced in the change of circumstance -- that she could come to ministry on her own merits--that she could step forward into God's calling without the resentment and resistance of the generations before her.
I've prayed and worked for this change for decades. Through the years, I didn't know that working for open doors for women would be a direct benefit to my own daughter. But what an exquisite dimension of joy to see her process unfold in that way--to see her welcomed into the conference and respected and valued. So many times, breaking new ground was discouraging, depleting, disillusioning. So many wonderful women were wounded along the way. To see Christi--and other young women in the commissioning and ordination process--be welcomed and blessed fills my heart to overflowing with a joy that can't be comprehended for those who haven't lived through the hard times. What a sign of hope for me! Persistent, persevering faithful action does make a difference! Things DO change. Thank God! What an extraordinary experience of joy and rejoicing have been able to experience this week!
I remember how many years the
Monday, June 8, 2009
United Methodism's crossroads of conscience
From the beginning, Methodists have been an opinionated people. John Wesley had passionate opinions which he spread with fervor. Spirited debate has characterized our denominational history and, as long as debate is conducted respectfully within the priority of grace and Christian love, the differences of opinion enrich and bless us.
And, to tell the truth, some of our most passionate opinions don't matter much in the grand scheme of things. The exact wording of a name of a group in the connection is not going to have eternal consequences. But there are some subjects that go straight to the heart of faith and whether or not our practices are aligned with Jesus.
We are at a crossroads of conscience place now with proposed constitutional amendment 1. While other amendments deal with the organization of our denomination, amendment 1 deals with the integrity of Christian practice. The amendment doesn't state a new position. The United Methodist Church has always had evangelical fervor that Christ died for the sins of the whole world and calls ALL to repentance, faith and Christian practice. We are -- and always have been--a John 3:16 denomination. Traditionally, we not only welcome all -- we have a burning passion to reach out to all. The open altar is one of the strongest distinguishing Christlike characteristics of our faith.
The clarity of amendment 1 is, in my opinion, a no-brainer. Anyone who professes faith in Christ and takes vows to support the church is welcome. Our history, our theology and our commitment to Scripture makes this, in my opinion, makes amendment 1 a simple restatement of a profound and central teaching of Methodism.
But, as I said, Methodists are an opinionated group. And, while I thought that this amendment couldn't possibly be controversial, U-Tube and media has reminded me that people can argue anything. The opposition/hesitancy about the amendment does not openly oppose inclusivity. But the appeal is being made to the perogative of the local pastor to determine readiness for membership.
I take clergy leadership seriously. But I unequivocally, unapologetically say that there is no pastoral perogative for a pastor to turn away anyone who Christ would welcome. Pastors NEVER have the perogative to do the opposite of what Jesus would have done. And John 3:16 is clear -- God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Now, friends, that familiar verse won't do much good if we can repeat it but not live it. What part of "whosoever" do we not understand?
How could anyone defend the perogative of a pastor to say "sorry, you can't join a United Methodist church" to someone for whom Christ died and gave eternal life?
Does that mean that pastors are to ignore the sins of anyone coming forward? Absolutely not! That's where pastoral leadership has perogative and responsibility. But no pastor requires perfection from anyone who comes forward -- never has. Watching over one another in love and accountability has been another hallmark of Methodism. If the model of Christ means anything, pastors have no authority to lead in moving on to perfection if they withhold the accepting grace of Christ and refuse to allow people to make a commitment of faith to Christ and the church.
We must never compromise the inclusive invitation of Jesus Christ. We must never fail to embody God's invitation to all. Anything less than full welcome distorts the church into a club and tempts pastors to the Pharisees. A Christ-centered church and Christ-centered pastors have arms and hearts open to whoever professes Christ and seeks to serve Him through the church.
Spirited debate is fine as long as it doesn't cloud our thinking or redefine gospel priorities. There is no more basic affirmation than Christ's welcome to all.
And, to tell the truth, some of our most passionate opinions don't matter much in the grand scheme of things. The exact wording of a name of a group in the connection is not going to have eternal consequences. But there are some subjects that go straight to the heart of faith and whether or not our practices are aligned with Jesus.
We are at a crossroads of conscience place now with proposed constitutional amendment 1. While other amendments deal with the organization of our denomination, amendment 1 deals with the integrity of Christian practice. The amendment doesn't state a new position. The United Methodist Church has always had evangelical fervor that Christ died for the sins of the whole world and calls ALL to repentance, faith and Christian practice. We are -- and always have been--a John 3:16 denomination. Traditionally, we not only welcome all -- we have a burning passion to reach out to all. The open altar is one of the strongest distinguishing Christlike characteristics of our faith.
The clarity of amendment 1 is, in my opinion, a no-brainer. Anyone who professes faith in Christ and takes vows to support the church is welcome. Our history, our theology and our commitment to Scripture makes this, in my opinion, makes amendment 1 a simple restatement of a profound and central teaching of Methodism.
But, as I said, Methodists are an opinionated group. And, while I thought that this amendment couldn't possibly be controversial, U-Tube and media has reminded me that people can argue anything. The opposition/hesitancy about the amendment does not openly oppose inclusivity. But the appeal is being made to the perogative of the local pastor to determine readiness for membership.
I take clergy leadership seriously. But I unequivocally, unapologetically say that there is no pastoral perogative for a pastor to turn away anyone who Christ would welcome. Pastors NEVER have the perogative to do the opposite of what Jesus would have done. And John 3:16 is clear -- God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Now, friends, that familiar verse won't do much good if we can repeat it but not live it. What part of "whosoever" do we not understand?
How could anyone defend the perogative of a pastor to say "sorry, you can't join a United Methodist church" to someone for whom Christ died and gave eternal life?
Does that mean that pastors are to ignore the sins of anyone coming forward? Absolutely not! That's where pastoral leadership has perogative and responsibility. But no pastor requires perfection from anyone who comes forward -- never has. Watching over one another in love and accountability has been another hallmark of Methodism. If the model of Christ means anything, pastors have no authority to lead in moving on to perfection if they withhold the accepting grace of Christ and refuse to allow people to make a commitment of faith to Christ and the church.
We must never compromise the inclusive invitation of Jesus Christ. We must never fail to embody God's invitation to all. Anything less than full welcome distorts the church into a club and tempts pastors to the Pharisees. A Christ-centered church and Christ-centered pastors have arms and hearts open to whoever professes Christ and seeks to serve Him through the church.
Spirited debate is fine as long as it doesn't cloud our thinking or redefine gospel priorities. There is no more basic affirmation than Christ's welcome to all.
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