Election 2012

In just a few weeks we will be voting for a president in the general election.   We are bombarded with election coverage in the news media and on social networks.  The debates, the paid advertisements, the commentaries, the radio talk show drama, it all adds up to American politics.  What did John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement have to say about elections?  

Quoting from his journal on October 6, 1774:  “I met those of our society who were voting in the ensuing election and advised them:  1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy;  2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against; And, 3. To take care that their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”

What great advice!  Let it be so for the sons and daughters of John Wesley today.

Happy Birthday to Me!

On October 7, 1972 I accepted Christ as my savior.  I had grown up in the church and participated fully in every aspect of Sunday School, choir and youth group.  I was baptized at the age of 4 months and confirmed at the age of 12 but I did not really know Jesus as my personal savior.  I knew him as the main character in many wonderful Bible stories.  I felt bad about the crucifixion as it seemed like a bad thing to have happened to a nice person like Jesus, but I did not connect the cross of Christ to the sins of my life and my need for Christ’s death as the way of salvation.

I went off to Lebanon Valley College at the age of 17 and met a group of Christians there.  I could see that Jesus was the center of their life and that they actually had a living relationship with the Spirit of Christ that was in them.  I contrasted that to my life and it was clearly different for me.  Through my relationship with these campus Christians, my own peers, that I came to understand about Jesus’ death on the cross as the way forgiveness and that I was in need of that saving grace.  I accepted Christ and that was the point where I made the decision to live for Jesus.  Christianity means being a “little Christ” out in the world.  Exchanging your life for Christ is at the center of salvation.

Still today relationship is everything.  Our world is obsessed with cell phones, pagers, Facebook and e-mail.  We are starved as a culture for connections and relationship.  It is that relationship with Jesus that truly satisfies and puts all other relationships in context.

William Barclay once wrote: “Christianity does not mean knowing about Christ, it means knowing Christ and to do that requires not earthly wisdom, but heavenly grace.”   It is the “old, old story of Jesus and his love” that we need to continue to tell the world.  By our loving relationships with people we model Christ’s love.  That draws people to Christ.  We don’t talk people into salvation by head knowledge or skilled apologetics.  We build relationships that nurture people into an understanding of Jesus’ love through our witness.

Who does Christ want you to lead to him?  We do it one person at a time.  It comes by taking time to be with people in relationship and being sure that our witness is genuine and our lives are a model of Christian grace and patience.

**Learn more in our Evangelism and Faith Sharing Training event with Dr. Eddie Fox on Saturday, November 3 at Bethany UMC in Allentown:
http://www.epaumc.org/news/stories/2012-faith-sharing

Dialogue on Homosexuality

Homosexual Dialogue – September 22nd:  Dialogue - not debate

On September 22nd  the first of three “Dialogues on Homosexuality” was held at Gretna Glen Camp.  During this event there was conversation about the paragraphs in the United Methodist Discipline that state that homosexuality is contrary to Christian teaching,  that self-avowed practicing homosexuals are banned from ordination, and that no pastor is allowed to perform same-sex holy unions.

About 80 people came to this gathering which was co-sponsored by the Reconciling Ministries of EPA and the Evangelical Connection of EPA.  Dr. Karin Walker, a District Superintendent from the Baltimore-Washington Conference was the facilitator.  Dr. Walker had led an initiative in the Baltimore-Washington Conference in the past that brought people together on this issue for conversation and learning.

The process involved an introduction to the idea of dialogue rather than debate and to have conversations where people can hear each other’s hearts.  A 60-minute video which was produced by the Reconciling and Evangelical committees was shown.  The video consisted of a  prepared  15-minute position talk and 3 five-minute testimonies of people who either were homosexual  in orientation or who had been and transitioned to a straight lifestyle.  The video was shown with each piece alternating from one perspective to the other.  A broad sweep of Biblical, social, interpersonal, and societal issues were covered in the video.  Some of the personal testimonies were tearful and all of them were compelling and well-prepared.

After the video and a short break the group broke into groups of about 8 people and the group shared their hearts around what they heard in the video and where there was common ground.  Following the small group discussion there was a wrap-up session.  The response to this event was overwhelmingly positive.  Everyone agreed that holy conferencing around difficult issues is possible when we listen to one another.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION -
There will still be two other events: Saturday, October 6th (9 am – 1 pm at St. Matthews UMC in Valley Forge) and Saturday, November 17th (9 am – 1 pm at Solebury UMC in Newtown).  To register go to the EPA website: https://www.epaumc.org/news/stories/dialogues-on-homosexuality-sign-up.  Each event is identical and everyone is welcome.

