Bishop’s Blog

We are all affected by the current economic challenge.  There is no escape from the signs of distress in our communities.  If you recently took a look at your savings accounts or your stock portfolios, or your retirement accounts, you will notice significant and alarming decreases in value.  In times such as this, our    faith offers reassurance. Our trust is not in material goods or resources.  Our trust is in God, who provides and who sustains and nurtures us.  Our faith is not in tangible goods, but in a spirit of love and sharing that brings out generosity and compassion in these difficult times.  I was moved recently by an outpouring of love demonstrated at the North Coast Thanksgiving Choral Festival last Sunday.  Choral offerings by the choirs of several of the Oregon coast churches was the order of the day.  But in addition, the churches celebrated their achievements in their efforts to eliminate hunger in their communities.  Paper chains, representing different efforts to combat hunger were taken out of boxes and paraded through the congregation.

The chains kept coming and coming, much like the circus act where a seemingly endless string of handkerchiefs is pulled out of a hat.  (Some of you may recall that trick at the hunger rally held at Annual Conference 2007 on the steps of the Oregon capitol.)  The paper chains symbolized these efforts from June 1, 2008 until November 9, 2008, just over 5 months by Astoria UMC, Warrenton UMC, Seaside UMC, Nehalem Bay UMC, Bay City UMC, and Tillamook UMC:

+7417 pounds of food collected

+15,759 meals provided for hunger-related causes

+3664 volunteer hours logged to help eliminate hunger

+3294 dollars donated for hunger-related causes

What a great demonstration it was!  The chain criss-crossed the sanctuary and went from to back and back to front again!  What huge accomplishments we can offer in the name of Jesus Christ, who calls us to have compassion and love for all persons!  Even in these challenging times!

General Conference is NOT the place where meaningful conversation about contentious matters takes place.  There is very little opportunity to have a respectful debate about an issue when there are 1000 people present and when one bishop on a stage looking at a sea of people tries to pick the 4 persons who are allowed to speak before the limit on debate kicks in!  For this reason, I do not believe General Conference can be the venue for informed, spirit-led thought and decision-making ought to happen.  There is simply too much riding on the decisions made.It is, however, a rich experience to be with over a thousand people (delegates plus visitors) to engage in worship that stirs the heart and soul, with music and liturgy and preaching that is rich in diversity and serves as a model of what United Methodist worship ought to be.  General Conference was for me an opportunity to see the church from an entirely new perspective.  This was my fourth General Conference.  Three other times, I sat in the delegates’ section, trying to get the attention of a presiding bishop, sometimes unsuccessfully.  Now I understand why.  There are too many persons wanting to speak, and the human eye can only see clearly up to a certain distance. I observed from the stage of the convention center.  What I saw was a miracle of many different persons, from different places, with languages and dress and mannerisms that declare the colorful, varied palette of our Creator.  That these varied persons represented the mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church as a worldwide church was evident.  We can be proud of our diversity.But there were also signs of racism.  One person I overheard complained about the need for language translation.  “Wouldn’t it be better,” a delegate said to another delegate, “if only African delegates who speak English fluently were elected to come to General Conference?”  The friend agreed.  I silently thought that these two persons should be sent to a conference in Asia or in Africa where the conference were conducted only in Tagalog or Portuguese.  I wonder how they would fare in such a setting!I left Portland 15 days before I returned.  It was a long trip.  The Council of Bishops met for five days prior to the opening of General Conference.  It was an incredibly long time for me to be away from Portland!  Needless to say, when I returned, I rejoiced to be back.  I find joy and fulfillment in my work as your bishop.  So I was happy to land at PDX and to reach into my bag to get my sweater out again.  It was two weeks since I had last worn it!And so, General Conference is a memory.  Its effects will continue to govern the way we do ministry.  There are many changes that are in store for us in the next four years.  But we have much to do as an Annual Conference.  There are many disciples to be made and there is transformation that must take place in our world as we hold to our Wesleyan mandate to :  Do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God. For one, we are moving toward Annual Conference!  I hope you are excited about our annual conference!  I look forward to seeing you there!  Until then, let’s care for ourselves, our families and loved ones, our churches, and our faith!

