by Bob Phillips
As the Methodist minions prepare to gather in Costa Rica, both hopes and anxieties are high. Any new birth, literal, spiritual or organizational, is messy business. The formal convening of the General Conference will pull the rug from under United Methodist administrivia types who have rejected any recognition of this new Kingdom reality on the grounds no such ‘conference’ has occurred. The irony on insisting of “Letter of the law” in this matter while casually ignoring profound disobedience in other matters is a tad amusing. In the spirit of Claude Rains in Casablanca, the UM bishops are “shocked, shocked” in their selective indignation to learn that disobedience to the rules might happen surrounding the formation of the GMC. That said, fixing this quibble cannot and must not become the main positive outcome. In that spirit, I offer seven observations on the process and outcomes of the General Conference. I don’t call them prophecies since most are assessable to any with sanctified common sense.
1. The GC will make good and wise decisions.
The Holy Spirit, the integrity of intention, and the rough and occasionally painful tutor of experience set the stage for the willingness to push the reset button on Wesleyan business-as-usual church practice. With the legacy system in the rearview mirror, Janis Joplin’s counsel, “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose,’ comes full circle. The GC will make some decisions that will leave many asking, “Why did we wait so long?”
2. The GC will make some not-so-good or wise decisions.
Someone once observed that the waters of Christian baptism wash away “the old man,” i.e., our unregenerate status…but went on to add that this “old man” has proved to be a good swimmer. Prayer, the presence of the Spirit, and the best of intentions will not alter the fact that human nature will stumble. The GC will make some decisions that will leave many asking, “Huh?” Herb Simon, Nobel prize-winning economist, coined the term, “satisficing,’ to describe times when institutions rightly chose the course of ‘better’ now rather than waiting for a distant ‘best’ at some possibly unreachable future point. Satisficing empowers needed forward motion, despite imperfections. That will happen at GC and is ok provided such imperfect decisions are viewed for what they are and aren’t, a serious start but not fixed and final in all ways.
3. The GC will strive to embody its vision and mission in its polity.
The ability to draw a direct line from GC decisions and actions to the core mission of the church is a refreshing and crucial goal. A Pentecostal Navy chaplain friend once kidded me that my (then) United Methodist denomination seemed to have a position on every subject but bed-wetting. The most recent UMC GC met their 3 priorities of revising the (non-binding) Social Principles, approving the separate-but-equal vision of a regional church, and removing language disapproving of certain never-named behaviors. The tectonic level collapse of US/European membership and attendance, also known as the tyrannosaurus in the room, was ignored in favor of line dancing and an institutional denial that would leave the now defunct Sears and Blockbuster in awe. The GMC passion is to focus on what matters most for a viable future not reliant on transfer growth but on Wesleyan Christian conversions and disciple-making. Will it succeed? See #1 and #2 above!
4. The GC will prioritize and practice true global corporate worship.
I worshipped at a GMC gathering where the Presence of the Spirit and the Living Word were palpable. When folks in worship begin to cheer and applaud the affirming words of the Nicene Creed, well Toto, we aren’t in status quo Kansas anymore. This reality has been reflected in more such gatherings over the previous 2 years than I encountered in the previous half century combined of official denominational worship…and some of that was also memorable in good ways. Yes, this is subjective and skewed but the power of authentic worship in a GMC setting has been evident repeatedly. Not contrived, not manipulated, simply real deal worship in Spirit and in Truth. I look for a sustained priority placed on the need and call for empowering worship.
5. The GC will conclude with some important business unfinished.
See #2 above. The attitude the GC and larger church takes toward realistic next steps will be a clear metric of the spiritual and institutional health of the GMC as it moves into its future. As grace, honesty, realism and focus converge, priorities can be set for sustained health. Impatience/rigidity, by contrast, can strangle the GMC baby in the crib.
6. The GC will barbecue some, but not all, institutional sacred cows.
Listen for the last “moo” from the heifer of guaranteed appointments, that brought the unintended consequence of protecting mediocrity and undercutting accountability. Harken to the final “moo” from the steer labeled ‘apportionments,’ as the word is mentioned as much in the GMC as it is in the Bible (never). The honorable intention of mobilizing resources for ministry on a regional and global level remains, but reset and re-booted. The office and role of bishops, the nature of Annual/General Conference, and the requirements for ordination are examples of tough topics that GC will tackle…but not necessarily resolve with finality.
7. The GC will conclude on a high note of hope, centered in the risen Christ, except in secular media.
The GMC is reclaiming the conviction of the Wesleyan Christian faith as a supernatural (not superstitious) religion, with Jesus as the incarnate virgin-born-atoning-resurrected-returning Lord of all. It will reclaim the relevance of such historical truths to modern life and faith. Just be warned that public media will spin things differently. I chatted last week with a long-time friend, firm in her traditional Baptist faith and progressive in her politics, who asked honestly, “Remind me which is the Methodist church that hates gays?” Her information came from her good faith trust in secular and mainline religious sources to frame issues and identify players. The GMC at all levels must commit to “going high” rather than “high and right” when others provide unfair and untrue spin on what happens in Costa Rica…while affirming fair and accurate reporting when given. It is for the GMC to “think about these things” listed by Paul in Philippians 4:8, embrace the holiness and love found in our risen Savior and Lord, and move with confidence into the future that awaits.
Degrees from University of Illinois, Asbury and Princeton Seminaries, University of St. Andrews
Graduate of Senior Executive Seminar on Morality, Ethics and Public Policy, Brookings Institution
Captain, Chaplain Corps, US Navy (ret)
See Bob’s work on Methodist Mitosis in Methodist Review.
People Need Jesus 
thanks keep me informed If our beloved organizationsare doing such a great job fulfilling the Great Commission,then why are the Muslims taking over large areas???????