UCC General Synod - July 1, 2009
Sometimes, you just want a do-over. After I made my “speech” yesterday on the Northern California Nevada resolution, I sat down at my table. One of the other “Voice without Vote” delegates ( a group that advocates for animal rights) had a couple of questions.
“So you are in favor of bullying?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Well, that’s what it sounded like.”
“I didn’t mean to imply that at all. I was just saying that we should consider how ECOT members and churches might read a pronouncement like this. I only had two minutes, and I guess I didn’t say everything I should have said.”
“Do you believe that people choose to be gay?”
“I believe that sexual preference, like almost everything else in life, is a combination of heredity, environment, and choice.”
It was a brief conversation, but I’ve thought about it a lot. I want FWC to stand for ECOT values with clarity, compassion, and respect. I would love for people to interact with us and think something like, “We may not agree, but those people really care.”
Not sure I communicated that on the General Synod floor.
Here’s the speech I wish I would have made –
I’m Bob Thompson from Faithful and Welcoming Churches. We are a voice of those in the UCC who consider themselves ECOT – evangelical, conservative, orthodox, or traditional.
Let me begin by saying that I hate bullying. In any form for any reason. I’ve been bullied enough in my life to know it’s not only humiliating but it can alter your sense of worth as a person – and in many cases irreparably. Bullying is wrong no matter what the felt justification – including bullying for someone who is gay, is thought to be gay, or has parents or family members who are gay. It’s just wrong.
But this resolution seems to me to start with the issue of bullying and move toward presenting one side of an issue that remains controversial in society and in many Christian communities, including many UCC churches – how we teach human sexuality. Many ECOTs do approach the subject differently than the positions advocated by the General Synod.
It is not on the issue of bullying but on the issue of teaching human sexuality to children that I voice opposition to this resolution.
First, the General Synod’s standing rules say that a resolution of witness must not “call into question the Christian commitment of those who do not agree.” This resolution feels to me like it does exactly that.
Second, our newly elected General Minister and President was quoted this morning in the newspaper as saying “the bleeding is over” from the 2005 General Synod. We in FWC encourage ECOT churches to stay in the UCC and participate actively. I plead with you to consider the impact of this resolution on churches that are still considering whether to remain in or support the denomination.
We would encourage the Northern California Nevada Conference to address the matter in its own setting rather than risking further damage the unity of local churches all across the UCC. We in FWC would also be willing to work with future drafters of resolutions so that we could be sensitive to how the resolutions might play out in some of our ECOT churches.
You don’t get do-overs in life, do you? At least not very often. (John Roberts did make that last point in a “point of privilege” on the floor after the resolution was approved.)
But FWC will be back at General Synod 2009. We will learn how to do what we’re trying to do better.
We’ve had some other thoughts and ideas for GS 2011, among them….
· Focus more on “ECOT” identity in our booth display board. “FWC” continues to be confusing to some, who confuse it with ONA (Open and Affirming).
· T-shirts: “Have you hugged an ECOT today?”
· Better advance thinking of ECOT-related anniversaries to lift up in a resolution (we missed doing John Calvin) – maybe the 200th anniversary of Adoniram Judson and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (1811)
· An FWC Award presented on the Synod floor (this is allowable)
· A way to register and/or give in the exhibit booth
· More literature to give/sell, including resources from other denominations
What suggestions do you have?
Think with us and pray for us. We don’t always do things right the first time, but we are listening to the God who speaks through his Word, loves us in our trying, and is the God of second chances!
Bob,
I keep reminding myself that our’s is a work in process. We adjust and change our approach and style to engage the wider Church on behalf of ECOT voices.
I also remember that God is big enough to do great things with us even when we get in the way. I for one was very happy to be at Synod with you and very encouraged with what God continues to do in our midst. Safe travels home.
Talk about do overs! It’s a work in progress not a work in process. Or maybe it’s both.
As we all know hindsight is 20/20. Don’t beat yourself up over this. I believe we all learned some valuable information at this Synod. Nancy and I were discussing, on the way home, that it would have been good to have a “friendly” delegate to offer an amendment to delete the list and just have the resolution say “all”, so as not to exclude anyone, because the list did not include things like weight, stature physical deformities or limitations, which can also be used by bullies as excuses to bully. It would be impossible to list everything that children are bullied over. I think before and at the next Synod, we need to have strategy sessions to craft responses and possible amendments to the controversial resolutions to eliminate divisive language and language that our churches would find unbiblical and offensive.
Well, lesson learned. We will be better prepared next time!
Bob and John
Thank you for your faithful witness, thoughtful response to the “bullying” resolution–even if you wish you could have a do-over, your bridge-building, relationship-building, and the wonderful renewal luncheon you sponsored. I for one am grateful for you voices and your witness at General Synod 27. You have helped me, for one, to make sense of the whole experience.
Rev. Steven Simpson
Thanks for the encouragement from friends! Much appreciated, all of you…. Bob
Pastor Bob,
I could not attend the Tuesday Synod events so I did not hear your speech. However, I did attend the luncheon on Sunday and I attended the workshop on Saturday afternoon. I have also read many of your informative emails and I know that you have stood firm in your resolve to have the voice of the ECOTs heard in the UCC. In all those things I have heard a very considerate and sensitive voice and I find it difficult to believe that your speech on Tuesday was as poorly taken as you may believe. If you are concerned about the first question asked of you, it seems clear by its wording that the one asking was more concerned with baiting you than posing a truly thoughtful question. Please keep working. God is working through you, period.