I do not need to detail what happened at General Conference on Wednesday, April 30.  In the midst of our plenary session, we paused for a recess in order to receive a witness by those who felt disconnected from relationship with The United Methodist Church because of its General Conference legislation around matters governing how we regard and welcome members of the LGBT community.  This time of witness had been carefully and respectfully determined through conversations with the Committee on the General Conference, the Council of Bishops, and those who asked to witness to us.

At the recess, an announcement was made by the presiding bishop calling for hospitality to be given to those who desired to give this witness.  Members of the General Conference were asked to be in recess in order to receive our guests.  With gentle grace, a steady stream of persons who grieved the actions of General Conference in several actions that marginalized our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members and friends entered the convention center and stood in the aisles of the sacred space we had created for our work and worship just a few days earlier.  If you could have been hovering high above the convention center floor, our guests would have formed a cross with the communion table in the center.

A statement was read by Bishop Gregory Palmer, President of the Council of Bishops.  In that statement, Bishop Palmer spoke for the Council. His statement was, in part:  As we have worked our way through the legislative material, some decisions have been more wrenching that others to all of the members of this body and the whole church, including your bishops.  As your bishops, we want you to know that we have been in deep conversation, holy confererncing and sensitive listening to you and to one another.  This has led us to reaffirm our covenant to:  love, serve and lead all United Methodists; continue to prayerfully remain in robust conversation with one another and to lead the church in doing the same; preach, teach and live the three simple rules (Do no harm, do good, stay in love with God); and to lead the church in “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

Bishop Palmer continued:  This covenant informs our role as chief shepherds of the church.  During this time of witness you will see bishops serving in a variety of ways.   All of us will be in prayer– some in our places and some not.  Some bishops will demonstratively live out our pastoral role among the Body of Christ.  Some will give expression to the presidential role that the church has asked us to fulfill.  But all of us will be laboring with all of you to do no harm, to do good, and to stay in love with God.”

As one who has felt called to ministry primarily as a pastor, my decision was to be with our delegation and with others who were participating in the witness on the floor of General Conference.  I chose to do this as a statment of my hope that the church belongs to all people; and that Christ loves all persons and calls us to do the same.  My desire was to offer a word that the church does love lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, even if our legislative pronouncements do not demonstrate that; and that in my leadership of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference and in my role as a bishop of the whole United Methodist Church, this will be my witness. 

I am saddened again, that the church cannot come to an honest place of confession to say that we are in deep, distressing disagreement.  Why can’t we be honest before God and before others?  Remember that silly children’s story about the vain emperor who was convinced that he was wearing a handsome suit which he could not see?  He wore the invisible suit of clothing proudly until a little child announced:  The emperor has no clothes!  Our church is like the emperor.  We do not know that others are seeing us as a homophobic institution wearing the cloak of  abject denial of our fears and prejudices while we strut our sometimes empty claims of “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors,”  Maybe that children’s story isn’t as silly as we might first think . . .

While I wish we could have at least passed the legislation that stated that we are a church of faithful Christians who disagree about honosexuality, this was not to be so.

My response to the witness was to be a pastor to the community who had been rejected by our unwillingness to be honest with ourselves and our unwillingness to care lovingly for those who needed to know that our United Methodist Church is a church centered on the love and grace of Jesus Christ.  And to ask God to work with me and through me that I might be in ministry to all.

What are your thoughts and feelings about this witness?

Blessings to you!

Bob Hoshibata

This day was given to legislation.  That means that petitions and resolutions that did not receive the number of votes in legislative committees to be placed on the consent calendar were considered individually.  That usually means lots of conversation, parliamentary confusion, I move, I second, all in favor, all opposed, etc.  It also usually signals the more difficult moments of a General Conference because whether we like it or not, legislative processes are set up to be a win-lose experience.  Someone experiences a victory and the other a defeat.  This is where we behave least like Jesus would have wanted us to behave.

