Note: This was written on 10-April-2010, 11 April 2010, and 14-April-201,0 I was going to use it to formulate some posts, but have chosen to post it, as is, with a few brief notes and changes from the original writing. Some views, understandings have changed since it was written. But perhaps it will help provided background to the posts that are planed. I apologize for all the errors, typo-os etc found in all the posts of late, I have not had the time to breathe, let alone go through and fix these posts, hopefully in the next few weeks I will have that time. If something is unclear, please post a comment asking for clarity.
I sit here this morning in anticipation of what may come to be. I also sit in wonder of what it means for the church. I sit here with excitement for those who I have already re-encountered and those that I have yet to encounter again but shall in the near future. I also sit here in reflection of that which has happened thus far. I write now a quick reflection of the last two days, and of “pre-conference” thought now that materials are in my hand and have been reviewed a bit.
I started my perhaps as early as 7:20am EDT on Thursday 8 April 201, for that is about the time I awoke. That morning was a period of relaxation and a bit of last minute preparations before I took off for work that afternoon for a few hours. After work I returned home, prepared a meal for myself, took out the trash and then at about 8:45pm EDT I joined two others and we started our travels to the 2010 World Conference of Community of Christ.
We drove and we drove, and we drove, I started my shift near Indianapolis, having not a wink of sleep, and drove to about 40 miles shy of St. Louis before handing over the reigns, seeking that wink of sleep. It was perhaps just a wink that I got, for by the time we pulled into the Auditorium parking lot I had perhaps acuminated between 4am CDT and 8:20 CDT about an hour of sleep.
We spent the morning walking around a bit, meeting a couple of people, getting our conference materials… then we went and rested a bit at the place of our dwelling for the week. I slept not, but rather read over some of the conference material. Then it was time for nourishment, then the Daily Prayer for Peace service, and then a quick trip to the store and back for a bit more reading. If you ever have a booklet of financial reports and related information that is 68 pages long, you may wish to consider not trying to read/skim through it all at once. Unless of course that is your thing, my mind was in an interesting place… after going though it all. After a bit we took off again and went to the Royals game. If you know me I’m not a big sports fan, but hey it was good to be out with friends, even if it did keep me up even long. The Royals won, which made people happy (though I am sure also made some not). Then we went once more to our place of dwelling, last night I think I got a bit more than 5 hours of sleep in, So I’m good for a few days right? (hopefully I am wrong and I get some sleep tonight as well).
Reflections after reviewing materials…
In January Prophet-President Steve Veazey presented words of counsel to the church. I don’t want to ignore the importance of the words of Counsel, for there is much in them, perhaps that parts that speak MOST to me, that I’m not going to refer to in the following, but rather the following is probably the most visible and immediate impact I see happening if we approve it for inclusion into the Doctrine and Covenants.
If approved, it will pave the way for the acceptance of some baptisms preformed by ministers of other Christian faith traditions. See Q&A part 3. (Though I wonder if accepting of non immersion baptism can be formulated as a rule without conference action as GCR212 says only those are legal… Or can the First Presidency in their interpretation of a few recent sections retroactively rule that resolution out of order? I think it would be best to allow the conference to do some action such as amend it so it read that form is needed for baptisms performed by Community of Christ ministers, the conference supports the First Presidency in concert with the 12 developing polices of what forms of baptism by water done by other ministers can be embraced, and that in those extreme and rare cases where full immersion is not possible, other forms may be authorized on a case by case bases by members of the Council of 12 in consultation with and approval of the full Council)
If approved, which is the assumption by most people, it will grant the First Presidency new authority to rule conference legislation out of order…And from looking at the proposed agenda that will happen. [They ruled items would not come before the conference, but never used the phrase ruled out of order, interesting]. The question is, will the conference assume the First Presidency is right, or will they challenge the ruling and possibly over ride it. [We did not challenge] For right now they are suggesting that on Tuesday consider the counsel, on Thursday amend the bylaws of the church to the ability to have special called create national, cultural, and regional conferences, and then “ruling on Resolutions Pertaining to Sexual Orientation” and “Ruling on Resolutions to Refer”. I’m not for this, I’m for the spirit of it, but not this way. I understand the concerns, but I’m concerned about our approach. [I still struggle with it, but my conference experience has placed me in a different place, I have hope, but I still have my fears, but I think we are trying to embrace what we feel the Holy calling us to do] We are called to be prophetic, should we allow injustice to not be countered because some places it is taboo, some places it makes it harder to be, if we live out our enduring principles. How do we ensure we reflect the Peace of Christ and we are not reflecting aspects of culture that are contrary to it?
11-Apr-2010
Yesterday was an amazing time. I saw many people, even if only briefly, who I have not seen in some time. I shared around the table and in meal with friends, some of whom I have not seen in a year, others not in three. It was wonderful. Friends who live on multiple continents, and from various aspects of life. It was amazing.
At the opening session of the Conference the General Sec. of the National Council of Churches spoke. It was a wonderful address, a welcoming address. It was wonderful to hear this man share his long knowledge of encounter with us from his childhood days to present day, and of his strong encouragement of support for our entry into this particular ecumenical communion where our application is being considered. To hear of the values of that communion, and their alignment with our own. About the wonders of being engaged in even greater unity in diversity with our fellow sisters and brothers in Christ who come from a wide range of understandings and backgrounds, and yet find that common place together in Christ.
I also had wonderful discussions with fellow young adults on various issues yesterday, finding it wonderful to hear a diversity of voices but also perhaps what I would see as a unity of core value/vision…
I’m pondering the impacts of two things on our agenda this week. If the words of counsel are approved, and if the amendment to the bylaws is approved as is, then we may be greatly limiting the people and empowering the leadership. For it grants the First Presidency the power to say something should not be handled by the world church, while at the same time encouraging that some issues better done in regional, cultural, national levels. In some way this sounds great, let certain things be decided more locally… but how will this impact part of the global family culture aspect of Community of Christ? But for the main question on my mind… The bylaw change that would create legislative conferences of this type,creates the avenue for only called, special conferences with a limited agenda set by the leadership, and only 4 weeks notice needed
Early on after the council was given, I expressed some of my struggles and concerns regarding the conferences, especially when it comes to people being bale to attend , another gathering… add to it short notice, may make it even harder. and a few other concerns fall upon my heart as well. [Happy to note the notice time has been increased to 12 weeks, proposed by a college friend of mine, supported by another friend of mine, both members of my home delegation GPNW]
14-Apr-2010
The past two days in the Mass Meeting of the Aaronic Priesthood we discussed the words of counsel. It was an interesting experience, filled with unique challenges. Toward the end we were a bit rushed, and for such an important task, that I do not appreciate. While time is limited, when dealing with inspired documents and weather we will embrace them into the scriptures of the tradition, we should not be rushed in our deliberations with a sense of “you must be done by a particular time.” When the presider indicated he had a meeting 15 minutes after our time would be up, that I felt was wrong, what is more important? That task before us, or some meeting one scheduled…
Last night I participated in a wonderful service done, primarily in Spanish, with side by side translation into English. But was sad how few people attended, so many empty seats on the chamber floor. Then it was to a young adult “service” which was a good experience, before returning to my place of rest for the week and rewriting a letter I had written earlier that day.
Peace,
— Lyle II