United Church of Two Harbors

Recently a United Methodist pastor from Texas, a well known spiritual advisor to President Bush, endorsed Barack Obama for President. Other pastors have gotten into the endorsement race too, endorsing different candidates. All of which has been fodder for a lot of prayerful thinking on my part.

During the last election cycle several churches got in trouble with the IRS which has threatened to take away their non-profit status over political activity. So I was wondering how these pastors could do this so publicly. The line is kind of a blurry one.

• Pastors may not endorse any candidate or political party from the pulpit or in print in any church publication (using church stationery or in the church newsletter).
• Pastors may, as private citizens, endorse candidates in newspapers, on the sidewalk, in the church parking lot, just not in the pulpit.
• Congregations cannot endorse a candidate or party in any way.
• Churches may hold voter registration drives, as long as they do not endorse any candidate or party.
• Pastors may preach on any issue they wish - social, economic, political.
• Churches may hold forums where candidates are invited to address issues.
• Candidates may be introduced in worship services.
• Churches may be used as polling places.

Now, many of you know that I am a politically aware and involved individual. I even was the campaign manager for a county commission seat a few years ago. I have some strong opinions about political matters, but you won't hear me in church or in the public arena using my clergy status to support any candidate. I just don't think it's wise.

First of all, I'm the pastor of everyone at United and I bet we don't all agree on political matters. I don't want my politics to become a stumbling block. While I am sure we can all agree to disagree agreeably, if I went and endorsed a candidate as a pastor for any political office, local or national, there would be rifts. I just don't see any upside to that.

Second of all, it's really not important. To me the job of being a pastor is not linked to my political identity. Most people when I visit them in the hospital don't care what my political leanings are. They want someone to listen to them and pray with them. I can do that.

Third of all, it's not the area of my expertise. I'm a Bible Scholar and a Spiritual Advisor, not a Political Pundit. I also don't walk onto construction sites and give the contractors there tips on plumbing or electrical wiring. I don't go into your kitchen and tell you how to bake a ham. It's not my forte.

All this said, I think as good citizens we all have political opinions. I don't have to divorce myself from politics. In fact, my faith calls for me to be active in social policy with issues of economic justice, the pursuit of peaceful resolution to conflicts, environmental stewardship, and the just and ethical use of resources. Inasmuch as these are political issues they are also deeply spiritual issues.

So as we go to caucus and expect a good and healthy political debate in the year to come, do not expect me to be wearing a button for any candidate on my stole, but I may be leafleting your house sans collar.

Posted by Lawrence Lee at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As mentioned earlier, the United Methodists of Minnesota have been looking at redistricting the state. The plan that has emerged as the preferred one is the model above. This would place United Church in the new Big Waters District. The center of the district would move significantly to the south of what it is now, though the District office would remain in Duluth.

Here is some rationale for the decision from the Conference website:

It divides the high-growth eastern part of the state, including Rochester, the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Brainerd and Duluth, into three districts. It divides the western part of the state into two regions in the southwest and the north. This model offers greater opportunity for specialization. It allows the superintendents of the eastern districts, where much population growth is occurring, to focus on congregational development. The western superintendents will be able to specialize in rural and town-and-country churches. This model also would push the superintendents to change the way they work, which is one of their goals. The current regional office sites can be maintained.

Do you have thoughts on this model? You can share them directly with Bishop Sally Dyck on her weblog.

Posted by Lawrence Lee at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On November 9, 2007 in a resolution addressed to George Bush and the US Congress the United Methodist Council of Bishops, meeting in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, urged the United States and its coalition partners to "begin an immediate withdrawal of all troops from Iraq."

Here is the resolution in full...

