May 2008
On the April 5th, lay and clergy delegates to the Detroit and the West Michigan Conferences met in Lansing to vote on a resolution to merge our two conferences into a new state wide conference that would be known as the Great Lakes Conference. It was the plan of this new conference to get back to basics; that is to focus its vision and energies on being obedient to scripture by making it the primary purpose of all its churches to raise up disciples for Jesus Christ. The conference would actively equip the local congregations, who, in turn, would work within their communities to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who needed to hear it and teach them to live out their faith in service to others as disciples of Jesus Christ.
For many in both conferences, including myself, this new conference represented a opportunity for a much needed fresh start; a chance to refocus the energies of the church back to Christ’s great commandments and great commission. It represented a change for us as Michigan United Methodists to let go of the accumulated baggage that so often encumbers our efforts and draws our attention away from our primary Christian mandate – to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Many saw it as a chance for a fresh moving of God’s Spirit and revival of the church in the Michigan area and awaited the vote with great expectation.
The resolution needed to be passed by both conferences. Detroit Conference passed it overwhelmingly, but the West Michigan Conference rejected it by a mere 13 votes. As the results of the vote were read, many sat in disbelief as they realized that the merger had failed. Many wondered where we go from here.
As I sat there among the other delegates, many of whom were numbed by the unexpected outcome, I remembered the words of one very wise gentleman who shared with the assembly prior to the vote. He said, “Regardless of whether this vote passes or fails, our jobs – our duty as Christians, lay and clergy alike, will not change; for every one of us are still called, still commissioned and still empowered to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Regardless of the outcome, I intend to do my best to be an obedient follower of my Lord; be it in the Great Lakes, West Michigan or the Detroit conference.” The truth of his words dug deep into my soul.
As a church and as individual Christians, we are each called to make disciples. We must constantly remind ourselves that, as individuals and as a church, we don’t exist for our own benefit; we exist to be in service others. Some of you have experienced the burden and blessing of this truth in recent months. But we also need to be keenly aware that the primary focus of our service MUST extend beyond the walls of our church building in acts of service and mercy and justice whenever the opportunity arises to any and every person within our community and our reach. Equally important, we must remember why and for whom we do it. We do it to share with others the genuine love that God has for them. We do it out of our love and obedience to our God in Jesus Christ because while we were yet sinners, he first loved us.
When we lose sight of our mission in Jesus Christ, the church becomes a building instead of a gathering of believers empowered by the Holy Spirit. The church slowly becomes nothing more than a social club. Social clubs exist for their own benefit; they turn their attention inward toward themselves. They subtlety close their doors to all but a few new members. They expend more and more of their energy and resources on self preservation as they slowly die; often oblivious to the signs of their own demise.
The truth of the matter is that we don’t need a conference merger to reignite the United Methodist church; all we need is the commitment of its members, both on the conference and the local levels, and a renewed commitment to Jesus Christ and to the work that he calls us to. The mission statement of our own Union City UMC is: “To love God, love one another and to make disciples for Jesus Christ”. Our mission echoes the great commandments and the great commission. Our call is clear.
What we need to decide, both as a conference and a church, is whether or not we’re willing to respond to God’s call for whole hearted commit to be a mission station for Jesus Christ and work toward the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Or whether we’ll settle into a social club mentality serving our own desires and the ways of our materialistic society as we slowly die – physically and spiritually. Will we serve Jesus or serve ourselves; God or the world? The consequences of our choice carry eternal significance.
Pray for our conference. Pray for our church. And pray for a renewal of God’s Spirit in us all that as a conference, a church and as individuals, we may become all that God intends for us to be.
Grace and Peace, The Rev. Rob Hughes
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