Integrity

It's been a gift to be here at the trial.  One of the most powerful pieces of this trial process has been observing our jury court (clergy colleagues acting as jurors).  Since they were selected yesterday (tho it seems like days, if not weeks ago now...) I have been impressed with their integrity.

Now, at this point you may know that this afternoon the trial court arrived at their decision addressing the two counts against Amy DeLong: Guilty- for having conducted a same-sex union; NOT guilty for being a "self-avowed, practicing homosexual."  This in itself is an AMAZING verdict (and worthy of its own blog post) but I do not write this because I agreed with their conclusions.  This post is to address the upstanding conduct of the trial court- not their verdict. 

As the judge (bishop) gave instructions- they were thoughtful.  As the witnesses spoke- they were attentive.  As laughter filled the courtroom (mild, light-heartened interactions between witnesses &/or the counsels), they remained focused and disengaged, avoiding reaction or direct eye contact with the audience.

I say all of this because recently at Annual Conference it felt like our "clergy covenant" had become a piece of ancient history.  Disconnected, disheartened-- and many members jaded-- our clergy communion has not enjoyed the strength and solidarity that I believe it once had and could have again.  As a keen observer of human interaction, I was honored to sit and observe the trial court's actions and inactions.  They gave me hope, even in midst of a lot of despair, of what our covenant could look like.  I felt a sense of pride and blessing to see my colleagues in this light. Thank you, WI Conference Clergy- Trial Court 2011, for your integrity in this difficult process.

With You I Am Well Pleased

It's been raining a lot up here in Kaukauna.  Maybe that's why the image of baptism has come to mind.  We've been seeing A LOT of water around here. 

But it's actually the voice from heaven heard in the Gospel of Luke that has got me thinking-- as Jesus rises out of the waters of baptism the words come forth, "With you I am well pleased."

Maybe it's because I am being reappointed to a new congregation and leaving my flock at Trinity (and thereby getting a little sentimental), but I've had this passage running through my head in the last couple of days.

I'm in the Fox Valley, hanging out, and watching a good friend/ colleague/ officiant at my wedding (1998!) go on trial.  Yes, I have my eye on Amy, but I also have my eye on several of my parishioners from Trinity, who've come to be in solidarity.  Most of them had never even met Amy previously-- but had heard stories from me or read about her online.  And here they are-- hours from home, wearing rainbow stoles, and singing songs of Jesus.  Even my dad, a middle-aged, Midwestern straight guy is here.  Amy, of course, was his pastor for six years, but who would have thought he'd drive for five hours one-way and take three days of vacation to protest the Church with a bunch of GLBT-hugging Methodists?

As you can imagine, these are the dear people in my life, with whom I am well-pleased.  They are my parents, my parishioners.  They are my family of faith.  This experience is providing us a strange (even painful) place to share and grow together.  But I feel blessed to be here with them and Amy, and even more so-- pleased with our common witness-- sharing the soft rain upon our heads and being reminded of our heavenly calling.

Called

Sitting there in the banquet hall listening to her tonight, hearing God's word pour out-- it's evident-- God's gifts are incarnate in the Rev. Amy DeLong.  It's Monday evening, June 20, 2011 and about 80 of us are gathered together to be in solidarity with Amy and her partner, Val, who are having their love put on trial in Kakauna, WI.  It's no wonder she sensed a call-- a call that was confirmed by the WI Board of Ordained Ministry, and then consecrated by Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader.  Because it's there-- and boy, it's evident.

As a preacher it can be easy to lean back, make critiques, evaluate, and meditate on how you would 'improve' on someone else's speaking skills.  Not so in listening to Amy.  Just sit back and enjoy the ride-- fluency in speech, rhythm, story, theology, inspiration and even irritation.  It's all there.  It feels good like having taken a good run-- there's nothing like gettin' whipped back into (spiritual) shape.

In the next few days it will be argued that Amy doesn't have the grace of God to be called and ordained in the United Methodist Church. No matter the outcome of the trial, that point will never be proven.  In the days ahead- pray for Amy, pray for us-- but mostly, please pray for the United Methodist Church.