By Rev. John Oda
Hundreds of people worked very hard in the months and in fact years leading up to this General Conference. But as the General Conference unfolded my hope dwindled. My optimism grew as a proposal from Rev. Adam Hamilton, the pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in Kansas, was brought forth. His proposal acknowledged "our disagreement on a huge issue that is separating churches in North America today."
I and others took to the floor of the General Conference. We broke the bar and essentially shut the General Conference down. As I stood at the communion table, I closed my eyes and wept. In my mind I pictured all of my friends who were gay and lesbian, many of whom were standing next to me. I imagined all of the young people, especially the young LGBT people, who had been watching the actions of the General Conference online. The church had failed them. My hope was shattered; my hope smashed, my hope was gone.
I was ready to leave the United Methodist Church. They could keep their bloody anti-gay and dying church. Why should I stay in a homophobic church? Why should I continue to support a church that actually took a vote on whether or not God's unconditional love reaches everyone-and only passed it by 56%? I kept saying to myself, "This isn't the United Methodist Church that I know and love!"
And then I realized, this is precisely one of the reasons why I must stay. This is NOT the United Methodist Church back home that I know and love. This is precisely one of the reasons I now have hope for tomorrow. Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist, the Chair of RMN, said to me later that afternoon, "My hope is not in the larger UMC, it is in my church back home."
My own church, Lake Park UMC, is full of loving people who care for all people - gay and straight. We affirm the LGBT community. In fact our church is getting ready to launch an LGBT Bible Study this month.
I remain hopeful for tomorrow not because I agree with nor will I uphold the Book of Discipline but because I know back home the reality is a much different story. I will also remain hopeful because of the Reconciling Ministries Network which brings hope to thousands and thousands of people, including myself. I will remain hopeful because of people like Jan Olson, Board Member of Affirmation, who told me, "I stay because if I don't who is going to continue the fight?" I too will stay to fight another day.
It was Martin Luther King Jr. who said, "We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope." And from Romans 12:12 "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
My sincere prayer for all of us is that we will continue to be the all inclusive church for today and tomorrow even if the United Methodist Church is one step behind us. And I hope to see you all at the Reconciling Ministries Network Convocation in 2013!
Rev. John Oda is a past Chair of Reconciling Ministries Network, current Board Member and Chair of the Grassroots Committee. He is the pastor of Lake Park United Methodist Church in Oakland California.