The details of the vote on key pieces of legislation are reported elsewhere.  I don’t want to blog much about them.

What I want to say is that I know many persons who were hurt by words and actions today.  I cannot help but decry the attitude of the church that will not admit that we are not of one mind when it comes to the questions of how the church should regard lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.  With our voices in worship we sing about the love of God and the grace of Jesus; but then our legislative words hurt and exclude.  I have said it in other places, but I will repeat that for me, it is a no-brainer that God loves each of us.  And that God intends for the church to be open to all persons.  Today’s decisions did not reflect that.  It has saddened many.

I am disappointed; but not surprised.  I am saddened but not defeated.  I want us to heed the words of God:  “Do not be afraid, I am with you; I have called you each by name!  Come and follow me; I will bring you home.  I love you and you love me.”  I found myself singing this hymn in the midst of the storm of the voting today.  At one point, I sat at my table on the stage (where bishops belong . . . ) and looked over the gathered body of Christ.  I know that when the results of the votes were announced, some people were jumping for joy because they had succeeded in shielding the Book of Discipline from change and openness.  On the other hand, however, I felt that there were many more who were saddened.

The high point of my day:  Being with the Oregon-Idaho delegation, having a prayer together during a break in the voting.

To all who felt sadness, my word for tonight is:  God loves each of us.  Period.  No question about that!  Each person is beloved by God!

It is almost 2:30 am.  That was my target time to get to sleep.  Tomorrow will be another difficult day of legislation.  We are nearing the end of the General Conference, and there is still much to do.

Pray for your delegation.  They are doing a great job of supporting one another. It is a difficult time for us. Pray for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender folks in The United Methodist Church. 

Blessings,

Bob 

Several people have inquired when they will get to see the photo of me on the bull.  Actually, it is me on the bull and Greta standing next to the bull.  I felt sorry for the bull.  He just stood there while hundreds of tourists climbed on him.  He is a 16 year old bull.  I think his name was Lucky.

To answer the question, you will see the photo . . . SOON.

I am actually pleasantly surprised that a few people read my blog and knew about Greta and me and Lucky!

The highlight of the day:  we received the President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as she addressed the General Conference.  The president was introduced by her bishop, John Innis, as the “daughter of The United Methodist Church.”  The president thanked the General Conference for the education she received because of The United Methodist Church and she chronicled the ills of Liberia and thanked The UMC for its ministry and mission in exciting ways:  combatting poverty, the lack of access to education and the lack of health services.  Johnson Sirleaf applauded the ways in which The UMC has stood by the people of Liberia and has given public voice to the voiceless.  She challenged us:  Our world CAN be made a world with a future of hope and promise.  Following the address, to a standing ovation, President Johnson Sirleaf greeted the delegation from Liberia and then stood by with Bishop Innis as each of us bishops shook her hand.  Bishop Innis introduced each one of us.  “This is the Bishop from the Oregon-Idaho,”  he said to her.  She smiled graciously and greeted me.   A great woman; first woman to be elected the president of an African nation, and a United Methodist!

You will probably be hearing about the struggle we have about the decision to reduce the number of US bishops by one in each jurisdiction by 2012.  The resolution that called for this came from the Committee to Study the Episcopacy which was created by the 2004 General Conference.  A motion to reduce the number of bishops was proposed to that General Conference and was referred to the committee to be studied with a report brought to this General Conference.  The motion was thoroughly discussed, debated, amended, referred, and then reported back to the plenary and voted upon.

This means that in 2012, the Western Jurisdiction will go from having 6 bishops for its 7 annual conferences and one missionary conference, to 5 bishops.  We will need to engage in study and reflection to determine how we will achieve that change.  Reasons for the proposal are many.  Some supported it because it would mean spending less money.  Others felt that because of the urgent need for additional bishops for African nations where United Methodism is growing in leaps and bounds, we need to use our funds to staff for growth in areas that are growing.  Whatever the reason, the motion passed. 

