05/16/2024
In 2001, The United Methodist Church began its “Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.” welcoming and advertising campaign. The purpose of the campaign was to increase awareness and recognition of The United Methodist Church’s basic beliefs. Since 2001, this has been designated as the “Brand Promise”, our commitment to everyone who interacts with The United Methodist Church. However, I would state that we have been lackluster in upholding our brand because we have not exemplified “Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.”
As we have concluded the postponed 2020 General Conference, and the news has circulated around the world sharing that our 52+ year fight regarding human sexuality has ceased; but has it? I know for many persons and congregations the removal of the restrictive language and the extended understanding of marriage in our Revised Social Principles were welcome with great cheers, tears, and hallelujahs. AND, I know for many persons and congregations this same news has hit deeply with tears of sadness, as they now must discern and decide what it means to . I would offer that these competing human emotions, congregational tensions, and vast theological perspectives has always been and will continue to be who we are as United Methodist Christians. The United Methodist Church came together in 1968 with the intentions of being a “big tent” theological movement, and we have upheld that understanding, even through the most recent schism and divides. I just wonder, with General Conference in our rearview, how can we come back to the promise we have made to the world of being persons who have “Open heart. Open minds. Open doors.” Because we look at the definition of “open”, the verb is simply “to spread out; expand”.
I think about how we have just journeyed through this Eastertide Season (the period between Easter and Pentecost) living into what it means to be Easter people. Also, we are days away from celebrating Pentecost, the birth of The Church (May 19), and the commemoration of Aldersgate Day (May 24), where John Wesley’s heart was strangely warmed (https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-what-is-aldersgate-day). I also think about and wonder as we read Acts 1:8 (AMP), “But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth...” how can we take this mandate seriously? To go into the places of Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, will require all types of people from different backgrounds and beliefs. It will require the willingness to meet people where they are on the journey of faith and walk with them on the journey ahead. It will require the nimbleness in defined knowing and an openness to the movement of God’s Spirit. Friends, if we are going to live the brand promise of The United Methodist Church, but more importantly live the commission of Jesus Christ, we must stop the fighting and positioning, and truly posture ourselves in prayer and be in partnership with God and one another. While you may agree or may not align with the most recent General Conference decisions, can agree on the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the work of God’s Spirit within us and among us, and with that common understanding, I truly believe there can be “Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.”
[Lord, may it be so, and may we do so]!
In Humble Service and trying to hold us all together…
Rev. Dr. Aleze M. Fulbright
Conference Superintendent
To learn more about the recent General Conference decisions, please visit:
General Conference Wrap Up Video: https://youtu.be/I0MIgpdq8Ng
Here is a legislation recap of General Conference: https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/general-conference-legislative-recap
