GC 2020 – Paul, Barnabas and a “both and” moment

Frank Holbrook 2 GC 2020

As GC 2020 approaches, many are in the process of discerning the future of the Wesleyan expression called the United Methodist Church. There are many competing visions and opinions. For some, the vision is about denominational unity. For others the vision is about creating space, either by new expressions or by providing space within the existing denomination.

As I write I keep thinking that process concerns are somewhat removed from the primary work of making disciples. I’m reasonably confident that no one has ever been lead to Christ by the “Good News” of the BOD. Maybe some have, but I have to believe those people are outliers. As I think and write about the narrow topic of process concerns, it is remarkable, encouraging and comforting to hear the great number of voices and that remain faithfully focused on the mission of making disciples for Jesus Christ.

My posts to date have been focused on sorting out the visions and opinions using the process of GC 2020 and the BOD.  This post is not about those competing visions nor is it about process. This post is about the hoped for collective spirit that will exist on May 20, 2020 as GC 2020 concludes and delegates go their separate ways

In addition to thinking that this may be a Gamaliel moment,  I’ve thought a lot about the possibility that the United Methodist Church is at a “Paul and Barnabas” moment. Part of their shared story is recorded at Acts 15: 36-41. The part of that passage that I have been focused on is Verse 39: “They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.” I’ve been focused on the disagreement causing the parting. But is there another lesson to be learned?

J. D. Walt recently wrote in one of his Daily Text posts “Though the Bible often gives us a lot of details, it is written with such economy of speech that we can easily miss them.” This statement caused me to think about what Paul and Barnabas’ parting looked like. We don’t know from the “economical” description. However, there are many possibilities.

At one end of the spectrum, it’s possible that Paul and Barnabas got into a shouting match and had to be physically separated as they parted. It’s possible that their respective supporters booed and jeered their “opponent.”  At the other end of the spectrum, it’s possible they embraced and wished each other well as they parted. I believe based upon their shared history the latter is more accurate.

I think when they parted, Paul and Barnabas each had mixed emotions. Among the emotions was sadness at the sense of loss caused by separation. But present in each man was an unshakable faith that he was moving in the direction that God was calling him to move. And the unshakable faith was the reason that each man could move ahead with joy and excitement about his new path. Their supporters may have been arguing about whether Paul or Barnabas “won”, but the real winner was the movement that was once called “the Way.” Their parting allowed God to multiply his work by opening up two missionary endeavors. God works, even in times of conflict and apparent disagreement.  Using a phrase that my Bishop, Bishop Bill McAlilly, frequently employs, their parting was not an “either or” moment, it was a “both and” moment.  For the good news to spread to the ends of the earth God did not limit the work to either Paul or Barnabas,  God used both Paul and Barnabas.  Shouldn’t we be looking at the work of GC 2020 as “both and” work and not “either or” work?

I once had a lawyer who was on the other side of the lawsuit suggest a method for solving a problem. He suggested, “Let’s look at this problem from green to tee.” Although I’ve played a little golf I don’t consider myself a golfer. But I understood his point. It was his shorthand way of saying, “Let’s look at where we want to be in the future, consider where we are now and think about how we get to where we want to go.”

As I stand on the tee of August 1, 2019 and look at the green of May 20, 2020, I want to be on a green where everyone leaving General Conference has a deep conviction that we are on the right path and sense of excitement about the direction of their part of ministry of making disciples.  My expectations and hopes for GC 2020 aren’t limited to damage control, my expectation is that God will work in a powerful, if unexpected, way.

Come Holy Spirit.