What is my opinion?  I am sorry that we have had to go to this extent to balance our budget.  I understand where the support is coming from.  That does not mean I agree, but I understand.  I believe that we will be moving toward the reduction of a bishop guided by God’s wisdom.  The Western Jurisdiction has already constituted a committee to consider options.  We need to pray for the committee’s work.  But in addition, I think we will be fine.  It will be very different to only have 5 bishops for such a large area, but I believe it can be done, and it will be done WELL. 

What do you think?  Let me know what questions you have about this.

But more-so, ask yourself:  Does the reduction of 1 bishop in the Western Jurisdiction mean that there is no longer a future with hope?

 Blessings,

Bob Hoshibata

To tell the truth, I am writing this on Tuesday.  But it is about Monday.  You guessed the reason why.  I was too tired on Monday to write about Monday.  Am I making sense?  You can tell I am tired today, too!

Monday’s highlight legislatively:  We voted for full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). What does this mean, exactly?  It means that officially, both the UMC and the ELCA will recognize:  (1) in each other “the one, holy, catholic and apostolic faith” as expressed in the Scriptures, confessed in the Church’s historic creeds, and attested to in the Lutheran Confessions and the doctrinal standards of the UMC, (2) the authenticity of each other’s Baptism and Eucharist and extend sacramental hospitality to one another’s members, (3) the validity of each communion’s respective ministries, (4) the full inyterchangreability and reciprocity of all ordained ministers, subject to approved invitation for ministry in each communion, and (5) a relationship of working together toward greater visibvile unity and structural cooperation.

The agreement to be in relationship in this way will become final when the ELCA votes in 2009. 

We received a choir of about 35 children from Uganda.  The group is known as the Hope for Africa Children’s Choir.  These children were brought together out of lives of poverty and hopelessness to learn and sing and perform.  They were astounding!  They captivated our hearts!  And they are testiment to the way The United Methodist Church reaches out in love!

There were long, long hours of legislation.  In plenary, we worked until past 11 pm, I think.  I did not notice exactly when we finally adjourned, but most of us just sort of stumbled out the door into our hotels.

We approved a hew hymnal study committee.  There were some interesting comments shared.  One young person shared her opinion urging us not to approve the motion because she felt that the printed hymnal was a sign of the past.  She said that if we are serious about attracting younger people, a new hymnal will not be helpful.  Since many churches are moving away from printed hymnals to projected words on a screen, funding a hymnal was not the best stewardship.  For the first time, this General Conference, the delegates did not receive a complementary copy of the hymnal.  Instead, copies of two booklets of contemporary hymns and songs were given.

On this day, I am feeling that the amount of energy spent on legislation is extreme!  The joy of worship quickly disintegrates into the drudgery of legislative process guided by Roberts Rules of Order and the Rules of the General Conference.  I was told that by the time the last recorders of the legislative committees finished their work, it was 2 am.  I am often up till 2 am, but at least it is usually in my home and not at the office!

Sunday is the day of rest. But not for General Conference! In an effort to reduce the cost of General Conference, legislation was passed in 2004 to shorten the duration of the Conference. So we have had to “squash” all the business into two fewer days than before. This means, for one thing, that we have had to work long hours on Sunday.

In previous General Conferences, we had a free day on Sunday, allowing delegates to visit local churches in the area. Many clergy were invited to preach at churches nearby and it was one way of extending our ministry into the community and for the community to provide hospitality. This did not happen today because we had a full day of business to accomplish. I sense some frustration because of the time “crunch.” All pieces of legislation MUST be discussed and voted upon. Legislation with financial implications must have been completed by 5 p.m. today. For some of the legislative committees, that meant working long, long hours.

The highlight of today was the worship service! Our friend, Bishop Minerva Carcano preached. And did she preach! Using images from the Biblical story of Jesus and the Gerasene demoniac, the bishop called to mind one who lived among death and hopelessness. To him, Jesus was the source of hope. And thus, we are called to be hope to the world in our ministries of compassion and love. Bishop Carcano’s sermon inspired us to a standing ovation. We were encouraged to care for the immigrants who are dying in the desert. The desert that forms the border between the US and our southern neighbors is like a modern-day cemetery where the Gerasene demoniac lived. And, Bishop Carcano said, we should not be afraid. God is with us in our journey, giving us, through Jesus Christ, hope for our future.