United Methodist Council of Bishops
Resolution on the Iraq War

Whereas, the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church, meeting Nov. 9 at Lake Junaluska, N.C., is committed to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world; and

Whereas, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, calls his followers to be peacemakers (Matt. 5:9); and

Whereas, "We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ" (Book of Discipline 2004, Par. 165.C); and

Whereas, the cost of the war in Iraq as of Nov. 7, 2007 has been the lives of 3,843 members of the U.S. military, 171 members of the United Kingdom military, 132 members of the other Coalition military, 28,385 U.S. military wounded, and the lives of at least 76,241 Iraqi civilians; and

Whereas the war in Iraq has displaced 2 million persons and forced another 2 million persons into refugee status;

Whereas, every day the war continues more soldiers and innocent civilians are killed with no end in sight to the violence, bloodshed and carnage;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS calls on the President and Congress of the United States and the leaders of all the nations in the Coalition Forces:

• To begin immediately a safe and full withdrawal of all military personnel from Iraq, with no additional troops deployed;
• To declare that there will be no permanent military bases in Iraq;
• To increase support for veterans of the Iraq war and all wars;
• To initiate and give strong support to a plan for the reconstruction of Iraq, with high priority given to the humanitarian and social needs of the Iraqi people, such as healthcare, education and housing;

FURTHER, THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS calls United Methodist people throughout the world:

• To pray for peace and to have regular prayer vigils for congregations and communities;
• To care for all impacted by the war, including combatants and noncombatants by honoring the dead, healing the wounded and calling for the end of the war;
• To be peacemakers by word and deed that we may be called the children of God.

You can read more on the UMC website.

Posted by Lawrence Lee at 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Minnesota Annual Conference Redistricting Process

Here are two of the models of redistricting proposed by the Bishop and Cabinet. These and other models will be under discussion at Hope UMC (301 W. St. Marie St.) in Duluth on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. RSVP: (612) 230-6126

Posted by Lawrence Lee at 6:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A new official hymnal replacing the now familiar 1989 United Methodist Hymnal is in the works to reflect the ever changing nature of the denomination, according to a recent United Methodist News Service article. It is being proposed for the General Conference to be held next year by the General Board on Discipleship (GBOD).

Rev. Karen Greenwaldt of the GBOD states the case for a new hymnal saying:

"What is the message being sent to young people who come to church and see a hymnal from 1989-a hymnal that is older than they are? We need a new hymnal that picks up new hymns, new texts, new melodies, new words to old tunes that are being created and being sung in our churches."

In an interesting and related article, Dean McIntyre, director of music resources at the GBOD, debunks the widely held myth that the Wesleys used bar room tunes as the basis for some their hymns. A debunking that is sad for me personally.

The GBOD is responsible for many of the publications we use in the church including our current hymnals, Upper Room magazine, Devozine, and other devotionals.

Posted by Lawrence Lee at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The third and present building was finished in 1906 and was built from red sandstone from quarries across Lake Superior to Two Harbors, Minnesota from Port Wing, Wisconsin. The approximate cost of the building was $15,000.

In 1969 the local congregations of the First Presbyterian Church and the United Methodist Church merged to form the United Church of Two Harbors and have continued to worship in this building until this day.

Posted by Lawrence Lee at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After hearing a discussion about the proposal to build the George W. Bush library at SMU, I was moved to sign a petition asking that the library not be built there. The rationale was many fold. First, many of the actions of this presidency fly in the face of Methodism and the tenets of many of the churches in the denomination and so such a direct connection with the church is inappropriate. Secondly, it appears that the "library" would not really be a library for the study of the presidency. It would rather be a place designed to promote the presidency of George W. Bush. Archives would not be available for true study. For these two reasons alone I signed the petition. Please reflect on the role of members in affecting the actions of the Methodist church. Here is the site: http://www.protectsmu.org. Any thoughts?

Thanks
Bill H.

Posted by Bill Hermanson at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This week Bishop Sally Dyck announced that the new Northeast District Superintendent will be the Rev. Kathryn Schneider-Bryan. She is currently serving as the senior pastor of First UMC of St. Cloud and her appointment begins July 1 of this year.

I wrote to her to congratulate her and welcome her to the district and she wrote back:

Although it's hard to leave the local church for a season, I'm looking forward to new relationships and discovering what others are doing in their churches a bit more!

While I don't know Rev. Schneider-Bryan personally, colleagues from around the area are very enthusiastic to have her coming as our new DS.

Continue reading "New District Superintendent Announced" »

Posted by Lawrence Lee at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continue reading "The Journey" »

Posted by Lawrence Lee at 11:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)