So the last couple of weeks have been rather interesting across the Christian world. Something that hadn't happened in about 600 years happened...the Bishop of Rome resigned his position over the Church. I must admit, I was taken by surprise when he did. There are some things that just aren't supposed to happen. There are certain parts of life that are supposed to stay the same and the Pope serving until his death is one of them. One of the first responses that I heard from various people is "Why should we care? We're not Catholic!" While I understand where that sentiment comes from, I can't agree with it.
Whether we like it or not, all Christian churches have their roots in the historical church that dates back over 2,000 years. When you take time to study Church history, you see where various doctrines and practices come from. You begin to understand the layers and layers of meaning that dwell within the Church. One of my favorite quotes comes from a Church historian when he said this about the Church's past, "Without understanding that past, we are unable to understand ourselves, for in a sense the past still lives in us and influences who we are and how we understand the Christian message...When we stand, sit, or kneel in church, when we sing a hymn, recite a creed, or refuse to recite one, when we build a church or preach a sermon, a past of which we may not be aware is one of the factors involved in our actions."--Justo Gonzalez
So with that in mind, what does it mean to a United Methodist that the cardinals of the Roman Church have elected a new Bishop of Rome? Well, for starters, it means that 1.2 billion of our brothers and sisters in Christ have a new shepherd. In many ways, the Catholic Church and the Methodist Church are set up in a similar manner. The Catholic Church is connectional...so are we. Recently, my annual conference went through a period of unknown. In the UMC, it is rare for us to go without a pastor or bishop. However, this last session of bishop appointments hit a snag. And for reasons that are unimportant, the Northwest Texas Annual Conference was without a permanent appointed bishop for a few months. It was a rather unusual time for us. As far as I know, it has been the only time in the history of Methodism that something like this had happened. The local churches continued to minister and our conference leadership continued to lead, but it was a bit odd not to have a bishop. When our bishop was finally appointed to us, it was much better. While I still haven't met him, it really doesn't matter. Just knowing that we have a shepherd over us makes me feel better. It brings me peace of mind to have someone in that office. So I empathize with my Catholic brothers and sisters. In many ways, we are in the same boat. Neither of us knows in which direction our leader will take us and yet we trust the Holy Spirit to lead and guide these men. We believe that God is active and that he is instrumental in the decisions that these men are making.
Another reason that we United Methodists should care about the Catholic Church's recent ordeal is that the world is watching. Since there are so many Catholics across the globe and since the Catholic Church has been a major force in world history, the secular world pays careful attention to what happens and how other Christians respond to what has happened. An event like this gives all of us who claim Christ a chance to witness to our devotion to Christ and our love for one another. What I find impressive is when Church leaders from other denominations take time to express their well-wishes to the newly elected Pope Francis. One of my favorites comes from the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who said this, "We have long since recognised-and often reaffirmed-that our churches hold a special place for one another. I look forward to meeting Pope Francis, and to walking and working together to build on the consistent legacy of our predecessors." And here is the official response from the Council of Bishops of the UMC, "We, the people of The United Methodist Church, are ready to continue the journey with the Roman Catholic Church, praying for one another, staying in respectful dialogue with one another, knowing of the differences but believing that Christ unites us." (Bishop Rosemarie Wenner-president of The United Methodist Council of Bishops.)*
And finally, we United Methodists should care because we are all on the same side. Christ is our Lord. We all believe in one God in three persons. We all pray that the Father will lead us...that the Son will show us...that the Holy Spirit will guide us. All of us who profess Christ are living in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile toward us. We live in a time that those who oppose the Church are becoming bolder. We live in a time where people who don't believe in God are no longer atheists...they are anti-theists. Not only do these people not want to believe in God, they are actively seeking out to destroy our faith in God. Instead of the in-fighting of the past, our various denominations must seek out harmony and unity. While it can be difficult to heal past wounds, that is what we must do. We must apologize to each other and we must seek reconciliation. While we may not agree on everything theologically, that's okay. My wife and I don't always agree theologically, and yet we continue to live together, to love one another, and to work together.
So I lift up my prayers...my voice with the countless others across the globe to congratulate the Catholic Church on her new leader. I sincerely hope that Pope Francis continues to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance as he leads. I hope he feels love and support from the United Methodist Church, from our bishops, our clergy, and our laity. And I pray that God continues to unite us as brothers and sisters of the faith and that our witness resounds the world over.
I invite you to pray this prayer written by Taylor W. Burton-Edwards for Pope Francis:
Gracious God,
look with favor on your servant, Jorge,
now elected Francis, Pope of the Roman Catholic Church,
that he may lead with great faithfulness and compassion
among the people entrusted to his care,
and be a sign of the unity and hope
for which Christ prayed
for all your people, in every Church and land;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and ever. Amen.**
Until next time...
*You can read the entire article at http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=13021863
**"Prayer for a Pope" by Taylor W. Burton-Edwards.
Copyright (c) 2013 , The General Board of Discipleship
of the United Methodist Church. Used by permission.
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Love the intelligence and heart you reveal in this post!
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