I am hearing reports of the spirit of the conversations in legislative committees. Each piece of legislation sumitted to the General Conference is assigned to a legislative committee. Delegates are assigned to committees where discussion is held and a vote is taken to determine what the committee’s recommendation to the plenary session is going to be. Recommendations are either to adopt the legislation, to reject the legislation, or to refer it to another body. The crucial question is how the discussion proceeds. Is it an acrimonious debate? Or is it an example of Christian conferencing?

The reports I hear say there are good, honest, reflective and respectful conversations in many legislative committees. This is a good sign. It does not mean that the decisions are not difficult or that there isn’t disagreement. However it feels as if the overall spirit is good. My experience has been that this kind of Christian conferencing can take place in the smaller legislative committees. Once legislation comes to the whole body (the plenary), it is much more difficult to have true conversation because of the pressure to limit the debate and come to a vote. 

Tonight the delegation ate dinner together. We are represented by a group of deeply committed individuals who care about the work of the General Conference, who participate and listen, and who share their concerns for the church and their opinions about the legislation with kind hearts. We are all very tired; the pace of this General Conference, as I said in the beginning, is furious. Will you please hold these persons in your prayers? Pray for Greg Nelson, Donna Pritchard, Karen Bolin, Laura Jacquith Bartlett, Jan Nelson, Scott Harkness, Joan Collison, Bob Flaherty.

Not everything is work. Tonight was “area night” which is a kind of celebration and felloiwship time. The highlight of the evening (for me) was the opportunity to sit on a Texas longhorn bull and get my picture taken. Okay. So you are thinking: ”That bishop needs to get a life!” Did you ever sit atop a Texas longhorn bull and get YOUR picture taken? 

Tomorrow, we will have the opportunity to hear an address by the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, an active United Methodist! But for now, I need to get some sleep. 

Last night, I was exhausted.  I got ready to write a blog, but my mind was so fatigued, I couldn’t think.  After a full day of worship, work, listening, observing, meeting, I had no energy to think to compose anything coherent.  It was difficult to even recall what I had done yesterday!  So I closed down my computer and decided a few hours more of sleep would be more beneficial than struggling to write in my blog.

Today, our schedule was somewhat less demanding.  Delegates to the General Conference are spending a significant amount of time meeting in legislative committees, dealing with the hundreds of petitions and resolutions submitted for consideration by the General Conference.  Many of these legislative pieces are important proposals to change the rules of The United Methodist Church.  This is done only at General Conference, and as a result, every four years, because of the changes adopted at General Conference, a new Book of Discipline is written.  Any changes that are approved (unless specifically directed in the legislation) takes effect January 1 after the General Conference.

Today, we heard a presentation by the Central Conference Pension Initiative.  This Initiative was mentioned last annual conference when a special offering was taken to benefit this program.  The goal of this program is to endow a fund that will help to provide pensions for retired clergy in the Central Conferences, in Africa, Asia, and Europe.  At present, pensions for clergy that retire in many of these places is little to none. 

A report was received from the Task Force to Study the Episcopacy.  This task force was authorized by General Conference 2004.  After a four-year study, the task force reported several recommendations having to do with the nature of the episcopal office, to issues of funding the episcopal office and salaries; and the number of bishops per jurisdiction.  One of the recommendations of this Task Force calls for the reduction of the number of bishops in each jurisdiction by 2012. In our Western Jurisdiction, the legislation calls for 5 bishops instead of the current 6.  This would be achieved by NOT electing a bishop to replace a retiring bishop in 2012.  Obviously there are negative feelings about this.

A celebration was held affirming the ministries of rural churches.  These are primarily smaller membership churches.  Several persons spoke of the importance of rural ministries to their lives.  In my own life, a small church in a rural setting was responsible for providing me a place where I was appreciated and where my faith was nurtured.  Stories were shared by individuals which made us proclaim:  thanks be to God for the small rural churches.  In many cases, sadly, these churches have been closed.  I leaned over and asked my colleague if there were many smaller rural churches in his annual conference.  He indicated that he had many whose average Sunday attendance is 5 to 10.

