Sidebar: On Cell Phones and Influence

The story has been reported and discussed here at General Conference that the Institute for Religion and Democracy has given cell phones to members of the delegations from Africa and the

Philippines with attached information as to who should be elected to the Judicial Council and is signed by "Your Friends in the United Methodist Church".

First, what bothers me most is the fact that those on either side of issues at General Conference would instead of bringing the political to the faith community, why not dialogue?  Why not risk?  Why not attempt to find work at seeking to discuss together what the realities are?

Second, what we have learned cannot be undone. You cannot undo this.  Those who seek to advance their cause this way devalue everyone else in the process.  The ends are the only things that matter.  The means become at best secondary.  

There is a faith perspective that is clear:  this is sin.  When we are separated for each other, when we devalue each other, we live in separation.  There is grace, but grace calls each to reach out to each other in Christ's love.  

Is the hope of "holy conferencing" lost when this occurs? Or can we find grounds to come together to share?  

Third, this cannot be undone.  There can be forgiveness in telling the truth and repentance, but one has to admit one's sin to do this.  

Fourth, an insight:  why cell phones?    I think it may be that cell phones can be less interactive (one can receive calls, one can receive text messages) without doing anything else.  Also, it continues a link that can continue through other General Conference votes.  David and I were trying to remember whether or not cell phone use was allowed on the conference floor.

The bigger issue is in the message of the "special interests"  that Bishop Huie spoke about in her opening sermon.  This particular special interest group has lost respect by many due to this move, as someone put it, to buy Judicial Council nominee votes.  The most important interest is the church, is the presence of Christ.

So how do we find our way through this?  The ethics committee suggested by a delegate yesterday is a positive move.  We need to find forgiveness and atonement and our unity.

This practice of sharing cell phones with a delegate to elect particular candidates for Judicial Council is sin.  How do we find our way to repentance and unity in Christ?