ID Laws that Prevent People from Voting in the November Election

The United Methodist Women are concerned about Pennsylvania and other states seeking to disenfranchise many voters by the new law that requires an identification card.  Gladys Hubbard, a member of Tioga United Methodist Church in Philadelphia and a part of the National United Methodist Women, gave a presentation at a meeting recently in Nashville and was able to obtain the full support of the UMW to mobilize and to help with this issue.
            In the United States we have a history of struggling over who has the right to vote.  Victories in the past have been won through intense mobilization. Yet today we are seeing a new push to disenfranchise many people through state laws that create multiple hurdles for registering and voting, as well as challenges to the Voting Rights Act itself!
            In this election the United Methodist Women believe it is urgent that we defend our democracy and help everyone have the chance to cast a ballot. This is a role that United Methodist Women have played for decades and their call to action is needed now more than ever.
            In a UMW Action Alert “Suppression of Voting Rights: A threat to Democracy” we are alerted:  “A new surge of state voter ID laws disproportionately impact seniors, students, and peoples of color.  About 11% of eligible Americans (21 million) do not have state-issued photo Ids, including 15% of low income voters, 18 % of young eligible voters, 18% of seniors and 25% of African Americans according to The Nation.  13 million adults do not have access to proof of citizenship, which will hinder their efforts to obtain a photo ID.”
            I ask you to get involved.  Be sure that you are registered and if you have moved recently be sure you have transferred your registration.  Join with others such as the NAACP and “Rock the Vote” to help register new voters.  Make sure you are still eligible to vote. New ID rules, purges of voting lists and other changes in some states may affect your ability to vote.  Do not wait until Election Day.  Make sure you have the required ID if necessary, and that your name is still on the rolls.  Find out if early voting laws have changed in your area.  If you are unable to get to the polls find someone who can assist you or apply early for an absentee ballot.
            Stay informed and stay connected.  Visit the UMW “Living the Charter for Racial Justice” online community for news and more information regarding Voting Rights 2012: http://racial-justice.umwonline.net. See the VOTE section on the UMW website home page (upper right corner):www.unitedmethodistwomen.org.  Join the UMW Facebook community:http://www.facebook.com/UMWomen.
        With less than 80 days left before the November election, there is no time to waste.  

Reassigned to the Philadelphia Area

Grace and peace to you from the Lord Jesus Christ.  I am writing to tell you how happy I am that I have been reappointed to serve as the bishop of the Eastern PA Conference and the Peninsula-Delaware Conference for another four years.  This was decided last week (July 16-20) at the Northeastern Jurisdiction Conference of the United Methodist Church that was held in Charleston, WV.  My thanks to the area delegates who faithfully attended this conference and represented us well.   Dr. Mary White, Rev. Jim Todd, Rev. Dr. Sandra Steiner Ball, Mr. Demetrio Beach were the heads of the delegations for our 2012 conference season.  Rev. Michele Wright Bartlow, Ms. Judy Ehninger, Rev. Derrick Porter and Mr. Kevin Goodwin represented us at the NEJ Episcopacy Committee, where the bishop assignments were made.  I have been blessed to serve this area with so many great servants of God!

We are thrilled and joyful over the election of Rev. Dr. Sandra Steiner Ball to the Episcopacy and pray for her and her family as she moves to the West Virginia Annual Conference on September 1, 2012. Her many gifts for ministry and her leadership skills will be a wonderful asset to the United Methodist Church there.

I am looking forward to serving this area for another 4 years and will strive to build on the relationships and the programs that have already been developed.  I have enjoyed getting to know you and visiting your wonderful ministries.  I have deep respect for the many faithful pastors and lay people who give sacrificially of their time and talent and treasure to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in their communities.  I am encouraged by the growth in our diversity and spirituality.

I am happy to receive any suggestions for improvements and any other ideas you have for me as I begin a new quadrennium with you.  I see our work together as a partnership and I value your input and support.  My email address is bshpajohnson@aol.com and the office number is 610-666-1442 or 800-828-0933.