On a corner park-like setting just across the main entrance of the convention center was a rally by Soul Force.  This is a group that is advocating for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in our churches.  It was a spirited group with a good group of persons participating or observing.  The rally will continue each day, as the General Conference considers and discerns God’s will in regard to legislation dealing with how The United Methodist Church will embrace or reject people while proclaiming “Open Minds, Open Hearts, Open Doors.”  I am praying that God’s spirit will descend upon the General Conference so that the legislation we approve will reflect a church that honestly proclaims and practices our motto.  Are our United Methodist minds really open?  Are our hearts really open to love all persons?  Are the doors of our United Methodist Churches, really open to welcome all persons?  I am not convinced we live up to our motto; but I pray that we will.

Later in the day, the members of the General Conference moved into legislative committee meetings.  Did you know that bishops do not participate in the discussion about legislation?  We do not have voice nor do we have vote in General Conference.  While the members of General Conference were meeting, the bishops moved into our own meeting of bishops.  In our Council of Bishops meeting, we participated in a worshipful passing of the gavel.  Officially now, Bishop Gregory Palmer is the President of the Council of Bishops.  Bishop Palmer is an extraordinary man!  I have known him for many years through my involvement in the work of the church.  He has strong leadership abilities, is inspirational and bold, and yet has a heart that is kind and compassionate.  I look forward to working with him for the next 2 years.

Tomorrow, after worship, there will be some business as a whole group, but there will also be legislative committee meetings to work on the many pieces of legislation yet to be discussed and voted upon.  It will be another long day!

The theme for this General Conference is: A Future with Hope. That theme was portrayed in images abounding here in the Convention Center at Fort Worth. General Conference 2008 opened with a dramatic, lively and inspirational worship service. While worship began, I was lining up with other bishops for our procession into the cavernous convention center. Trying to get 125 bishops to line up in a predetermined order is like (proverbially) herding cats.

While standing in line waiting for the processional hymn, I greeted or was greeted by many persons including some of the delegation from the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference.

Liturgical dancers, upbeat music, striking artwork, and the central symbols of hope: wooden altar table, pulpit, communion table, and very special communion chalices made out of wood taken from the Gulfside Assembly, an historic African-American retreat center which was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. On the altar table was a cross made out of broken glass taken from the post-Katrina destruction at Gulfside. The symbolism of these beautiful worship implements was striking. Out of the destruction comes beauty and hope not only for Gulfside, and not only for those whose lives were devastated by the hurricane, but hope for our United Methodist Church!

Bishop Janice Huie, outgoing president of the Council of Bishops, offered a sermon which called us to be hopeful in spite of signs to the contrary. We need not fear because God is with us. Even those who have pre-determined that the church is about to die, or that the church is about to split over ideological lines may be surprised by the level of hope we have as we face the future. Our strength is our mission and ministry in the name of Jesus Christ.

Signs of our global connections are everywhere. Delegates and visitors from Africa and Asia and Europe as well as people representing the many cultures of the United States make for a varied quilt of cultures and languages. Translation services are offered in Portuguese and French. The need for translation often requires more time and everyone must be patient. Some parts of the worship services are offered audibly in a foreign language only, with English translations projected on the overhead screen. 

Following worship, we convened the General Conference for its first plenary session. This was a session in which the work of the Committee on Rules was considered and a set of rules adopted which will guide our work for this General Conference. This was very tedious work, but with patience and humor, Bishop Huie led us through.

While we were doing this work, Ft. Worth was experiencing heavy thundershowers. When we finally adjourned, we returned to our hotel stepping over large puddles on the cobbled streets.

Tomorrow is a full day which will include three major addresses: The Episcopal Address will be delivered by Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher. Then a group of young people will present the first-of-its-kind Young People’s Address, and finally, there will be a Laity Address. Those three addresses should set the stage for our conversations and our work over these next days.

Needless to say, I am already exhausted. 

More to come . . .