Looking back on the day I was rewarded for years of travailing prayer on behalf of the congregation that nurtured me for 30+ years. The changing of the sign to reflect the outcome of a hard fought battle by many was a day of gratitude and joy.,From 5/7/23
In February 2014 I had my first clue that my joyful years of pursuing deacon ordination within The UMC was not going to become reality as I sat in the Board of Ordained Ministry interview and silently asked God, “What IS this that is happening?? It is so contentious and adversarial!!” God immediately answered me, “This is not about you. It is about a larger conflict in the heavenlies. Just wait and watch.” If ever there was a “handwriting on the wall” moment for me, that was it. But God did not give me freedom to walk away until three years later. I, like many others, hung in and fought for a place for traditionalists within The UMC. As the disgraceful political maneuvering of the General Conference of 2016 and the Special General Conference of 2019 and cancelation of GC 2022 and sabotage of the Protocol by progressives showed, traditionalists would no longer have a home in The UMC.
I am grateful to God for guiding our congregation out of The UMC to continue to teach, preach, worship, proclaim our beliefs, and uphold the biblical principles and Wesleyan Methodist practices by which we choose to live.
Officially….. Now disaffiliated from The UMC. New name put up late this past week proclaims the reality.
Thy Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
Jesus Christ, the Light of the world and God Incarnate….and His Holy Spirit guides my life.
We will enter your gates with thanksgiving in our hearts. We will enter your courts with praise. We will say this is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice for He has made us glad!
CBB. 5/7/23.