So what is my personal goal for this area for the next 4 years?  Body work!  I shared with the delegates and friends of the area who gathered in Charleston on Friday morning that I hope we will become more and more like magpies and less like robins in the years to come.  In the book:  The Power of Positive Deviance  by Pascale, Sternin and Sternin they describe the characteristics of these two birds. Robins are territorial, live in isolation and vocalize in order to maintain their territory.  Magpies, on the other hand work together, nesting in large groups on cold nights, teaming up to drive out predators, assisting young parent birds with the nestlings and using their collective strength to lift garbage can lids.  As a result these birds are able to make considerable progress in their ability to thrive and grow as a species.  Let’s be more like magpies in our conference life as we work together in unity with one another!

We as the Body of Christ can achieve great things this way.  The connectional system of our denomination has shown us again and again the power of collaboration.  New people are reached for Christ, the needs of the poor are met, killer diseases are alleviated, new churches and faith communities are developed.  It only works when we work as a unified body.  This is what the Apostle Paul was talking about when he said: “Speak the truth in love and grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part if working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Finally I ask for your prayers and I covenant to continue to pray for you.  May God bless you richly in the years to come and thank you for the awesome privilege that my husband Michael and I have to be here among you.

Election and assignment of bishops at NEJ Conference

Grace and peace to you from the Lord Jesus Christ!  I hope that you are finding some time of rest during this summer season but in all things may you keep the lamp of the Good News of Christ burning for all to see.  Even in difficult times we are called to continue the work of our ministry and never give up.  People who do white-water rafting say that when the water gets roughest the most important thing you can do is to keep paddling.  If you stop paddling and hold on to the sides you will lose control of the raft and it will turn upside down.  Keep paddling when money is scarce, keep paddling when your best efforts result in less than enthusiastic results, keep paddling because God will use your ministry for good in this world; good that we may never see in this life.

I want to let you know that next week (July 16-20, 2012) the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference (www.nejumc.org) will be held in Charleston, WV.   Delegates from every United Methodist Conference will be gathering there for the holy work of worshiping God, electing bishops, electing officers, establishing the budget and carrying on the important structural and organizational work of the United Methodist Church.  I ask that you pray for this important meeting.  I especially ask that you pray for the three pastors from the Philadelphia Area who have been lifted up as possible candidates for the episcopacy:  Rev. Dr. Irving Cotto, Rev. Dr. Christopher  Kurien and Rev. Dr. Sandra Steiner-Ball.  Pray for our delegations as they conduct the interviews and discern God’s will for these elections.  There will be three new bishops elected and all bishops will be assigned to their episcopal areas at this meeting. Three bishops who are retiring will be honored as well: Bishop Ernest Lyght, Bishop Jane Middleton, and Bishop Peter Weaver.

One final word about bishops:  I give thanks for the life of Bishop Leontine T. C. Kelly, who passed away on June 28, 2012 at the age of 92.  Bishop Kelly was the first African American woman bishop in a major Christian denomination.  She was elected in 1984 and served in the Western Jurisdiction as the bishop of the California-Nevada Annual Conference.  She was a social and political activist as well as a spiritual leader.  Bishop Kelly has cast a bright light for many to follow in her footsteps and she “kept paddling” when the voices of racism and sexism tried to stop her from fulfilling her calling.  May our elections next week be informed by a desire to elect more bishops with her character and strength.  May all of us work to widen the circle of inclusion and giftedness as we serve Christ, lay and clergy alike.

I am Thankful

I am thankful for the many wonderful ministries that are happening in the Philadelphia Area. 

A surgery team just arrived home from the Congo.  This group of hearty people brought an eye surgeon with them and they were able to perform many cataract surgeries giving sight to people who otherwise would have no hope.  

One of our pastors was called by the police this week to help coax a man off of a bridge who was about to commit suicide.  The suicidal man asked for that pastor to come because he and his church were the only people who had ever reached out to him.  With this intervention many lives were saved.

Another pastor went to the Hell’s Angels Biker convention recently and ministered one-on-one to bikers and shared about the love of Jesus.  He explained to them the Word of God in ways that they could understand. 

Another church is supporting a ministry in South Africa and they are purchasing a vehicle to enhance this life-giving ministry of hope.

Another church raised $6,000 for “Imagine No Malaria” in a “Beat the Bug” event. 

Every day I hear of good things that are happening in the name of Jesus Christ in the Philadelphia Area.  I thank God for every remembrance of you!