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by The Rev. Dr. Stephen J. Sidorak, Jr.* General Secretary
We have a shameful history of blatant racism that led to the
break-up of American Methodism into multiple denominations beginning in the
late 18th Century. This separation remains a morally inexcusable
part of our collective past that has direct impact on inter-church relations
today.
There is some solace in the fact that there has been
demonstrable dedication within The United Methodist Church to preserve a
special relationship with the historic African-American Methodist
churches. This has been expressed
through the Pan-Methodist Commission, comprised of five historically African
American denominations and the United Methodist Church. The Commission exists in part to be a
repairer of the breach. The unwavering
will to overcome such a relational rupture is courageous testimony to the
sincere yearning for racial reconciliation.
The ongoing fragmentation of Methodism along racial lines
undermines the unity of these churches, severely tests our commitment to
“connectionalism,” reawakens extremely painful memories and continues to
separate us one from the other. The
“color line” that has been drawn has long been a blot on our denominational
conscience.
The United Methodist Church institutionally and liturgically
repented of its sin of racism and officially conducted acts of repentance at
two General Conferences. In 2000 the act
focused on “those who left”; in 2004 on
“those who stayed behind.” Members of
the predominantly African-American Pan-Methodist churches and African-American
members of The United Methodist Church have graciously forgiven “seventy times
seven.” Our church should be forever
grateful for such undeserved forgiveness and acknowledge the constant need of
setting our still segregated house in order, lest grace be cheap.
The persistence of racism and its “church-dividing” nature
as well as the pernicious effects of “white privilege” have been a focus of
attention for the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious
Concerns. We must remain mindful of the
ecumenical dimensions inherent in the legacy of denominational racism. I trust United Methodist angst and anguish
over racism offers testimony to other denominations how seriously we take the
divisions among the “People Called Methodists.”
Even now, let us recognize that our primary membership in a denomination
is secondary to our relatedness in Christ.
We know that what we might do
together is important, but we understand who we are together is paramount.
We treasure the togetherness we already have in Christ Jesus our Lord by
water and by blood—and appreciate its givenness. We dare not say to one another, “I have no
need of you.”
My hope for the ecumenical future is that we would celebrate
the richness of the oneness we enjoy in Christ Jesus our Lord and work for the
oneness of the witness God would have us bear to the world in and through the
Pan-Methodist Commission. This is the
vision behind the proposed 2012 General Conference legislation on full
communion.
“O Happy Day” it will be when the six churches of the
Pan-Methodist Commission enter into a new, formal relationship of full
communion with one another. There is a
distinct possibility that new life for the Commission itself might be a
consequence of full communion. The
decision by the bishops of all six denominations to meet together every other
year rather than every four years is another sign of the potential for
revitalization. I am optimistic about
the prospects for the Pan-Methodist Commission.
Becoming full communion partners with all the other member churches of
the Pan-Methodist Commission, who have previously approved it, will be one more
step toward the healing of relationships.
On Ecumenical Day at General Conference, let us anticipate
our own approval of Pan-Methodist full communion and celebrate it with the
African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion
Church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Union Methodist
Protestant Church and the Union American Methodist Episcopal Church.
Thanks be to God!
* Sidorak, an ordained elder in the Rocky Mountain
Conference of the United Methodist Church, is general secretary of the General
Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns with offices in New
York.
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