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wings
Lift your heads!
Go with a renewed spirit
On June 11-14, Bishop Swanson presided over the 2006 Holston Annual Conference in Lake Junaluska, N.C. The following column was published in the last-day edition of The Call's onsite newspaper.
In his book "Biblical Perspectives on Evangelism," Walter Brueggemann writes, "Evangelism is currently a passionate preoccupation of the U.S. church. This accent on evangelism is no doubt a reflection of the deep crisis facing the church."
I might argue with Brueggemann's assertion that U.S. mainline churches are passionately preoccupied with evangelism. If we are "preoccupied" with evangelism, I see little or no evidence that we're passionate or well organized. I realize that there are pockets within United Methodism where this is occurring. In the Holston Conference we have featured such churches in The Call. Yet, even with growth in some of our churches, there is not enough growth to offset the losses experienced in the majority of congregations.
I am convinced that many of us feel we can't reverse this decline because we misguidedly and falsely assume that we're 100 percent at fault. Well, I will say to you there is enough fault to go around. In many ways, we clergy have not held up our part of the partnership. Many laity are so threatened by growth that they discourage growth. District superintendents sometimes have not been willing to fight battles that call pastors and churches to accountability. And we bishops have failed to lead our conferences in keeping the main thing as the main thing.
In the Bible, every time there was a growth surge, it was followed by persecution, hard times, and prayer. Today, the persecution experienced by the church is complacency. In the book of Acts, every time the church or its leaders got in trouble, they prayed and the Holy Spirit descended and brought power. If we are to turn this around, we need to allow the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit to blow upon us. I know we can turn this around!
Brueggemann tells us that evangelism takes place in three scenes of a drama:
First, God gives victory over the forces of chaos and death. Chaos represents lack of direction, no vision, and everybody working as individuals. Death is the loss of life, an inability to continue bodily functions, and seeking to live without the Spirit. I believe that our vision statement - God envisions bold, passionate, and joyful communities of faith where the spiritual hunger to worship God and to serve Christ sets disciples on fire with Spirit-filled, risktaking love for all God's children until Holston Conference reflects the saving grace and redeeming justice of our Lord Jesus Christ - I believe these words are our directional marching orders.
Second, we must announce or tell the story of the victory. People need to know that God is with us, bringing us the victory.
The third scene of the drama: Others will hear the story and make it their story.
I propose that in spite of the obvious shortcomings, we leave this conference "with a renewed spirit." I call upon you to leave here and tell your fellow church members that God has alreadydefeated chaos and death. Tell them your story of victory. Then sit back and watch people respond.
And then Holston, we will lift our heads, straighten our drooping shoulders, and step out of our low self-esteem. And we will soar with a renewed spirit!
Yours in Christ,
James E. Swanson, Sr.
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Bishop James Swanson
Resident Bishop
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