We’ve been encouraged to provide more original content for the listserve, so I’ve agreed to provide a regular monthly column titled, “As I See It.” Although the suggestion may be withdrawn after this piece, I’ll say what I have to say with my usual bluntness and let the chips fall where they may.

From my occasional posts on this site, you might infer that I’m a LGBT activist, but the truth is that that issue ranks third in my priorities behind universal health care and long-term care enhancement --- and I’m involved up to my eyeballs in both issues. So those aren’t so controversial and don’t grab as much press --- don’t they sound pretty Methodist to you?

As a PK, I understand that you have to politick with the DS and the bishop, but I also understand that the Kingdom never was advanced by promoting self-interest. As I said in “my story” distributed at annual conference, I think for too long we’ve focused on the wrong issue. We’re not asking for an endorsement of the “homosexual lifestyle.” Frankly, I don’t care what you think (or the Methodist Church for that matter) of what I do or don’t do in bed. Wouldn’t you resent it if someone asked you how many times you and your wife had sex? It’s none of your business.

The issue, in my opinion, is one of evangelism. Too many of my gay friends have left the church or refused to join what they consider a bunch of hypocrites (Thank you, Ted Haggard for undoing about 10 years of my proselytizing friends.) The historical fact is that GLBT (don’t want to discriminate in listing order) have not been welcome in the Methodist Church and still feel maligned because of the color (OOPS!) of their Triangle. Jesus wasn’t very discriminating in his associations, but now the Methodist Church is saying that local preachers can punch the ticket of whomever they will (or will not) let into their congregation. John Wesley must be turning over in his grave.

I understand that the Methodist hierarchy has put preachers between a rock and a hard place in dealing with members of their congregation on this issue, and that many conscientious Christians still believe homosexuality to be a mortal sin. After all, isn’t that what they’ve been taught most of their lives? Now we want to come along and declare it as “normal” – just a minority distribution in the great scheme of things. Maybe God’s plan for population control? (I can just hear the groans, now.)

So if we’re still trying to resolve the race issue, why bring up gay marriage and gay preachers? Isn’t that pushing the debate too far? Well, in my opinion, it is, but then we’re only discussing church politics and not national politics.

The issue is how do we in the church try to resolve internal conflicts (who decides the order of worship – the worship committee, or the preacher, for example.) Do we know how to talk with each other with respect and openness, or do we continue to throw barbs at each other across an ever-widening gulf?

I grieve for my brothers and sisters who will never know God because someone told them they were going to hell, so they turned their backs on the church. Are we not all sinners and deserving of God’s Grace? The Discipline tries to “split the difference” and have it both ways; that doesn’t work. You can’t open the door halfway.