Civility, communication and Connection
By Bishop Woodie W. White
The United Methodist Connection is being sorely tested! It is not the first time! However, the current challenges are of such diverse and complex nature that the onslaught has far more potential to threaten our life and ministry.
The questions of scriptural and ecclesiastical authority; homosexuality; continued decline in membership in the United States; financial challenges occasioned by increasing rises in health care and lack of full support of apportionments by most annual conferences; and even worship style conflicts represent a partial litany of the issues facing the church.
All of these issues elicit opinion in varying degrees of agreement and disagreement. Some more than others are highly emotional and controversial.
I believe we are still seeking ways to address these latest challenges in a constructive and productive manner. Some days we do better than others. At times we utterly fail!
Civility, a book by Stephen L. Carter, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law at Yale University, has been enormously helpful to me in providing insights and helpful suggestions as I grapple with issues of church and state. Loyal to both, I am yet at times at odds with each. Often I'm in disagreement with some position or policy. At times I disagree with some denominational official or spokesperson for some unofficial group.
How does one express both loyalty and dissent? Or disagreement. Or difference. I answer my own question: Christly. Dr. Carter's response is, Civilly.
Dr. Carter warns, however, "... civility is in a decline." He goes at great lengths to define civility, by which he means in part, valuing and respecting others, listening to points of view different from one's own, challenging lovingly where one disagrees, and even sacrificing one's own desires for a greater common good.
In the introduction to Civility, Dr. Carter writes, "This book is in a sense a prayer — a prayer for understanding and for our strength as a nation, to build a society in which we act with, rather than talk about, genuine respect for others."
That is my prayer for United Methodism, as we enter this 21st century!
Communication is integral to civility. Discourse absent communication is babble! We must listen and be able to convey ideas, thoughts and feelings to each other. Communication is written and oral. The more the better. We are fortunate to have in our denomination several vehicles of discourse and communication. Indeed, these make possible denominational discourse.
The United Methodist Reporter is one such vehicle of denominational discourse. It informs and enlightens. It offers a national and international forum on a weekly basis for sharing of diverse perspectives and opinions. It provides information about the ministries of the church and the needs of the world and society. While loyal to the denomination, it offers critique as well as challenge when necessary. The church is well served by this and other communication resources. I have been well served by them.
A healthy church and nation is one in which loyalty and dissent are embraced. But civilly and Christly! Our Connection is strengthened by both. It is at risk when either is neglected or ignored!
Interestingly, lawyer Stephen L. Carter notes: "Only religion possesses the majesty, the power and sacred language to teach all of us, the religious and the secular, the genuine appreciation for each other on which a successful civility must rest."
My prayer is that my beloved United Methodism will be such an expression of religion for its own sake and the sake of the world. And for Christ's sake!
Copyright 2005 United Methodist Reporter. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Retired United Methodist Bishop Woodie W. White currently serves as bishop-in-resident at Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Ga.